I Still Love N.E.R.D

Holy Camole! I’ve been spoiled with so many awesome shows this year. I recently checked out Common and NERD‘s “Seeing The Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour” with my friend Anth and two of his friends. Escorted into the Kool Haus by Anna’s friend, we find ourselves with other hip hop loving fans anxiously waiting for the show to start. I was really looking forward to see Chester French who I thought was going on before Skateboard P. Turns out they were a no show. Bummer…

NERD hit the stage around 9 pm and kicked it off with “Anti-Matter”. I was at the back and couldn’t see a thing. On my tipy toes (shorty here at 5’2) I saw Pharrell in a yellow fitted hat, red hoodie, and white skinny jeans. Sneakers? Couldn’t see. Probably rockin a new pair he picked up at Livestock earlier that day when NERD was doing a autograph signing for fans. Pharrell got the crowd going with “HELL YEAHS” and “N-E-R-D” chants and played more songs from “Seeing Sounds” like “Windows” and “Sooner or Later”. I enjoyed singing along to “Rockstar” my favourite NERD song of all time. This was my second time seeing NERD live and I was super excited to hear “Spazz” again. As soon as Spazz came on I had the urge to go crowdsurfing. I thought it be a cool idea if I took my camera (mom’s camera) and filmed myself crowdsurfing for the blog. BAD IDEA. I was on top of sweaty kids heads for a good 10 seconds before falling on my back, hitting my head, and breaking my mom’s camera that fell out of my pocket. I’m a trooper, falling on my back is nothing. But the thought of the shit i’m gunna get when my mom finds out was painful. Pharrell pulled some girls out of the audience to dance to “She Wants to Move”, “Lapdance” and a remix to the White Stripes “Seven Nation Army. NERD closed the show with “Everyone Nose” and left the crowd wanting for more.

Trying to not think about my broken camera, I watched Common’s crew transform the stage into a lounge bar with red velvet curtains as the backdrop. Soon to come the band members, a bartender, and two girls settled down on stage looking more like a set from a music video. Turns out Common was not only to entertain us with his music but to remind us he’s a damn good actor as well. He got on stage and started the show with “Announcement”. Pharrell (who also produced most of his new album) came rock out with Common. As the show continues Common brings two lucky girls on stage and treats them to sangrias. I was so happy when he played “I Used To Love H.E.R.” kinda forgot about the pain in my back and broken camera at the point. Hearing “Universal Mind Control” live is ten times better than on my ipod. Everyone was dancing and feeding off of Pharrell and Common’s engergy, they killed it! This was my first time seeing Common and oh boy… was I ever fucking impressed!

I’d rate this show 9 shiny bald heads out of 10.

Photos by: Natalie Johnson