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Twin Town High (vol. 8) |
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The Oddjobs Blotter
Wednesday 21 May @ 12:09:39 |
 by Nick George
Photographer Nick George followed Oddjobs around the country, taking pictures all the way. Here is the journal that he kept on his travels.
Oddjobs has left their second home, New York City, to tour in support of their new EP, The Shopkeeper’s Wife. Following their first show, on April 16, in Pittsburgh, where they drew a crowd of 24 and managed to sell $70 worth of merchandise, Oddjobs, minus Advisor, crowded into their Dodge Minivan for the 14-hour drive to Minneapolis.
Crescent Moon got two hours of sleep at his mother’s house before the band was scheduled to discuss the music business with students at his old high school, Rudy Perpich Arts High. The group then hustled downtown to the 7th Street Entry where they finished sound check just before the doors opened at 4 p.m.
Just after 5 p.m. Oddjobs took the stage to a fairly packed Entry. The group started with “Shore” off their last full album, Drums. The song’s chorus might suggest why they moved to New York City and began heavy touring just over two years ago: “I’m running out of time, so I’m running out the city.” The group was glad to be back in their hometown and Crescent Moon was full of stage banter. “Abe Lincoln was on my guest list but he sold out.” Oddjobs then worked their way through older material off releases like Dry Bones before performing songs off of The Shopkeeper’s Wife EP. Crescent Moon then stepped into the crowd, allowing a better view of the DJ’s five-minute showcase set. Deetalx was scratching and juggling on his turntables while Anatomy worked his MPC 2000 and his one turntable. Oddjobs was tense off stage when Mr. Lif, the headline act was nowhere to be seen. Arriving nearly a half hour after Oddjobs left the stage, Mr. Lif quickly changed in the bathroom and managed to perform a 45-minute set before the eight o’clock deadline.
Oddjobs then had Friday and Saturday off before their two Easter shows on Sunday at the Dinkytowner. The Oddjobs Web page had incorrectly listed a Saturday night show in St. Cloud.
While the first all-ages show on Easter treated the emcee’s voices better than the 21+ show, the initial crowd was neither large nor energetic. Crescent Moon voiced his surprise at this. “I thought y’all would be bouncing around from all the Easter candy and shit.” Traditional Methods and Test Type Trio opened for Oddjobs at the all-ages show.
The second show found the Dinkytowner packed full with an eager 21+ crowd. They were especially eager for ten o’clock to roll around when free vodka drinks would be served. The free drinks lasted nearly an hour while Test Type Trio opened the second show. Nomi wasn’t shy in broadcasting that Oddjobs had paid for the alcohol and that people should buy their new EP.
The second show was a lot more fun than the first, except that Traditional Methods didn’t play. The Test Type Trio sounded better than their first set, maybe because the drummer didn’t use his laptop beats. The second Oddjobs crowd was now large and intoxicated. During Oddjobs’ set a guest appearance by P.O.S. helped keep things interesting. P.O.S. and Crescent Moon performed their new song “Dead Music” to the instrumental version of Portishead’s “Sour Times.” Eyedea was present but declined to come on stage when sought out by Crescent Moon. Eyedea is featured on “ Tricked” off The Shopkeeper’s Wife EP.
The end of the night found Crescent Moon’s throat exhausted but the live crowd kept him going strong. “If you don’t smoke, don’t start. That shit’s a bitch.”
Oddjobs left the Dinkytowner just before 2:30 a.m. Only six hours later they picked up P.O.S. and headed south towards Missouri for that night’s show. The Oddjobs caravan now contained five people and two Hip Hop acts.
Ten hours of highway later the crew arrived at Columbia, Mo.’s Shattered Nightclub. The show started at 9 p.m. with Missouri Hip Hop groups Fashodo and Serengeti. Then Stef Alexander, AKA P.O.S., took the stage with Steven, running his Mini-Disc player. During the set Crescent Moon joined P.O.S. for the second performance of their song “Dead Music.” This time the track was performed over Cypress Hill’s “We ain’t going out like that” instrumental.
The song’s title was originally “Hollow Followers” but while choosing an instrumental beat for the song in Columbia, the duo decided on “Dead Music.” The track will be on the new P.O.S. album with an original Emily Blood Mobile beat.
Oddjobs put on another good show with only one interruption. The problem arose when a female grabbed Crescent Moon’s microphone and started to demand “booty music.” Again the DJs did their five-minute showcase and drew a loud response when Crescent Moon asked the crowd to say, “God damn that DJ made my day.” As soon as Oddjobs got off stage, a female fight broke out causing Crescent Moon and security to end the bloodshed that had spilled out onto the sidewalk. Back inside, the DJs disassembled and the emcees hawked their goods. Once again the group left the venue at 2 a.m. and drove on to St. Louis. Anatomy drove the Caravan while everyone else passed out causing him to miss Highway 40. With the detour it was 5 a.m. before they reached the home of F5 records, where they would sleep on the floor and couches. Crescent Moon hit the floor and passed out right away while Anatomy did push-ups.
In the morning the group headed towards Cleveland where they had made a last minute date with Mac Lethal. Even though their Web site never changed, Oddjob’s appearance in St. Louis was canceled shortly before the tour. After a short stay in Minneapolis, Oddjobs will be touring the western states in May before returning to New York City. There, Nomi will reunite with his girlfriend, Kai Ma, who is on the cover of their new EP, The Shopkeeper’s Wife.
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