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Melting the ice at Dobson

Staff Reports

It’s a good thing the ice at Dobson Arena will be safely covered by temporary floorboards, because Vail’s largest indoor live music venue will be red hot in the first days of 2004.Besides big live-music names, Denver-based producer enditproductions is bringing in a little something for everyone this season.Heating the body temperatures of Vail’s rap lovers will be a visit by Blackalicious, the Pharcyde and Lyrics Born at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Jan., 2.Emerging from the creatively fertile soils of Northern California, The Gift of Gab! and Chief Xcel fused together make Blackalicious, a two-man combo whose relationship, that of the MC and DJ/producer, reflects the core of the art form we have come to know as hip hop.In a cold and dark global market where music is thought of simply as a commodity to be mass produced, distributed and sold, Blackalicious brings light through 12 years of fanatic b-boyism and soulful introspection.Another tag-team evening features two more acts that refuse to sell out and make music just for play on radio airwaves. Known for soulful creativity and a one-of-a-kind, electronica-meets-jam-band sound, Sound Tribe Sector 9 will pack the house at 7 p.m., Friday Jan., 30.The quintet has spent the last five years cultivating disparate influences as seemingly far flung as goth-industrial and the Grateful Dead into a break-beat fusion of liquid jazz and funk traditions. Sound Tribe Sector 9 follows in a proud tradition of suburban innovation. Jungle, Ambient, Dub and Drum ‘n’ Bass all these elements help color STS9’s electronics-peppered mosaic.Joining Sound Tribe is another equally innovative act that will be able to fire up the crowd at Dobson with their in-your-face, intense mix of salsa, hip-hop, reggae, rock, meringue and funk.Named after the Aztec monkey god of dance and passion, Ozomatli is famous for combining the energy of more than 12 musicians with a riotous live show.The high-energy affairs often see the band unplug their instruments, lead a conga line out into the street and hold up traffic while playing Latin brass and percussion versions of everything from old James Brown tunes to current rap hits to a unique version of the theme from Sesame Street.Melting the hearts of local ladies while finishing off what may be left of Dobson Arena’s devastated ice surface is 23-year-old singer-songwriter Jonny Lang. Hitting the stage at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 27, Lang is proving that a youth is no barrier to achieving an extensive list of musical accomplishments.Though his past awards, commendations and achievements are enough including having two platinum-selling albums and a Grammy nomination by age 19 Lang comments in his media info that: “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, and I’ve just finished recording an album I couldn’t be happier with.”That album is ironically entitled “Long Time Coming.” It is Lang’s third release, but it celebrates several noteworthy firsts. This time around he not only wrote or co-wrote all but one of the album’s tracks and served as its co-producer, but he also has made an album that he feels very honestly reflects who he is. And, if that person is deep, introspective and has one hell of a gritty, honest voice with a powerful, soulful message, then we agree.Tickets for all three shows are available at all TicketMaster locations and various mountain outlets. Go to http://www.enditpresents.com for full ticket outlet info, charge by phone at (303) 830-TIXS or order on-line at http://www.ticketmaster.com. By Erik Vienneau


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