Atmosphere

Everybody Loves a Clown Tour with Atmosphere, Grayskul, and Mac Lethal
First Avenue

It's that time of year again, when the leaves change colors, the wind gets a bite, and Atmosphere take a break from their global grind for some hometown TLC. I'll spare you the plea to see Minnesota's seminal hip-hop institution (if it hasn't happened already, well...), but the two acts opening for that swaggering behemoth are definitely worth seeing live, whether you like Slug's histrionics or not. (It's okay, I myself prefer Ant over Slug every time.) Grayskul recently dropped one of 2007's freshest LPs with Bloody Radio, a concept album that flips the script on the various rap sub-genres currently clogging the airwaves. They're hungry and angry and creative as hell—a bad combination. Mac Lethal has also just released his long-awaited debut on Rhymesayers, and is also virtually undiscovered by people who don't attend Scribble Jam. Besides being arguably the best freestyler around, Mac is sure to take a cue from headliner Slug and bare his heart at least a few times, too. Laugh, cry, pump your fist. $16. 18+ Friday, all ages Saturday.
Fri., Nov. 9, 8 p.m.; Sat., Nov. 10, 5 p.m., 2007