Why?

MySpace (listen to "Rubber Traits," "Sanddollars")
Official site

Hometown: Oakland
Next local show: 10/21, The Fillmore
Recent release: Elephant Eyelash, 2005

It's true: Why? can rap. We're talking lo-fi white-boy rap, but rap nonetheless -- marked by rhymes; an accelerated, tumbling delivery; and subtle beats. Not that this is anything strange for the otherwise indie-pop-minded musician. Yoni Wolf (recording as Why? for the past six years) is an integral part of San Francisco label Anticon, home to all sorts of local oddities including plenty of white-boy indie hip-hop. (more >>)

For anyone who's only heard Why?'s latest LP, 2005's Elephant Eyelash, it's hard to imagine Wolf doing anything other than slightly twee lo-fi pop with a psychedelic slant. That's what he does best, especially on songs like "Rubber Traits" and "Sanddollars." His voice is high and thin enough, his better songs so unwilling to settle in one place, that rapping seems out of the question. Then again, Beck has made a career out of a similarly disjointed, almost aloof pop-rap, so we wouldn't be surprised to see Why? continue to explore this territory on future albums. In fact, "Pick Fights" and "Decieved," both on Why?'s 2006 single for "Rubber Traits," feature the same sort of stream-of-counsciousness slow-rap that Beck scatters across his new album The Information.

But enough about that. More importantly, you need to know that Why? is touring with Yo La Tengo. And that both bands are coming to The Fillmore on Oct. 21. Fantastic. While Yo La Tengo is certainly a force to be reckoned with in the indie-rock world, Why?'s tendancy to cherry-pick from multiple genres without calling attention to it should please Yo La Tengo fans. Both acts pay little mind to the confines of genre, and both proudly embrace the indie aesthetic. It's a great pairing, and this local stop should amount to one of Why?'s biggest moments.

WHY NOT?
-Why? has released one 7" (2006), one single (2006), one split EP (2001), two EPs (2003 and 2005), and two LPs (2003 and 2005). Get your Why? in any size!
-Yoni Wolf has also recorded as/participated in Greenthink, cLOUDDEAD, and Reaching Quiet.
-Although the first three Why? records were completely solo, Wolf has a penchant for collaboration and has worked with Hood, Fog, DJ Krush, Boom Bip, Sole, Dept. of Eagles, and 13+ God.