Photo by: Devin Pitts-Rogers
It can seem tricky at times to classify Kevin Rudolf as belonging to one genre or another.
On one hand, in many songs one can hear lyrics best befitting rap in the style in which they are delivered.
Both Rudolf and his accompanying vocalist can be seen wearing baggy pants, sporting New Era baseball caps and Rudolf will even wear a pair of shades on stage.
However, I have not seen too many hip hop artists play a black and white Gibson Les Paul. Rudolf dabbles amongst the genres of rock, electronic rock and hip hop, almost as though he isn’t satisfied with the norms each group has dictated.
Last Friday, Rudolf came into town for the Let it Rock Tour and while the attendance resulted in a moderate crowd, the music by no means reflected this fact.
Rudolf has been playing guitar since the age of 12, and this was reflected on stage.
He had no problems sliding onto his knees and playing melodic solos at all the right times.
He also seemed to focus on his work, careful not to miss any of his vocal cues, nor miss the timing for his instrument.
The audience, though not jam packed, was enthusiastic to say the least.
Every song, every solo had the crowd cheering for more.
It goes without saying that Rudolf’s breakout single, “Let it Rock,” was played.
Accompanying that song on the set list was Rudolf’s second single “Welcome to the World.” He also played songs you may not have had a chance to hear, such as “N.Y.C.,” “She Can Get It,” and several more from his his debut album.
If a criticism of the show had to be made, it would be Rudolf’s relative lack of showmanship when compared to other big name acts.
He performed his set solidly, but without an overabundance of flourish and style.
But to be honest, what do you expect from an up and coming performer.
Rudolf’s popularity is recent enough that he can’t possibly be comfortable with his stage presence yet.
Furthermore, there’s no shame in playing a solid set.
In fact, the lack of frivolity in his stage presentation emphasized the overall excellence of his music. He’s a fine example of the genres he defies.
Rudolf put on a professional show and should be commended for it.
Long story short, while you the reader may not recognize the name, you more than likely are familiar with “Let It Rock.” Rudolf comes across as a young musician who proves to be talented with guitar and versatile in the genres everyone vainly tries to shoehorn him into.
Because he currently only has one album out, his set list only ran around 40 minutes long, but I hope that he remains motivated to make a second album so that his set list is even longer next time.
Definitely keep your eye on Rudolf in the future. He’s going places.
