As I entered the Plaza on Monday, the first thing I noticed was a giant banner, bearing the image of a horrified white male staring down at the crowd.
Written overtop his face was the word “Wolf” and his presence only served to remind me exactly why I bought my ticket for Tyler, The Creator in the first place.
I went to a show like this not for the most incredibly skilled musicians, or the best stage set up, or even a performer who would be remembered as the voice of his generation. I went because Tyler, The Creator is one of the funniest and most genuinely passionate performers in music today.
That man’s face, who stared down upon us as we slammed into each other during almost every song, wasn’t there to create some strange aura, or intimidate the audience. Tyler had that banner hanging there because it was funny, stupid, and made you feel like he wanted to make sure you had as much fun as you possibly could.
The show began with a brief DJ set by fellow Odd Future member, Taco, who played remixed versions of many popular songs which definitely helped set the tone for the night. Among the songs were “Ain’t Worried About Nothin’” by French Montana, and “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” by Kanye West.
Even though I would have preferred a more formal opening performance from someone like Domo Genesis or MellowHype, it was still a great introduction that served well to pump up the crowd. The audience’s enthusiasm, however, during Taco’s brief set, was nothing compared to the moment Tyler took center stage.
Even if you can’t appreciate his music, Tyler’s stage presence alone is enough to impress. Every aspect of his behavior shows how much he truly cares about putting on a great show. In between songs he would engage in goofy banter with individual audience members and his choice of songs definitely rewarded dedicated fans.
If there was any negative aspect to the show at all, it would have to be that, sadly, Tyler was sick and during certain songs his performance suffered slightly. Thankfully, accompanying him was also Jasper Dolphin, who would frequently perform certain verses, along with Taco, in order to compensate for Tyler’s weak health.
By the time the show was over, nothing could take away, however, from what an amazing time I had. From the enthusiasm of the crowd, to the way Tyler really seems to care about his fans, everything added up to one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.
Verdict: Two Thumbs Up!
