Odd Future Carnival Concert Review 11/14/15
Amidst the crowd, looking past the hands bouncing in the air you could see Tyler, the Creator. It was a magnificent moment at one of the most interesting and unique concerts around. Tyler, the Creator’s set occurred later in the night as the Odd Future Carnival was pushing toward its height. A cross between an art expose, a music festival, and county fair, Camp Flog Gnaw 2015 fulfilled all that it promised to be: a nocturnal riot of youth, music and fun.
I had fallen in love with their music a few years ago, especially Tyler’s, and when the time finally arrived to be inside the Coliseum in L.A., it blew my mind away at the whole vibe and aesthetic of the event. The youthful attitude of the Odd Future Carnival had always attracted me but to actually be there in the presence of those Tyler, the Creator and the perennially cool A$AP Rocky paled in comparison to imaging of ever actually going. The multitudes were garbed in a spectrum of bright colors from yellows, pinks, purples, and blues that matched the colorful atmosphere of the walls which were decorated in paintings of the signature pink OF donut and rainbows with the words “GOLF” popping out in white lettering.
The line-up of performers this year was perhaps the best Camp Flog Gnaw had ever brought together. With three different stages throughout the Coliseum, fans could choose to see YG, Mac Miller, The Internet, Odd Future, Flying Lotus, Mr. Carmack, A$AP Rocky, and Snoop Dogg to name a few.
At a last minute addition to the year’s festivities, Vince Staples had an amazing set toward the Carnival’s opening cause the crowd to wild out to tracks like “Blue Suede.” Another highlight was The Internet’s set as Syd tha Kid managed to get the crowd to sing along as the band washed the sea of people with jazz, soul and funk influenced sounds. Their set was hypnotic and interactive, the crowd swaying back in forth just as the sun was setting. The gentler vibe of The Internet was fun contrast to the moment when YG walked out on stage to the turn up of “BPT.” The crowd went wild. Playing bangers like “I Just Wanna Party,” “Left Right,” and even Travis Scott’s “Antidote” mid set pushed the moshpits into a near life threatening intensity.
As Odd Future prepared to go on, Flying Lotus performed before, the psychedelic visuals behind him incredibly eye catching. His electronic drenched hip-hop beats rumbling out the speakers. As Odd Future came out, they gave a really good set as well, with Mike G and Domo Genesis being the highlights of the group’s over hour-long set. Disappointingly though, Hodgy Beats underperformed, who mostly ranted instead of performing. Although it caused a drop in energy among there was plenty to keep them occupied once the set was done.
Racing from one stage to another, you could always see the Ferris Wheel with its glittering spiral always lighting the night. While all the carnival rides were free and the carnival games priced at a dollar, there was so much to see and do aside from the music. There were moments when I wished there was an extra day to fully experience all that was happening at the carnival.
But then Tyler, the Creator came out. It was one of the wildest sets I had seen that day. Everyone in the crowd recited every line to every song, the moshpits looking like mini riots. Tyler played all the songs a fan would ever dream to hear live like “Domo23,” “Yonkers,” “IFHY,” and “Smuckers.” Tyler’s aggressive vocals and the excitement in the crowd. It was during Tyler’s song “Darkeese Latifah” that he brought Schoolboy Q out to perform his guest verse on the track. This was one of many guest appearances throughout the night (Denzel Curry came out during Mr. Carmack’s set a friend later told me). Tyler, the Creator ended his set with “Tamale” as the crowd went crazy.
After, everyone mobbed to go see A$AP. It might have been Snoop Dogg who was the closer for the event but when A$AP Rocky came out he was an aura all of his own.
As “LPFJ2” made the speakers shake, the crowd started chanting. With a large screen behind him, flashing images throughout his performance, A$AP made the ground shake performing banger after banger like “Electric Body” and “Multiply.” During “Wild for the Night” I witnessed the largest moshpit I had ever seen, the people inside the center raging way past the song’s end. The lights from the stage flashed across the crowd’s faces as they jumped up and down. During “L$D,” the crowd crooned along and the large screen filled with a red flower spiraling like a slow motion whirlpool. When the set was not energetic, it was hypnotic and chill.
Yet the most surprising (in a set full of surprises like special guests such as A$AP Ferg and French Montana) moment of the performance was when A$AP Rocky’s DJ dropped Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” causing the crowd to become a giant roving fantasia, everyone screaming and dancing. Every song built a new high, especially the closing song, “Peso,” making everyone feel like a deity out there bouncing to the music. After that performance, walking along the fairgrounds, it was an enlightening idea that there really is no place like the Odd Future Carnival.
