BeatRoute Magazine BC Edition December 2018

LIVE
Photo by Zee Khan
Drake with Migos and Roy Woods
Rogers Arena
November 3, 2018
Rogers Arena looked decidedly different
than usual. Instead of a stage set up to
one side, tucked away and giving some
spectators an unquestionably better view
than others, the arena’s centre had been
transformed into a massive platform,
allowing Drake to interact with the
thousands who came to hear him perform.
In his own words, though, this night wasn’t
about him – it was about all of us sharing
an experience, right then and there.
Drake’s musical catalogue is huge, and
instead of choosing a handful of hits to
focus on, he took a more indecisive-friendwith-the-aux-cord
role, bouncing from
15-second snippet to 15-second snippet.
The crowd’s energy never waned, though
– his fan base clearly knows his songs well,
and they sang along to every word right
on beat. Because of the extensive setlist,
the show seemed to go on for hours, and
Drake repeatedly told the crowd that he
would continue performing as long as they
wanted – or needed – him to. From “0 to
100 / The Catch Up” to “Controlla” to “Mob
Ties” and “Know Yourself,” there was a wide
range of songs from all the touch points of
his career.
Drake is a performer at heart, whether
through music, acting or otherwise, and at
his series of Vancouver shows, he made this
evident. At one point, a life sized Ferrari
balloon floated through the crowd. When
thousands of people show up to see you in
a city you’ve touted as your second home,
you make sure not to disappoint, and the
performance art aspect of this tour shows
that Drake knows this.
Plus, all three of the Migos actually
showed up.
• Jordan Yeager
FEATURED CONCERTS
VICTORIA, BC
THE DUDES
PLUS ACRES OF LIONS & TROPHY DAD
CAPITAL BALLROOM // FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28
Jorja Smith
The Orpheum Theatre
November 20, 2018
The illustrious carved walls of the
Orpheum Theatre housed an angel. Jorja
Smith, the 21-year old R&B sensation
emerged in 2016 with her debut single
“Blue Lights.” The song garnered serious
attention, due not only to Smith’s
breathtaking vocal form, but also to its
lyrical relevance. The following year she
appeared on Drake’s More Life, before
releasing her first studio effort, Lost
and Found (2018). Smith’s music is an
intoxicating blend of R&B, jazz and soul,
with hip-hop occasionally thrown in the
mix.
Gliding along the stage with grace
that held captive the gaze of the
audience, ingraining herself into the
memories of everyone lucky enough
to witness her. The crowd rose up with
a roar and stayed standing from the
moment Jorja sauntered on to the
moment she said her goodbyes. Be
it “Lost and Found” or “Tomorrow,”
“Teenage Fantasy” or “The One,” the
audience hung on every note, every flick
of her wrist, reciting the lyrics with an
intensity and clarity that moved even
the singer.
Smith emitted a permanent glow,
rapturing the venue on piano-led
“Don’t Watch Me Cry,” which she
wrote at 18, and “Let Me Down,” a song
she performed live for the first time
that night. She finished the set with
much loved “On My Mind,” backlight
illuminating her silhouette in a way that
could only be described as ethereal.
Without a doubt, Jorja Smith is here
to stay.
• Maryam Azizli
Photo by Darrole Palmer
TAGGART & TORRENS
PLUS GUESTS
CAPITAL BALLROOM // THURSDAY, JANUARY 17
Photo by Darrole Palmer
Andre Nickatina
Harbour Event Centre
November 17, 2018
Andre Nickatina has held his
position as the godfather of the
Bay Area Hyphy rap scene for
more than 25 years, amassing a
cult-like following across the globe.
A celebrated discography of 30+
albums, featuring co-signs from
Mac Dre, Smoov-E and E-40, Andre
has put in an impressive amount
of work. His new album, Pisces, a
sold out North American Tour and
recent resurrection of legendary 75
Girls record label are indication that
he has plans to keep it going.
Nickatina took the stage at
Harbour Event Centre to a packed
crowd of fans. Rapping the classics
“Ayo for Yayo,” “Andre N Andre”
and an acapella version of “Train
With No Love.” A large amount of
the spectators knew the words to
every song. An even larger amount
of the crowd took advantage of the
seemingly relaxed cannabis policy
at the venue, the lyrics “smokin’
weed like its legal” have taken on a
new meaning in post-legalization
B.C.
Dressed in a crisp white T and
beanie, Nickatina exudes the
calculated demeanour of a true
O.G., spitting tracks from every
era of his prolific career. He went
for quality over quantity, keeping
the set short and sweet. After
finishing his last track he quickly
exited the stage, leaving the crowd
thirsty for an encore. Other than
a few energized attempts at an
“Annnndddree” chant to lure him
back out, the show wrapped up and
the hoards went home red-eyed
and satisfied.
• Austin Taylor
THE TREWS
PLUS ALTAMEDA
CAPITAL BALLROOM // TUESDAY, JANUARY 22
OLD MAN LUEDECKE
PLUS GUESTS
CAPITAL BALLROOM // SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2
FOR FULL CONCERT LISTINGS & TO PURCHASE
TICKETS, PLEASE VISIT:
WWW.ATOMIQUEPRODUCTIONS.COM
FACEBOOK /ATOMIQUEPRODUCTIONS TWITTER @ATOMIQUEEVENTS
December 2018 37