N*E*R*D

Seltzer: You see, the thing about hip-hop shows, is that they're best when they sound like rock shows. I.e. devoid of the "yeaaa--ahhhh" crowd pleasing nonsense that - to my cynical eyes - seems only there to kill time in what's a limited set anyway. I mean, at certain points, watching NER*D was like seeing the most banging, up-to-date rock show around. But then, its flabby underbelly ruins it. The rock songs were great, but the slowjams were... slow.

Frank: As flabby underbellies go the whole NER*D experience, is in desperate need of a major tuck job. Sure, Pharrell Williams has a presence and his band were a tight knit ensemble, but let's face it, the sparks weren't exactly flying here. Where was the danger, where was the attitude? Come on man, I want my hip-hop threatening, exciting, Incite me for gods sake. I want to pump my fist in the air and say DAMN!!! DAMN THE MAN!!! NER*D were just too damn nice.

*S:* Yeah, but it wasn't that sort of gig, and they're not that sort of band. Its more of a nod-and-smile sorta thing. The NER*D album is a pop record though, not a balls-out Hip Hop affair, so it doesn't surprise me that that was the sort of vibe going on. And for amazing pop moments, 'Run To The Sun' is one of my tunes of the last coupla years, and I can't believe that its not a single. Crazy ass stuff. I was more disconcerted though, by the way that Pharrell turned it into a pro-peace/anti war thing. Everyone's got their opinions, and respect that, so why demand that the crowd shout "fuck the war" every 10 seconds? If you want to express your views, do it in your own style. Unless of course, Tony Blair was upstairs freakin' and I just didn't notice?

*F:* I'm not saying that NER*D aren't a pop band. In fact, '_In Search Of_' is one of pop's shining moments of 2001, one of the only hip-pop albums that doesn't sound convoluted or watered down and it retains a healthy share of dissent. I can't get over the fact that Pharrell missed his opportunity. His "Fuck The War, Y'all" seemed hollow and obvious. Also Shay came across as a side-kick rather than an MC in his own right. As for the 10 or so minutes when they arsed about giving out merch and roses to the Laydeez for the Valentines Day schtick, they could have squeezed at least two more of the album's pounders into that time. I was expecting a colourful and vibed-up show that would ignite, but in reality NER*D failed to blow up and left me wanting.

*S:* Can I just stop our whinging here and say, that despite all my criticism, I still really enjoyed myself, and what there was of it, I really enjoyed. I think I'm being so harsh cos I expected so much. I'll still probably see them again, and I know I'll enjoy it again....