Mac Miller performed at the Promowest Pavillon Sunday.  Miller just dropped a new album called “G.O.O.D. A.M” and is touring in support of it. He recently switched from Rostrum to his own REMember imprint through Warner Brothers.

   They gave him 10,000,000. I actually sat here trying to figure out the mathematical equation on how to recoup 10,000,000. The first conclusion, I landed on was this is this is why I don’t have 10,000,000 dollars.

   On the Big Sean record “Control,” Kendrick Lamar listed off who he considers his peers and competition. Mac Miller was listed next to J. Cole, Drake, K.R.I.T, Meek Mill. Pusha T, Tyler and more as contenders in barber shop arguments of “Where I’m From” or “Til My Lungs Collapse” listings of the current era of emcees.

   Like Tyler, K.R.I.T, and J.Cole, Mac Miller also produces which I think shows a desire for sequencing as opposed to just rapping over some drums.  I’m sure this not only aids in creativity, it also makes 10,000,000 dollars easier to recouped because Mac doesn’t have to pay for producers.

   I know this isn’t Forbes and you just care if dude could rock. Or you hate him, and want me to make fun of him.

   Well, there wasn’t anything to make fun of.

   Last night Mac Miller was in Ohio backed by DJ Clockwork who is no stranger to our city. The first time I saw Clockwork spin was the Milk Bar with Steph Floss. The last time was at Skylab. 

   (Last Night, Clockwork deejayed with Steph Floss for the Cave-Grizzlies party at Sway. Probably why Lebron was spotted roaming the Short North.)

Mac’s last tour had the Pittsburgh rapper performing with a full band. This tour Mac, and Clockwork kept it two turntables and a microphone save for a hype-man who wasn’t really noticeable because Mac’s stage presence and technical prowess was on-point.

   During Mac Miller’s performance he went extensively through his catalog.

   Mac went everywhere from his current single “100 Grandkids” that flips the hook from “Bad Boy For Life” with a slight “Purple Pills/My Band” feel to a song off his 2010 mixtape “K.I.D.S.”

   He did not play “Donald Trump.” Now that Trump is running from President, Miller has chosen to distance himself because Trump apparently is not Miller’s ideal candidate.

Prior to touring and album release, Miller also spent some time with Rick Rubin kicking depression, lean and other chemical dependencies prior to releasing “G.O.O.D AM.”

   The current incarnation of this is on “G.O.O.D. AM” and with Miller’s live show is someone who probably would get a Bas Blasta/Beatnuts reference forged somewhere between Odd Future, and Paul Wall.

   “Good AM” is not as melancholy as Miller’s previous  “Watching Movies with the Sound-Off.”

   He sounds like a person enjoying himself.

   While I’m not opposed to new rap, I have difficulty getting into new metal. Not just neu metal either.

   In fact, I would say the trap music is ruining metal in the sense that there are 5 metal bands I understand: Metallica, Slayer, S.O.D., Black Sabbath and Mobb Deep.

   I mean, I listen to some black metal, and death metal but I more mean groups that are allowed to perform.

   So while I still look for new rap, I really don’t know the purpose of buying new metal albums save for Skeletonwitch.

   Seems like it’s all be done better.

   But this discounts the live metal experience.

   Metal dudes have the top equipment and if you play metal you have to shred.

   Metal shows are usually top-notch.

   Red Fang sold-out Ace of Cups 5 last week.

   The Portland band were stoner in right parts, and could get their heavy chug chug’s off with clarity and sped up in a manner that didn’t seem like a mess in transition.

   While the music was heavy, and loud enough to cause people to respond with head-bangs, moshing and crowdsurfing. Red Fang exuded fun in a manner that not only everything was fundamentally how stoner metal should sound without going into weird post rock terribleness they possess a light-heartedness that spreads warmth.

   They weren’t like making jokes or like throwing whoopee cushions into the mosh-pit and then stopping the music so the whoopee cushion sound would create slap-stick humor.

   But it was fun.

   Ahem, but the people say: Where are the locals breh?

   I saw the Worn Flints at the Big Room Bar at CD102.5. They were fresh off of opening for the Alabama Shakes.  Multi-Instrumentalist/singer Kenny Stiegle behaved like he was in front of sold-out crowd. He counted down as the band would end songs in manner while jumping the air with his guitar. Musically, Worn Flints tetered between psych-rock, and just rock n roll, but then add random jazz elements.

   This isn’t to say dude pulls out an upright bass and snaps his fingers while reciting poetry and outdated slang. More just in the psych-rock breakdowns their is a timing that signifies dude is either a trained musician or has been practicing since he was 12.

   The Worn Flints also brought out Emma Swysgood to sing which added a quaggy, melodic stream to polished delivery.