The actor-turned-hip-hop star is currently on a cross-country trek
When the technician climbed the rope ladder and disappeared four stories high into the rig of icicle lights, I had a feeling the Childish Gambino show at Capital One Arena on Thursday night (Aug 29th) was going to be pretty special.
A feast of music, rapping, lasers, and lights, the New World Tour pushed the limits of technology. Those icicle lights pulled double duty; they either created atmosphere—like trapping Childish Gambino in a box of green; or created mesmerizing 3D images, such as a skull and a three-story tall Gambino face.
Childish Gambino himself showed off a variety of his sides. Wearing a light-up motorcycle bomber jacket, he powered through a varied set. Gambino showcased his lighting-speed rapping abilities on “Yoshinoya,” immediately followed by traditional R&B vocals on “To Be Hunted.”
He slowed it down on “Steps Beach,” sitting on the edge of the stage as the stringy lights above him evoked the daylight of a breezy beach. A little later, he threw himself into the melody of “Feels Like Summer.”
Throughout the night, his band seamlessly integrated live instruments and pre-produced backing tracks, as is common for the genre. But the result was an epic pulsing that kept Capital One alive and moving. The music could be felt in the vibrations, seen through the light shows, and heard through Childish Gambino’s varied range.
Childish Gambino is as charismatic an entertainer as he is a skilled vocalist. His real name is Donald Glover, his time as an actor—he starred in the acclaimed series Community and Atlanta, the latter of which he co-created—and as a comedian performing in New York have taught him stage presence. He did not stop moving for the over 30 songs performed in just under two hours.
Recording artist Willow opened the night. Yes, that Willow. Of “Whip My Hair” fame. But her sound has evolved into a much less overproduced, much more enjoyable jazz-spiked R&B sound. Throw a little blues on top of it, and you have a musical sound that captivates. Something that may surprise the casual observer who knows only of Willow’s viral hit: she has amazing pipes. Her voice is more suited to this blues-jazz-R&B hybrid than the internet drek that brought her attention in the first place. Watch out, Willow may earn a bona fide chart-topper yet.
The vibe that the multi-faceted Childish Gambino created was one of a rave. He had 20,000+ partying into the night, whipping them into a frenzy of devotion to his music. In thanking him, Willow called Gambino a “once-in-a-generation artist.” And she was right.
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