Hip-hop

The Roots at the Kimmel? Are you kidding me?! We can't believe this show isn't sold out (at press time, anyway). Supported by hot-ish indie rock bands like TV on the Radio and Deerhoof, Philly's hip-hop superheroes shoulda been a lock to pack the glass house. It's three great bands, do you want more?!!!??! Well, we think the show will sell out, so why are we dragging our feet? Here are our best guesses as to why we haven't bought our tickets yet.

• We, as a city, suck.
• Power 99 doesn't play The Roots enough.
• Power 99 doesn't play Deerhoof enough.
• Scratch told us not to go.
• Sixty bucks is a lot to pay for a Kool infomercial.
• Heard ?uestlove had lice.
• The Kimmel has smoke detectors in the bathrooms.
• Finally paid attention to the lyrics; realized "The Seed" is really dirty.
• Still pissed about the Erykah/Jill thing.
• Read Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point, found it to be pedantic and obvious, belaboring its arguments with repetition and oversimplification.
• Felt the same way about The Roots' CD.
• Heard the Kimmel had a dress code.
• Don't care much for jam bands.
• Not during cold and flu season: Black Thought has made it very clear that he is both "ill" and "highly contagious."
• Already been to the Kimmel like five times this month.
• You can't play TV on the radio! Like, how would that work?
• Kimmel doesn't look structurally sound — talk about things falling apart!
• Already have tickets to see Malik B. at the Academy.
• Sorry, was instructed not to say nuthin'.

The Roots play Fri., Sept. 16, 8 p.m., $30-$60, with Deerhoof and TV on the Radio, Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org.