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Ferrer.
Early in his set, Fernandito Ferrer issued a humble apology; he believed he was a little out of practice. “I haven’t had too many gigs lately, and it’s cold,” he said. There was no need to apologize, no evidence that he was out of practice, as his hands nimbly worked the fingerboard and strings of his guitar and his voice wafted through a room full of people at Cafe Nine on Tuesday night.
Fernandito Ferrer joked that he comes to Cafe Nine to open for unusual groups only, but the truth is that he’s his own draw. Ferrer is an intricate, driving guitarist and a passionate vocalist, but armed with a loop pedal and an array of percussion, he excelled at creating lush, detailed soundscapes all by himself. Songs layered in bird calls (mimicked to astonishing effect with a warbling whistle), samples from speeches, and percolating grooves to produce swirling, hypnotic music. A sparse, thoughtful ballad was followed by tropical hip hop. From song to song and within songs, Ferrer balanced propulsive energy and expansive calm, leaving the audience roused, relaxed, and ready for more.
Knotz and Elise.
Headliners Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise — a duo from Philadelphia combining hip hop and harp — then took the stage with warm smiles, kind words, and deep grooves. “Thank you all for being here on a rainy Tuesday,” Knotz said, as he and Elise slid into a first song that doubled as a centering, meditation exercise. “Life moves so fast, and it’s important to take a few moments and breathe,” the final word being the mantra-like chorus of the song. “We are all works in progress and that’s a beautiful thing,” Knotz said.
In song after song, Knotz and Elise brought wave after wave of warm, positive energy that remained grounded as well. Any thought that a harp and beats couldn’t get along was immediately dispelled, as Elise’s playing blended effortlessly with Knotz’s tracks, which ranged from hip hop to dub to reggae, and Knotz and Elise traded vocals, him rapping thoughtful verses and her providing strong choruses and lush background vocals.
The overall effect was utterly engrossing. Conversation stopped as the audience got all the way on the duo’s wavelength, and a question from Knotz — “how’s everyone feeling out there?” — was met with wild cheers. Heads bobbed as Knotz rapped about the journey he was on, a spiritual one that was soaked in humor and humility. “I study the path by walking it, share the knowledge by talking it,” he rapped. “Come on a journey with me / through the streets of a place called reality.” The message, about finding meaning in yourself, your thoughts and actions, and the community around you, felt both earned and a little like a gift.
As the duo neared the end of their set, Knotz mentioned that one song was written in 2021, when “everything in the world seemed loud and chaotic,” even as many were still living in lockdown. The chaos and the silence could feel like tense opposites. Knotz chose to look for the balance between them. “This song is about balance, which we believe is everything,” Knotz said.
Through that, he offered a chance for liberation. The last song, Knotz said, was “just inviting everyone to be free. If there’s anything that’s holding you down, holding you back, we invite you to cut those strings. Could be a job. Could be a relationship” — this was met with cheers from the crowd — “be free.” Heads swayed and smiles broadened. Everyone looked more than ready.