‘Show you the world’
Bay Area rapper, Grouch brings his attitude to the holiday season
It wasn’t the Grinch who stole Christmas, but Grouch. The rapper hopes you have been good this year so that he doesn’t have to leave you a lump of coal when he passes through.
During the next two weeks, Grouch will wind along the West Coast during his “How the Grouch Stole Christmas” tour, beginning today in Bend, Ore.
Accompanying him is fellow Living Legends member Eligh, DJ Fresh, The Bayliens, and Paul Dateh. Grouch will continue to Seattle Tuesday, Portland Wednesday and Eugene Thursday before heading to California.
Based in the Bay Area, Grouch is an artist who emerged amid the intelligent hip hop scene of the mid-1990s. His latest album, “Show You the World,” came out in April 2008 and features 16 tracks, including “God Bless the Elephant,” “Artsy,” and “Mom and Pop Killer.” He takes it to elitist individuals and corporate giants with his humorous observations.
Grouch will perform “Show You the World” tracks and promote “Say G&E,” which he has collaborated on with Eligh. Last year, Grouch returned from Maui to his hometown of Oakland, Calif., to hold a holiday show and decided to spread “How the Grouch Stole Christmas” to the rest of the West Coast this holiday season.
His Web site photos feature a shot of Grouch clad in a puffy white jacket with a Santa hat. His album cover features a tender photo of Grouch with his curly-haired toddler, Rio Amor, perched on his shoulders. For all his grouch talk, the man has a soft spot and some closeted holiday spirit.
‘A very Rosie Christmas!’
Classic Christmas carols and original tunes grace this album
An eclectic bunch of 22 adults and one baby, all clad in holiday sweaters, Santa caps, flannel and pajamas, gather around the hearth with their song books. Each of them is either singing or making goofy faces. Bring on the caroling and festivities. This album cover and its accompanying slew of photos are precisely the images one conjures while listening to Rosie Thomas’ “A Very Rosie Christmas!” The album is cozy, fun and a little bit eccentric.
Based in Seattle, Thomas is a folk singer-songwriter and says her latest album is “chock full of eggnog and grand spirits.” Along with her husband, producer, friends and family, Thomas “captures all the warmth and exuberance of the holiday season for everyone to share.”
Available on iTunes, Amazon and Myspace, “A Very Rosie Christmas!” features such jazz- and folk-infused classics as “Silent Night” and “Let It Snow.” Alongside is Thomas’ original “Why Can’t It Be Christmastime All Year?” and the Prairie Home Companion-like radio sketch, “Shiela’s Christmas Miracle.”
Since Nov. 30, Thomas and the gang have toured across the country, beginning in Philadelphia. They will stop in Portland Dec. 13 at the Doug Fir Lounge for a 6:30 p.m. show, and will conclude their tour the next night in Seattle at Town Hall for an 8:30 p.m. show.
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