On Thursday night three of New York’s finest came through to bless us in Toronto. Velvet Underground played host to Brasstracks’ For Those Who Know Tour with support from their homie S’natra. Although they didn’t sell out like they have several other cities, the venue was packed with just enough room to breathe and dance around you.
S’natra kicked the show off with ‘Power’ and kept us hooked with his most recent release ‘Off Key.’ When he delivered the bars, “When po po come up on me, nigga I stay silent” they cut the lights off, leaving the venue in the dark for a quick second, before jumping back into the verse. It was a simple effort but displayed S’natra’s creativity as a performer. His set was divided into two sections: what he considered tracks where he was “just talking to us” and the turn up. This showcased his versatility as an artist, demonstrating his comfort level telling stories and dropping clever bars and just getting the party going. The later section included him debuting his new single ‘Wassup’ with Alexander Lewis and MadeinTYO, which turned the energy to the max. His pacing was perfect, pulling fans in to listen early then bringing the energy up gradually with each song. He had fans ‘Feelin Good’ with his finale, bouncing over the bed squeaks effortlessly and amping the crowd to turn up in the breaks. Support slots generally are a chance for up-and-comers to hone their skills and learn the ropes of performing but S’natra showcased a stage presence that suggested a star in the making.
When the Brasstracks neon sign was ignited, fans knew it was time for the main event. Ivan and Conor casually walked on stage and soaked the venue in before taking their places. Conor behind the drums and Ivan surrounded by his keyboard, Abelton controller and trumpet. They kicked things off slow before building into a triumphant sound and intensity that carried throughout. ‘Dreaming at The Function’ was hypnotic while ‘Fever’ prompted a jazzy dance party. Ivan’s energy was insane, he bounced around the stage like a kid who ate too much cake at a birthday party, with an endless smile to match. Conor killed it on the drums with precise focus. The entire set was mesmerizing, at times you’d be singing or humming along, other moments dancing uncontrollably and often times just standing there, mouth open in awe. It wasn’t just that each track was amazing but how they went about flowing from one to the next. They brought out S’natra once again for ‘Opposite Ways’ and freaked and looped his closing vocals into a wild improvised breakdown. For other transitions Ivan would DJ on the Ableton controller or Conor would keep the beat going on the drums and flow into the next track.
While they played a ton of their original work they also rocked the party with familiar tracks and covers. Their biggest production to date, ‘No Problem’ prompted a massive sing along, as did their covers of Destiny Child, Ja Rule, Kanye West and Lil Uzi Vert. They also treated fans to some unreleased heaters including a wild new collab with Denzel Curry. When it finally came time for the show to end Brasstracks left the stage to an avalanche of applause that quickly turned into chants for an encore. They didn’t keep fans waiting too long before coming to give us a finale that included their massive remix of ‘Higher Ground’ and a more mellowed conclusion. When the night was over, my hands hurt from clapping and my voice was half gone from screaming, if that doesn’t tell you the level of performance Brasstracks brought forth, I’m not sure what will. If this tour comes to your GO. Whether you’re a fan of rap, R&B, jazz, electronic music or all of them, you’ll leave amazed.
For a bigger taste of what to expect, check out the live video of ‘Opposite Ways’ below.
Photos by Zoran Jovicic.
