Music / Review
Review: Sean Paul, Lloyds Amphitheatre – ‘We were transported straight back to the noughties’
Despite a very windy and wet Friday evening, attendees flocked to Lloyd’s Amphitheatre to watch Grammy nominated artist Sean Paul take to the stage.
However, for those who arrived ahead of time, the two support acts fitting out the bill were some of Bristol’s finest artists.
Offered up on the main stage, they showed us why the city is one of the leading places to produce a range of great music.
is needed now More than ever
First up was Laid Blak, the Bristol collective got the crowd warmed up nicely as we waited for the main event.
Set up on the main stage, they looked right at home as they provided us with classic reggae beats and remixed tracks that livened up the area.
Next up was Eva Lazarus. The multi-genre singer and rapper performed some of her best hits, the highlight track being her single Amsterdam which reveberated round the arena, through your bones and right to your toes.
If you weren’t dancing at the beginning of Lazarus’ set, you were definitely dancing by the end of it.
Despite intermittent rain showers, it didn’t dampen the crowd’s energy as we eagerly awaited the headline act.
The ampihtheatre heaved with people but the organisers got the numbers spot on as there was still plenty of room to move about, edge your way to the bar and dance.
As the lights dimmed and several people made their way onto the stage, everyone got their phones out and then promptly put them away again 10 minutes later as the singer still hadn’t made an appearance.
When he finally came out, the crowd erupted – we had waited long enough.
We were transported straight back to the noughties as Sean Paul provided hit after hit; the artist worked his way through his back catalogue at record speed.
With over two decades of experience in the industry, you wouldn’t be blamed for forgetting some of his songs but it made the energy feel even more nostalgic as song after song became instantly recognisable after a handful of seconds.
The artist was definitely more likeable when he was singing rather than talking as the words “titties” and “pussy” floated over the crowd several times throughout the performance – it certainly felt like 2002 again.
Coming from a 50 year old, father of two, it was disappointing language to listen to as he repeatedly told us how much he loved women and how much we loved him.
From a musical perspective, the singer delievered; offering up hits such as No Lie, She Doesn’t Mind, Got 2 Luv U, Temparature, Get Busy, Cheap Thrills, Rockabye and Like Glue.
It was just a shame he delievered some misogynistic undertones as well.
Main photo: Plaster
Read next:
- Review: Siren, Lloyd’s Amphitheatre – ‘Mashing dub vocals and skipping bassline house, they shook the floor’
- Review: King Princess, Marble Factory – ‘She has become a queer icon’
- Review: Men I Trust, SWX – ‘The whole show is gorgeously cosy’
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