It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back v2008
source: http://www.ifc.com/music/indie-ear/2008/07/live-public-enemy-pitchfork-08.php
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- wiredbirds
- added this
[ source: http://www.ifc.com/music/indie-ear/2008/07/live-public-enemy-pitchfork-08.php ]
Because I grew up on Public Enemy, and because It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is one of my favorite hip-hop albums of all-time, I was both thrilled out of my mind and scared to death to see P.E. perform it in its entirety.
On one hand, if done correctly, by letting the Bomb Squad's instrumentals breath freely on the turntables and hoping that Chuck D and Flavor Flav could co-exist in perfect harmony, this performance could be downright legendary. On the other hand, if Public Enemy's backing band decided to overpower the turntable mix--and if Flavor Flav was given too much free time to self-promote on the microphone--this performance could be a car wreck. Why such cynicism? Well, let's just say I saw a TV show once where Bridgette Nielson joined Public Enemy on stage and it almost made me weep.
Though Public Enemy's live backing band was present, they did a good job (most of the night) of letting the legendary beats on It Takes A Nation do all the talking. I was overjoyed when the set began with "Countdown To Armageddon"--English announcer guy, sirens, the works! I was also excited when P.E. played the album version of "Bring The Noise," rather than the Anthrax remake appearing on Apocalypse '91 (you'd think with a live band they'd be tempted to do the latter).
The performance of "Terminator X to the Edge of Panic" was one of my favorites of the night, and though Terminator wasn't on hand, Chuck D did preface the track by dedicating it to their "Hall-of-Fame DJ who retired in 1998." Another stand out, probably just because P.E. doesn't break it out that often, was "Night Of the Living Baseheads." Hearing Chuck D say "BASS!" never gets old.
Because I grew up on Public Enemy, and because It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is one of my favorite hip-hop albums of all-time, I was both thrilled out of my mind and scared to death to see P.E. perform it in its entirety.
On one hand, if done correctly, by letting the Bomb Squad's instrumentals breath freely on the turntables and hoping that Chuck D and Flavor Flav could co-exist in perfect harmony, this performance could be downright legendary. On the other hand, if Public Enemy's backing band decided to overpower the turntable mix--and if Flavor Flav was given too much free time to self-promote on the microphone--this performance could be a car wreck. Why such cynicism? Well, let's just say I saw a TV show once where Bridgette Nielson joined Public Enemy on stage and it almost made me weep.
Though Public Enemy's live backing band was present, they did a good job (most of the night) of letting the legendary beats on It Takes A Nation do all the talking. I was overjoyed when the set began with "Countdown To Armageddon"--English announcer guy, sirens, the works! I was also excited when P.E. played the album version of "Bring The Noise," rather than the Anthrax remake appearing on Apocalypse '91 (you'd think with a live band they'd be tempted to do the latter).
The performance of "Terminator X to the Edge of Panic" was one of my favorites of the night, and though Terminator wasn't on hand, Chuck D did preface the track by dedicating it to their "Hall-of-Fame DJ who retired in 1998." Another stand out, probably just because P.E. doesn't break it out that often, was "Night Of the Living Baseheads." Hearing Chuck D say "BASS!" never gets old.
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- tags:
- Public Enemy, Music!, PE
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- credits:
- wiredbirds got a letter from the government the other day, jennyschu opened and read it and said "they are suckkaas!"
