The venue? The O2 Arena; the venue I was supposed to visit for the ill-fated This Is It tour in 2009, as documented in my 3rd ever blog entry. Needless to say, it was nice to exorcise this demon in some way.
The act? Plan B. I've known Plan B since 2006, when he was primarily a pretty unknown rapper - I'd come across of mainly because I'd read the "BBC Sound of 2006" top 10, which turned out to be a great decision. Plan B's debut album, Who Needs Actions When You Got Words?, was my favourite rap album I'd ever heard in 2006. His second album, the more soul-focused concept album The Defamation Of Strickland Banks, was my favourite album of 2010. His 2012 release Ill Manors, the concept album/soundtrack (to the eponymous film)? My favourite album of 2012. Needless to say, he is an artist I rate incredibly highly. While his 2nd album was a bit more "mainstream", a bit more "accessible", it was still a damn good album; but what I really love him for is his rapping. It is intelligent, meaningful, in some cases led by extreme emotion on his part, there is brilliant word-play, the songs are powerful musically; orchestrated in such a way that they stick in your head along with the message...it's exactly what music should be. Not to mention that every album Plan B has released he has a co-producer and co-writing credits.
The gig was utterly fantastic. The first support act was Rudimental - their clash of many instruments - both electronic and live -was catchy, interesting, and just really enjoyable to listen to. Then Labrinth came out...I'm not a massive fan of Labrinth. I mean, I had come to the O2 because I love Plan B's intelligent, well-thought out, meaningful lyrics...so to have a man singing "Let the Sun shine, let the sun shine"....yeah. I wasn't crazy about it. Maybe I'm being harsh on Labrinth a bit - in fairness, I wasn't 100% focussed, because we were stood near a dickhead who was almost elbowing everyone near him with over-enthusiastic jumping! Ultimately, I did really enjoy it when Labrinth performed Eathquake. That was a belter to jump around to.
Then came Plan B. He did most of his 2nd album, then most of his 3rd album. The show was produced in such a way that he told the story from his 2nd album, left - with a short interval performed by a fantastic beatboxer called Faith SFX - and then came back and told the story from his 3rd album. It was marvelous. His singing was note perfect - yeah, a rapper who can sing! Completely destroys the myth that rappers are just "songwriters who can't sing", which is great. His rapping was perfect, too.
The first of my favourite moments was when he sang the track Ill Manors; being in a crowd of thousands all jumping at the same time through the chorus, belting out the lyrics...just a bloody great feeling. Then he came out and did the song a second time during the long encore! Fantastic.
The second of my favourite moments was when he played the track End Credits; it was near the end of the night, and it being a drum and bass song, it electrified the room with energy...I'm quite sure I started a mosh-pit. Yeah, mental. But that was damn fun. Not much air in them there mosh-pits, that's what I learned! But fuck, man. Was brilliant. Not to mention at the end, where the music basically cuts out, leaving a room of people belting out the lyrics with all our might: "When my heart stops beating, And my lungs stop breathing, In the air...I hope somebody cares." It was bloody beautiful.
My favourite moment of the night, though, was when he sang the song Live Once. This isn't even a song I was thinking of before the gig, and is far from my favourite. But I've had a pretty shit...well...6 months, to be honest. I'm no longer at Uni, and I can't get a job, have little money...I was a bit sick of absolutely everything earlier this week. But then, hearing Plan B rap the lyrics:
"But we ain't no different from them*, honestly, Luck's the only reason they weren't born into poverty, So never be afraid to say whats in your heart, follow your dreams, or wanna be, something that they say you can't because I promise G"
*the upper class
My brain just clicked...I was watching a man who I had known when he was almost unknown back in 2006, and now he was performing intelligent, heart-felt, meaningful works of art to 20,000 adoring fans. This, a man who got expelled from school, so had to go to a school for troubled children, and left with only 3 GCSEs...yet he's worked damn hard, and he's made something incredible of himself, as well as making just utterly brilliant music. This has rejuvenated my belief in the world. Sure, I am going through a crummy time of life, but so had this man before me - he grew up without a Dad, felt like a "social outcast" growing up, had to live on the harsh streets of East End London, but look at him now. As he says: "Luck's the only reason they weren't born into poverty" - and I guess that is all I need. To work and try hard, and get a bit of luck.
The night was damn fun; jumping around, shouting lyrics, cheering, and just enjoying life. I was gutted I never got to see Michael Jackson at the O2 Arena; but y'know? Last night I watched an artist who I respect, admire, and enjoy listening to just as much.
Can't wait to see the next tour.
I shall leave you with a video my friend Matt filmed from the gig.
Plus a lovely photo of me after the gig. I was very hot and sweaty, but full of happiness.
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