Kaytranada Review: Brixton as I’ve never seen it before — and it was only part 1
Kaytranada had the O2 Academy Brixton looking like I've never seen it before in ten years of visits.
In I went expecting one of the most exciting producers of genre-bending hip hop and R&B tracks, to put on a show which reflected just that.
I couldn't have been more mistaken as the 29-year-old Haitian-Canadian ascended to raised decks on stage to DJ what was surely the biggest club night in town last Sunday.
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At time edged towards 9pm I started to question whether previous performances I'd watched and loved at the south London venue had really been sold out.
My usual spot a dozen feet in front of the bar on the right hand side (easy access) typically allows room to breathe either side but evidently not when a Grammy-award winning producer is in town.
The crowd's energy stemmed from Kaytranada's own moves as he seized every opportunity to freely dance on stage in amongst the dazzling light show and psychedelic visuals behind him.
The stalls turned dancefloor felt packed like never before with thousands of ticket holders busting moves that no rapper or singer could inspire.
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This was not the night to find out whether white trainers really can remain white after a show. If that was naïve of me, those better prepared for a gig in June arrived armed with portable fans which looked to be a stroke of genius.
Kaytranada will go again at Brixton before an entirely new crowd this Saturday who unlike those at his previous show, can most likely enjoy themselves to the max — safe in the knowledge that a day to recover (without work) awaits them.
Support act Sam Gellaitry certainly set the tone for the evening which put dancing first. Landing the gig in the first place was no small feat for the Scot who cites the headliner as an major influence to his craft.
Sam tweeted ahead of the show: "Full circle for me, this guy changed the way i hear music way back in 2013. delighted to be supporting @KAYTRANADA for his sold out run at the O2 academy brixton."
I know I wasn't alone in being surprised by the lack of hip hop tracks from the man behind one of my favourite rap albums of the year so far in IDK's Simple.
Yet I appreciate that not only was I in the minority, (a quick look around proved that much) Kaytranada sticking to his bread and butter of house music made for an undeniably, uncompromising night of fun.
Some fans could not sing high enough praise for the show, describing it as one of the best concerts they've been to.
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One Twitter user wrote: "So @KAYTRANADA at Brixton was something else tonight. His pull with real fans is legit, let the man headline The Other Stage at glasto already."
Another said: "Oi @KAYTRANADA was absolute magic. I closed my eyes at one point and I weren’t in Brixton."
It is little wonder tickets for his return after a night in Paris have become extremely hot property.
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