Tuesday, December 1, 1998
Outkast keeps crowd on its feet
MUSIC: Hip-hop sounds from album, ‘Aquemini,’ captivate House of
Blues
By Tenoch Flores
Daily Bruin Contributor
Los Angeles got a little taste of southern hospitality Wednesday
night. Outkast came to town to perform back-to-back sold out shows
at the House of Blues. Riding the success of their critically
acclaimed third album, "Aquemini," Outkast provided the hungry
crowds with some good-old, down South hip-hop.
The show also featured Los Angeles’ own Black Eyed Peas and the
new R&B group, MelkySedek. Crowds poured in early, searching
for the best spot in the house. In no time, the middle of the floor
was taken while some posted up at the bar and others chose the
balconies overlooking the stage.
MelkySedek wasted no time in starting and served their purpose
well as an opening act. The brother and sister duo (who also happen
to be Wyclef Jean’s siblings) received a warm response from the
crowd who showed appreciation for their soulful performance.
While Sedek played keyboard, his sister Melky heated up the room
as she sang with the confidence of a seasoned veteran, rather than
a nervous newcomer. Loosing the crowd only momentarily, MelkySedek
again showed maturity and regained momentum to finish up strong.
Unlike most R&B acts opening at a hip-hop show, MelkySedek
received genuine praise for their unique style that differed from
the corny formulaic sounds that presently flood the genre.
Black Eyed Peas took the stage to do what they do best: perform
in front of a live audience. In fact, it was live performances
(mainly across local college campuses) that helped the Peas build a
small but dedicated fan base in the L.A. area. While they always
draw comparisons to The Roots, (because they both use live bands)
Black Eyed Peas have their own distinct sound which is
characterized by much more call and response than their
Philadelphia counterparts.
Black Eyed Peas’s antics kept the crowd excited throughout their
set, and they always involved the crowd in their show. Among the
songs they played was the Latin-influenced "Karma" and their
commercial single, "Joints and Jams," which had the audience
bouncing in agreement. The group put on an inspired show as usual
and left the crowd feeling as though they had witnessed a classic
Black Eyed Peas performance.
After a minor delay, the all too familiar voices of Andre and
Big Boi came through the speakers as the two took the stage.
Outkast was ready to begin their show. Dressed in what can only be
described as a throwback nightmare out of the ’80s, Andre remained
consistent in his eccentric choice of attire while Big Boi played
it low key in an all black outfit.
Almost immediately after taking the stage, the sounds of "Hootie
Hoo" poured through the sound system as they ran through the
familiar song from their debut 1994 album,
"Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik." Immediately mesmerized by the
sounds of Outkast, the crowd could rarely be brought down off the
high they were experiencing.
Keeping the audience satisfied, they jumped right into the song
"ATLiens" which gained mainstream attention in 1996 and had the
crowd "throwing their hands in the air." The fans enthusiastically
chanted and sang along with Outkast until the song ended. Then the
band slowed things down with soulful, relaxing
"SpottieOttieDopaliscious." As the horns blared, the deejay added
impromptu scratches that blended perfectly with the track.
The mood was switched up again as Outkast went into "Skew It on
the Bar-B." The hyped track produced the expected reaction as the
beat and the duo’s vocals carried the crowd. Continuing their high
adrenaline set, Outkast performed an improvised version of "Jazzy
Belle."
While the original features a soothing, laid-back track, the
deejay decided to switch things up as he jacked for other people’s
beats. Outkast effortlessly rhymed over the beats for "Triumph" and
"Deep Cover," and while some in the audience did not seem to
recognize the beats, those who did enjoyed quite a treat.
One of the night’s minor drawbacks came when members of
Outkast’s extended "Dungeon Family" got to play a few songs. While
the crowd still enjoyed the performances (especially the one put on
by Witchdoctor), everyone waited for Outkast to get back on the
mic.
After letting their partners perform a few cuts, Outkast took
back the show and didn’t disappointed again. Andre and Big Boi took
it back to their first album with the songs
"Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" and "Player’s Ball," which
featured an alternate beat to complement Andre’s vocals.
Moving along in chronological order, "Wheelz of Steel" and
"Elevators (Me & You)" were next on the menu, as the audience
was supplied with two of the group’s best songs from their 1996
album "ATLiens."
The crowd’s reaction seemed to peak at these two songs, but once
again, the members of Outkast topped themselves by ending the
nights performance with their current single, "Rosa Parks." Very
few members of the audience were left standing still when this song
came on, as everyone seemed to agree that this was the song to end
the night with.
Not one of the groups performing at the House of Blues lacked
enthusiasm as they all delivered top-notch performances. Outkast’s
show in particular proved especially satisfying due in part to the
innovations they create, making the experience different from just
listening to an Outkast album. Marred only by minor inconsistencies
(including the occasional microphone feedback), Wednesday’s show at
the House of Blues provided a more than adequate pre-Thanksgiving
meal as no one left the House of Blues feeling hungry.
Andre Benjamin of Outkast performs at the House of Blues.
Photos by MICHAEL ROSS WACHT/Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Melky of MelkySedek sings as opening act for Outkast.
MICHAEL ROSS WACHT/Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Apple.d.app of Black Eyed Peas performs at the House of
Blues.
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