You might expect there’s something behind The Beastie Boys scheduling the Madison date of their North American tour the day after the presidential election. The frat-boy rhymesayers turned funky political activists have been all over President Bush since the advent of the war in Iraq, and Madison certainly offers a constituency more akin to the group’s politics than, say, Dallas or Denver.
Touring in support of their politically charged To The 5 Boroughs, the Beasties must have perceived Madison as the most appropriate crowd to share their feelings pending the result of Tuesday’s election. The group uses many tracks on Boroughs to express its frustrations with the Bush administration. The album is laden with Dubya lyrics and clever references to the Kyoto Treaty and “Bowling for Columbine.” Given the scene in Madison, the group couldn’t have picked a better place to express their dissonance. Then again, they couldn’t have picked a much better place to throw a party.
And thankfully, partying is much of what the Beasties’ “Pageant Tour” has been about. Now on the home stretch of their 24-date circuit, the group has downplayed the politics (with few exceptions) and has put their emphasis on throwing raucous old-school parties — balancing their energetic hip-hop with just enough funky instrumentals to keep themselves content. With 17 shows behind them, the Boys have shed rust and are in enough of a groove where they’re able to mix up the set list from show to show. They’re urging the audience to put a little extra effort into their concert attire (hence the name of the tour), and for those going to tonight’s show at the Alliant Energy Center Coliseum, you will find the Beasties are putting additional emphasis on their garb as well.
Looking to please all attendees, the Beasties have made no bones about making their shows veritable greatest hit performances. For the first time in nearly a decade, the group is performing selections from their seminal Licensed to Ill album. The Beasties once neglected to play songs from the group’s first record because their maturing tastes looked beyond the charms of these old-school party-starters and their hedonistic lyrics. Expect “Brass Monkey,” “Time to Get Ill” and “Paul Revere” each to get the treatment. Having not performed these tunes in sometime, MCA, Adrock and Mike D will undoubtedly look to the audience to help them get through these oldies.
Turntablist virtuoso Mix Master Mike returns as the Beasties’ DJ. With lightning-quick technique, Mix Master hijacks samples from across hip-hop’s catalogue to switch up the beat on The Boys. It’s a different dynamic for some, and longtime fans might be disappointed by the unfamiliarity of some of the sounds, but it’s a well-rehearsed routine that certainly puts a new spin on their time-tested tunes. Anticipate the Beasties to slow things down with a mid-set run of instrumentals to turn out the funk and then to close with some of their biggest early hits from the ’90s.
Opening for the Beasties is former Black Star member Talib Kweli. His latest album, The Beautiful Struggle, is his most commercial record to date, relying heavily on radio-ready hooks and guest vocalists. But the socially conscious MC should spend most of his short set touching his other two solo albums, including 2002’s critical darling, Quality. Kweli’s got chops, and he’s not afraid to show you what he can do with a microphone.
The Pageant kicks off at 7:30 tonight from the Coliseum. The Beastie Boys and Talib Kweli will follow up with a visit to The United Center in Chicago Thursday night. Tickets for both shows are still available.
