Back to Rockville: Review: Tech N9ne

Even as the self-proclaimed Kansas City King successfully defended his title Saturday, cracks appeared in Tech N9ne's impressive empire.

After headlining concerts at larger area venues including the Independence Events Center, Sandstone and the Uptown Theater in recent years, Tech N9ne performed at the significantly smaller Beaumont Club. The show failed to sell out. An enthusiastic audience of about 850 witnessed another near-flawless Tech N9ne outing, but the back third of the venue was mostly deserted while he was on stage.

Many acts would be delighted to sell hundreds of $25 tickets, but Tech N9ne is anything but an ordinary musician. Both artistically and commercially, he's the most important popular music artist to emerge from Kansas City in the last decade. Musically adventurous and boundary-shattering, Tech N9ne forged a hip hop-based sound that appeals to rock-oriented fans. The business acumen he shares with Strange Music co-founder Travis O'Guin is the envy of much of the music industry. True visionaries, they created a new model for self-contained independent record labels long before the concept was touted as a savvy business move. Their approach has paid off.

"Thank you for making me the number one independent rapper in the world," Tech N9ne shouted at the conclusion of his 75-minute showing.

While the size of the audience may have disappointed him, Tech N9ne, 39, had to have been encouraged by its composition. About a third of Saturday's spectators were less than half his age.

"Don't get caught," master of ceremonies Scenario warned the inexperienced youths. "Don't throw up on anybody."

Giddy teenagers and veteran fans alike were treated to over two dozen songs from Tech N9ne's increasingly copious catalog. Tech N9ne is rightfully celebrated for his party anthems. The irresistible call to revelry of "Bout Ta Bubble," the anarchic appeal of "Riot Maker" and the boozy tandem of "KC Tea" and "Caribou Lou" propelled the crowd into a frenzy. Celebrations of regional pride including the Gates barbecue tribute "O.G." and the jubilant Kansas City boasting of "Einstein" were even more fun. Those bacchanalian songs were balanced by the tense "Anxiety," the ominous paranoia of "Come Gangsta" and material from Tech N9ne's foreboding 2009 album "K.O.D."

The evening's four locally-based opening acts were unfamiliar to most of the audience. After a 60-minute dubstep set by DJ FSTZ, the Lonely Hearts Club -- rapper Dutch Newman and DJ Johnny Quest -- perplexed most Tech N9ne fans. The innate charm of Newman's quick wit and Quest's reliance on old-school soul samples seemed to be lost on the crowd.

While the Lonely Hearts Club was met with stony silence, Hammerlord was greeted with outright hostility. Tech N9ne has flirted with heavy rock on songs like "Little Pills," but his unsuspecting fans were stunned by the viciousness of the extreme metal band's assault. Some visibly seethed with rage while other fled to the back of the room. Boos overwhelmed a smattering of applause as Hammerlord's excellent thirty-minute set ended.

Ces Cru fared better. The intricate intertwined flows of rappers Godemis and Ubiquitous were far more in keeping with the tastes of most Tech N9ne fans. Although only Ces Cru managed to win over the audience, Tech N9ne is to be commended for introducing all four deserving acts to a larger audience. It was a generous gesture from a king who never forgets to acknowledge his adoring subjects.

"I'd be a bum on the street without you," Tech N9ne told his fans. "You saved my life."

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star