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P.O.S. Brings his Musical Mixture to Chicago |
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Written by UNA DELIC
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Wednesday, 25 February 2009 |
So you want to know what happens at a P.O.S show? The recipe’s simple in its parts. Take equal measurements of hip hop and punk, pour them in a PBR can, and stir in a pinch of Minneapolis dirt. The ingredients don’t separate like oil and water, sand on bottom. No, they twist and swirl, their common molecules find each other and bond seamlessly, resulting in high-voltage stage presence, bumping speakers, and a frazzled crowd whose hair defies gravity.
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P.O.S.
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 Entertainment
 Art
Reggie’s Rock Club
Chicago, IL
February 17, 2009
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P.O.S. performed at Reggie’s on Tuesday, showcasing his incredible ability to intersect rather disparate music genres into a fluid musical experience. Although he honored a few insistent requests from the audience for previous material, Stefon Alexander’s tour centers on the album that came out this month, “Never Better.” The new compilation features his hybrid skills as he raps fluidly over rock bass guitars and incorporates rock melodies into the hooks.
Stefon was at first adverse to hip hop, finding his calling in punk. About eight years ago, in the thriving Minneapolis underground hip-hop scene, he began to breed the two together into a mix that hasn’t been heard before. It combines the sporadic expression of rock with the intricate, snowballing energy of an effective lyricist. The style works especially well on a stage, the space most conducive to the exchange of motivation between the crowd and the performer.
The highlight of the night came when Stef jumped into the crowd—not crowdsurfing, not shaking hands—just straight jumped down off the stage and spit the last two songs from the floor as the audience jumped in unison to the beat. Afterward, he sweated but shook every hand that was offered, talking to his fans on a personal level, without the concept of the stage to trace a barrier between the artist and those who support him.
P.O.S. has the charisma, the skill, and the down-to-earth attitude that invites you into the music like someone opening the door even before you ring the bell. Both music styles, at their best, emphasize hospitality and community, which may be the key that welds them together.
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