N*E*R*D at the Shepherds Bush Empire
Date: 1st July 2002
N*E*R*D hit the UK recently to perform at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire for their first and only gig in the UK. Considering they’ve only released the one single in Britain, I was slightly taken back by the number of people who had packed the venue out. Trust me when I tell you it was rammed from corner to corner, from level to level with fans who had come to see - in particular N*E*R*D front man Pharrell Williams and one half of the massively successful hip-hop production duo The Neptunes. The other half, better known as Chad Hugo was unfortunately absent, but band member Shay more than made up for this.
Before the band had arrived, the crowd were entertained by the thugged-out gangsta style tunes from none other than ‘a’ight’ man Tim Westwood of Radio 1’s Rap Show. Spymob (who are the newly signed rock band on The Neptunes label Startrak Entertainment) stepped out and performed a little impromptu intro before Pharrell and Shay walked out. They were part of the live band for the night and did the job to perfection! N*E*R*D made their entrance and the applause was rapturous. How many artists do you know who have worked with acts as diverse as ‘N Sync, Brtiney, Jay-Z, Noreaga and Kelis? Incidentally I have just heard the band have just produced a polka-dancing track which is Morris dancing to us Brits! How bizarre is that – where do their talents end?
Right! Back to the festivities, N*E*R*D were prepared to tear things up. Pharrell said ‘Finally we made it here to the other side of the earth’ – Mr Spirituality was looking fine and already had the audience in the palm of his hands. N*E*R*D were loving every minute of it. They showed love for the British peeps and pointed out our love and knowledge of everything musical and they were right. The show started with a rendition of ‘Brain’ taken from their album ‘In Search Of…’ and in true fashion, they got the audiences participating to the chorus: ‘Cause I really love your brainnnnnnnn….’. The lighting in the venue set the atmosphere off and got the crowds pumpin' to every jam in earshot. Second up was one of my faves ‘Things Are Getting Better’ with that heavy syncopated baseline that got everyone moving. Pharrell and Shay’s vocal were extremely strong even though poor Pharrell was about to lose his voice but he soldiered with relative ease. |
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