Photo: Patrick Green
For the 5th year in a row, Events DC held a SXSW showcase that drew headlines and displayed why Washington DC can hold its own with Austin, which proudly bills itself as the “Live Music Capital of the World.”
The #WeDC moniker has always had a memorable footprint here and SXSW 2017 was business as usual with a stellar nighttime lineup held at Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater.
Also: SXSW 2017 | Riding Into Day 2 (in a Mazda) With Lil Yachty and Sofi Tukker
Not only did the Events DC concert show off the city’s city’s rich homegrown talent, but brought in artists like a reunited Wu-Tang Clan who famously hail from New York, but I guess capture the DC vibe? Who cares? Wu-Tang. I’m there.
Photo: Patrick Green
Los Angeles-band Magic Giant brought a big city energy to the late-arriving crowd with festive, adrenaline-filled set of future folk that brought to mind of Monsters and Men meets Imagine Dragons.
Photo: Patrick Green
Next up was Ethiopian-American rapper Ras Nebyu, a leading voice in the upstart DC rap scene who thrilled the crowd with a non-stop lyrical assault on the senses. Running around the stage and boasting staccato bravado raps, the Tupac lookalike is definitely a name to watch on the hip hop scene.
Photo: Patrick Green
DC legends Rare Essence provided some history to the night as the funk-soul collective took the stage like an invading army, converting the younger crowd to what “live music” really is. Even rapper and DC’s most famous rapper Wale made a cameo on-stage to not only pay his respects, but to school the audience on what they were seeing.
Surprise guest Erykah Badu sent the crowd into a frenzy when she strolled across the stage, but the crowd was a bit confused when she started DJ’ing “whatever the fuck” she wanted to play. She did quench the crowd’s thirst with a few bars, but overall the Dallas-native’s short set felt a bit disjointed.
Photo: Patrick Green
Fitting in-between the DC music timeline of up-and-coming and legendary is Thievery Corporation, who have been bringing their unique blend of world electronic music across the globe for almost two decades. The Corporation has evolved quite a bit from two DJ’s and rotating guests vocalists to a full-on band complete with sitar!!!
Going through hits both old and new (off their just-released Temple of I&I), Thievery Corporation had a hard time winning the largely Wu-Tang crowd over, but eventually did with a spirited set of dancehall, moody French pop and dub music.
Photo: Patrick Green
Closing out the night was the one and only Wu-Tang Clan, or at least what’s left of them. I didn’t spot Method Man and Ghostface Killah, which is kind of like buying Golden State Warriors tickets on a night when they decide to rest Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. RZA, who is the heart and soul of the seminal hip hop group and brand, was there in full force, making profound statements on immigrants, while letting the other members of the Clan take center stage, including honorary member Redman.
Erykah Badu did come back out to perform “Afro” and for the most part Wu-Tang did provide the crowd with what they really wanted, which was to yell “Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nothing to f**k with!”
