Young Thug brought his first ever U.S. headlining tour to Boston on September 20th, 2015 (Benjamin Esakof/Roman's Rap-Up).
Atlantic-rapper Young Thug brought his first ever headlining tour to Boston Sunday night for the ultimate party. With opener Tory Lanez in tow, Thug effortlessly transitioned from banger-to-banger, ensuring the crowd was never still.
Check out photos from the show below:
Jess Glynne performing in Boston on September 15th, 2015 as part of her first U.S. tour (Benjamin Esakof/Roman's Rap-Up).
British pop star Jess Glynne brought her first U.S. Tour to Boston Tuesday night to play an eager audience songs from her new album, "I Cry When I Laugh."
See photos from the show below:
Rita Ora performs at Jam'n 94.5's Block Party on September 13th, 2015 (Benjamin Esakof/Roman's Rap-Up).
Boston hip-hop radio station Jam'n 94.5 held it's first annual Block Party at the House of Blues Sunday night, featuring performances by Jidenna, Pia Mia, Rita Ora & more.
Check out photos from the show below:
Florida Georgia Line performing in Mansfield, MA on September 12th, 2015 (Jenna Cavanaugh/Roman's Rap-Up).
Florida Georgia Line’s Saturday performance at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA made a chilly, September night seem like it was mid-July and 75°. The duo’s dynamic effect has that influence on their audience members and general fan base. Country is a popular music genre that can seem unoriginal at times, but Florida Georgia Line’s success stems from their ability to be different in a sea of similar country artists.
“The thing about people from Boston man… they’re proud as hell to be from Boston.” –Florida Georgia Line at Xfinity Center concert 9/12/15.
There is no common genre called “hard country” like there is hard rock. However, the duo is paving the way for that possibility. Florida Georgia Line rocks hard. Their twang and country lyrics certainly stick to Southern roots, but the intensity of their guitars and overall sound outweighs a lot of mainstream country music. Last night, they played the majority of the set off of their new album, Anything Goes, promoted for their "Anything Goes" Tour. Every song from “Anything Goes” to “Sippin’ on Fire” could be felt all the way in the lawn as the artists used streamer machines and pop-up entrances to capture the audience’s attention. Not a single person in the crowd was mute; Florida Georgia Line performed hit after hit, and the upbeat atmosphere was palpable.
Thomas Rett and Frankie Ballard, Saturday’s two openers, also put on notable performances. Both artists have hits huge on both country and mainstream radio, including Rett’s “Crash and Burn” and Ballard’s “Young & Crazy.” It certainly kept the crowd on their feet, an admirable feat in itself for any opener. They both interacted with the crowd, signing cowboy hats and taking selfies. The triple lineup was nothing short of a triple threat in regards to country male excellence.
Florida Georgia Line’s “hard country” persona that has exploded in the recent years derives from their wild, fun vibe as people and as artists. Both Tyler and Brian sported casual attire that showed of a plethora of tattoos and later added sunglasses to their outfits as they performed the summer perfection, “Sun Daze.” They made a toast onstage to the Boston crowd with *no surprise* solo cups and a small handle of Fireball. It’s as if the duo pulled their lyrics into the active performance. As Tyler and Brian were “sippin’ on fire” and “feelin’ alright [on] Saturday night,” the crowd was summer-level crazy. The answer to their lyric, “I brought the songs and who brought the party?” was clear. Every fan was swaying to the music as 19,000 filled the Xfinity Center capacity.
One particular song was left until the very end. After the encore cartoon video of Tyler and Brian, after “Sun Daze” with sunglasses, after the duo’s inspiration ‘mixtape’ mash up. When Florida Georgia Line began singing, “Baby you a song,” it sounded just as good as the radio version. Not only can they bring a solid performance; their vocal abilities match what fans hear on the records. “Cruise” is so iconic as their breakout song, including its rap remix, because it began to pave the way for the unique combination of hip-hop and country. Florida Georgia Line is a subtle genre blender and bender. Their success is rooted in an ode to country music with an exciting twist. Tyler and Brian will continue to stamp out hits that will make fans want to roll their windows down and cruise.
(Atlantic Records)
Jess Glynne first caught the attention of mainstream music listeners with her feature in “Rather Be” with Clean Bandit. The singer’s vocal range became the spotlight in the song as the background music faded out. “Rather Be” was Florence + The Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over” with stronger, cleaner vocal talent; Jess Glynne was put on the map. Her new album “I Cry When I Laugh” dropped in the U.S. this past Friday. The record holds the whimsical song of “Rather Be” with jazz and pop sounds that all together create an upbeat vibe.
“Hold My Hand” is one song to duly note. Not only is it the most popular song on iTunes since its release; it also holds potential to be her next radio hit. Recorded background vocals and a steady piano-turned-pop beat blend with unique lyrics. Glynne sings, “Standing in a crowded room and I can’t see your face… Won’t you understand? ‘Cause I don’t wanna walk alone.” She explains the emotional process of wanting someone in your life in order to avoid loneliness or a life without that person. That desiring feeling is something common in many peoples’ lives; Glynne uses that emotion in combination with a fun beat to create a catchy song. The heavy emotional aspect can either be internalized or looked over by the listener depending on the listener’s intent. In that manner, the song reaches a broader audience because Glynne places the choice to determine deeper meaning on the listener. Many dramatic, slow songs are not well liked if one cannot relate to the message. By inserting emotional lyrics into a dance vibe, Glynne lets the song’s impact occur on an individual level.
“Love Me” is a slow, pianistic song on the album that contrasts “Hold My Hand” and its open interpretation. This song showcases the beauty that is Glynne’s voice. Her tone is deep and rich but also carries a strong range mentioned earlier in the review. The piano and her voice carry the song throughout, and it is all that is needed. It is a love song, as Glynne sings, “You’ve turn this black heart, made it into gold.” Though “Hold My Hand” might have a greater chance at appearing on the radio or in a club, the importance of songs like “Love Me” cannot be overlooked. It is her pure, raw talent that makes the song not only likeable but also recognizable. Any artist can add an upbeat background tempo to words and birth a typical pop hit. However, it is another level to incorporate serious talent with a good beat.
“I Cry When I Laugh” sticks out for more reasons than its intriguing name. Glynne surges forward from the success of “Rather Be” and continues to demonstrate her rich vocal tone with pop and techno rhythms.
