A guy walks into an El-P show....

.....and finds a riotous end of the world party. Backed by DJ Mr. Dibbs and a band dressed in matching military outfits and ski masks (whose members came from the Dap Kings, Antibalas and Pela, um, wow), El-P fronted the group with fake blood on his face and an orange jumpsuit a la the "Smithereens" video (see below), spitting frantic, dystopian ryhmes over dense, head-nodding, block-rocking beats at Bowery Ballroom. The group ripped through tracks from 'Fantatsic Damage' (a personal 5-miker) and the great new 'I'll Sleep When You're Dead.' While fellow Def Jukkies Aesop Rock, Cage and members of the Weathermen all graced the stage, my personal highlights were the anthemic "Tuned Mass Dampener" (you are NOT promised tomorrow) and "Stepfather Factory," which El dedicated to his mother and two sisters in attendance. If this is what the end of the world feels like, I'll be there for the apocalypse.