Photo Essay: Lyrics Born and Dumate at Majestic Theatre

Your friendly Decider correspondent had to duck out of Tuesday night's Lyrics Born show at the Majestic Theatre with a case of tinnitus (not LB's fault). But our photographer friend Joe Engle stuck around to get some shots of LB's set and one of the openers, Madison hip-hop band Dumate. (Turns out we got there a little too late for the first opening band, Weapons Of Mass DeFunktion.) Joe (a big Lyrics Born fan) reports it was a good show, and he was nice enough to let us know what's going on in these shots, too. Lyrics Born, out behind his 2008 album Everywhere At Once, brought along DJ D-Sharp and his wife, vocalist Joyo Velarde, and Dumate brought their reliable live-band mix of rap, reggae, and funk grooves.

Lyrics Born taunts the crowd with a few too many cries of "I can't hear you!" while his wife and vocalist Joyo Velarde shares some silly, awesome dance moves and eggs the crowd on a bit herself.

Again, here's Joyo, who beefed up a lot of Lyrics Born's songs with vocal hooks and also sang a tune from her upcoming solo EP. Joe notes that her voice is "way more powerful live."

Local MC Rob Dz, recovering from a February incident in which he was struck and pepper-sprayed by Madison cops, seemed to have his spirits up as he joined Dumate for a song.

dumate majestic theatre

Dumate's main MCs, Dudu Stinks and DLO, give the group an exciting but playful live presence.

Once again, Dumate also proved a solid live band, thanks to bassist Bobby Peru and (not so visible here) drummer-vocalist Jah Boogie and producer Man Mantis.