Ozomatli, the Los Angeles-based hip hop/salsa/cumbia/dub/funk band famous for working crowds into a dancing frenzy across the country and around the world swung through Tahoe on Tuesday, Dec. 14, for an intimate show in the Crystal Bay Club’s Crown Room.
A packed house and an eager North Shore crowd was there waiting, anxious to see such a big-time group in such a small venue.
Opening the show was the Lifesavas crew from Portland, Oregon. Made up of emcees Jumbo the Garbageman and Vursatyl, the Lifesavas kicked the night off strong with a number of songs off their new album, Gutterfly.
As the crowd got into their message and fists were thrown up in the air, the Lifesavas proved to be the perfect opening for Ozomatli — an eight-piece band that somehow managed to find everyone some space on the Crown Room stage.
Returning to Tahoe to join Ozomatli for the performance was Tre Hardson (aka Slim Kid Tre) of Pharcyde fame, who has played a number of memorable shows across the street at the Tahoe Biltmore in the past.
On Tuesday, Hardson was able to keep up with the driving groove of Ozomatli on percussion, while also lending his vocals to a number of songs.
As usual, the crowd did not stop dancing throughout the show. And even during the slower songs those on the crowded dance floor could not help but move their feet.
When the set was over, rather than an encore, the entire band grabbed portable percussion or brass instruments and formed an impromptu drum/dance circle in the middle of the dance floor, bringing the night to a close with the most energy the Crown Room has seen in a long time.
Be sure to check out the slideshow of images from the historic evening below.
Comments
Only registered users can write comments. Please login or register.
On Tuesday, Hardson was able to keep up with the driving groove of Ozomatli on percussion, while also lending his vocals to a number of songs.