Gig review/ Yungblud at Lollapalooza

 

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR

Yungblud/ Live@Lollapalooza, Mumbai

Genre: Punk-rock/ alternative 

Presented by; BookMyShow Live

Details: Mahalaxmi Race Course, January 24

Rating: *** 1/2

Picture courtesy: BookMyShow 

Around 8.25 pm on Saturday, towards the end of his set, British star Yungblud announced, "You guys want 'Zombie'?" It was a song that a good chunk of the audience knew, and they happily sang along. Those who didn't know it gaped at the stage like zombies, more mesmerised by the sheer spectacle.

Yungblud's performance on Day 1 lasted only an hour. But the man wowed the crowd with his sheer energy and showmanship, as he pranced barechested around the stage, even did the crowd-surfing act, and won hearts by saying that he loved India so much he'd come every year.

Yet, it wasn't a perfect set. The sound was awry in the first 10 minutes, and his nine-minute 'Hello Heaven Hello' lacked the impact one experienced on his album Idols. That guitar just didn't come across. It was preceded by a micro-mini snippet from the Black Sabbath anthem 'War Pigs' which left many confused. Considering the time restriction, one also felt he talked a bit much between songs, overusing the expletives. Too much of the effs and ems, which may be a punk thing, but seemed overdone. And unlike the Green Day and Sting shows in previous Lollapalooza editions, when the audience listened with rapt attention as they knew their stuff, there was a lot of disturbing chatter this time, with many unfamiliar with his music. For them, Yungblud's abs were more appealing than what came from his heart.

But things picked up, and that sheer bravado is something one often doesn't get to see. From the time Yungblud launched into 'Lovesick Lullaby', moving on to his older songs 'Fleabag' and 'Lowlife', attention levels became more focused. And the last three numbers took the show to another level. 

There was Black Sabbath's 'Changes', which he sang at the Ozzy Osborne mega-show in Birmingham last year, when metalheads worldwide got to know of him. He was emotional and his pre-song speech rambled on forever. But the moment he began singing, it was magic all the way. There was a difference, as Ozzy had passed away, and the young devotee said it wasn't easy to sing that song. But there was feeling, there was pain, which permeated across the venue.

Next came 'Ghosts', from Idols. "Is it your mother's tongue or your father's ghosts? Remember sticks and stones and how they broke your bones" he sang, before talking about turnaround and positivity through the lines, "My God, what a beautiful scene!" And on 'Zombie', the line, "Would you even want me, looking like a zombie" attracted the singalongers. Probably, those who've heard his albums more closely would have appreciated the songs better.

For an hour, Yungblud ruled the stage. He has the charisma, the chutzpah, the chemistry. But there were the nitpick areas too. The show was all 'I, me, myself' with no mention of the band. The act of bringing on a crowd member, in similar barechested uniform, and handing him a guitar has become predictable by now. Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day did that.

And yes, if he'd cut down a bit on the verbal barrage, he'd have got time for another song. He could have sung his version of the Kiss anthem 'I Was Made For Loving You', which he recorded for the Fall Guy soundtrack, though it didn't quite go with the flow. Maybe more people would have known that. Maybe he should have headlined Day 1 instead of Playboi Carti.