County Grind's eulogy for Adam Yauch
"I quite vividly remember when Licensed to Ill came out," relates organizer of the Homage to the Beastie Boys at Cinema Paradiso Mark Pollack. "I was nine and got the cassette from Camelot Music in Coral Square Mall. I toted that thing everywhere in my Fisher-Price cassette player, no matter where I went, be it to eat with my parents or walking around the neighborhood, that thing was being played in its entirety. As dorky as I was at that time, that album was so cool!"
Dorky or not, Pollack clearly knew enduring, quality hip-hop when he heard it, even as a kid. The world recently mourned the passing of icon and Beastie Adam Yauch, AKA MCA. This loss likely inspired Blindspot Productions' decision to focus this month's musical "homage" on the Brooklyn trio.
June's event centered around the cerebral and experimental art and sounds of Brian Eno. This time though, shit's going to get a little more physical and wordy with the short film Fight for Your Right Revisited which will screen along with classic footage of Mike D, MCA, and Ad-Roc. Performances by 954 rapper Protoman, freaky "man punks" Armageddon Man, and Hot Pocket& will commemorate the act.
Pollack continued his journey down Beastie Lane by telling us of other of their endeavors that affected his life. "Then, when I was 12, I boosted Paul's Boutique from Sam Goody," Pollack says. "I had to have it, but obviously had no money at that age, especially to pay Goody prices. 'High Plains Drifter' and 'Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun' were by far my favs, so in-your face-aggressive in terms of the beats, lyrics, lyrical format. And the gits on 'High Plains' had such a Slayeresque drive."
Given our license to ill, we advise you to check your head if you miss this chance to remember a group that likely also changed the way you think and feel about music.
In Honor of Beastie Boys at 8 p.m. on July 14 at 503 SE Sixth Street, Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cost $7 for FLIFF Members, $8 for general admission, and students are free. There will be a record swap, full bar, and free parking.
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