MC Chris Proves Nerdcore Is Alive and Well at Club Dada Show: Photos

Nerdcore was never a massively popular genre since it first developed roughly 25 years ago (remember MC Router?), but its fanbase has always remained fiercely loyal. That loyalty was obvious during Tuesday’s MC Chris show at Club Dada. By the time the opening act, Swell Rell, finished his set, roughly 100 guests had come through the door. As MC Chris (Chris Ward) took the stage, maybe another 20 to 30 fans had arrived. But that modest crowd could’ve fooled a Fire Marshall into thinking the club was filled beyond capacity.

Their cheering and screaming sounded like a crowd triple the size of the first second MC Chris took the stage and announced the show’s setlist would be entirely fan-chosen. Leading off with “The Tussin” from Life’s a Bitch and I’m Her Pimp, as it was the loudest request, Chris could’ve been easily drowned out by the entire crowd singing every single word on beat. Other classics that were chosen from the crowd’s screams were “DQ Blizzard,” “Nrrrd Grrrl,” “Hoodie Ninja” and Aqua Teen Hunger Force‘s “I Want Candy.”

A few other crowd choices might’ve seemed inappropriate, since the audience was mostly made up of parents who discovered Nerdcore 20-plus years ago and their children, mainly tweens and young teens (it was an all-ages show). Songs like “Drinkin’ Blunts” and “Wiid” aren’t exactly Disney-friendly. One could argue that almost all of Chris’ songs aren’t for kids, but every modern teenager is already well aware of video games, masturbation and the struggles associated with being a nerd. Seeing young fans sing along to these themes didn’t seem inappropriate at all, but more like a musical rite of passage from nerdy parents to their nerdy offspring.

Chris’s biggest hit, “Fett’s Vette,” was a signal that the night was about to wrap. Though it was pretty obvious through the entire hour and 25 minutes that most ticket holders wanted more. Closing with “Never Give Up” was a nice touch considering the world’s current social and political struggles, but it was also poignant after seeing such fervently loyal fans who never gave up on MC Chris or the nerdcore genre.