THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021 • THE BULLETIN
Continued from Page 3
“OVER AND OVER,” KOLBY
KNICKERBOC KER
Self-released
Georgia native
and recent Ben-
dite Kolby Knick-
erbocker blends
gospel, soul and
folk on the four-
song “Over and
Over” EP, which
officially releases
Friday. These deeply
introspective songs
examine life, love
and mindfulness,
with themes that
take on deeper meanings in the context of
COVID.
“Prayer” launches the EP in a near-whis-
per before the lead single and title track
launches into a slow-burning, soul-search-
ing groove. Dedicated to Knickerbocker’s
wife, the song is equal parts “Stand By Me”
ALL THINGS MUSIC
and Southern R&B, with mature lyrics that
examine what it means to be there for the
people you love. The al-
bum swings in the folkier
direction for “Everything I
Am” and the string-driven
“Grace,” which ends in a
swirl of harmonies and am-
bient sound.
“DIVINE DARKNESS,”
MC RAGTOP
Spice Trader Music
Bend hip-hop main-
stay MC Ragtop deliv-
ers on the promise of
last summer’s “It Ain’t
Right”/“Closer Walk” sin-
gle with the seven-song “Divine Darkness”
EP. Melding old-school samples and beats
with thoughtful rhymes and a conscious
mentality, these songs work equally well as
club bangers or introspective headphone
listening.
“Bounce Like This” and “Bubble” rein-
troduce Ragtop to the Bend hip-hop com-
GO! MAGAZINE • PAGE 5
“Prayer” launches the EP in a near-whisper before the lead single and title track
launches into a slow-burning, soul-searching groove. Dedicated to Knickerbocker’s
wife, the song is equal parts “Stand By Me” and Southern R&B, with mature lyrics
that examine what it means to be there for the people you love. The album swings in
the folkier direction for “Everything I Am” and the string-driven “Grace,” which ends
in a swirl of harmonies and ambient sound.
munity at large. The latter is a manifesto of
sorts for the whole record, as Ragtop spits,
“(I’ve) got you staring down the barrel of
deception.” Elsewhere, he shouts out Tupac
Shakur and DJ Kool Herc on the jazzy
“Clap,” and knocks out a fat funk groove on
record closer “The Shine.”
But last year’s singles remain the stron-
gest material here. “Closer Walk” is full-
blown hip-hop gospel, as Ragtop takes a
deep look inward as he expounds upon his
belief. And “It Ain’t Right” is one of the
more powerful and personal pieces of mu-
sic to come out of Bend’s Black Lives Mat-
ter movement.
Membership
Brings Us Together!
To say “Thank You” for your enduring
belief in our ability to connect the
community with arts and culture,
we’re offering you the gift of time!
JOIN OR RENEW ONLINE BY APRIL
30 and get an extra, free 6 months
of Tower Theatre membership on us!
More time to create memories
that last forever.
Membership info at
towertheatre.org/support/membership/