Sat., Dec. 22, Iconoclast Robot

Truly live hip-hop is a rare thing—the Roots have that market cornered—but just having an emcee and live musicians doesn't necessarily qualify a group as “live hip-hop.” Sacramento-based troupe Iconoclast Robot is just too eclectic to wear that label. Sure, hip-hop's in there, but so is moody, melodic '90s-influenced alternative rock. And, yes, emcee Ryan Charles can sing, too. This isn't even rap rock or nu metal with hip-hop influences or some other well-trodden rap-hybrid subgenre. It's new territory. It's music that melts genres to the point of stripping them of their previous connotations. There's the raw energy of rock, the poetry of hip-hop and influences hard to even pinpoint. 1400 Alhambra Boulevard, www.iconoclastrobot.com.