August 09, 2014

Andy Grammer Performs For Crowd At Northshore Mall In MA

August 09, 2014/ Ben Esakof

Andy Grammer performing at the Northshore Mall in Peabody, MA on August 9th, 2014 (Benjamin Esakof/Roman's Rap-Up).

It's been a busy week for pop/rock star Andy Grammer.

Not only did he appear on the Today Show in support of his just released album, "Magazines or Novels", but he also performed for a large crowd at the Northshore Mall outside of Boston.

See photos of the performance and meet and greet below.

Performance:

M&G:

August 04, 2014

Concert Review: Taylor Gang tears it up at Wiz Khalifa's "Under The Influence Of Music" Tour

August 04, 2014/ Prince Hal

Wiz Khalifa performing as part of the "Under The Influence Of Music" tour in Mansfield, MA on August 2nd, 2014 (Benjamin Esakof/Roman's Rap-Up).

The name pretty much says it all: Wiz Khalifa's "Under The Influence Of Music" tour was a smoky haze of hip-hop.

The night began with Mack Wilds, delivering a soulful, beat heavy performance. Highlights included a shoutout to the New York block parties of his youth.

The night seamlessly moved from act to act, thanks to the night's energetic MC, DJ Drama. Drama kept playful with the audience throughout the night, keeping the mood and the audience entertained.

Ty Dolla $ign performing as part of the "Under The Influence Of Music" tour in Mansfield, MA on August 2nd, 2014 (Benjamin Esakof/Roman's Rap-Up).

Next up, Ty Dolla $ign took center stage. Ty had as much fun as the audience, dancing, smoking & rapping in equal portions. Hints of reggae beat and yellowish green-centric lighting complimented the hazy, weed-filled atmosphere. Our favorite moments included a bass guitar solo and performances of "Paranoid" and the hit single "Or Nah".

After another DJ Drama stint came Sage the Gemini and his "Heart Break Gang". With Sage came yet heavier bass and some of the strangest dancing of the night. This leg of the night culminated with Iamsu!'s "Love my Squad".

The final act before the main event was Young Jeezy. The opening was a huge production, full of snippets and news clippings detailing his alleged murder in 2005. The crowd went wild over an earthshaking performance of his hit "Put On".

Finally came the main event, Wiz Khalifa himself. He began with a sensational opening, walking onto the stage in a cloud of his own smoke. Soon came Khalifa's hit "Work Hard, Play Hard", followed by a tone-setting monologue to the audience. He cooled down the audience and kept it poppin' with his lesser-known "Mezmorized". However, the biggest highlights were his A Cappella rap, the return of the entire Taylor Gang to the stage, and the absolute chaos that was the performance to his chart-topper "Black and Yellow".

With a steady ramp-up of energy from Wilds to Ty to Sage to Jeezy, Khalifa was a perfect way to wind down the night. If you know Taylor Gang well enough, you know exactly what you'll get from the "Under The Influence Of Music" tour: a crazy, hazy exposition of some of the best hip-hop music out there today.

Wiz Khalifa:

Jeezy:

Mack Wilds, Ty Dolla $ign & Sage The Gemini:

Crowd:

July 09, 2014

Concert Review: Neon Trees at House of Blues Boston

July 09, 2014/ Prince Hal

Be it due to the stunning stage, the good-humored musicians, or the particularly lively audience, Neon Trees left Boston's House of Blues electrified.

The show began with openers Nightmare and the Cat and Small Pools. Both of which, in their own unique way, primed the audience for the full Neon Trees experience.

The band began in silhouette, starting with a huge white cloth draped between the audience and the stage. The curtain dropped, revealing a stunningly vibrant (and needless to say, neon) stage. While daunting to look at, the stage and lighting effects refused to dominate. The focus stayed on the music, as it should.

Lead singer Tyler Glenn commands the stage through his spot-on vocals, connection to the audience, and inability to sit still. Ranging from playful and fun to sensual and seductive, Glenn's dancing never missed a beat. Glenn opens himself up to the audience, speaking of the struggles of his teenage years and his current, newfound happiness.

Highlights from the show include a cute duet between Glenn and drummer Elaine Bradley, a soul-crushing bass synth, and a (dare I say it) perfect rendition of "Where is my Mind" by the Pixies.

Overall, the night was a blast. Few bands will ever be able to boast an energy like that exuded by Neon Trees. Concerts rarely get any more exciting or fun.

Note: Check back later for photos from the event!

July 03, 2014

Concert Review: Beyoncé and Jay Z Electrify Gillette Stadium for "On The Run" Tour

July 03, 2014/ Ben Esakof

FOXBOROUGH, MA - JULY 1: Beyoncé and JAY Z perform on the On The Run Tour at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday, July 1, 2014, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mason Poole/Parkwood Entertainment/PictureGroup)

What’s better than a solo Beyoncé concert? A Beyoncé and Jay Z concert.

Beyoncé and Jay Z brought their hugely successful “On The Run” tour to Gillette Stadium Tuesday night for a sold-out crowd of over 50,000. If there is one concert in your life you have to see, then definitely it’s this one.

The show opened up with one of the couple’s first songs, “Bonnie And Clyde,” which lit the crowd on fire. Going into the tour, I was slightly concerned that it just would be a typical joint tour, where the two artists each take the stage for half the time. To my delight, the show was executed perfectly as a joint performance. After the first song, Bey and Jay switched off, doing their hits like “Crazy In Love,” “Tom Ford,” and more.

FOXBOROUGH, MA - JULY 1: Beyoncé performs on the On The Run Tour at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday, July 1, 2014, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mason Poole/Parkwood Entertainment/PictureGroup)

Seeing Beyoncé for the second time in several months, fresh off her “Mrs. Carter Show World Tour”, I was excited to see her doing songs off her new, self-titled album. Queen Bey sexily danced and grinded through “Flawless,” “Yoncé,” and “Partition” (among others).

The focus of the night, however, wasn’t solely Beyoncé or Jay Z, but rather on their relationship to one another. In recent news, gossip magazines have claimed that Jay has been cheating on Bey, which would be very hard to believe after seeing this show. There was an obvious connection between them, and the whole audience knew it, especially during Jay Z’s “Young Forever,” when the two sang to each other while walking to the center stage.

As I noted back in December at the “Mrs. Carter Show,” Bey really does have a connection with her fans, as does Jay Z. The stage had a setup in the center of the stadium, which both stars used as way to get closer to their fans. In fact, Jay actually took a few minutes to walk onto that stage just to look at “all the sexy ladies.” There, he freestyled an intro to his wife’s “Partition.” That’s not the only time that they collaborated on something not officially recorded. Bey joined in, with perhaps my favorite moment of the night, by singing Justin Timberlake’s part in Jay Z’s “Holy Grail.”

Respect that, bow-down bitches.