9:30 club was the place to be Oct. 3, when rapper and singer Theophilus London delighted a mid-sized audience with an energetic set that neighbors certainly felt in the floorboards.
Opening band Ra Ra Rasputin told the audience to “Bring out the Monday” and enjoy the night, but everyone wanted them to bring out London.
The audience waited patiently between performances, jamming to hip- hop hits and a slowed remix of London’s song, “I Stand Alone.” Soon after 9:30 p.m. he appeared, greeted by an excited and attentive crowd.
Brooklyn-raised and known for his distinctive style of dress, he hopped onstage clad in dark skinny jeans, a black sequined shirt and a leather jacket. He completed the ensemble with sunglasses and an admirable quantity of bling, along with a hat that read “LVRS,” taken from a short documentary called “LVRS of GOD” that was filmed while he performed at the Brooklyn Museum June 10.
London may rap about girls and fame, but at its core, his music deviates from current hip-hop standards. He is described as an indie, new wave-influenced hip-hop artist. His combination of earthshaking bass and 80s synth melodies with lyrics both spoken and sung give him a creative edge that appeals to fans of both hip-hop and of alternative music. And he certainly has dedicated fans; throughout the evening, many jubilantly sang along.
At times, he was the hardcore Brooklynite, rapping lyrics with energetic anger and fluidity. He introduced Cousin Brian, his relative and a fellow artist who joined him for the song “Girls Girls $.” This resulted in a captivating moment, where the pair moved upstage to the center for each verse, breaking it down forcefully under glaring yellow lights.
Afterward, Cousin Brian helped divulge the “surprise” to the crowd, which was the title of London’s upcoming album: “Do Not Fear the Digital World.”
The next song they performed, “Big Spender,” was a vibrant new track.
London has been making a name for himself since the release of his first mixtape “Jam!” in 2008, appearing this year on the “Late Show with David Letterman” on Valentine’s Day and at the Festival de Cannes in France this past May.
Around the middle of the set, London said he wanted to sing some songs from his mixtapes. The audience cheered boisterously, indicative of his fame not just from his more recent singles, but also from his earlier work.
Later, the leather jacket was handed to the DJ, and as the lights went down and a disco ball rotated, London grooved across the stage in his traditional way: gliding and guiding in somewhat of a one-legged moonwalk.
The show was a genre-defiant spectacle and a display of genuine artistry. London brings an embraceable individuality to the music scene that only bodes well for his future.
thescene@theeagleonline.com
