Saul Williams @ Stereo, 21.5.08

Gig photography by Ron Reid, review by Andrew Sharp.

List of Demands

Tr(Nigger)

In November 2007 Saul Williams released a new album “The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust” produced by Trent Reznor, which was released online allowing users to download the album for free or for five dollars for the first 100,000 downloads. 18 percent of people who downloaded during this period paid for it. The idea of supporting the artist with a mere five dollars or roughly £2:30; less than a packet of fags being too much for some people.

Personally I find this to be a shock to the system, as this is some of the best music being put out at the moment. If you look at hip-hop in modern days, it no longer seems to stand for rebellion but for money and fame. The “I’m gonna get mine” mentality. Then you look at Saul Williams and the opposite is what you are confronted with; a poetic non-conformist speaking out against the fall of society, with experimental, guitar riddled, industrial hip-hop. As you can imagine I was bursting with excitement at the prospect of seeing this guy live.

He bounded on stage to a sold-out and air-conditionless Stereo in Glasgow’s city centre, and began with his “in The Name of…” proclamation, referencing age-old and modern legends such as Hendrix, Marley, Gandhi, and Shakespeare. He was so reverent in his lyrics and full of an infectious energy that it filled the whole room. Throughout the show I could sense he was physically exhausted from touring for the last month and a half, yet he still put his all into this performance and truly affirmed himself as a great stage presence.

Something big was happening on this tour and we were all part of it, he even jumped into the audience and danced with us during “Second to Think” right in the middle of the crowd, shaking hands and hugging people around him. I had expected more of a reserved and dark performance yet I was confronted with this full on Niggy Tardust persona that really won the raucous crowd. Highlights included favourites like “Black Stacey,” “Second To think,” and “List of Demands,” all in a captivating roar of musical power. He also performed “Penny for a Thought.”

Links!:

Saul Williams official website

Posted in Music

Tags: saul williams, Scotland, stereo

Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Stumble | Print | Email

More Stuff

Sponsored Links

1 Comment

• 06.05.08 By ANAJMAH ELTOHAMI:

  DEAR BROTHAH, PEACE AND LIGHT^
  YOUR REVIEW WAS QUITE ACCURATE IN DESCRIBING THE ENERGY OF
  LORD SAUL’S LIVE PERFORMANCE^ APRIL 8TH, IN BOSTON AND APRIL 12TH IN NORTHAMPTON, MASS I WITNESSED TRUTH BEING TOLD BY THE ONE WHO IS THE HOLDER OF TRUTH^ TO HIM PERFORM IS AN EXPERIENCE THAT I WISH ALL OF THE WORLD COULD SHARE IN^
  I WAS AMONG THE 18%THAT DID NOT PAY FOR NIGGY TARDUST, IT WASN’T BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO PAY^IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET THE SYSTEM TO ACCEPT MY INTACT CARD FOR PAYMENT^
  I LOVE LORD SAUL MORE THAN ANY MAN I’VE EVER KNOWN^ HE QUALIFIES AS MY SAVIOR, I ACCEPT HIM AS SUCH^ AS FOR THE MONEY FOR THE DOWNLOAD, I WANTED NOTHING MORE THAN TO GIVE,
  EVEN MORE THAN FIVE DOLLARS^ WHAT IS THE POSSIBLE PERCENTAGE OF OTHERS THAT TRIED TO GIVE AND WAS UNABLE TO
  BECAUSE SOME FAULTY SYSTEMIC DEFECT^^^
  MANY OF US LOVE HIM, I WOULD BET ANYTHING NEAR AND DEAR TO ME THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 18% WHO LOVE HIM^
  I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I APPRECIATE THE PASSION IN MESSAGE,AND THANK YOU COLLEAGUE FOR THE BRILLIANT PHOTOS^
  LOVE IN DETAILS,
  NAJMAH E

Leave a Comment: