Photo Credits to Los Angeles Philharmonic Association
Brandon Paak Anderson, better known by his stage name Anderson .Paak, brought the era of Soul Train and the golden age of the ‘70s back to life with his “Malibu Tour”. What began as a one-off performance at the Hollywood Bowl, celebrating his critically-acclaimed and cult classic LP “Malibu”, quickly evolved into a national tour. Covering 14 cities – including Las Vegas, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, and Atlanta – fans were treated to a special opportunity to watch the artist perform the album “in its entirety”, truly a glamorous experience.
The traffic-packed 405 highway towards the Hollywood Hills venue welcomed me on this special night. The Hollywood Bowl, nestled in the hills, is an eclectic and unique venue. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring their own meals, often enjoying picnics with wine in the open-air amphitheater. The atmosphere was heightened by the accompaniment of Anderson Paak’s house band, the Free Nationals, as well as the Color of Noize Orchestra, musically directed by legendary jazz bassist Derrick Hodge, adding another layer of depth to the evening.
The show opened with a rendition of the jazz standard “In a Sentimental Mood”. A solo saxophone glimmered on the blacked-out stage while the orchestra played faintly in the background. As the golden lights rose, Anderson Paak, donning a distinct baby blue tux, took the stage for his opener, “The Bird”. After introducing the concept of the nights’ performance, Paak hopped on the drums center stage and launched his hit song “Heart Don’t Stand a Chance”. As the crowd sang along, the magic of this special celebration began to sink in.
Throughout the performance, Paak rolled out a series of special guests, starting with BJ the Chicago Kid, who performed his verse on “The Waters”. Other guest appearances followed, including ScHoolboy Q on “Am I Wrong”, Rapsody on “Without You”, Sonyaé on “Room in Here”, and Talib Kweli on “The Dreamer”. Paak brought all of his features from the studio album on stage, adding to the uniqueness of the night.
Between songs, Paak kept the audience entertained with some tongue-and-cheek interactions with his pianist, T.Nava. During “The Season/Carry Me”, Paak conversed with his frontman about receiving his first pair of Jordans for his birthday. He raved about how much these shoes meant to him, however quickly realized he did not want to get his new shoes dirty, asking his “momma can you carry me?”. The banter continued after “Your Prime”, with T. Nava interjecting playful piano hooks such as “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton as Paak attempted to address the audience. The antics escalated until Paak, pretending to be exasperated, shouted “Y’all — got me hot!”, before launching into his hit “Come Down”, sending the crowd into fits of laughter.
As Anderson finished his album, he brought out Dr. Dre, where the Hall-of-Fame Compton rapper/producer performed his hit songs “The Next Episode” and “Still D.R.E”. The surprise appearance underscored the support Paak has gotten from legends of the game. The evening concluded with some solo Free Nationals songs (“Beauty & Essex” and “Eternal Light”), as well as some classic Anderson Paak songs. Paak also brought out Cordae to perform his song “RNP”, and ended the night with tracks like “Smokin Out the Window” from his collaboration with Bruno Mars and “places to be” with dance producer Fred Again.. In a touching tribute to the late Mac Miller, Paak closed with their collaboration “Dang!”, leaving the audience equally awestruck and moved.
Anderson Paak’s charismatic performance at the Hollywood Bowl was a feast for the soul, blending modern swagger with the sparkle and nostalgia from the 70’s.
Listen to his album “Malibu” below
