Around midnight, Jan. 15 a cool performance with Vancouver rapper Moka Only was just getting started with an energetic set at the Blarney Stone for a sparse audience of approximately 65 people. I didn’t know what to expect, not being a huge rap fan, but Moka grinned ear to ear and bounded all over the stage like a hyperactive puppy in warm leather winter jacket.
Despite the low numbers, they were all dancing in front of the stage.
Opening act SonReal joined Moka Only on stage for a couple numbers as well as a couple other rappers.
Moka also showed he also has fairly soulful singing voice on a couple, especially on a version of George Michael’s ‘Faith.’
The audience was singing/rapping along with several numbers. He even covered a Fishbone song in the set and brought out a bugle for a couple more.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat editor