Last Tuesday, Lil Yachty stopped at Mile High City while on his Teenage Tour, following the release of his first studio album, Teenage Emotions.
He was joined by the Sailing Team, Yachty’s entourage of fellow producers and MCs. The team, a “bubble gum trap” equivalent to Odd Future, consists of Jbans, Earl the Pearll, BigBruthaChubba, TheGoodPerry, Erron Vercetti, Byou and Kodie Shane. The team performed as individual openers for Yachty
Of the Sailing Team, Shane was especially impressive. As an opener for Yachty, her music was the perfect complement to the headliner’s young and eccentric style. And as an artist and performer, her work and presence was for sure something to behold and adds support for more female representation in hip hop.Shane has begun to establish such a respectable following of her own that she got her own brief set. After seeing her perform, I wouldn’t be surprised if Shane started headlining her own shows in the near future.
After Shane’s set, the “Late Night With Lil Boat” show began. Yachty’s alter ego, “Lil Boat,” had an elaborate set on display. It made the concept, which was already an exceptional auditory experience, visually striking as well.
Set design has become quintessential in enhancing the overall experience of a concert. I have seen very elaborate set designs with unnecessarily complex components. I have seen others that are so bland that the experience would’ve been the same without it. However, Yachty’s set was minimalistic without loosing the awe factor. The talk show themed set, only composed of a desk and couch, perfectly complimented the entertainer’s youthful and energetic vibe. The white and red color scheme also added to the nautical nods prevalent throughout the show.
Another notable nautical nod was the unofficial “splash zone.” Countless water bottles were brought out for Yachty and his crew to throw at the audience. While most of the fans were enthusiastic about the gimmick, it seemed to bother a few unexpected concertgoers.
Even though this was something completely outside of the MC’s control, having to deal with these annoyed fans certainly had a negative impact on my overall experience as they became snappy and hostile toward those who were more invested in the concert. If you are planning on going to a Lil Yachty concert and do not want to get soaked, I would recommend watching from the back of the venue.
After the set was placed, the intro to Yachty’s newest work played as he walked onstage and sat at his desk. This was the most relaxed the show would be, as Yachty then pulled out banger after banger in an uncommonly structured two-set show.
While most of the concert was filled with material from his latest project, fan favorites such as “Minnesota,” “One Night” and “Water On My Face” also popped up. This was welcomed because, In my opinion, Yachty’s newest album was somewhat of a critical and commercial flop.
I without a doubt recommend seeing Lil Yachty live. It was a completely different and unforgettable way to experience his music. This seems to be the case with all of his performances, as most of the fans at the show had seen him perform before. I can confidently say that last Tuesday won’t be the last time I get a ticket for “Late Night With Lil Boat.”
Set 1:
- Intro (Like A Star)
- DN Freestyle
- Harley
- Water On My Face
- FYI (Know Now)
- Gucci x Turbo Beat
- Wanna Be Us
- I Spy (No Intro)
- Bring It Back
- Lady In Yellow
- Made Of Glass
- Other Shit
- Say My Name
Set 2:
- Priorities
- X-Men
- Dirty Mouth
- Peek A Boo
- For Hot 97
- Shoot Out The Roof
- Mase In 97
- Broccoli
- Minnesota
- One Night
- Forever Young
You can contact CU Independant Arts Writer Max Rothstein at maro0113@colorado.edu.
