It’s been a long time in coming but finally Earl is playing a proper gig in Glasgow, in an actual venue not a giant stabby field.
The Garage tonight may not be as be quite as popular as Eminem at Bellahouston, and I can guarantee you can’t hear this one from Partick, but Earl is definitely a more exciting prospect for those crammed into the ultra security conscious venue (I dunno, was it just me that got the third degree from a bouncer? Maybe I look like a dealer).
I would explain why Odd Future’s exciting, yet sometimes distant, lyrical genius hasn’t been here in a live capacity since his LA based crew broke some four years or so ago, but it’s been written about so many times before – so, go read a review of Doris or something and find out if you don’t know already.
Still, he’s here tonight and that’s what matters and while his OF cohort Tyler, The Creator is causing a ruckus at SXSW Earl is unleashing his major label debut record on the world in the super expansive Wearld Tour.
The room is buzzing from the second Lucas Vercetti takes the decks, and the rather varied audience, a lot of kids here tonight cos well “kids love rebellious rap”, erupts into a sea of arms and the anti is only upped when rap’s hottest talent takes the stage and explodes into a set that only justifies all the 20-year-old’s hype.
It’s a set minus collaborators, which there were many of on Doris, but the young man deals with this admirably, spiting his verses in that distant drawl, yet leaving everyone in the room grasping off his every word.
Doris is very wordy and lacks any big hooks, but such is Earl’s rapping abilities this doesn’t matter, yet still this room of sweaty white kids can rhyme off pretty much every lyric without thought.
There are points when the music stops and Earl spits in some freestyle leaving Glasgow gobsmacked and others when he jests with the crowd; “I did that when I was about 13, this one sounds more like my brain now” and renaming a crowd member Levante, surely a life affirming moment and a name that will stick if he’s got enough common witnesses present.
He’s also going to tell everyone back home how to pronounce Glasgow right, although I’m not 100% he’s picked it up himself “Glass-go”, close enough, move on.
This Monday night the crowd are up for it, a rare feat anywhere, and as that awful Glasgow chant of “here we fucking go” (‘mon guys this isn’t some Biffy fucking Foo Fighters b-sides set, get a grip) rings round The Garage, Earl looks out over his energised fan base and grins “I don’t know what you’re saying but it sounds good”; try hearing it at every show pal.
Still, horribly generic chats aside Earl’s performance is one that everyone in attendance will take great pride in being there for, yes he’s back and he’s promising new stuff the next time, make it soon though.
Words: Iain Dawson
