Welcome to Malibu! A night to remember with Anderson .Paak
Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals bring Malibu to Philadelphia on their latest tour.
There are a couple things that are inevitable in this world. Death, Taxes, and Anderson .Paak’s iconic smile! When .Paak finds himself at a venue, you never know what exactly is in store, but one variable remains the same; he ALWAYS knows how to bring the energy! Performing the entirety of his classic album ‘Malibu’, .Paak teams up with The Free Nationals to provide the city of Philadelphia with a soulful and upbeat R&B experience they won’t soon forget.
Released in January of 2016, the album is considered a modern R&B classic and a pivotal point in Anderson .Paak’s career. Marking a rise in commercial play for Anderson, .Paak worked hard alongside producers Madlib, 9th Wonder, and DJ Khalil to make Malibu what it is today. Even more crucial the record’s success was the contributions from the album’s backing band, Free Nationals.
The Free Nationals are a R&B band which has served as Anderson .Paak’s live band during his career. The groups original roster, composed of Callum Conner (Drums), José Rios (Guitar), Kelsey Gonzolas (Bass), and Ron “Tnava” Avant (Keyboard/Vocoder) have been active since 2010. The band has performed from stages as big as Coachella, to accompanying artists like J.Cole & Bruno Mars on tour. Drawing inspiration from Stevie Wonder and Herbie Handcock, Free Nationals are known for their contemporary blend of funk, jazz, and R&B to create a unique listening experience. The band added Maruice “Mobetta” Brown (Trumpeter) to their roster in 2018, who has taken the group to even greater heights. He performed first that evening to open the night.
Brown set the mood with jazz and vocal performances you’d expect from the grammy award winning sensation. Hailing from Chicago, the 43-year-old trumpeter has played a crucial part in many of .Paaks most notable live performances. Uniquely blending bop-jazz with urban pulse, his horn arrangements and soulful melodies and vocals have established his sound within the mainstream.
Often challenging what can be achieved beyond traditional jazz, it’s no wonder he’s been able to capture the attention of contemporary listeners abroad. Performed first was a freestyle of “Rise” [Herb Alpert] which incorporated “Hypnotize” [The Notorious B.I.G]. Brown also went on to showcase a new track “Wake up” from his upcoming album “Better Days”.
Brown however, isn’t the only talented musician who has accompanied Free Nationals since their original founding. Taking the Stage next was GAWD, a powerful duo whose music falls under the umbrella of R&B and Hip-Hop.
The two women, Alanda Linsey and Alayna Rodgers, have been performing with Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals on a number of occasions providing backing vocals. Joining tours with Duckwrth, Becky Hill, and Red Hot Chili Peppers their vocal ability has been praised by many in the industry.
Apart from the background, these two have built a name for themselves as headliners as well. Their debut EP, “Cathedral City”, has gained much critical acclaim for its unique blends of R&B.“You guys know what GAWD means right; Good-A$$-Women- Deserve”, GAWD explained to the audience.
Drawing comparisons to the innovative spirit of Outkast. Their talent and feminine power were on full display this evening, performing many of their notable tracks such as “High Class”, “Nasty Girls”, and “Waist Line”.
They hyped up those in attendance before welcoming the Free Nationals to take stage.
With seats filled and a packed attendance at the Mann performance center, there was now only one person left to take stage. A bird with a word came to me… and said Anderson .Paak would tear the roof off this place! Indeed he did, as .Paak and the Free Nationals proceeded to gift Philly with a 30 song set! Playing through all of Malibu in its entirety with the addition of many classics, there wasn’t a moment the crowd wasn’t moving on their feet!
Brandon Paak Anderson a.k.a Anderson .Paak released Malibu when he was only 29 years old. The singer, songwriter, drummer, and producer was raised out of Oxnard, California. Drawing inspirations from the music his mother and sisters would play in his household, Paak began releasing music under the moniker “Breezy Lovejoy” back in 2010. After releasing his EP “Violets Are Blue”, he changed his stage name to .Paak and then Anderson .Paak ahead of his first studio album “Venice”.
With Funk, Gospel, and Soul music serving as his foundation, .Paak began collaborations with Mac Miller, Chance the Rapper, A Tribe Called Quest, and his band The Free Nationals. Getting noticed by Dr.Dre for his storytelling ability and versatile vision of contemporary music; .Paak appeared on six songs from Dre’s “Compton” project in 2015.
Although finding success ahead of Malibu, .Paak credits the album as a significant turning point for the artist. “We were broke when we released this”, .Paak told audience members in attendance. Following the album, the Grammy nominated project went on to showcase what would be some of .Paaks most streamed songs. Performing all of them tonight, fans got a chance to experience the record like they never had before. Bringing GAWD and Free Nationals to Philadelphia, the group celebrated nearly a decade of hard work on stage.
Opening with “The Bird”, .Paak and TFN proceeded to party the night way showcasing a wide range of vocal and technical talent all well making the Mann feel right at home. One of the group’s most impressive feats is their ability to transition contemporary pieces so seamlessly, tracks don’t feel like they stop. One of the more fun examples of this comes from earlier in the show where .Paak describes the time he convinced his mother to get him Jays (Air Jordans). .Paak He details the account on the drums, going back and forth with Ron Avant on the keys. This short story recalling memories with his mother ultimately lead perfectly into the next track “Carry Me”.
Time after time, song after song, .Paak and TFN only found stronger ways to keep the audience engaged; Anderson never stays in the same place for long. Whether it be at the front of stage, on the drums, or in between the audience; the crowd engagement was never dull. As the night went on and the first set came to a close, the group finished Malibu ending with “The Dreamer”.
Upon ending, .Paak gave TFN time to perform some of the bands most popular tracks including “Beauty & Essex” and “Eternal Light” featuring Chronixx. When Anderson returned to the stage the crowd was at their loudest yet. Performing classics from his greater discography, he went on to perform “Bubblin”, “Milk and Honey”, and “Come home”. Asking the Mann to turn on their lights for the final songs .Paak had a laugh. “Philly you look amazing, I didn’t even know there were seats up there”, referring to the Mann’s top balcony. Leaving the stage following the second set, one thing was clear; the people wanted more! They needed an Encore!
We’ll ask and you shall receive! Returning for a third and last time to the stage, Anderson .Paak delivered one of the best and energetic encores you’ll see! “RNP” featuring Cordae, “Smoking out the Window” featuring Bruno Mars, “Places to be” featuring Fred again..
There is NO underselling the eruption and passion which followed from the crowd. Word for word the entire venue didn’t miss a song. Everyone was so far out of their seats crowds began forming in the aisles. One fan exclaimed out loud “Yup, this is the best concert I’ve been to!” Finally closing with “Dang!” featuring Mac Miller. .Paak displayed a picture of him and his friend together before Miller’s unfortunate passing in 2018. “We love you Mac, We miss you Mac”, said Paak solemnly.
Taking a bow with his band and celebrating one of the team’s birthdays with a “cake to the face.” The group said their final goodbyes to the Mann Center.
Tears were shed, laughs were had, and lyrics were sung. However, not a single fan could have expected the barrage of good vibes on Tuesday. Again, what else can you expect from Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals!
See full gallery of the night here!
If you captured any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see.
If you’d like the chance to catch Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals for yourself, don’t wait! Check out the remaining tour dates below:
Remaining show dates:
Fri Oct 11 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
Sun Oct 13 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre
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