Anderson .Paak electrifies WaMu

If you were in SoDo this past Thursday, and saw the crowds of people that lined the streets, you may have been tempted to think it was April, and that the Mariners were still first in the AL West. Instead, WaMu Theater filled to capacity, as Anderson .Paak and a strong supporting cast gave fans a performance well worth the price of admission.

Thundercat opened up to a venue at about half-capacity, sporting a freshly inked leg tattoo, and he proceeded to serenade the front row with silky guitar chords and his nonchalant, yet smooth melodies, which he later admitted were all about his cat.

Earl Sweatshirt then took the stage, with his customary hoodie cinched *just* tight enough as the crowd began to file in, and after announcing his set as “The rap portion of the Best Teef in The Game Tour”, piqued everyone’s excitement in preparation for the main event by unleashing the monotone verbal assault he has become so well versed in.

The crew then went to work and began to put the finishing touches on stage, and when the smoke machine doubled its output, everyone knew an appearance from Anderson was only moments away. The background music went out, and through the smoke emerged a singular trumpeter, who belted the tune to .Paak’s hit “Heart Don’t Stand a Chance.” After he retreated, the middle of the stage lit up, and inside a metal cage with a drum set at his disposal was the man himself. .Paak non-verbally introduced himself with a 25 second solo, and then belted out the first few notes of the aforementioned hit before being raised into the light and introducing his band. At the conclusion of the first song, .Paak waltzed down the bleacher set and jumped right into his most upbeat get-down “Come Down.” The energy was palpable. Anderson .Paak was wearing a colorful spiral filled two piece topped with a yellow bucket hat. He ran away with the night combining buttery vocals, elaborate rhyme sequences, and an on stage energy that electrified the theater.