HANDSOME BOY MODELING SCHOOL + Rondo Brothers @ Cabaret La Tulipe

By Döc Holidae - Phantastiq Cypha - 04/14/2005

Nathaniel Meriwether says it best: “It’s a handsome thing, you wouldn’t understand”. And it’s true; if you haven’t heard of The Handsome Boy Modeling School, you don’t understand. Chest Rockwell (Prince Paul of De La Soul fame) and Nathaniel Meriwether (Dan The Automator from the Gorillaz) came out in 1999 with So... How’s Your Girl and recently released the follow-up album White People. Both albums use stylish samples and Handsome Boy graduates on numerous tracks. The first single "The World’s Gone Mad" off of White People has Del Tha Funky Homosapien, Barrington Levy and Alex Kapranos (Franz Ferdinand) working together to make a smooth flowing track that’ll have you really thinking the world’s gone mad.

“Handsome is as Handsome does”, proclaimed Chest Rockwell. That’s just one of many lines used by the Chest and Nathaniel at their show on April 14th @ La Tulipe in the east end of Montreal. The opening, The Rondo Brothers, was good but not memorable. Not even the La Tulipe box office can remember them. Somewhat of an R&B meets rock. I listened to them only as I was walking around and meeting members of Handsome Boy Modeling School. I actually had the chance of talking with Prince Paul before the show started. I stood outside with him for 10 minutes before he had to go in and start his set. Handsome Boy weren’t just performers, they’re deejays who never forget that a good show only comes from getting a good vibe and that’s what they got. We gave them our respect and they crowned us 100% handsome. Make sure next time they’re in town, you get the chance to be crowned.

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