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By Sirion Sewell
Doors
opened at 7:00pm. Being the Very Important Person that I am, I
received star treatment and didn’t need to wait in line. This
was my first time attending a concert at the Showbox. I was
pleasantly surprised yet also a little let down at the
interior of the venue. But all was good. There was a mixture
of hip-hop heads, rockers, skaters, adults, kids and all types
of people. We all came together for one reason, to enjoy great
music and have a good time. We all waited anxiously for the
show to begin. There was a large turnout for such little
promotion. D.J. Michael Antonia was spinning the cuts. The
wait was about 2 ½ hours. To pass the time we ate, drank (not
alcohol), mingled and cut a rug.
Spymob was the opening band. They were a four-member group
from Minneapolis, MN. They were average looking white boys
with soul. To sum up their sound, I would have to use a few
choice words: eclectic slow rock and contemporary grunge funk.
Their set lasted about 45 minutes. For everyone not knowing
who they were, they sure represented themselves well and
gained the respect of all in attendance. We were definitely
groovin’ to their music. They’re album will be out soon on The
Neptune’s’ label, Startrak. The title song is “Sitting and
Keeping Score.” With one last song and the clearing of the set
it was time to become a N*E*R*D.
In case you didn’t know, N*E*R*D (No one Ever Really Dies)
consists of 2 members of today’s hottest production team, The
Neptunes and their good friend Shay. Spymob assisted N*E*R*D
and played back up for them. Shay and Pharrel were minus one
N*E*R*D, Chad, who was back home in Virginia with his family.
However, his absence didn’t affect their performance, they
were in full force. Pharrel noted that when you come to one of
their shows that it’s like a talk show, because they’re going
to talk to you. They sang many songs from their album, In
Search Of… Hits such as “Brain”, “Truth or Dare”, “Lap Dance”,
and “Rock Star” moved the crowd. When they jumped, we jumped.
When they moved, we moved. And when they screamed, we
screamed. It was a great experience.
During “Truth or Dare”, eclectic soul stress, Kelis happily
joined them on stage. Kelis also preformed a funky song
entitled “Junky” and her newest single “ Popular Thug”. One
moment during Kelis’ performance, she stood directly in front
of me, gazed into my eyes and sang to me. She was so beautiful
and her voice was like heaven. Kelis had great stage presence
and backed her you know what up. That girl can dance.
N*E*R*D played a song from their new album called “Locked”.
The song is about a relationship Pharrel had with a girl who
wanted to keep it “Locked” away. Before they sang “Locked”
Pharrel asked if anyone had a video camera or a recording
device. If we did, he advised us to turn it on and bootleg it
on the Internet if we wanted to, because after all we liked
breaking the rules.
I am a true R&B and rap music fan at heart, and I thoroughly
enjoyed the concert. It wasn’t geared at a specific type of
audience, it was for all walks of life who could appreciate
good music. After returning from a short break, N*E*R*D rocked
the house with a couple more songs and a medley of hit song
guest appearances. This was a concert from the heart and for
the world. If you were there, then you know exactly what I’m
talking about. If you missed the concert, I’m sorry, but
nothing can replace the feeling we all felt, but you can pick
up their c.d. entitled “In Search Of… and you can get a
preview of what we experienced. If you don’t get the album
you’re cheating yourself. N*E*R*D is in a genre all unto
itself. Its totally different than anything that you’ve ever
heard, its funky, hip hop, rock, in your face, positive, feel
good music.
Song Performance List:
Brain
Things Are Getting Better
Tape You
Baby
Truth or Dare
Junky
Popular Thug
Bobby James
Lap Dance
Provider
Locked
Rock Star
Run
Medley( Busta Rhymes(Courvosier) and Jay-Z(Give it to Me, I
just want to love you)
Links:
www.N-E-R-D. com
virginrecords.com
startrack.com
kelis.com
spymob.com
Remaining concert dates:
06.22.2002 Central Park Summer Stage New York City, NY
08.20.2002 Jones Beach Amphitheater Wantagh, NY United States
08.21.2002 Tweeter Center for Performing Arts Boston, MA
United States
08.23.2002 Nissan Pavilion, DC United States
08.24.2002 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Indianapolis, IN
United States
08.27.2002 Tweeter Center, PA United States
08.28.2002 PNC Bank Art Center, NY United States
08.30.2002 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte, NC United
States
08.31.2002 Hi Fi Buys Amphitheater Atlanta, GA United States
09.01.2002 UMB Bank Pavilion Maryland Heights, MO United
States
09.02.2002 Tweeter Center Chicago, IL United States
09.04.2002 Smirnoff Music Centre Dallas, TX United States
09.06.2002 Cricket Pavilion Phoenix, AZ United States
09.07.2002 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, CA United States
09.08.2002 Shoreline Amphitheater Mountain View, CA United
States
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