Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip

You should not like Scroobius Pip. In his video for "Thou Shalt Always Kill," he clasps close to his heart a vinyl edition of London Calling by the Clash and declares, "The Clash—just a band," before haphazardly chucking the LP onto a battered English sidewalk. Just a band? For those of us who think a check-cashing office/record store seems like the best mating since, well, Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, Scroobius Pip's act is unforgivable. But here's why you will end liking him anyway: In promoting the inherent unimportance of musical cult status, he sets himself apart from the hip-hop all-stars oozing with ego and gaudy pretensions. He tosses gold chains and an oil-slicked six-pack for a Brillo-like beard and slim suits. His snarky English accent is crisp and decipherable and his rapping pleasantly lacks the touting of guns, bitches, and bling. And when paired with dan le sac's Radiohead-sampling and exotic cultural references, the duo proves all those tinted-windowed SUVs ought to pull over and make way. With B. Dolan and Gospel Gossip. 21+.
Thu., Sept. 18, 9 p.m., 2008