Newsday, New York, New York. Glen Gamboa.
Saturday, April 14, 2001

Music can be fun. Dancing can be easy. Concerts can be simple.
B52000 didn't need explosions or confetti cannons or vocal processors or roaring guitars or elaborate choreography to entertain the sold-out Bowery Ballroom crowd. Armed with only a handful of tunes, three primitive synthesizers, a drum kit and Beastie Boy Adam "Ad-Rock" Horowitz's mega-watt personality, the quartet rolled through an hour-long set of happy musical adventures that had the crowd begging for more.
We're going to play two more sones and that's it." Ad-Rock said, before slipping a high energy "Wait a Minute" into the set. "We're not going to come away and come back. We don't have any outfits to show you. We're not going to jam up here because we're not hippies. We're new. We don't know any more songs."
BS2000's debut "Simply Mortified," is a shaggy, lo-fi collection of new-wave-meets-hip-hop with Ad Rock singing / rapping / screaming on top of it-like "Rock Lobster" era B-52's remixed by De La Soul on a tight budget. When Ad Rock and Amery "AWOL" Smith aided by keyboard player Paul "Jazz" Thomoson and drummer Alfredo Ortiz, recreate the 'Mortitied' songs in concert, the enjoy-vour-self vibe becomes infectious.
"It's time for dancing." Ad-Rock said, breaking into a weird dance that was part swim, part frug. "And I don't mean moshing. It's time for you to come up with some new steps. That moshing .. is tired."
The big dance grooves of the drum-heavy "The Scrappy, which bears the most resemblance to a Beastie Boys jam, and the cheesy, smile-in-ducing groove lesson "The Side to Side" were fun highlights along with a frantic cover of Blondie's "I Know, But I Don't Know."
Because the band has to wait for sounds to load into its '70s era synths, there's plenty of time to chat with the audience, mostly fielding requests for photos (posed once), removal of clothing (stayed clothed, saying "I'm kinda busy right now") and Beastie Boys songs (politely handled with, "You're at the wrong show," though the whole band was in the house.
Ad-Rock also uses the time to field requests to explain some of the songs, and is smart enough to toss some of his own philosophical beliefs in without messing up the good-time mix.
He promotes real "girl power" on the groovy "Save This for Davis"' and artistic integrity in "Dig Deeper." In "The Dilemma?" he calls on fans of certain unnamed homophobic, racist rappers to speak out against lyrics they don't agree with.
BS2000, as the beasties have over the years, proves fun doesn't need to be stupid and cool doesn't have to be cold.
The Need, the Olympia, Wash., trio led by drummer / vocalist Rachel Carns, opened with an enjoyable far-flung half hour set of unpredictable rock from last years "Need Is Dead" CD. The unique combination of Carns' jagged vocals, emo-core guitar riffs, and catchy melodies sounds harsh at first, but eventually worked out well.

BS2000.com
Diana:
Ok, so I arrive at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC at about 9:15. I was on line outside waiting for one of my friends who was lagging behind me and all of a sudden this guy goes right in front of me on line. I didn't really care since I was so excited to be there but when he turned around to smile I realized it was MCA...what a way to start off the night. So me being totally starstruck just said HI, and smiled. He said "how ya doin?" and just went inside. So we go inside and find ourselves at the bar upstairs because I needed a drink after that one.
The Need were performing but to be honest, I couldn't get into them only because I was so excited for BS2000. So we got up front on the right side of the stage once they started setting up for BS. I had remembered seeing pics posted on the message board and ADROCK was on the right side of the stage. So I hoped that the setup didn't change and went right in front of the keyboard on the right side. When they came out everyone was nuts. They were dancing like crazy and just got everyone really hyped up. I love the ADROCK dances. (It makes them so much more attractive when a guy can dance.)
Anyway, the show was so much fun but it felt like it was 5 minutes long. I was really aggravated when people were yelling stupid shit like "take it off" and all sorts of Beastie Boys stuff. I mean, come on, show some respect. I didn't only go to the show because it had something to do with the b-boys. I went to see BS2000. The girl in front of me was so annoying. She kept interrupting and yelling such dumb things. If it wasn't such a peaceful show, I probably would've kicked her.
So, I had made a shirt for ADROCK and attached a little fan letter to it expressing my gratitude, appreciation, and praise. Since I was so close I didn't want to just throw the shirt up there. So I started waving it in the air a few songs into the show and since it was when ADROCK was addressing the crowd, he says, "hold on, what is that?" as he's looking right at me. I said "It's a present!" He said ,"Awwww., thank you!" and looked right at me. That was the most sincere thank you and without question the highlight of my pathetic life. So he placed the shirt down next to a speaker and continued. Ahhhh, he had something I made him in his possession.
The highlight of the show aside from the previous part was definitely "the Scrappy" That is by far my favorite song. I love the "Side to Side" Before it, Adrock said "Oh god, this is the part of the show where I make a complete ass of myself" and then started dancing.
It's no joke when people say they looked like they were having so much fun. You could just feel the energy coming off of them. I was unreal. They were having so much fun up there, laughing, joking around, dancing, performing, talking, interacting with the crowd, etc. And that happy feeling they had was so contagious. Adam said "Before we forget, THANK YOU GUYS...ALL OF YOU..You have no idea how important this is to us.." Once again, he was so sincere you just wanted to hug them.
Anyway, they informed us of no encore etc. and although everyone was pretty bummed, we understood. So they left the stage and I knew someone would have to drag me out of that place because of all the crazy stories I've been hearing about everyone meeting them. So I look onstage and still see my shirt up there. I was soooo upset. I went through hell for that damn thing and the note I wrote him was really heartfelt. So everyone started leaving and I went over by the stage and asked the back-up keyboard guy to come over..(jazz was his name?) So he came over and I asked him to make sure Adam got my shirt. He said "Don't worry, I know him and he'll get it." That was a relief at least. So this nasty security guard kept trying to kick me and my friend out but I wasn't having it.
Now, I go by the door that leads to backstage, equipped with my newly bought sharpie's and some paper in hands. I felt so desperate but I just had to see him. I knew I would never see them in a venue this small. I couldn't give up. So, I just happen to turn around, and who's directly behind me...MIKE D AND MCA. Unreal. Only word to describe it. And they had to walk past me in order to get to the backstage area. So me and MIKE are now face to face. I said "Hi, I really don't want to bother you, but would you please sign something for me?" He said "sure" and gave me an autograph. I said "Thank you so much" I then asked MCA who was right behind him. He said "Well, we just want to go take a few pics with Adam and say hi and stuff." I said "ok, I understand" They just didn't want to steal Adam's thunder ya know. I said "It was so nice to meet you guys." They said "thank you".
So people started crowding around them and I just moved out of the way. What do you know..here comes the hairy security guard again.. yelling at me. I said ok ok I'm leaving ( yea right ) So I just go blend in with the other 30 people left in the place. Then I see AWOL. I went over to him and asked him to sign something for me. He was the absolute sweetest. I talked to him the most out of all of them. He noticed my scorpio sticker that I had on my shirt and said "Hey, your a SCORPIO". He seemed so excited and asked "When's your b-day?" I told him..I said "You're a LEO huh?" he's like "yep" I said Leo's were bad news. He said "awww, why you say that?" Then I said, oh I'm just playing. So he sign some stuff, and must have said thank you a million and one times. I said "I should be thanking you..this was a gift to come here and see you guys. I had so much fun dancing that I'm going to a club now to keep on dancing. " He laughed and said "That's awesome, I'm happy to hear that"
Anyway, ADROCK now came back out and was taking apart all his stuff. I said with a sad face "Adam, did you get my shirt?" He looked up and said "Yea I have it, don't worry. That was so sweet of you. Thank you so much!" I almost fell over. I know it sounds so cliche but I couldn't believe I was talking to him. He was looking at me. It was crazy. I wanted to take that moment and frame it. I had waited for this moment for a really long time and I couldn't think of a single thing to say. That is a crazy feeling. Anyway, I asked if I could take a pic with him but he said "I gotta do this first, I'm sorry" I said "well, do you mind if I wait around." He said "no, not at all. I'm sorry but I just gotta do this shit first."
So I was talking to AWOL a little more and took a pic with him that came out really cute. I asked if he would do me a favor and have Adam sign something for me. He said "well, he's really gotta this stuff, we gotta get ready, etc...but then he said..Sure, and took my stuff right outta my hands and took it over to Adam for him to sign. I had Beastie Boys post-it notes and he looked at them funny. I was saving them for something special and that definitely was special.
Although, I was gonna wait around to take a pic with him, I didn't want to bother him. I said to him and AWOL "you guys were really awesome tonight. Congrats..I had a lot of fun." They graciously said "thank you, we appreciate it." and ALFREDO jumps in and makes fun of my accent "awesome ..you guys were awesome." I said "hey i'm a jersey girl, whattaya want from me?" Adrock sensed a little playful tension and while laughing at us both said "uh-oh!". I then said bye, and that was it.. So I go outside to wait a few more minutes. I just didn't want to leave I guess. And that "jazz" guy comes up to me and says, "Hey, don't worry, Adam has your shirt. I know he has it." I said "How sweet you are that you remembered. That is so nice of you to care." He said "well, I know you wanted him to have it so I wanted to tell you that he definitely has it." That was so cool of him (I took a pic with him too buy the van)
I then drifted into la-la-land from that night..and haven't come out of it since.