Pigeon John, The Crest, and Kanser at High Noon Saloon
Eric Baillies
Pigeon John lays on the fresh-faced charm.
Pigeon John swept into a sleepy High Noon on Wednesday, prodding a sparse crowd of election-weary Madisonians to a sweaty finish. That was an especially tall order at this gig: The obligatory "hour-and-a-half-late start" rule for rap shows was dutifully enforced, giving both the artists and the crowd time to walk around aimlessly or sit and stare at a subpar DJ set. Even the hype man's pleas to give it up for our next president went un-cheered: “Damn, y'all motherfuckers is dead.”
The crowd started drifting toward the stage as Twin Cities staple Kanser opened up. The production never rose above serviceable, but rappers Unicus and New MC showed off some versatility, running through their live hits and more introspective material alike. Local standbys The Crest followed up with brief displays of lyrical dexterity, easy-to-learn choruses that beg to be screamed, and beats that kept the hands bouncing without getting lost in complexities. Flipping Hall & Oates’ “Rich Girl” into a ready-made extended hook may sound derivative (especially since it’s already been done), but the group’s swaggering joy turned the tune's mood from saccharine to celebratory.
By the time Pigeon John finally left his place at the merch table in the back to stroll unassumingly through the crowd, it was shaping up to be a pleasant but underwhelming night. Luckily, John's genuinely charming, crooning intro and refreshingly anti-ironic demeanor helped showcase what every truly great MC needs—an effective, compelling persona, and, of course, rhyme skills for days. John’s influences were on clear display, from his loopy Slick Rick-esque storytelling adventures to his De La Soul-like penchant for engaging twists and details.
He transitioned between songs with a stilted panache that usually turned hilarious. Talking casually about how once he woke up in a Motel Six next to an old dude in a purple tuxedo wouldn’t seem the traditional way to introduce a song called “So Gangster.” Of course, it's even more bizarre to have a song called “So Gangster” that’s really just a beautiful lazy-day meditation on self-assurance.
He even managed to address the ladies (all 15 of them) without once disrespecting them—damn near a first for a rapper who’s not a spoken-word artist on the side. He likened the vibe of the show, appropriately, to that of a first date. Dedicating “The Chase” to both the heartbreakers and the heartbroken, Pigeon John came off like a classier version of Devin The Dude (who hits the High Noon next Wednesday). Let’s hope he calls us back for another night out soon.
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