Kendrick Lamar at Allphones

Kendrick Lamar has set himself apart in the music scene – he’s been very deliberate about this. In an industry that seems to be more and more focused on image and marketability, Lamar’s Sydney concert proved why there will never be an adequate replacement for good music.

The thing that first struck me about the stage at Allphones Arena was that it was empty. There were instruments lined up along the back, where Lamar’s talented band would soon take their place. But apart from that there was just a big empty space. No pyrotechnics, no dancers, no gimmicks. The man only needed a spotlight and a mic stand to work his magic.

Artists seem to be packing their shows with more distractions, which can sometimes truly add to the experience, sometimes not so much. Hip-hop has a bad reputation for it. There are too many DJ’s pressing play on iTunes and calling it a performance. Lamar rejected this, not even bringing along a hype-man to help get him through the rhymes; and the show was so much better for it.

There was no doubt that the music was the focus and the audience clearly appreciated this. From my seat, perched high up on the right wing I got an incredible view of the audience below. All night I watched security coming to the rescue of fans being crushed against the barriers. They pulled close to 50 people out as the crowd heaved behind them. As dangerous as this was for some it showed how engaged the audience was.

From the moment he appeared on stage and stood silently staring at the audience, he kept them buzzing with his huge To Pimp a Butterfly, successes King Kunta and i, until he walked off after two encores. Lamar captivated his audience, this was no more obvious than when he instructed every audience member to pull out their phones and switch torch mode on. There is something truly incredible about 18,000 shining lights and as Lamar informed us of the death of legendary rapper Phife Dawg just hours earlier, we all took part in his tribute.

Lamar created a wonderful environment to enjoy his music, the only shame is that it took several hours of travel to experience. While a concert is as good an excuse as any to enjoy a trip to Sydney, it is an added complication for Canberrans.

Canberra might not play host to the biggest acts any time soon, but on this occasion Lamar was definitely worth the drive.

Kendrick Lamar Sydney Concert Setlist

1. For Free?
2. Wesley’s Theory
3. Institutionalized
4. Backseat Freestyle
5. m.A.A.D City (part 2)
6. The Art of Peer Pressure
7. Swimming Pools (Drank)
8. These Walls
9. For Sale?
10. Hood Politics
11. Complexion (A Zulu Love)
12. Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe
13. Money Trees
14. m.A.A.d City (part 1)
15. u
16. King Kunta
17. i

Encore 1:

1. Alright

Encore 2:

1. A.D.H.D