I think live band hip-hop is one of the hardest genres to make work. To underscore that point, think of how many hip-hop bands have gained national attention. The Roots and…the Roots? Unless you want to count rap-rock outfits like 311 and Rage Against the Machine, it’s a reasonably slim field.

So Quixotic—a group of New Mexico/Minnesota imports that play dark, rock-leaning live hip-hop—has its task cut out for it. MC Nate Larsen clearly pours his heart out in rhyme (and occasionally, some Anthony Kiedis/Scott Weiland-esque singing), and the band chugs away at everything from blues riffs to melodramatic soundtrack fare and all-out riffage. The range is impressive, even if it doesn’t always work for me, personally. I say this because, while I haven’t seen Quixotic live just yet—and this problem may be alleviated in the live setting—but for me the bass and the drums are too low in the mix throughout much of Quixotic’s self-titled disc. If you’re playing live hip-hop, the rhythm section has to pop pretty hard to recreate the boom of a drum machine or affected beat, and while the drums and bass are both quite well-played on Quixotic’s disc, I can’t always feel them the way I need to.

But that isn’t a problem on “Intoxicated Conscience,” a more melodramatic, moody piece that breaks into a pretty sweet guitar solo and some well-placed horns. Larsen is all worked up here, in fashion that’s probably more likely to affect Korn fans than the Jay-Z faithful. But the fact that he is feeling his lyrics is still a refreshing antidote to a lot of the complacent hip-hop that shows up on my desk.

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Quixotic plays Club Calabash (835 SW 2nd Ave.) tonight with Qwel & Maker, Kable Roc and Rocket One. It’s only $3 and the new Qwel & Maker ish is sounding quite good.

Links:
QuixoticSpace

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