Review: Sabbatical opening, Ace One release
by Rachel Hanley
Sabbatical Soft Opening
Sabbatical
September 1, 2012
The Sabbatical’s soft opening on Saturday Sept. 1, was anything but -- there was really nothing soft about it. Featuring hip-hop artists Ace One and Hinx Jones, and promoted by Oranje, the celebration was as entertaining as it was promising. Opened by the previous managers of Locals Only, the establishment offered free samples of the menu and reasonably priced drinks with a cover charge of only $5.
Hospitable and knowledgeable servers hustled platters of Thai barbeque chicken skewers and sweet potato truffle chips, as the crowd anticipated the rappers’ arrival. The widely varied demographic seemed to be comprised of everyone from dire hip-hop fanatics to late-nighters who wanted to test out the strip’s newest joint. The performance was originally slated to kick off around 10 p.m., but due an earlier DJ delay, didn’t commence until around 11:30. Despite the delay, the audience waited patiently for the tunes while absorbing the semi-casual environment.
Hinx Jones, part of the rap collective Cut Camp, started getting people moving as the first half of the hip-hop set. Armed with infectious beats and sharp lyricism, the duo rapped about a myriad of topics ranging from drinking beer to just being a couple of regular guys. Tossing lines to and fro like a verbal Frisbee, the rappers performed with confidence and fluidity. With PBRs in hand, they certainly primed the audience for the charismatic Ace One.
The Indianapolis rapper, Ace One, had a stacked night, considering he was charged with the duties of dropping his newest album, performing for the opening of a club and celebrating his own birthday. This man emanates energy, and the fact that he performed on his own birthday is proof enough. Bearded and drenched in sweat, Ace One rattled his rhymes into the microphone with ferocity and finesse. His main priority was to get the crowd as passionate as he was, and he definitely succeeded. “Get your hands up!” he would demand the crowd, and like loyal participants in a game of Simon Says, the audience would throw them up in rhythm.
One’s vibrancy is enhanced by his multi-syllabic hand gestures like he is Morse coding his lines to his fans. His fan base, family and production team’s dedicated cheering and participation speaks volumes about the sort of work ethic this rapper possesses. Performing a lengthy set with lots of new music, he wasn’t shy about inviting several members from the Cut Camp, including Hinx Jones, to share the stage with him. The chemistry in the Sabbatical was almost tangible.
With onlookers in the crowd like D.M.A. and Oreo Jones, Indy’s hip-hop community had an exciting evening at the Sabbatical. By the end of Ace One’s performance the crowd was buzzing with that post-show glow, and the seeds for a solid hip-hop spot had been sown. The Sabbatical’s soft opening with Ace One has certainly shown promise of performances to be expected. Luckily, for those wishing to experience this establishment themselves, the grand opening is scheduled for September 14, so prepare appropriately.
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