North Coast Music Festival Day 1: Action, Bass and a kid called Prob
Five years ago, The North Coast Music Festival entered the festival circuit and declared itself summer‘s last stand; the city’s last chance to enjoy an outdoor party before the weather drops and sends us into hibernation.
From Day one, North Coast’s philosophy on booking acts has been simple. Be all things to everyone. You like EDM? Come to NCMF. You like Hip Hop? Come to NCMF. Oh, you like jam bands? Come to NCMF. You get the point. It’s your iPod set to shuffle but in a festival setting. Save for a couple years of EDM saturated lineups, they’ve managed to maintain a pretty genre balanced schedule.
On Friday, August 29, 2014 people were slow to gather in Union Park. By the time NY’s Action Bronson took to the 773 Stage, a modest crowd had amassed to see the gourmet chef turned rapper. Wearing a black sleeveless top, black shorts, and a brown snap back, a jet lagged Bronson told the Chicago audience that he had just gotten off a plane from London and was, “tired as fuck!” That declaration would be the only sign of his weariness. Action’s on stage presence is only rivaled by his off stage presence. In the middle of his set, Son made his way into the crowd and eventually popped up on the adjacent 312 stage, which was being readied for Bassnectar’s set.
It’s a spectacle for sure and the surrounding crowd ate it up but if you’re not in the immediate vicinity it just looks like Action Bronson abandoned his set leaving his hype man alone on stage.
Speaking of Bassnectar, his set offered standard EDM flare. His performance was filled with theatrical slow builds, eruptions, popular dance tracks, and a spastic light show. Though he, like most Dj's, repeated the build/erupt formula throughout the night the crowd responded as if it was their first time witnessing it. They loved it. Bassnectar is great at what he does.
The performance of the evening went to Chicago’s very own, Prob Cause, who headlined the 847 stage. Prob blazed through his catalog, melding both old and new tracks, EDM and Hip Hop. Far from the traditional Hip Hop stage arrangement of just a DJ, Prob’s set was backed by The Squizad, a unit comprised of Hip Hop duo The Palmer Squares, a violinist, a drummer, and cameo appearances from fellow Chicago rappers Taylor Bennett and Saba.
Prob’s performance was exciting and appealing to even the casual Hip Hop fan. He's clearly having fun up there and as a result so is the audience. At one point, he challenged his drummer to a beat box competition. His set was crammed with both contemplative tracks and bangers.
Lyricism, delivery, and precision were all on display. Prob Cause is a showman with a passion for putting together a tight show. He understands the balance between flexing and delivering what the people will appreciate. People listened to his words, wilded out to the live instrumentals and got a taste of Chicago’s unique flavor of Hip Hop.
Prob Cause and Taylor Bennett.
