Atmosphere, To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy
Rhymesayers Entertainment

Slug may never get recognized as one of hip-hop’s greatest storytellers, but he deserves to be. The Minneapolis rapper excels at the confessional, rhyming first-person narratives so vivid you think they’re ripped straight from his diary. On To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy, a pair of EPs packaged into a mini-album, Slug raps about vehicular homicide (“Scalp”), young love (“The Number None”), and drug-dealing homeboys (“The Major Leagues”) as a backing band plays extended riffs and beery blues. It’s not Lil Wayne, but it will more than do.

Over a year and a half after Atmosphere’s first Billboard top five hit, When God Gives You Lemons You Paint That Shit Gold, the group is still touring behind the album. They don’t get the critical respect they deserve, but no one can deny that they’re hip hop’s ultimate road dogs. This time around, Eyedea & Abilities and rock band Attracted to Gods join in the fun.

• 7/23: Soo Pass Ranch, Detroit Lakes, MN (4)
• 7/26: Mr. Smalls, Pittsburgh, PA (1) (2)
• 7/27: Webster Hall, New York, NY (2)
• 7/28: Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC (1) (2)
• 7/30: Firestone, Orlando, FL (1) (2)
• 7/31: Revolution, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (1) (2)
• 8/01: State Theater, St. Petersburg, FL (1) (2)
• 8/02: House Of Blues, New Orleans, LA (1) (2)
• 8/04: Warehouse Live, Houston, TX (1) (2)
• 8/05: Stubbs, Austin, TX (1) (2)
• 8/06: House Of Blues, Dallas, TX (1) (2)
• 8/07: Beaumont, Kansas City, MO (1) (2)
• 8/08: Grant Park, Chicago, IL (5)
• 8/10: Nutty’s North, Sioux Falls, SD (1) (2)
• 8/11: Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater, Des Moines, IA (1) (2)
• 8/12: The Cotillion, Wichita, KS (1) (2)
• 8/14: Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver, CO (1) (2) (3)
• 8/15: Paolo Soleri, Santa Fe, NM (1) (2)
• 8/16: Club 101, El Paso, TX (1) (2)
• 8/18: House Of Blues, Las Vegas, NV (1) (2)
• 8/19: Palladium, Los Angeles, CA (2)
• 8/21: House Of Blues, San Diego, CA (1) (2)
• 8/30: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA (6)

(1) w/Eyedea & Abilities
(2) w/Attracted to Gods
(3) w/Aesop Rock, Murs
(4) 10,000 Lakes Festival
(5) Lollapalooza
(6) Outside Lands Festival

Photo by Dan Monick.

In April, Minneapolis “emo rap” pioneers Atmosphere will embark on its annual tour.  Titled the When God Gives You Ugly tour, it promotes last year’s When God Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold and this year’s reissue of 2002′s God Loves Ugly. Special treats include P.O.S., who opens the first leg in support of his recently released Never Better; and Brother Ali, who will jump on board in May, near the end of its run, in support of his forthcoming EP The Truth Is Here.

• 4/09: Wilma Theatre, Missoula, MT
• 4/10: Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA
• 4/11: Knitting Factory, Boise, ID
• 4/12: In The Venue, Salt Lake City, UT
• 4/14: Orpheum Theater, Flagstaff, AZ
• 4/15: Marquis Theatre, Tempe, AZ
• 4/17: Rialto Theatre, Tucson, AZ
• 4/18: Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Indio, CA
• 4/19: Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA
• 4/20: Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, CA
• 4/21: Montbleu Resort and Casino, Lake Tahoe, NV
• 4/23: Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
• 4/24: Showbox SoDo, Seattle, WA
• 4/25: Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
• 4/26: Element, Victoria, BC
• 4/28: The Starlite Room, Edmonton, AB
• 4/29: MacEwan Ballroom, Calgary, AB
• 5/01: The Odeon, Saskatoon, SK
• 5/02: The Riddell, Regina, SK
• 5/04: Rockhouse, Thunder Bay, ON
• 5/06: The Phoenix, Toronto, ON
• 5/07: Music Hall London, London, ON
• 5/08: Theatre Plaza, Montreal, QC
• 5/09: Ritual Nightclub, Ottawa, ON
• 5/10: Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
• 5/12: The Asylum, Portland, ME
• 5/13: House Of Blues, Boston, MA
• 5/15: Trocadero Theatre, Philadelphia, PA
• 5/16: 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
• 5/17: Toad’s Place, Richmond, VA
• 5/18: Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH
• 5/19: The Vogue, Indianapolis, IN
• 5/21: The Pageant, St. Louis, MO
• 5/22: Slowdown, Omaha, NE

4/09-4/24:w/P.O.S.
5/10-5/22: w/Brother Ali

Next month, Atmosphere will launch its first extensive national tour for its hit album, If Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Shit Gold. Slug & Ant (that is, if Ant goes out on the road this time) has been touring with a backing band lately, adding a little spice to their familiar formula of freestyles, shout-outs to women, and a rousing slam dance to Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name.” Newbies who discovered the duo through MTV should get to the venue early for opening sets from Blueprint and Abstract Rude.

As usual, Atmosphere’s Paint the Nation tour will roll through mid-size cities such as Omaha and Boise, and make pit stops at a few major festivals like San Diego’s Street Scene. Incredibly, New York isn’t on the itinerary; give the dudes kudos for that. (August 20 update: The Atmosphere tour has ballooned to a 50-city endurance test. And yes, New York is part of the festivities.)

• 9/01: Harriet Island, St. Paul, MN
• 9/10: The Venue, Fargo, ND
• 9/11: Sioux Empire Expo Center, Sioux Falls, SD
• 9/12: Slowdown, Omaha, NE
• 9/13: Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO
• 9/15: Knitting Factory, Boise, ID
• 9/16: Wilma Theater, Missoula, MT
• 9/18: McDonald Theatre, Eugene, OR
• 9/19: Empire, Sacramento, CA
• 9/20: Street Scene Festival, San Diego, CA
• 9/21: The Dome, Bakersfield, CA
• 9/22: The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA
• 9/25: The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA
• 9/26: House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV
• 9/27: Schnepf Farms, Queen City, AZ
• 9/28: Tucson Electric Park, Tucson, AZ
• 9/30: Warehouse Live, Houston, TX
• 10/01: Tipitina’s, New Orleans, LA
• 10/02: State Theater, St. Petersburg, FL
• 10/03: Revolution, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• 10/04: Firestone, Orlando, FL
• 10/06: Masquerade, Atlanta, GA
• 10/07: Orange Peel, Asheville, NC
• 10/08: Toad’s Place, Richmond, VA
• 10/10: Ram Head’s Live, Baltimore, MD
• 10/11: Toad’s Place, New Haven, CT
• 10/13: Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
• 10/14: Irving Plaza, New York, NY
• 10/15: Lupo’s, Providence, RI
• 10/17: The Station, Portland, ME
• 10/18: Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
• 10/20: Mr. Small’s, Pittsburgh, PA
• 10/21: Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH
• 10/22: Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH
• 10/24: Annie’s, Cincinnati, OH
• 10/25: Wildhorse Saloon, Nashville, TN
• 10/27: Royal Oak Theatre, Royal Oak, MI
• 10/28: Intersection, Grand Rapids, MI
• 10/29: Canopy Club, Urbana, IL
• 10/31: Orpheum Theatre, Madison, WI
• 11/01: Riverside Theater, Milwaukee, WI
• 11/02: First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
• 11/05: Englert Theatre, Iowa City, IA
• 11/06: Granada Theater, Lawrence, KS
• 11/07: Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa, OK
• 11/08: Waterloo Park, Austin, TX
• 11/09: House of Blues, Dallas, TX
• 11/11: Club 101, El Paso, TX
• 11/12: Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque, NM
• 11/13: Fox Theater, Boulder, CO
• 11/15: Blue Note, Columbia, MO
• 11/16: Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL

9/01: Take Back Labor Day
9/10-9/12, 9/15-9/19, 9/21-9/26, 9/30-10/11: w/Blueprint, Abstract Rude, DJ Rare Groove
9/13: Monolith Music Festival
9/20: Street Scene
9/27: Edgefest
9/28: KFMA Fall Ball
10/24: Scribble Jam
11/08: Fun Fun Fun Fest

www.myspace.com/atmosphere

As one of the great hip-hop road dogs, Atmosphere are renowned for months-long tours that take in every nook and cranny of North America — meaning the U.S. and Canada; why not Mexico? But this jaunt will only include major U.S. cities, along with favorite markets such as Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Denver. The run is meant to build excitement for When Life Gives You Lemons, which drops April 22 on Rhymesayers Entertainment. So small market fans shouldn’t fret — Atmosphere will probably follow up with a more extensive run later this year.

In the meantime, check out the dates below.

• 4/22: The Metro, Chicago, IL
• 4/23: The Metro, Chicago, IL
• 4/24: Opera House, Toronto, ON
• 4/26: The Roxy, Boston, MA
• 4/27: Webster Hall, New York, NY
• 4/28: Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
• 4/29: 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
• 5/02: Emo’s, Austin, TX
• 5/03: Emo’s, Austin, TX
• 5/05: Marquis Theater, Phoenix, AZ
• 5/06: Henry Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
• 5/07: Henry Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
• 5/08: The Regency, San Francisco, CA
• 5/09: The Regency, San Francisco, CA
• 5/12: Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
• 5/13: Showbox, Seattle, WA
• 5/14: Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
• 5/16: In The Venue, Salt Lake City, UT
• 5/17: Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO
• 5/18: Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO

4/22-5/18: w/Abstract Rude, DJ Rare Groove

www.myspace.com/atmosphere

Atmosphere is set to release its first album since 2005′s underrated You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having. On April 22, the Minneapolis, Minn. group drops When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold through its Rhymesayers label.

Though it’s been three years since the last Slug & Ant “emo-rap” epic, he and Ant have been very busy in the last year or so. Ant masterminded Brother Ali’s critically acclaimed album The Undisputed Truth. And last summer, Atmosphere returned to Sad Clown Bad Dub, the series through which they first launched their career, for a quartet of seasonal EPs: Sad Clown Bad Summer #9, Sad Clown Bad Fall #10, and Sad Clown Bad Winter #11. The fourth and final chapter, Sad Clown Bad Spring #12, is scheduled for release right before When Life Gives You Lemons drops.

If that didn’t build enough buzz, Atmosphere issued a free Internet album, Strictly Leakage, on their MySpace page over the holidays. (You can still download it there and on Atmosphere’s profile on the Rhymesayers website.) According to a press release, the album has been downloaded over 60,000 times.

When Life Gives You Lemons will undoubtedly benefit from the Warner Bros. distribution deal that Rhymesayers announced last year. There will be a limited-edition package of the album that is encased in a 40-page black fabric book with gold embossing, and include lyrics, an illustrated children’s story from Slug, and a bonus DVD of footage from last year’s “Everybody Loves a Clown” tour and other treats. The track listing, which was unveiled on Pitchforkmedia.com today, is listed below.

“When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold will mark Atmosphere’s most complete album to date,” reads the aforementioned press release. “Recorded in the dead of winter, and influenced by fatherhood, Slug’s storytelling and Ant’s lush melodies have never been more poignant.”

• 1. “Like the Rest of Us”
• 2. “Puppets”
• 3. “The Skinny”
• 4. “Dreamer”
• 5. “Shoulda Known”
• 6. “You”
• 7. “Painting”
• 8. “Your Glass House”
• 9. “Yesterday”
• 10. “Guarantees”
• 11. “Me”
• 12. “Wild Wild Horses”
• 13. “Can’t Break”
• 14. “The Waitress”
• 15. “In Her Music Box”

www.myspace.com/atmosphere

Photo by Dan Monick.

“Everybody Loves a Clown” tour featuring Atmosphere, Mac Lethal, Grayskul & Luckyiam
Metro, Chicago, IL
October 22, 2007

Anyone who has ever been to an Atmosphere show can attest to Slug and company’s cult-like following. While most MCs struggle to fill sweatbox-sized venues, Atmosphere often sells out shows from state to state. On the Chicago stop of the “Everybody Loves a Clown” tour, a full house at Chicago’s 1,100-capacity Metro took in another crowd-pleasing set from Minnesota’s most revered hip-hop act.

The trouble with many Slug fanatics -— some who came all the way from Minnesota for this show -— is that their obsession with their favorite rapper can often lead them to underappreciate the rest of talent on the bill. No doubt, when Brother Ali opened for Atmosphere in 2003, the kids quickly warmed up to the commanding rhymer. But at this particular show, the reception wasn’t as great for openers Grayskul and Luckyiam.

To be fair, people were still slowly coming in when Living Legends co-founder Luckyiam took the stage without a DJ or hype man for his warm-up set. The eccentrically dressed Lucky didn’t try to wake up the then-small crowd by jumping around stage begging for a ton of call-and-response. Instead, he cleanly delivered his down-to-earth raps from his solo album Most Likely to Succeed, making sure that every word was heard. What was funny is that the few cheers he received must have sound so feigned that they evoked Lucky to insecurely ask, “Do you really mean that?”

Nobody expects an audience to jump up and down for an opening act they may have never heard of. But having been around longer than Atmosphere, one would think that more would have recognized Lucky from all of his recordings and shows with the LL crew. Let’s not forget the collaborations with Slug, either.

Next up was Rhymesayers’ Pacific Northwest reps Grayskul, who only got a slightly better response, even though their performance left very little to complain about. With Seattle’s up-and-coming rapper/vocalist/producer Grieves supplying the beats, MCs Onry Ozzborn, JFK, and their hype man brought the most balanced set of the show. While the grimy boom-bap richly pounded from the speakers, the energetic JFK led the way with his rapid-fire nasally flow, which was perfectly offset by Onry’s relaxed presence and deep vocals. Wisely, Grayskul mostly stuck to the more lively material off their recently released sophomore LP, Bloody Radio, like the quirky, double-time single “Scarecrow.” Too bad when Onry asked the crowd how many people had copped the album, he counted maybe five hands.

When Luckyiam came back up for his second set, he opted to take a more upbeat route, and utilized some Living Legends classics like “Addicted,” a telling and humorous ode to masturbation. By now audience members were getting a little hype. Still, they probably left Lucky with the feeling that seeing Slug was the only thing on their mind.

The final opener, Mac Lethal, was undoubtedly the most appreciated act prior to Atmosphere. A favorite from the Scribble Jam battle circuit, Mac is a certified Grade-A shit-talker. This Kansas City native’s don’t-give-a-fuck attitude doesn’t translate entirely well on his Rhymesayers’ debut, 11:11. But live, this cat is tremendously entertaining. Instead of just performing tracks, he tells jokes and tries his best to relate to the crowd.

What was interesting is how he kicked an airtight freestyle atop Soulja Boy’s “Crank That” and even proceeded to do the accompanying Soulja Boy dance with Grayskul affiliate, Grieves. The move made for some good laughs, although when Mac then called the smash single “the stupidest fucking song ever,” it just made the moment another hollow mainstream mockery. But Mac isn’t one to walk on eggshells. By the time he presented his uproarious drinking anthem “Pound That Beer,” the now-tipsy crowd finally looked like they were really enjoying themselves.

Following the only intermission of the show, Slug, Ant and their five-piece tour band stepped up and, of course, the cheers poured in. Looking a little sick and sipping grapefruit juice, Slug took it relatively easy on stage, but looked content performing melodic new tracks such as the optimistic number “Sunshine.” For the first time on tour, Slug brought a suitcase full of hats that contained visors, Charlie Chaplin fedoras, and other headwear to match the mood of certain songs. While not necessary, this move did add a Carrot Top-like entertainment element. But what the kids really came to see were the sincere, self-deprecating Atmosphere classics such as “Godlovesugly,” which made them switch into sing-along mode.

One could probably ponder for days as to why Slug became the kingpin of indie hip-hop. On this particular night, it was ever clear: he raps without reservation and connects with his audience by just being real. But for whatever reason, the mostly white audience hardly connected with the talented opening acts. A lack of familiarity was obviously partly to blame and understandable. But when Luckyiam and Grayskul are being just as real with just as much fluency, it wouldn’t have hurt Slug’s devotees to at least nod their heads a little harder.

– Max Herman

Photos by Max Herman.

It’s an annual tradition. Every year, Minneapolis heroes Atmosphere head out on the road, bringing their brand of emotional hip-hop to American youth everywhere. This year has been a relatively quiet one so far, though. Slug and Ant (who just produced Brother Ali’s critically acclaimed The Undisputed Truth) have been hard at work on their sixth album, When Life Gives You Lemons…, which is tentatively set for release next spring.

Earlier this month Atmosphere issued an EP on its Rhymesayers label, Sad Clown Bad Summer, to tide their fans over. They also scheduled a month-long jaunt. But this tour won’t aim at the indie-rap loving Emo’s clubs of the world. Instead, the group will head to secondary markets like Lubbock, Tex. and Santa Cruz, Calif. Fans in those cities will get a nice package, since Portland goth-rappers Grayskul, living legend Luckyiam, and Minneapolis upstart Mac Lethal will be joining them. (September 6 update: New dates have been added below.)

Tour dates are below. Try to purchase your tickets through Atmosphere’s Ducat King vendor; it will contribute a dollar towards victims of the recent I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis for every ticket sold.

• 9/14: Pizza Luce, Duluth, MN
• 9/15: Pizza Luce, Duluth, MN
• 9/17: Intersection, Grand Rapids, MI
• 9/18: Mr. Small’s Theatre, Millvale, PN
• 9/20: Ram’s Head Live, Baltimore, MD
• 9/21: Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI
• 9/22: Toad’s Place, New Haven, CT
• 9/23: Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC
• 9/24: 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA
• 9/26: Tipitina’s, New Orleans, LA
• 9/27: Palladium Ballroom, Dallas, TX
• 9/28: Jake’s Sports Cafe, Lubbock, TX
• 10/01: Orpheum Theater, Flagstaff, AZ
• 10/02: Henry Fonda Theater, Los Angeles, CA
• 10/03: Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, CA
• 10/04: Downtown Brewing Co., San Luis Obispo, CA
• 10/05: The Dome, Bakersfield, CA
• 10/06: Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA
• 10/08: Midtown Ballroom, Bend, OR
• 10/09: Nightlight Lounge, Bellingham, WA
• 10/10: Venue, Boise, ID
• 10/11: In the Venue, Salt Lake City, UT
• 10/12: Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO
• 10/13: Belly Up Aspen, Aspen, CO
• 10/15: Pabst Theater, Milwaukee, WS
• 10/16: Barrymore Theatre, Madison, WS
• 10/17: Playmaker’s Pavilion, Fargo, ND
• 10/21: The Canopy, Urbana, IL
• 10/22: The Metro, Chicago, IL
• 10/23: University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI
• 10/24: The Blue Note, Columbia, MO
• 10/25: Granada, Lawrence, KS
• 10/28: Rialto Theatre, Tucson, AZ
• 10/30: Emo’s, Austin, TX
• 11/01: The Conservatory, Oklahoma City, OK
• 11/02: Picador, Iowa City, IA

9/14-10/16: w/Grayskul, Luckyiam, Mac Lethal

www.myspace.com/atmosphere