Substance presents Manifestation featuring SAGE FRANCIS

Date: 
Friday, March 27, 2009

SUBSTANCE merges music, arts, and activism by providing the medium to connect progressive organizations and businesses with new audiences. By harnessing the emotional power of music and the arts, Substance motivates people from all backgrounds to engage in the burgeoning global movement for justice, equitability, and sustainability. Under the umbrella of manifesting a just world, Substance works to break down issue barriers, create unlikely alliances, and bridge the gap between vision and reality, using the motivational power of music. SUBSTANCE is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis, MN.

Performer: 

SAGE FRANCIS

Photo by Anthony Saint James
SAGE FRANCIS

Dubbed as a "forefather of indie-hop," Sage Francis first made a name for himself in the emcee battle circuit during the late 90's and early 2000's while distributing his mixtapes from hand-to-hand. In the matter of a few years he graduated from bootlegging his own music to being one of the top selling independent artists in hip-hop, all while sitting at the helm of Strange Famous Records in his home city of Providence, RI.

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Setting aside the more boastful side of rap, Francis quickly became recognized for the poetic leanings and scathing socio-political commentary in his lyrics. His debut album, Personal Journals, was heralded as both an artistic masterpiece and a genre game changer. The risks taken in his music and business approach, through the course of five plus commercial album releases, have helped Francis stay a few steps ahead of the game, utilizing various channels of the internet to cut out unnecessary middlemen while the industry burns, burns, burns to the ground.

Like so many great songwriters before, from Lightening Hopkins to Bob Dylan and beyond, Francis uses his gifted wordplay for a much greater good, creating vivid narratives and heartfelt confessionals which both instigate and inspire. Although the 10+ years of touring and DIY work ethic have proven highly successful, Sage Francis has announced that he's putting the road-dog days behind him in order to focus on other things which include (but are not exclusive to) writing, recording, producing, journalizing, and disproving the rumors that he is hip-hop's anti-Christ. Francis will still perform a select few shows each year, as long as his cat gives him permission. That's just how it's gotta be. "Damn it feels good to be an angster."

Special Guests / Opening Acts: 

CECIL OTTER

Cecil Otter is a compelling musician for the same reasons he’s good with cards. The technique runs on charm, patience, intuition, and precision. Cecil is one of the founding members of Doomtree. As an emcee he’s admired for his lyric, cinematic style. He writes about love, vengeance, and redemption—and the spaces where the three convene. His narratives ride on his imagery: sepia flickers of loners, beauties, ghosts, and vagabonds. As a producer, his sound is nostalgic. He features swooning guitar lines, masterful drums, vinyl crackle, and distant voices.

THE GOD DAMN DOO WOP BAND

The God Damn Doo Wop Band on Myspace

2007 interview from ReadJunk.com:

Kids today are going crazy with the doo wop. Alienated by “square” society, these troubled ruffians have found comfort in overlapping group vocal harmonies. And knife fights. Risking our lives, our crew traveled to the God Damn Doo Wop Band’s turf in Minnesota to talk about their album Broken Hearts and smacking down the Pipettes. We spoke with one of their three lovely female singers, Kat.

Venue: 

First Avenue

Location

First Avenue
701 First Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55403-1327
United States
Phone: 612-332-1775
44° 58' 43.3416" N, 93° 16' 33.762" W

Event Details
Friday, March 27
Mainroom / 8:00 pm / 18+
SAGE FRANCIS
$13.00 adv | $15.00 door
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