(Throwback) Concert Review #1 - Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. tour

My DAMN. tour review

After seeing Travis Scott's lackluster performance, Kendrick came in and saved the day, thank goodness he was the headliner.

Basically, I went to go see Kendrick Lamar, & Travis Scott on the DAMN. tour (missed DRAM, but I didn't really care) on Tuesday, August 8th, 2017 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Here's a picture of my ticket...

My ticket to Kendrick Lamar's "DAMN." tour.

After finding parking in a decent lot near the Staples Center, my father and I walked inside the venue, it was relatively easy to get in.

Our seats were pretty easy to find, the Staples Center staff was helpful and courteous, which is always a big plus at these music events. 

We arrive right when D.R.A.M. is finishing up his set and if I'm being completely honest, I didn't really want to see D.R.A.M., don't get me wrong, I don't hate him at all (he actually seems like a really, genuinely nice person in real life) but I didn't know any of his songs (aside from "Broccoli"). 

It actually just dawned on me that I haven't actually given a full listen to his debut album "Big Baby DRAM" which is my bad to be honest. But, it already happened, we got there when we got there, and we can't change it now, especially two months after the fact.

In the picture: DRAM and his pet (also the cover of his debut album). *Note to self* Listen to this album sometime in the future

So, we find our seats, and they are nice. They are right near the floor seats without ACTUALLY being the floor seats (floor seats, I personally find to be extremely overpriced and overrated) and they provide a nice, up close and personal view to the stage.

As my father and I discuss the Staples Center and the quality of the seats I picked. The lights dim, and a DJ comes out and simply says "Los Angeles, please stand up for Travis Scott"

I, with my tray of nachos that I bought before I sat down, stand up, eager to finally experience the live magic of LA FLAME. 

If you let forum posts and comments on youtube videos tell it. Travis is an absolutely phenomenal performer.

However, my father and I...were not impressed.

Travis came out and performed a medley of songs that didn't get the crowd moving. Now, I know that most of the people here came here for Kendrick and that D.R.A.M. and Travis were just tagging along. However, it made me realize that Travis, while he sounds good on a record, when it comes to live performances, it doesn't translate well UNLESS the entire stage and sound set up is dedicated to him sounding as best he can.

A video I took of Travis performing atop of his mechanical bird.

Travis uses a lot of effects on his voice, so sometimes it can get awkward when he attempts to talk to the crowd in autotune, while the actual audio track is playing in the background. On top of that, his 2 major projects, have a ton of features on them. Those features, are often an integral part of the song, (he performed the hook only off "4 AM" with 2 chainz) and in addition to that, it seems like Travis has no problem just playing songs he enjoys, that aren't even his or feature him on vocals. 

A perfect example would be when he did the opener to "Father, Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1" by Kanye West. Now, I have no problem with somebody playing someone else's song during their set, but if I'm doing arena tours, as an opener, I'm doing all songs by me!

It also didn't help that the Staples Center sound guys don't really turn on the full volume of the microphones until the headliner (Kendrick) shows up. So, Travis sounded like his volume was turned down a notch, I think it forced him to scream louder and couple that with the autotune and you get what is essentially a black, spazzing, robot rapper in designer jeans.

On the flip side, Travis's set up looked great. Him performing a top a bird was a great move on his part. It makes his performance memorable, even if his performance itself wasn't that memorable.

All about dat A E S T H E T I C

Another thing I noticed is how people weren't really moving or grooving to Travis's songs (aside from "Antidote" and "goosebumps"). I'm not sure what level of fame Travis is at, sure, he has mainstream notoriety but he still has that up and coming newer artist energy with a niche fanbase that rides and dies for him. Travis still has that new artist energy, without being a new artist. And that's a good thing.

Anyway, the only time I'd see Travis again is probably at a festival line-up. Other than that, I don't think Travis Scott will be receiving my money for a concert ticket any time soon.

AND NOW FOR THE MAIN ATTRACTION...KENDRICK LAMAR!

A Gif of a video I took of Kendrick performing "Money Trees" at the Staples Center (Yes, we were THAT close)

After Travis Scott, my father and I decided to go get some snacks before Kendrick's set started. After unsuccessfully searching for candy, the crowd cheered, the DAMN movie intro (which I missed) started and we were still on the outside of the seating part of the venue (we were in the part where you buy snacks and drinks).

Fam, I RAN (no middle east country) to my seat, like I must've clearly been in a hurry because the ticket checker saw me running and was like "Go ahead, it's fine, no worries" (which is such a California thing to say haha) and I basically swanned dived to my seat just as Kendrick popped out to begin "DNA."

My Dad eventually caught up, he had been having his Avion tequila so he was feeling rather good, and taking his time. The event was for me, not for him after all.

When "DNA." started I was so hype, I'm not even going to lie, it was the most hype I was the entire show. The whole reason I even wanted to go see Kendrick live was to see the 2nd half of "DNA." performed live. 

Now, I knew what to expect, the 2nd half of "DNA." is very difficult to perform live fluidly in one breath, and I had seen how Kendrick performed the 2nd half of "DNA." live where he says "Marble on the floor" pauses, let's the beat play and then picks up at "baby in the pool, godfather goals".

A little piece of me still wanted him to perform the song all the way through in one breath, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case, it was still performed well though.

Here's Kendrick performing "DNA." in Los Angeles, California. I didn't take a video of his performance but this is what I found on youtube. Also, the following video was from the Sunday, August 6th, 2017 date, not my August 8th date. Still, enjoy.

Following "DNA." Kendrick performed "ELEMENT.", "King Kunta", "untitled 07", "untitled 02", his remix verse on Future's "Mask Off", his verse on ScHoolboy Q's "Collard Greens,  "Swimming Pools",  "Backseat Freestyle", and "LOYALTY." ALL flawlessly.

One thing I appreciate about Kendrick's live performance is how it's just him performing with mostly no backing vocals. Obviously he can't rap every single word without taking a breath (so some backing vocals are conveniently placed) but for the most part it was just Kendrick, with a bunch of visuals behind him, rapping his ass off, using his live voice. 

When I compare Travis to Kendrick in terms of performance, it really highlights the difference between a rap spectacle and a rap performance. Travis's set was more a spectacle with the flying bird and the larger-than-life delivery from Travis. 

Kendrick's set was more a performance because he didn't need anything other than a mic and himself to make his prescence felt. Other than a ninja that comes out during the 2nd half of "DNA.", a few visual intermissions (movies) and this Asian man who comes out and does some kung fu moves before "PRIDE." starts. Kendrick kept it simple, but thorough.

Kendrick is the poster child of a "lyrically conscious" rapper along with J. Cole and his songs are very lyric driven so when he does perform it's truly fascinating to see him do these songs, and sound like he does on record.

There are small changes to the live versions he performs in concert however.

For instance, during "Money Trees" Kendrick performed to a live backing instrumental with added guitars that really gave that feeling of having a live band performing (without actually having a live band performing behind him).

It'll make more sense if I would just show you some of the audio I took of Kendrick during money trees, so that's what I'm going to do.

My Dad was filming me for some reason, but like I said, he was feeling good off that Avion, so we'll excuse him and blame it on the alcohol (No Jamie Foxx song haha).

It's the subtle changes in the live version that really makes Kendrick's live show stand out from others. Most hip hop artists just play the studio version of their tracks, rely on backing vocals and just get paid to sing along to their own songs. Reminds me of that joke by Hannibal Buress. 

I know it sounds like I have Kendrick's member all the way down my esophagus, but the man put on a really good show with a relatively simple set up, no gimmicks, no tricks, just an artist actually performing his hit songs on the microphone.  That is literally what most people paid for (along with DRAM, Travis Scott, YG [on certain dates], and James Blake [during European dates])

The more I reflect on the DAMN tour the more I realize how "hip hop" it was. Like, hip hop was born out it's relatively simple set up, and I feel like Kendrick kept that essence all throughout the show. 

Here were the rest of the videos recorded from the "DAMN." tour (obviously recorded by me, on my father's phone lol)

I had recorded three songs at the Kendrick concert ("Money Trees", "LUST." and "Alright") because I actually like to live in the moment and enjoy myself in real time. Never understood people who stand and record the WHOLE concert. My thoughts are "stop living your life through a phone screen. Put it down and live in the moment, you're gonna miss the whole show and watch it later, which is stupid." That person would probably record their entire LIFE and watch it later if they could, but enough of that, let's get to this footage. 

I started recording Kendrick during "LUST." because he had this cool, cage set up going on and I wanted to capture it, so I did. 

ALL FOOTAGE CAPTURED BY YOURS TRULY (JOSEPH SANKER II) UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

Footage of Kendrick performing "LUST." off the DAMN. album.

 

More footage of Kendrick performing "LUST" (the more I look at these videos, the more I realized we had AH-MAZE-ING seats)

Guess who came through with even more footage of Kendrick performing "LUST." on the DAMN. tour in Los Angeles on August 8th, 2017.

 

Here's Kendrick performing the opening chorus to "Money Trees".

 (Recorded by me, Joseph Sanker II)

I didn't record ALL of "Money Trees" live but here's a little bit more of that same song that I (Joseph Sanker II) recorded.

And finally, my favorite recording that I took that night. Kendrick performing  "Alright" off of "To Pimp a Butterfly" and it really captures how hype, yet controlled everything was. It was dope.

(Just in case you forgot, footage recorded by me, Joseph Sanker II, on 8/8/17)

Damn, I love that final footage I took. I rewatched it and it perfectly captures Kendrick's message to a tee, especially in that song (Alright). 

Anyway, Kendrick said "adiueu", then did "GOD." as Los Angeles' encore song. Personally, I think "DUCKWORTH." would've been a better encore song, it's personal, insightful and I think the message sticks to the listener more, especially after the last few lines about how if "Anthony killed Ducky/Top Dawg could be servin' life/While I grew up without a father and die in a gunfight" I think would've resonated with at least a few people in the audience.

But that's just a small complaint for an otherwise perfect evening. Kendrick was worth every penny. Trust me, I've seen a few other rappers in concert (including Drake, Kanye West, Logic, Snoop Dogg etc.) and Drake would be the only other rapper I'd say to pay a little bit extra for. Everyone else, I wouldn't go see with my own money (if someone else was paying then sure, but me spending my money to see them? No sir.)

BOTTOM LINE:

Kendrick Lamar puts on a great show. At the time I'm writing this, the United States portion of the DAMN. tour has concluded. However, the European leg of the tour is set to begin in February of 2018.

If  you missed out on the DAMN. tour, then you really missed out. Kendrick really does give you what you pay for, which is him, a mic, a stage and rapping. He may not be able to perform 100% like the track BUT compared to his competition. Kendrick is light years ahead of them. Kendrick really does perform and doesn't try to blind you with lights, props and gimmicks.

IF by chance you're from overseas (AKA any city on the European leg of the DAMN. tour with James Blake) then please...GO TRY AND BUY TICKETS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THIS IS A SHOW YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS.

HERE ARE THE DATES FOR THE EUROPEAN LEG OF THE DAMN. TOUR W/ JAMES BLAKE AS AN OPENER, YES AN OPENER!

AS FOR TICKET SALES AND INFO, FIGURE IT OUT, I'VE ALREADY DONE ENOUGH  FOR YOU JEEZ!

But yeah, definitely check out Kendrick on tour if he's near or in your city.

I got a dope T-Shirt to commemorate the night...here's a picture:

 The front of the DAMN. shirt

The back of the DAMN. shirt

Overall concert score: 4 running-out-of-breath-during-the-second-half-of-DNA.'s  out of 5 (Really good concert, seriously. Go see Kendrick live if you can, even his openers are decent. Although my father and myself still weren't impressed with Travis Scott)

go see Kendrick.

And yeah, that's my concert experience! I don't know what I'm going to do next, so don't ask, but I needed to get this out because I completely dropped the ball on getting something out in September so, I want to get two published posts out this month in order to play catch up.

Stay tuned, 

~ Joe

Written by Joseph Sanker II on 10/18/17

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Until next time! Peace out! One.

Written by Joseph Sanker II