Sprite Liquid Mix Tour: Feat. N.E.R.D., O.A.R., Talib Kweli, The Roots, Robert Randolph and the Family Band & Skillz

After driving around Concord and trying to figure out my janky MapQuest directions, I got to the Pavilion right about the time the show was about to start, but was held up by the equally janky people running the show who kept me waiting outside until they figured out where the list was. So I missed Skillz. I hear they rocked.
Talib Kweli was supposed to go on second but he hadn’t arrived yet due to travel problems so Robert Randolph and the Family Band went on. These cats were awesome. I have never seen anyone play a pedal steel guitar like Robert Randolph, with extremely rocking solos while singing some catchy tunes. He also jumped up and danced around the stage acting goofy. This act is probably the best possible opener for just about any show. They got the crowd in the mood to have some fun and rock out.
Kweli still hadn’t shown up so The Roots went on next and proceeded to blow me away. The live experience is far superior to their recorded material with lots of extended songs where each member of the band could showcase their skills at blending jazz, rock and hip-hop. Of special note was Martin Luther, the guitar player who is currently touring with the band. He played riffs that most rocker guitarists would pay a lot of money to be able to emulate while delivering a first-class stage show.
The highlight of the show was when The Roots broke into a version of “Rapper’s Delight” and most of the band put down their instruments and danced around the stage. Then, in the middle of the song, Talib Kweli came out and took over on the mic. He played a couple of his own songs with just a DJ backing him up and also with The Roots providing the music. This collaboration put the guy, who is arguably the best lyricist in hip-hop, in front of the most innovative hip-hop group in today’s scene. I was impressed. A lot.
After about 15 minutes, Kweli retired to the back of the stage and let The Roots finish their set, which ended in a medley of cover songs spanning genres to include just about all of their influences.
Just about any band would be hard pressed to follow up a set like that but O.A.R. really was a bad band. Instead of buying their record, just go to a backyard party and watch one of those bands that tries to blend rock, funk, reggae, punk, etc. The result is almost always a pile of shit that sounds like kids trying to rip off the Red Hot Chili Peppers and doing a terrible job.
After a DJ and breakdancing demonstration the show was closed out by N.E.R.D., which is basically The Neptunes (yeah, those guys who write about 70 percent of the music you hear on the radio) playing their own music. These people know how to write catchy hip-hop and the addition of a live band adds a lot of presence to the tunes. They played some excellent tunes, treating the crowd to a song, “Thrasher,” about the skater kids they used to hang out with. It’s going to be on their next record; watch for it.

– words and photo by Brad Lambert

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