Perhaps it's their rabid fanbase or their contagious energy or the fact that both the artists and their fans are caught up with the OFWGKTA notoriety, but whatever it is, it makes the crowd at an Odd Future show go absolutely insane. And while Odd Future's performance is likewise insane, let's be clear: the collective has their live-game completely down.
Now, let's break down the dynamic of the Paradise Rock Club at Odd Future's show. Skinny white bloggers retreated to the balcony, where watching the floor was a spectacle in itself. Before anyone had even touched a foot to the stage, the crowd's de-facto leaders had taken charge in leading chants of, "WOLF-GANG/GOLF WANG/FREE EARL/SWAG" in unison. It looked as if security guards were gearing up to call in back-up, as fans crushed people in front of the barrier. But in this case, being crushed against the barrier was what someone wanted; it was a nice warm-up for what was to come.
DJ Syd the Kid took the stage for about fifteen minutes, just to get the crowd a little more riled up, and then it happened. The opening two notes of "Sandwiches" shot through the speakers, as a deep, rumbling voice said "Wolf" behind the stage. The beat dropped, and Tyler, The Creator and Hodgy Beats rushed onto the stage, slam dancing, thrashing around, and launching themselves into the crowd. The rapping was as powerful as on record, with an extra bit of terror and ferocity, especially in Hodgy's voice. You didn't want to be in either person's way as they propelled themselves around the stage, disregarding any sort of faux boundary that the edge of the stage normally defines.
Left Brain joined the stage to provide backup for Mellowhype's songs with Hodgy Beats. It's important to note that this was not a Tyler show. The Odd Future collective didn't give any member preferential treatment; they all supported each other on stage and were given opportunities to present songs from their respective records. Also, Left Brain is terrifying; if you jumped on the stage (as many did throughout the night), you did not want him to be the one to push you back into the crowd. During "Transylvania," the already frightening shouts of "I'm Dracula, bitch," were amplified by his rumble meeting Tyler's. Even if you're not a fan of the group, shouting "I'm dracula, bitch," in unison with a bunch of strangers is pretty fun.
The show was riddled with stage diving from the crowd and the members of Odd Future, as the security guards held the barriers back screaming at each other for support. Speaking with them after the show, they all agreed it was the toughest show they'd had to handle, but even they thought it was fun.
Mike G and Domo Genesis both graced the stage at points, and Jasper played Hype-man, as the group continued through their catalogs. But let's stray away from the group and talk about Tyler a bit. The kid is having fun, and is more sincere than people give him credit for. Little breaks in his scary personality--profusely thanking the crowd or the lighting and sound guys--proved his appreciation for his fans and his sudden fame. During "Yonkers," as the crowd sang a verse, he looked behind him to the rest of the members, pointed to the crowd, and smiled from ear to ear. He's got the stage presence and swagger that his albums give off, and he was more than ready to meet the crowd's energy. The crowd returned his respect; when Tyler's hat got lost in the crowd, whoever caught it didn't snag it for himself. Tyler reached his hand out into the air, only to have the hat fly right back into it. SWAG.
So, if you do see Odd Future live, you'll probably have a blast. And you'll also probably get hurt, bouncing off of people like gas molecules in a balloon. But it's worth it.
