MUSIC

Amy Surdu and the rest of the Gore Gore Girls were a dominating presence. (Www.goregoregirls.com)

Stones Throw Showcase

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Hip-hop producer and rapper Madlib has a mix CD called "Blunted in the Bomb Shelter." The title pretty much describes the ganja-steeped, psychedelic-funk aesthetics of the underground hip-hop label Stones Throw, which is the primary outlet for Madlib's music.

The label's traveling party pulled into the Black Cat on Thursday, and while the show took a while to heat up, the evening ended with a full-on fire.

J.Rocc was the MVP -- he hyped and spun for all the MCs -- but the audience did not show much energy for the opening DJ set or rap showcases from Med (Medaphoar) and Guilty Simpson.

That all changed when veteran MC Percee P started ripping mikes like it was 1992. His blasts of motormouth verse over classic-sounding funk clips injected the crowd with lyrical Red Bull. With an invigorated audience hooting him on, Madlib brought his free-association hip-hop to the stage, mixing whacked-out lyrics, jazz-informed beats and cut-and-paste avant-gardisms. The set was hit-and-miss, and a turntable vs. drums battle between Madlib and Karriem Riggins was alternately thrilling and tedious. But give him credit: Madlib isn't afraid to get loose onstage, a rarity at hip-hop concerts, which often feel as scripted as a stage play.

After Percee P, however, the highlight was label honcho Peanut Butter Wolf's night-closing collage of old-school hip-hop videos, live-mixed as if he were dealing with 12-inch vinyl. It was a blazing, crowd-pleasing performance that left the Black Cat feeling like it was under the influence.

-- Christopher Porter

Gore Gore Girls

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Like the fake encore, being told to clap your hands or sing along at a show is at worst an insult and at best a yawn-inducement. These staples of a live act may work to rouse the occasional ticket buyer, but a frequent concertgoer is more likely to think, I'll clap and sing when I want, thanks. Yet when Amy Gore (nee Surdu) of Detroit's Gore Gore Girls is issuing such requests, you do it -- partly because the band throws down a performance so raw and thrilling it sonically smacks you out of your own peevish head. But mostly, you do it because you're a little scared.

At their DC9 appearance Thursday, Surdu and the Girls (currently, guitarist Marlene Hammerle, bassist Lianna Castillo and drummer Nicky Styxx) proved themselves not so much rock stars as musical dominatrixes, with all but Styxx donning high hair and vinyl go-go dresses and staring the crowd down with an implicit threat that a failure to rock out would get you brained with a Gretsch.

With a sound that moves Spectoresque sweetness into the Stooges' garage, the Girls' posturing makes their catchy tunes ridiculously fun.

The hour-long set featured tracks off their latest album, "Get the Gore," a burst of froth that mixes straight-up, energy-injecting stompers such as "Voodoo Doll" alongside candy melodies like "All Grown Up." During the latter, highlighted by Brill Building bah-bah-bahs, Surdu swung her ponytail like a '50s teen excited about the big dance. But then she'd push her way into the crowd and plant her boot on some happy guy's chest while ripping out a guitar solo. Afterward, you can bet everyone was clapping and singing along.

-- Tricia Olszewski