On a day when floods shut down the subways and water appeared in places where water should not, IDK lifted Irving Plaza above the flood line and delivered for all of his fans that braved the torrential rains that drenched New York City to make it to the show. On Friday, September 29th, IDK made the fourth stop of his F65 Tour at Irving Plaza in New York City.
The show featured three opening acts, the first being 18-year-old R&B singer Luna Elle, followed by Atlanta Rapper Reese Laflare and lastly Dreamville’s own, Lute. Reese and Lute each played their respective Revenge of the Dreamers Tracks, “Costa Rica,” and “Under The Sun.”
Reese Laflare at Irving Plaza. Photo By: Lucas Kurzweil.
IDK came out sporting a racing helmet before switching over to his baseball cap. Throughout the show IDK would switch his headgear to match his different albums. The performance was a creative mix between Jazz and Hip-Hop with the crowd going from swaying to moshpit within the blink of an eye.
IDK Setlist: Mrs. Lynch, Your Son Is The Devil, 42 Hundred Choices, Santa Monica Blvd, Champs-Élysées, Cape Coast, Pit Stop, Thug Tear, Radioactive, Freetown, Just Like Martin, Taco, Salty, Mr. Police, Pinot Noir, Temporary Love, Elmina, December, Rain (Cover), Puerto Rico, Peloton, PradadaBang, Red, Shoot My Shot, I Do Me … You Do You, Lilly, Porno, Digital, Breathe, Drugstore, Dog Food, Paranoid (Cover), Hey Auntie, Julia…, Black Sheep, White Dove, Télé Couleur, 850 (We On Top), Rabbit Stew, 24
It was a full night of earnest Southern Americana when Water Street Music Hall in Rochester hosted the Drive-By Truckers and American Aquarium on Tuesday, September 26.
American Aquarium got things rolling with a tight workman-like set, punching in right at the listed 8pm start time and finishing up at 9pm on the button. With little to no chitchat and little to no breaks, they muscled through 14 songs in their hour. They weren’t in a rush though, and each tune was given it’s proper due, with room to breath. BJ Barnham’s voice carried his words with the weight and passion they deserved.
A vision of his life as a singer/songwriter on the road, and the people and places he’s encountered along the way, unfolded song by song. And he usually wasn’t singing alone. The early-arriving crowd appeared to be as familiar and interested in the opening band as they were the headliner, singing, fist-bumping and genuinely hanging on the band’s every note. It was their first visit to town since 2014, but with that kind of welcome hopefully it won’t be another decade before their next return.
The Drive-By Truckers wasted no time laying their cards on the table. Set opener “Maria’s Awful Disclosures” introduced the first of many characters to make an appearance, and erupted into triple guitar shredding reminiscent of Crazy Horse. Lead singers Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley swapped songs for most of their two-hour set, each getting ample opportunity to tell their own modern-day allegories. Messages delivered on waves of searing guitars hit like a fist through the chest. Cooley’s “Maria” and her distorted guitar tangle gave way to Hood’s “Charlie” (“Drag the Lake Charlie”) and it’s more anthemic rock sound.
Later we’d hear about “Uncle Frank,” “Heathens,” “Women Without Whiskey” and “Rosemary With a Bible and a Gun.” Each song also took on a character of it’s own, spanning multiple flavors of rock: the deep dark blues of “The Driver,” the barroom banger “Surrender Under Protest,” the heavy rocking “Lookout Mountain.”
“Hell No, I Ain’t Happy” had a more traditional classic rock feel with its sing-along chorus, fist-pumping beat and dense hooks. Then they took Prince’s “Sign of the Times” and crashed it right into the end, turning it into an Allman Brothers Band southern rock gem, with syncopated guitars exploding into the biggest jam of the night.
The rest of the truckers helped flesh out the characters, stories and messages. Jay Gonzales was the swiss army knife everyman, filling in as needed when needed, with some perfectly placed Hammond B3 swells, electric piano sparkles and some of the best guitar playing of the night. Matt Patton kept the low end fresh and bouncing, smiling broadly the whole night long, no one was having more fun. Brad Morgan was as workman as anyone, providing the backbone for it all, helping the Drive-By Truckers deliver.
American Aquariumsetlist: Me & Mine (Lamentations), All I Needed, The Long Haul, Casualties, St. Mary’s, Six Years Come September, Losing Side of 25, Saturday Nights, Abe Lincoln (Backsliders Cover), Harmless Sparks, Katherine Belle, The Luckier You Get, Wichita Falls, Burn.Flicker.Die
Drive-By Truckers setlist: Maria’s Awful Disclosures, Drag the Lake Charlie, Every Single Storied Flameout, Sink Hole, Uncle Frank, Heathens, Shit Shots Count, Why Henry Drinks, Women Without Whiskey, Pizza Deliverance, Panties in Your Purse, The Driver, Made Up English Oceans, Rosemary With a Bible and a Gun, 3 Dimes Down, Hell No, I Ain’t Happy > Sign of the Times (Prince Cover), Surrender Under Protest, The New OK, Gravity’s Gone, Lookout Mountain, When the Pin Hits the Shell, Shut Up and Get Off the Plane, Let There Be Rock
A day filled with rain and overcast could not keep the Connecticut fans away from Yes at the College Street Music Hall in New Haven on Sunday evening. This show is only the fourth show of the Classic Tales of Yes tour as they are supporting their record that came out this past May titled Mirror To The Sky.
Yes is composed of Jay Schellen on the drums, Billy Sherwood on the bass guitar, Jon Davison on lead vocals, Geoff Downes on keyboards, and Steve Howe on the guitar. Howe has been a part of Yes since 1970 and is the only original member left.
Despite there being no opening act for Yes, as fans were still piling into the venue, William Roger Dean who designed album covers for Yes, Asia, and Uriah Heep welcomed fans into the hall. Dean used a slide show and provided commentary about his journey with the band and announced that prints of his work would be made available upstairs by the bar.
After Dean left and the road crew changed around the stage a bit, the house lights dimmed, and Yes took the stage. While most rock bands try to wow the audience with amazing pyrotechnics, a massive screen with images, and a crazy light show, Yes on the other hand prefers to focus more on their music than what their stage looks like. With one backdrop with the band’s name behind them, and a few drapes off to the side of the stage, all eyes were on the progressive rock band from London, England.
Throughout the 13 songs that the band played, they dipped into every era of the band and played songs that spanned their entire career. Whether they played “Time and a Word” off of the record of the same name from 1970, or a brand new track titled “Cut From The Stars” the aforementioned Mirror To The Sky, no matter when fans first started to listen to the band, there were at least a few songs that they recognized.
The crowd, though on the older side, stuck with the band the entire length of their set. From the first note of “Going for the One” off of the record with the same name till the very last song, fans were singing and clapping throughout. Watching the band on stage was like watching a timewarp back to the 70s. The energy on stage was amazing to watch. While Davison is not the original singer, he deserves all the credit for his vocal range. Howe was a man possessed on the guitar, his skill has aged like fine wine and he was truly sensational. Schellen, Sherwood, and Downes also played great, added to the overall sound, and provided perfect harmonies.
Towards the end of the set, around the encore, the lower bowl flocked towards the barricade to get a closer look at their heroes before the show ended. When Davison ran to the front, he started fist-bumping, high-fiving, and shaking hands with fans who were at the very front. Davison did this as a form of appreciation and a thank you to them for coming out in the cold late September rain. You could see that the band truly appreciated their fans as they were smiling at them the entire set and interacting with them as much as they could.
As Yes took their final bow to a standing ovation from the crowd, fans were left joyful after watching the progressive rock masters at work on stage. As Yes paved the way for many other acts that came after them, it’s easy to see how the band once ruled the world and still has the skills to back them up.
Setlist: Going for the One, It Will Be a Good Day (The River), Machine Messiah, I’ve Seen All Good People, America (Simon & Garfunkel cover) (instrumental version), Time and a Word, South Side of the Sky, Turn of the Century, Don’t Kill the Whale, Cut From the Stars, The Revealing Science of God (Dance of the Dawn) / The Remembering (High the Memory) / Leaves of Green / Ritual (Nous sommes du soleil), Roundabout, Starship Trooper
Smokey Robinson graced the stage at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Canada, and from the moment he walked out to the introductory overture, the audience knew they were in for an unforgettable night of classic Motown magic.
“Being With You” set the tone for the evening, with Robinson’s velvety voice still as captivating as ever. He transported us back in time with “I Second That Emotion,” a nod to his days with The Miracles, and followed it up with “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” a soulful rendition of The Miracles’ classic.
As the night progressed, Robinson’s timeless hit “Quiet Storm” swept through the venue like a gentle breeze, and “Ooo Baby Baby” had the crowd swaying in their seats, relishing every note. The medley of “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “Get Ready,” and “My Girl” paid tribute to The Temptations, showcasing Robinson’s versatility as he effortlessly crooned through these iconic songs.
“The Tears of a Clown” brought a wave of nostalgia, and Robinson’s emotional delivery tugged at heartstrings throughout the venue. “I Love Your Face” was a tender and heartfelt moment, showing that even after all these years, Smokey’s ability to convey deep emotions remains unparalleled.
Robinson’s rendition of “Fly Me to the Moon” was a testament to his vocal range and ability to infuse a timeless classic with his unique style. “If We Don’t Have Each Other” and “Beside You” showcased his more contemporary work, reminding us that his talent continues to evolve.
“Just to See Her” had the crowd on their feet, swaying and clapping along, and “The Tracks of My Tears” was a pure, unadulterated masterpiece, transporting us back to the golden era of Motown.
Closing out the night with “Cruisin’,” Robinson left the audience craving for more, his voice as smooth and captivating as ever. The energy in the room was electric, a testament to the enduring appeal of Smokey Robinson’s music.
In Niagara Falls, Canada, OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, Smokey Robinson delivered a concert for the ages, taking us on a journey through his illustrious career. His voice, still as mesmerizing as when he first graced the stage, left no doubt that he is a true legend of Motown. The setlist was a perfect blend of classics and newer hits, ensuring that both longtime fans and newcomers alike left the venue with their hearts full and their spirits lifted. Smokey Robinson’s performance was a musical experience that will be cherished for years to come.
Hip-Hop and rap artist Macklemore performed an unforgettable show at Pier 17 on Friday, September 22 welcoming all ages to take part in the long-awaited “Ben Tour.”
Macklemore began his music career building his fanbase on the West Coast in 2000 as an independent artist born and raised in Seattle, Washington. In the early stages of his success, he released his first album in 2005, The Language of My World which led to the collaboration with DJ/Record Producer Ryan Lewis. The duo jumpstarted Macklemore’s music success producing the Grammy Award Winning album The Heist including fan favorites, “Can’t Hold Us,” “ThriftShop,” “Same Love,” and “White Walls.”
Macklemore carved a huge name for himself in the rap community and is best known for his ability to storytell and create introspective lyrics that address social issues of consumerism, addiction, homophobia, and personal attributes that connect to his life growing up in Seattle.
DJ Nick Beeba opened the show by stating, “I grew up in Seattle going to Macklemore’s shows in middle school, to just be here as an opener is truly amazing.” Beeba played remixes including hit songs “Wanna Be a Baller,” “No Scrubs,” “Pony,” and plenty of others to get the crowd dancing and cheering awaiting Macklemore’s appearance.
The show itself was not only a concert to remember but a full-blown production with on-stage dancers, a full band crew including trombone, trumpet, drums, guitar, and keyboard plus several impressive outfit changes. With blue bedazzled capes, headbands, and sparkly vests, Macklemore does it all. During the show, Macklemore made time in between songs to thank the people for coming authentically as themselves to come have fun and spread love. “We’re here to dance, so let’s dance New York!” he stated.
To close the show, Macklemore gave a huge thanks to his band members for all the hard work that has paid off over the years. This encourages fans to come to their shows and experience something more than just a concert but a place to allow fans to be authentic, dance, and have a good time. The final song “Can’t Hold Us” encouraged the crowd to jump, dance, and shout, “We put our hands up, like the ceiling can’t hold us,” leaving the concertgoers in awe and ecstatic to see when Macklemore would visit New York next.
On Wednesday September 20 at Irving Plaza, English Band Ladytron returned to perform the first show of their Fall 2023 Tour. This was a highly anticipated tour for fans since their last appearance in NY back in 2019 at the Brooklyn Steel.
Ladytron has defined the electropop movement of the early 2000’s using synthesizing sounds to encompass a unique psychedelic, ethereal and electronic rock performance. Irving Plaza was the perfect venue to highlight the bands ambience with sparkling chandeliers, hanging disco ball, dim-lit standing room and balcony to illuminate the show goers atmospheric experience.
As the band walked on stage the crowd cheered and danced to express their enthusiasm for Ladytron and the performance of fan favorites and new album release Times Arrow. With Strobe lights, polka dots and dream-like psychedelic visuals enhancing the hard bass driven beats, contemporary melodies, synth tones and female vocals. Ladytron put on quite an invoking show to kickoff the Fall tour.
Alongside the exciting Time’s Arrow release their soundscapes and innovative music leaves fans in awe while they are able to create visual narratives within their songs, Ladytron attendees leave with an unforgettable experience. Following their Irving Plaza show, Ladytron plans to continue the long awaited tour with their next stop on Friday, September 22 in Los Angeles, California at The Belasco.
LADYTRON 2023 TOUR DATES
Fri Sep 22 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco
Sat Sep 23 – San Diego, CA – Crossroads at House of Blues
Thu Nov 16 – Austin, TX – The Mohawk
Fri Nov 17 – Dallas, TX – The Granada Theater
Sat Nov 18 – Houston TX – Numbers Night Club
Sun Nov 19 – Mexico City, MX – Corona Capital Festival
Ladytron – Irving Plaza, NYC – Wednesday, September 20
Setlist: City of Angels, Faces, Ghosts, Deadzone, True Mathematics, The Animals, Flight From Angkor, Soft Power, USA vs. White Noise, Misery Remember Me, International Dateline, Fighting in Built Up Areas, The Island, Paper Highways, Discotraxx, Ace of Hz Encore: California, Playgirl, Seventeen, Destroy Everything You Touch
It was an extraordinary evening as the inaugural jazz concert of the upcoming Canterbury Woods Jazz Series took place at the new Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center, featuring the magnificent Jane Bunnett and Maqueque. We want to express our immense gratitude to all of you, the jazz enthusiasts, and the JazzBuffalo Community.
We were faced with the formidable challenge of orchestrating a warm and welcoming reception for this award-winning ensemble in less than three weeks. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the nearly full-capacity audience and all the supporters who filled the new Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center. The inspiration and enthusiastic reception you provided to these five incredibly talented women on stage were truly exceptional and unforgettable. They were filled with joy and were eager to share with others the fantastic JazzBuffalo experience, the incredible supporters, and the enthusiastic audience that our region has to offer.
Jane Bunnett and Maqueque delivered an exceptional performance. Bunnett led the all-female ensemble, drawing from the ten-year journey of Maqueque, encompassing their original self-titled album to their latest release, “Playing With Fire.”
In addition to Jane Bunnett’s enchanting soprano saxophone and flute, the ensemble featured Donae’ Olano’s beautiful piano performance, Tailin Marrero on the powerful bass, Joanna Majoko captivating with her vocals, and the drummer/percussionist extraordinaire, Yissy Garcia.
Read more and discover more photos from JazzBuffalo contributor Jack Zuff at JazzBuffalo.org
Willie Nelson brought his Outlaw Music Festival to Saratoga for a late-summer jam session. With a tour that celebrates Willie’s lifelong musical genius and his legacy of hits, this tour seems extra special as Willie turned a remarkable 90 years old this year. The show brings an “Outlaw Village” with it, which is a little village of vendors that travel with the festival. And there is certainly a festival vibe as attendees ate and partied all throughout SPAC’s beautiful grounds.
The evening opened with Waylon Payne playing a solo acoustic set of country and bluegrass. (Particle Kid (Willie’s Nelson’s son’s group) was not there to start the night off.) Highlights from Payne’s set include an excellent cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” and Payne’s own classic “Born to Lose.” Payne was genuinely thankful to be performing and expressed that gratitude many times. Payne showed up later in the night as Willie’s right hand man during Willie’s set. A good night for Waylon Payne.
Los Lobos was up next. It’s unfortunate that the festival was held on a week night. Even though it was Friday, it was slow to fill and was still visibly empty when Los Lobos took the stage. They handled it like the classic professionals they are though and put on a hell of a set. Even with attendance low, one could look anywhere in the amphitheater and see people dancing to Los Lobos’ hits. With what had to be a nod to Bobby Weir, they opened with their song “Will the Wolf Survive?”. They followed that up with Three Midniters’ “Love Special Delivery.” The standout for the set was the set closing “La Bomba” segueing into The Olympics’ “Good Lovin’” and then back into “La Bomba.” With the set opening and closing with a nod to Mr. Weir, the crowd was warmed up indeed!
Hitting the stage next was The String Cheese Incident. Having been 20 or so years since this listener last saw SCI, it was special to hear them open with “Smile.” Michael Kang busted out his violin and the jam took off into classic Outlaw territory. With a blend of deep cuts and new tunes, it was good to hear these guys again. The highlight for this listener was the 20ish minutes of “Missing Me” segueing into “Just One Story.” Looking around the venue, one could see many Friends of Cheese dancing to the jams.
Setlist: Smile, Get Tight, Suntan, Barstool, Missin’ Me, Just One Story, Bhangra Saanj, Can’t Stop Now.
While this constant listener is not an old-school Deadhead with hundreds of Grateful Dead shows under his belt, but I have been listening to them for about 40 years now, and they remain in regular rotation at my home and in my car. Having been at this show, and from seeing chatter online, what occurred with the Bobby set this evening was one hell of a Dead set. Bobby Weir and the Wolf Bros Featuring the Wolfpack dropped an incredible set of music on SPAC. The Wolfpack brings horns to jam. Drop a horn section into a “Dark Star”, a slow-building “Dark Star”, and magic happens. Add a “West LA Fade Away”, a “Wharf Rat”, and wrap it up with a “Sugar Magnolia” and you have one incredible set. And all this fails to mention the “El Paso”, the “Greatest Story Ever Told”, and the “New Speedway Boogie”! Listen to this set over Nugs.Net, and don’t you think of skipping that “Lost Sailor” with horns!
Setlist: Bertha, Greatest Story Ever Told, Dark Star, El Paso, Lost Sailor, Saint of Circumstance, West LA Fadeaway, New Speedway Boogie, Wharf Rat, Sugar Magnolia
To cap the evening off, Willie Nelson came on stage and amazed the crowd with his never-ending charisma and charm. His opening number “Whiskey River” segued into “Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer).” Listening to Willie is always a trip down Nostalgia Lane. He has written so many classic tunes, it’s mind-blowing. Highlights for this listener were “Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys”, “On the Road Again” and that all-time classic “Always on My Mind” (written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James).
The patience shown by die-hard fans waiting for their statesman Willie Nelson paid off that evening. Sitting through the noodle-ly dancing of the Cheese- and Deadheads, fans were now saying they were glad that people were sitting so they could see Willie on stage. Willie was remarkable. At 90 years of age, he came out on stage unassisted, sat and played for an hour, and then left after waving and throwing his bandana into the crowd. Imagine catching Willie Nelson’s bandana? What a keepsake!
Setlist: Whiskey River (Johnny Bush cover), Stay a Little Longer (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys cover), Still Is Still Moving to Me, Bloody Mary Morning, I Never Cared for You, Workin’ Man Blues (Merle Haggard and The Strangers cover), Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys, Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground, On the Road Again, Always On My Mind, Good Hearted Woman (Waylon Jennings cover), Help Me Make It Through the Night (Kris Kristofferson cover) (Waylon Payne – lead vocals), Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die, Still Not Dead, Georgia (On My Mind) (Hoagy Carmichael and His Orchestra cover), I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train (Billy Joe Shaver cover), Write Your Own Songs (Willie Nelson & Kris Kristofferson cover), Move It on Over (Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys cover), Me and Bobby McGee (Kris Kristofferson cover), Will the Circle Be Unbroken? (William MacEwan cover) (with Bob Weir), I’ll Fly Away (Rev. J.M. Gates cover) (with Bob Weir), It’s Hard to Be Humble (Mac Davis cover), Saw the Light
Affectionately dubbed “The BABYKLOK Tour,” the infectious metal tandem of BABYMETAL and Dethklok descended upon the Hammerstein Ballroom this past Friday night (September 15) – a turn-of-the-century opera house located in Midtown Manhattan – for the twelfth stop on their 29-date trek across North America.
Providing opening support on this night, and for the entire tour, was 32-year-old guitar virtuoso Jason Richardson of Manassas, Virginia. Hours before the show, an eclectic recipe of fans lined West 34th Street in eager anticipation of the show, including anime girls in full costume, tattooed death metal fans, and conservative mothers and fathers with their teenage daughters.
BABYMETAL | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
The evening’s first co-headliner to appear on stage was Dethklok, both a virtual band featured in Adult Swim’s animated, dark comedy program Metalocalpse and a natural melodic death metal band created to perform in front of a live audience. The fictional members of the band, who were featured throughout the 16-song set in numerous dark and macabre animations on a huge monitor that functioned as the stage backdrop, include Nathan Explosion, Toki Wartooth, Pickles, Skwisgaar Skwigelf, and William Murderface.
Dethklok | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
The actual members of the band are comprised of Brendon Small (a co-creator of both bands along with Tommy Blacha), Gene Hoglan, Bryan Beller, and Mike Keneally. Also joining Dethklok in their live performances for this tour is Nili Brosh, an Israeli-American guitarist who has played with Steve Vai, DragonForce, and The Iron Maidens. Watch Dethklok perform “Bloodlines,” lifted from their 2009 studio album Dethalbum II, below:
Last to take the stage, but certainly not least, was the Japanese kawaii metal band (a musical fusion of heavy metal and J-Pop) known as BABYMETAL who are touring in support of their fourth album The Other One, a concept album released in March 2023. A trio of young women ranging in age from 20 to 25 years old, BABYMETAL formed in 2010 and is comprised of main vocalist Suzuka Nakamoto as “Su-metal,” Moa Kikuchi as “Moametal” and Momoko Okazaki as “Momometal” (the band’s latest addition).
With vocals backed by heavy metal instrumentation performed by a group of session musicians known as the “Kami Band,” BABYMETAL thrilled the sold-out 2,200-capacity crowd with a breathtaking routine filled with their own brand of non-stop, synchronized dancing, while at the same time willing their fans to harness raw, head-bang inducing energy. Watch BABYMETAL perform “PA PA YA!!,” taken from their 2019 studio album titled Metal Resistance Episode VII – Apocrypha – The Chosen Seven, below:
Dethklok Setlist: Deththeme > Briefcase Full of Guts > Birthday Dethday > Awaken > Bloodlines > The Gears > Hatredcopter > Dethsupport > Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle > Aortic Desecration > I Ejaculate Fire > The Duel > Murmaider > Thunderhorse > SOS > Go Into the Water
BABYMETAL Setlist: BABYMETAL DEATH > Gimme Chocolate!! > PA PA YA!! > Distortion > BxMxC > Believing > Monochrome > METALI!! > Megitsune > Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!! > Road of Resistance
UPCOMING TOUR DATES
09/20 – Grand Rapids, MI @ GLC Live at 20 Monroe 09/21 – Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom 09/23 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life Festival 09/24 – Milwaukee, MN @ The Rave/Eagles Club 09/25 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore 09/27 – St. Louis, MO @ Saint Louis Music Park 09/28 – Omaha, NE @ Steelhouse Omaha 09/30 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium 10/01 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex 10/03 – Vancouver, BC @ PNE Forum 10/04 – Seattle, WA @ WaMu Theater 10/07 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival 10/08 – Las Vegas, NV @ Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort 10/10 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theater 10/11 – Los Angeles, CA @ YouTube Theater
Afropunk returned to Brooklyn for 2 days of music on August 26th & 27th. The festival took place at Brooklyn’s Greenpoint Terminal Market for 2023.
As on brand for Afropunk, the lineup for the festival was all black artists from various genres. Some notable names included Tobe Nwigwe, Baby Tate, and Vince Staples. The lineup also included New York’s own Joey Bada$$, and day 2 headliner, Teyana Taylor.
Unlike last year, this year had a theme, which was Circus of Soul. Motifs of this theme could be seen throughout the event. Both on stage and in the crowd, fans and artists dressed as though they were part of a circus. R&B artist Cleo Reed really leaned into the theme by dressing them selves and other stage performers in clown attire during their set. There were performers on stilts wearing kente cloth patterns walking throughout the crowd. There were also Aerial Ring performers periodically doing stunts throughout the weekend.
This year was truly one to be at, as there were many performances and attractions that festival goers could really interact with all day.
A festival of the Arts
Afropunk is a festival that is bigger than music. Though music may be the highlight, it also features art and artists from all over the globe that center their creativity around the African diaspora. Inside the Spin Thrift Market, there were vendors selling things like clothes, jewelry, books, and weed products. Outside the Market, there were spaces for health and beauty. Festival goers were able to get their hair and makeup done, henna tattoos, and facials. Most of the vendors were also African American owned and operated.
In addition to vendors that were selling merchandise, there were also areas for festival goers to interact. In the center between the two stages, there were tents set up for festival goers to play games and run through a bubble pit. It seems as though they learned from last year as most activities and vendors were set up under large tents to protect against any potential rain.
Nonetheless, as much as there was to do off stage, there was much to watch on stage. There was a two stage setup to accommodate for about 30 performances. In between performances on both stages were DJ SNS and DJ Mohogany. They helped to keep the party going as people awaited some of their favorite artists to take the stage.
Day 1 Highlights
Day 1 had strong performances from Cleo Reed and a collaboration from the Soapbox presents on the 3 Ring Stage. The Soapbox brought together vocalists and musicians to bring a rock, R&B, and gospel like performance. This was one of the many perfect displays of how African American music is has roots in so many different genres that tend to overlap one another. The performance had fans feeling cool in the end of summer heat.
One of day 1’s most notable and electric performances was from Tobe Nwigwe. Originally from Houston, TX, Tobe holds on to his Nigerian roots well as they could be seen in his performances. He is always recognizable with his seafoam green outfits and sets. He brought out his wife, Martica Nwigwe, for a few songs from his set. He also had Olu from Earthgang come out for a song. Olu came out on brand, wearing seafoam green wings to sing “WILDLINGS” with Tobe. The performance was full of energy and surprises that keep the audience screaming for an hour.
Tobe’s performance was evened out by a more mellow from Vince Staples. Vince stared as “Maurice” earlier this year in the Emmy award winning show, Abbott Elementary. His Long Beach, CA vibes really brought the crowd down from their state of choas from before. Though his set did not features as many theatrics like Tobe’s, he still had the attention of the crowd. Vince had the crowd singing along to his hit song, “Norf Norf,” before there was a mass exodus from the event.
An uneventful end to the hype
The first night was headlined by Flying Lotus. He is a producer and DJ who has worked on many projects on TV shows and film. One of the most notable projects was Netflix’sYasuke, an anime centered around the story of Japan’s first black samurai. He makes a lot of EDM and electronic rap songs primarily.
Flying Lotus did not receive much of an introduction which left many fans confused. Though his fans would be familiar with his music and style, this may have been many’s first exposure to him. He could barely be seen from behind his DJ booth and did not say a word for at least the first 20 minutes of his set. About halfway through, he was joined by rapper Smoke DZA, who he is working on a collaborative album with. Smoke DZA did bring some excitement and energy to his performance.
After Smoke DZA’s exit, Flying Lotus played a few more songs and was about to leave. He did not realize that his set was not over and played for about another 15 minutes. Flying Lotus had a pretty anti-climatic exit, as it was a pretty bleak end to day 1 of Afropunk 2023.
A stark turn around from Day 1’s mishaps
Day 2 still featured a full lineup that had Greenpoint full. What was nice about this year’s festival was the scheduling of performances. With the stage schedules pretty staggered, fans were able to see all their artists without really having to miss a performance. This really set Afropunk apart from other festivals as many usually have fans contemplating which artists they wanted to see more. If they wanted to, fans could see just about every artist and take in the full Afropunk experience.
Some notable performances from Day 2 were from Baby Tate and Joey Bada$$. Baby Tate brought a fun energy out of the crowd. With a lot of positive sexual messages infused in her lyrics, her music and performance made Greenpoint a safe space for women to express themselves. In the middle of her set, Baby Tate took a break and her DJ Sky Jetta tapped into a different side of her fans. Though Baby Tate makes rap music, Sky Jetta played alternative rock hits, including “I write sins not tragedies” that absolutely killed.
Baby Tate came back and continued to kill. She played unreleased song “Wig” and ended on her hit “I am” to leave things on a high. Joey Bad$$ proceeded her and continues to bring smiles.
New York showing out for New York artists
Joey Bad$$ was happy to be back in his hometown as he expressed his love for Brooklyn all through out his performance. The theme around his performance was love as he turned the camera toward the audience to celebrate black love. He had a kiss cam going on for a bit before singing “Love is only a feeling.” He dedicated a few songs to fallen black artists including, XXXTentacion, Nipsey Hustle, Pop Smoke, Young Dolph, and more.
Before he left, he expressed his happiness to be playing at an event where he could see so many black faces. He also threw a jab at Afropunk for being a bit unprofessional behind the scenes. He still left things on a high with “Devasated” before handing the stage over to Teyana Taylor.
The energy from day 2 was drastically different than from the previous day. Day 2’s lineup featured so many artist that people knew and loved. They had performances that people wanted to be a part of and sing along with. Day 2 was originally supposed to end with Grammy award winner Jazmine Sullivan. Due to some personal reasons, she could not perform, but Teyana Taylor was passed the torch to close out the weekend.
Rose of Harlem feeling the love
Nicked named the “Rose of Harlem”, Teyana Taylor closed out to packed audience in her city. Teyana had mentioned during her performance that she was nervous to headline a show as she felt as though no one would stay for her. Though some mic issues may have fueled those nerves early on, New York showed her so much love that it brought her to tears.
The sound was getting too much for Teyana as she asked for just the keys to play during one of her songs. She was able to get real close and emotional with the crowd before turning things back up. The crowd screamed “Issues” and ” Gonna Love Me” with Teyana.
She was joined on stage by her daughter ,”Junnie,” and husband Iman Shumphert, for a few songs. Her daughter helped her throw out free t-shirts to the audience. Teyana also had 3 outfit changes that synced up with the many different vibes of her performance.
She exited the stage, but quickly came back for an encore. Teyana ran into the middle column of the pit to slap the hands of her fans before closing out the night. She thanked New York for showing her so much love and making this performance one worth leaving retirement for.
Afropunk continued to bring peace, love, and education about African American culture to one of the biggest melting pots of the world. With Afropunk’s voice continuing to reach millions, it’s only a matter of time before it starts to expand to other cities across the globe.
