Nur-D turns First Avenue into the inclusive Club Nur-D
Review by: Andy Ellis, Writer @andysmileyjay
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
Editor’s note: This article was updated August 27, 10:41 a.m.
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Nur-D graces the stage with his Neighborhood Spider-Band at First Avenue’s Mainroom.
I knew I was part of something special. The famed First Avenue has long been known for these kinds of moments where you’re gathered with a packed crowd, knowing you’re witnessing a future “great moment in Minnesota music history.” It’s also now under the protective eye of the new Prince mural just outside the venue as if the Purple One’s spirit is making sure this shared musical experience transports everyone inside safely to a special world that only music can take you.
I’ve always felt Nur-D’s vibe to be one of cultural inclusiveness. It’s a feeling that was in full effect as soon as soon as I walked in the door. It turned into a night of positivity, honesty, and social awareness all engulfed in one big Hip-Hop party.
St. Paul, MN Nigerian-American artist MC and singer Bayo stepped on stage ready to get the night started with good, positive vibes. It’s an energy that was contagious as the crowd immediately flocked to the stage in a way I’ve rarely seen with an opening act. Dressed with bright Hawaii-like shirts with his equally-as-happy three-piece band, it was impossible not to feel a jolt of happiness that would be present through the whole night.
Bayo takes the First Avenue Mainroom stage.
Ka Lia Universe stepped on stage next in Hmong jewelry ready to turn the Mainroom into a nightclub. The Hmong-American artist, the first in over seven years to grace the renowned venue’s stage, performed her pop-leaning R&B songs including “Do You Really Love Me,” “TR-US-T,” and a couple Hmong-language songs that had a perfect nighttime-ready vibe the crowd ate right up. She strutted the stage back and forth in a performance neither her or the audience will soon forget.
Ka Lia Universe takes the stage at First Avenues’s Mainroom.
Sean Anonymous wowed the crowd with his wordplay skills. Song-wise he was the least hook-driven artist of the night, but his lyrical prowess kept the crowd in the palm of his hand which was a good thing since at one point he was crowd surfing. He even had a more than impressive freestyle session with event host radio DJ Chaz Kangaz of the Current. It definitely helped if you knew his songs, but his speed was awe-inspiring to say the least.
Sean Anonymous takes the stage at First Avenue’s Mainroom.
Then the curtain slowly lifted to show Nur-D in a white outfit with his back to the crowd and his Neighborhood Spider-Band in color-coordinating outfits right along with him. My first thought was this was a star in the making. He was about to make Prince proud.
The Rosemount native had the crowd in the palm of his hand from the moment they walked through the doors hours before. I’ve never seen a crowd this packed for a local indie concert. As they launched into the totally unexpected “I 2 I” (“Eye 2 Eye”) from Disney’s A Goofy Movie, you could tell this was a night noone would soon forget.
The center of his show is his animated passion that his band mirrors to an almost not-of-this-world degree. They’re a band of Spider-humans connected by the same circuit of webs with Nur-D’s energy at the center, and the only bands I can think of that are on this comparable level of choreography and togetherness are Bruno Mars’ band or Justin Timberlake’s Tennessee Kids. They’re as much as part of the experience as the man himself.
That passion keeps the energy in First Avenue’s historic Mainroom at a 10 even with the select slower songs they performed. He may be the main Spider-man there, but he is also harnessing a TARDIS-like energy that keeps that room lit the whole night. And just like his new album HVN is emotionally intense, the same went for this show.
Whether he just wanted people to dance, addressed his social justice activism work against police brutality, or slowed it down for a love song — all eyes were always on Nur-D. They’d follow him anywhere and I’d probably find my feet walking with as well. This kind of artist doesn’t come along often, especially a homegrown one.
Nur-D and his Neighborhood Spider-band performs at First Avenue’s Mainroom stage.
One moment that took me by surprise was his performance of “HVN Intermission 3” off his new record later in the show. Nur-D excused his whole band save for his collaborator DJ Hayes and stood in center of the stage at his mic stand. Then he performed this stream-of-conscious song in one of the most honest, soul-baring moments I’ve witnessed in my time in the local music scene turning the room into a poetry slam for over 4 minutes.
He also gave the spotlight to his other artists friends. He welcomed Lewie Blaze onstage for their collaboration of “Revolution” off the new record, and by the end had everyone with their fists in the air ready to change the world. He also spotlighted other songs off the new record “Angels ‘Round Here” with Nakara Froje and “Higher Power” with Juice Lord and Mayyadda.
The rest of his FairPlay Entertainment crew got up on stage as well. He had Mickey Breeze on stage for “Weapons,” Tuvok the Word on the powerful “Mr. Officer” who is also his drummer, Mpls Drew on “Sunday To Sunday,” Lt. Sunnie on “Fix My Eyes",” and Brandon Pulphus on for “Wait For Graves.” It’s the most energetic Hip-Hop I’ve ever seen, and this team of creatives is clearly ready to take over the world.
When the encore came Nur-D dipped into fan-favorites. Everyone was making waves with their hands during “Black Wizard Wave,” and “Glorious” ended the night on a positively Gospel choir-esque spiritual note, with everyone throwing their hands in the air until the final note was played. There was nothing but joy filling this room, and had the venue not had to close to let its staff go home, the crowd could have stayed there all night.
I’ve never liked the term ‘brand’ when it comes to art. I get that it helps on the business side of things when getting their name out there, but I’ve always felt that term is too corporate sounding. But if Nur-D does have a brand it’s creating a space where those who have felt rejected by those in power, who are resistant to any kind of cultural change that challenges how they act or feel the world should be, can feel respected and free to be themselves no matter their preferred pronouns.
It was also the first sensory inclusive show in First Avenue’s history. There was a Health Partners booth that provided bags of sensory material including earplugs and non-verbal cards. At one point before launching into “Mr. Officer,” Nur-D warned those who may be triggered by certain sounds that the song included the sound of a gunshot.
This show was an emotionally intense journey. But that fun energy Nur-D and his Neighborhood Spider-Band has become known for never disappeared from the room, and it’s a moment I’ll never forget. I’m glad to say I was there when First Avenue turned into the awesome and inclusive Club Nur-D.
Writer’s Note: Nur-D’s own portion of the profits will be donated to the non-profit organization Reclaim. Click here for more information.
