decentlyLIVE: A-Trak with Clipse, Kid Sister & The Gaslamp Killer at Terminal 5

I’d like to start this review by saying that I was absolutely blown away. I was still a little bitter about not getting into the Steve Aoki concert (I turn 18 in 2 months, barely missed the cutoff), and I was thinking that while A-Trak is disgustingly talented he wouldn’t have the filthy electronic I was looking for. In a sense, that was true, but at the same time it was better than I could have imagined and probably my favorite concert yet.

The Gaslamp Killer, a LA-based DJ, opened things up at 8:50. The first ten minutes, I thought he was so bad that this wasn’t even The Gaslamp Killer yet, just some in-house DJ. But once people began to come in at the stated start time, 9PM, he really turned it up a notch. I have never seen someone spin dubstep tracks live, and it was absolutely awesome. He was a pretty lively performer too, and got people moving really quick for an opening act. He’s definitely worth seeing, and I can see why A-Trak is taking him across the country for the Magic 8 Ball Tour.

Next up was Kid Sister, who I had actually heard of due to the buzz surrounding her mixtape Kiss Kiss Kiss. She’s a part of A-Trak and Nick Catchdubs’ Fool’s Gold record label, and she did a fantastic job keeping the energy level high with the help of Willy Joy DJing. Sometimes I’ll feel a little alienated if I don’t know a song that’s being performed, but for Kid Sister that wasn’t really a problem. She lead the way for the dancing, breaking it down and then jumping right over me to crowd surf (actually the first crowd surf I’ve ever seen live). Also, she looked pretty baller (hit that for more pics too). At first, I was planning to figure out a setlist, but two songs in I was dancing too much to remember to write things down.

Kid Sister Setlist
Kid Sister – Kiss Kiss Kiss
Gucci Rag Top

After Kid Sister, the energy died down because it took at least half an hour for Clipse to come on. I’m not sure what the deal was, but as a result Malice and Pusha T had to play a shorter setlist (which excluded “Wamp Wamp” somehow!). When they came on, the crowd got excited again, as a bunch of people around me had come to see them specifically. Still disappointed “Wamp Wamp” and “Kinda Like A Big Deal” never happened, but they played a pretty balanced setlist as opposed to the Til The Casket Drops-heavy performance I was expecting. Also, Re-Up Gang member Ab-Liva came on to do his verse in “Cot Damn.”

Clipse Setlist
Momma I’m So Sorry
Baby – What Happened To That Boy (feat. Clipse)
Clipse – Grindin’
Mr. Me Too
Cot Damn (feat. Ab-Liva)
Ride Around Shining
Popular Demand (Popeyes)

Following Clipse was none other than A-Trak (classy as ever in front of a huge “A” backdrop in tuxedo attire), who played the most satisfying set I’ve ever experienced. There were points I was actually ready for it to end because I was so physically exhausted from dancing (picture me flailing for about 4 hours), but certainly wasn’t disappointed when it continued on. I would split A-Trak’s set into three categories: electronic, hip-hop, and then classic A-Trak/Duck Sauce (his duo with Armand Van Helden) songs. Even though a large chunk of it wasn’t his actual production, it had his signature touch thanks to some expert moves on the turntables.

Obvious highlights of the performance were “Barbra Streisand,” “aNYway,” and Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix),” but another cool part was when he brought out CyHi Da Prynce to do “Ray Ban Vision” and a verse on “So Appalled.” Another one of my favorites was when he spun Crookers & Savage Skulls’ absolutely crazy(/hilarious) new track “Bust ‘Em Up,” which you should definitely play below. Lastly, I have an update that a new Duck Sauce song was played called “Big Bad Wolf.” I remember it, but had no idea it was a new track. Shoutout to Helen on the heads up!

I was next to this fellow in the front who taped a lot of it, so if you wanna check out some footage hit up Joedonut Videos (big shoutout to Joe). Take a look at one of the videos and some of the setlist (in pretty exact order):

A-Trak Partial Setlist (some tracks mixed w/ others)
The Rapture – House of Jealous Lovers
Crookers & Savage Skulls – Bust Em Up
Roscoe Dash – All The Way Turnt Up (feat. Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em)
Travis Porter – Make It Rain
Waka Flocka – Grove St. Party (feat. Kebo Gotti)
Ace Hood – Hustle Hard
Kanye West – All Of The Lights
Lil Wayne – 6’7″ (feat. Cory Gunz)
A-Trak – Ray Ban Vision (feat. CyHi Da Prynce)
CyHi Da Prynce’s verse in “So Appalled” by Kanye West
Bassnectar – Bass Head mixed w/ Wiz Khalifa – Black & Yellow
Ludacris – Move Bitch
Daft Punk – Robot Rock
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)
Duck Sauce – aNYway
Duck Sauce – Big Bad Wolf
Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand