Hammerstein Ballroom felt the funk of the new era Friday night. As soon as DJ Funk Flex ended his set, the crowd exploded with the excitement for what was to come next! The man did not make the people wait. With a red light shining behind an exceedingly tall transparent screen, like a scene from the Wizard of Oz, the show began! We all knew who the shadow belonged to as multiple fans howled their best, "Yes, Lawd!" Without a second wasted, Andy woke up the beast.
The set had to last a good five lives with every moment being memorable. After he was done hitting us with an Ali combo, he finally revealed himself, coming from around the screen. Teeth and all. The crowd lost it, and he fed his whole soul into it. With a lyric here and a dance move there, a glide here and a punch line there, Andy was a mad man. It was like watching Michael or Prince be the general of the floor. He was alive from the moment he stepped on stage.
He told us he was going to come back to New York City, and he did, with a grammy! I have no idea what it is like to get a Grammy, but after seeing him, I want one!
He dropped the screen, and the Free Nationals were ready to go. They played and swayed all over the stage. Andy went back and forth between drums and mic, showing his versatility. It was like he was speaking on both ends. Every snare hit, made you flinch back, every bass made your face screw up. He was a mad man. He kept the crowd at 100, and it only got higher. Just when I thought it could not get any more exciting, ta-da, pyros! Boom! Confetti everywhere, smoke everywhere! It was a wonderland. Every attendee's eyes glisten with amazement and astonishment like a sweet tooth in a candy shop.
Yes, Lawd!, the man ended the show right. The Free Nationals and himself came together front stage and signed off. A Friday night well worthwhile. My only feedback would be to put a warning for the amount of excitement you will experience and the great night you will receive. Also, to tone down the number of teeth Andy shows, I was getting jealous at the perfection!