Ramble John “RJ” Krohn, aso known as RJD2, was once a hip-hop producer; after releasing 2 mostly instrumental LPs, he went in an entirely different direction with 2007’s The Third Hand, leaving behind the samples that had made his fame. And when getting together a band for the new tour, he went old school, asking friends from childhood in Ohio. Emo’s was only their 3rd stop; they are still trying to make cohesive sense of RJ’s old and new sound, a crazy mix-up of turntables and live instruments and vocals.
Smoke and Mirrors, arguably their most immediately recognizable tune, was given hard-hitting new life with fresh samples and live drumming mixed in, adding an immediacy that is readily accessible to a larger audience. Some of the live drum and guitar collaborations, and definitely the keyboard, have some really strong and groovy jazz influences in a way that the album didn’t; new members providing a fresh spin on material that R.J. originally crafted and recorded by himself. These guys are playing the chillest music that you still want to dance to, the catchiest tunes you’ve never heard.
