Hordon Pavilion, Sydney
Monday December 4, 2017 :
When I came to see J. Cole at the Hordon Pavilion I was skeptical, not of J. Cole but of the venue, it’s hard to maintain energy in that big tin shed. The punters where buzzing, it felt like no one could stand still, his Sydney fans had been waiting years for him to come out again.
J. Cole came out in a orange jumpsuit with his hands together as if bound. The stage behind him, a replicated jail wall. He had invested his money into his stage and performance, and it seemed he was just as keen to see the crowd as they were for him.
Launching into ‘Déjà Vu’ and ‘Ville Mentality’ from his latest album early in set, the crowd pounded the floor jumping with him. Mid song, voicing his frustration with the ticket scalpers and issues he had when his show was released, the crowd was quickly won over, not that they were ever against him.
There is no signs of energy lapsing from the crowd when ‘Can’t Get Enough’ from his 2011 debut causing a roar in the room. I have never been to a gig at the Hordon where the artist kept the crowd with them so well.
A highlight was during the track ‘Neighbors’ when Cole stopped the song to show the footage of his home being raided by police after moving into a nice (or white as Cole put it) neighbourhood. It caused the crowd to chant “Fuck The Police” with the conviction of someone who unlike themselves, didn’t probably grow up in mansions on the Northern Beaches.
Cole is an authentic musician and performer engrossing the crowd for the entire set with only a few moments of calm. He ended the night with his genuine love and most popular track ‘No Role Modelz’. I guess you could say my only regret is I didn’t get to take him home.
Reviewer + Photographer : Amy Heycock
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