Method Man and Redman at City Hall, 4/9/11

Photo Britt Chester

City Hall's amphitheater stood under a cloud of smoke last night for the finale of a three-night stay in Colorado for Method Man and Redman. Openers Dj Cavem and the MTHDS were given the opportunity to prime for the How High stars, now in their decade-plus running show since the drop of Blackout in 1999. Metal detectors at the doors slowed things up a bit in the ticket line, but safety of the attendees weighs heavy when Johnny Blaze and Funk Doctor Spot come to town. Fortunately, everything went off without a hitch and only a few drunkards got tossed out.

Photo Britt Chester

Dj Cavem

​DJ Cavem was holding it down on the tables for the openers and the set breaks. With a controller, one turntable and a laptop lexicon of hip-hop, Cavem spun hits and remixes dating back to early Tribe Called Quest cuts and late '90s Dr. Dre beats.

Cavem closed his first set shortly after blaring Dead Prez's "Bigger Than," which had everyone verbally in agreement concluding that there is "One thing 'bout music, when it hits you feel no pain."

Photo Britt Chester

Dills of MTHDS

​MTHDS (pronounced Methods), were on deck in the amphitheater, and brought the hype on the opening track, "Riot," which sounded like a Rage Against the Machine cover of a Flobots song. The music was strong, but the lyrics and vocals felt soft, even on the precursor to the hook that begs the question "How come everybody wanna fuck with the MTHDS?"

Photo Britt Chester

Durty on drums

​"Bailando," played near the end of the set with its Caribbean percussion style and Latin guitar flavor. "Life," a song about life (duh), closed the night out. It's all about drinking and smoking and being irresponsible, basically what everyone was already doing that night anyway, and the hook says it doesn't matter because we are all going to end up in hell. Cheers to that.

Photo Britt Chester

Neils on percussion

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See the photos of the Method Man and Redman show at the Fox Theatre in Boulder by Ru Johnson