Andrew Veeder on August 1st, 2014

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The dynamic duo of Ishmael Butler, aka Palaceer Lazaro, and Tendai Maraire brought their avant-garde rap project Shabazz Palaces to the Roxy on Wednesday night, a day after the release of their sophomore album “Lese Majesty” on Sub Pop. The diverse audience was much fuller and more engaged than Palaces’ tragically sparse show at the Troubadour in 2011, and Butler was all smiles during their applause between songs.

The 80-minute set had the feel of a live mixtape, bopping through their discography without dead air, with multi-instrumentalist Maraire armed with a percussion arsenal including congas, cymbals, shakers and electronic pads, and Butler energetically rapping as sweat dripped from his salt-and-pepper chin like a leaky faucet. There were also multiple bouts of synchronized dancing, with the sunglasses-clad duo getting effortlessly funky and jerky behind their equipment in unison.

Early song “Forerunner Foray” rattled the whole building with its surging low-end and Butler’s captivating flow, but aside from previously leaked singles “They Come In Gold” and “#Cake,” the brand new “Lese Majesty” cuts didn’t draw as big of a reaction from the crowd as the older material, such as “Are You… Can You… Were You? (Felt)” and “Free Press and Curl” from 2011’s “Black Up” and “Gunbeat Falls” from their 2009 EP “Of Light.”

The encore treated the crowd to some “Black Up” gems including “Swerve … The Reeping Of All That Is Worthwhile (Noir Not Withstanding),” which whipped up a mosh pit of a dozen moonwalkers while Butler and Maraire rapped straight ahead and executed no-look handshakes, and “Recollections Of The Wraith” to end the night. For a group who has always been so far ahead of its time, it’s nice to see the crowd finally catching up.

Photo by Seraphina Lotkhamnga