Sunday, February 10
Water Street Music Hall, 204 N. Water St.
8 p.m. | $12-$15. | 325-5600, waterstreetmusic.com

Why? begs a good question: why would we listen to rap without the booty shaking and fronting? Well, for one thing, because it's awesome. Why? takes it down a peg, and if you're expecting brain-melting bass, that's not happening. With a lean toward folk-styled mixes, Why's music can be a bit jarring but if you listen. It takes you through an interesting mental trip with odd snatches of built-in imagery. Bill-mate Astronautalis is much more electronic and eclectic, maybe even with a little bluesy streak, but he whips those lyrics faster than you would think.