85 degrees, bluebird sky, slight breeze. A 300 pound Albanian-American with a beard to his chest is rapping about culinary items, blunts, and women. His name is Action Bronson, and I couldn’t be happier he’s the first act I see. I think all good rap acts follow one main theme: he/she does not have a hype-man, i.e. the other rapper present just to fill in words and lines that a) rappers forget b) can’t rap because it takes too much breath to get through the whole line, or c) they think people like it? It ruins a live rap performance.
All the great live rappers I saw yesterday, including Action Bronson, Ghostface Killah & Raekwon, and the surprisingly amazing Azealia Banks (whose stage presence was inviting, electric, and engaging while her rapping was ON POINT), did not have a hype-man (or woman), and displayed the vocal dexterity and rhythm that the great rappers can display not only on the record but live.
But the whole day was made by one act, someone I had just listened to a few days prior because I had heard such great things: Charles Bradley, the 66 year old soul singer who got into singing because he saw James Brown perform at the Apollo when he was 14. Or as he was introduced to the crowd by his bandmate, “Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for the Black Swan, the Black Rose, the Screaming Eagle of Soul, Charles Bradley!” Out Bradley rolls in an all yellow suit, saunters up to the mic, and lets out a heart rattling howl, so loud, hitting such high notes, everyone just starts clapping in appreciation. His vocals were better than anyone I heard yesterday.
Listening to Bradley and his band, His Extraordinaries, I could hear his influence on the Alabama Shakes’ sound. The Shakes were another great act, Brittany Howard’s pipes came second place to Bradley’s. They played songs from their new album which sounded pretty great and a bit different.
The War on Drugs deservedly got a set on the main stage and started with the long jam and one of their best, “Under the Pressure.” The set culminated with “Red Eyes” as the crowd hooted and hollered.
The band I was most excited to see was Tame Impala. They did not disappoint. As I posted earlier, I think “Let It Happen” is the best song they’ve written. It sounded incredible live, and the crowd seemed really awed by the ins and outs of the song and the different directions it took. Kevin Parker told the crowd it was the most nervous he’d been in a while, but it didn’t show as the played most of their hits, including “Elephant,” “It Feels Like We Only Go Backwards,” “Mind Mischief,” “Apocalypse Dreams,” and the new slow jam, “‘Cause I’m a Man.”
Then, finally, there was the headliner: AC/DC. From the first note, the crowd was loving it. I can’t get over how Brian Johnson still manages to scream and squawk and sound like it was still the 1970s. And guitarist Angus Young’s patented flip kick as he motors across the stage is without a doubt the best original guitar move of all time. There’s nothing like seeing it live.
One day down! I'll try to post more pictures tomorrow.
Top 5 shows today:
1. Charles Bradley
2. AC/DC
3. Tame Impala
4. Alabama Shakes
5. Azealia Banks
