{"id":940,"date":"2011-09-11T20:00:14","date_gmt":"2011-09-11T20:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/216.71.127.204\/wordpress\/?p=940"},"modified":"2015-10-13T19:20:02","modified_gmt":"2015-10-13T19:20:02","slug":"lil-wayne-and-friends-woodlands-pavilion-woodlands-tx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/2011\/09\/11\/lil-wayne-and-friends-woodlands-pavilion-woodlands-tx\/","title":{"rendered":"Lil Wayne and Friends – Woodlands Pavilion – Woodlands, TX"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Written by David Clements<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sep 11, 2011 at 08:00 PM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"I knew this event would test my objectivity. I am happy to report that, despite my skepticism, I liked what I heard this past Sunday night. There were four openers before Lil Wayne hit the stage and each had a certain appeal to me.<\/p>\n

The first was Lloyd, a hip hop\/ rapper, who surprisingly could actually sing. He had a nice voice and mixed it up between singing and rapping throughout his 20 minute set. I may not have understood most of the rap but the audience seemed to get it. \u00a0He was obviously no rookie to the stage and had no problem performing while looking into a very warm Texas setting sun.<\/p>\n

Next up was Far East Movement, a quartet of electro hoppers. Their Far East roots and lively energy made them very entertaining. Their singing was not as impressive as Lloyd\u2019s, but their musicianship was another surprise. Instead of relying on a back up band, they all played instruments.<\/p>\n

Keri Hilson\u00a0was third up and I would have been happy if she\u2019d stayed on stage the rest of the night. \u00a0This girl is HOT \u2013 oh my! \u00a0 She wore a pink jumpsuit with a large patch on the back stating, No Boys Allowed, the title of her new album. And although dressed in pink, don\u2019t be fooled. Hilson is way more electric and fierce than frilly and feminine. \u00a0She had two terrific lady dancers\/singers up on stage with her and they were having fun strutting their stuff and not holding back. I had the opportunity to photograph Beyonce, The Queen of body movement, a few years ago. Keri Hilson is the closest thing I\u2019ve seen to that kind of moving and shaking. Surprise number three for the evening!<\/p>\n

An interesting note: Keri Hilson and one of my top country favorites, Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland\u00a0(both Georgia girls) performed the Aretha Franklin hit Think <\/em>together for VH 1\u2019s Divas Salute\u00a0the Troops Concert last year. Way to go ladies!<\/p>\n

Floridian\u00a0Rick Ross, a giant of a man and former jock, was the last of the four openers for Lil Wayne. It seemed like the ushers and I were the only ones in the house who didn\u2019t know every word of his music. As soon as he came on stage and began singing, the audience stood up and took over. They sang lyric after lyric, song after song, and loudly! \u00a0The full house, including the SRO lawn, were an energetic \u00a0group of diverse individuals from 16 to 60 who did all the singing while<\/em> recording\u00a0 the show on their cell phones. \u00a0Big Guy\u00a0Ross must be doing something right to have this kind of wide appeal and to land this gig.<\/p>\n

A standout feature of his show was his use of the F Bomb. He used it so many times it lost any meaning of vulgarity for me by the time Lil Wayne arrived on stage. I tried counting how many times in 60 seconds he, along with the audience,\u00a0said F#@*\u00a0and quickly determined I can\u2019t count that high that fast. His buddy, Ace Hood, also from the Miami area, joined him on stage for a song and collectively they doubled the count in short order!<\/p>\n

I\u2019d also like to share with you that at this event, I ran into my young friends and photo clients, members of the group Savvy. Savvy, a terrific new pop group from right here in The Woodlands, were there as guests of the headliner, Lil Wayne.\u00a0\u00a0 They recently signed with his record label, Cash Money Records. They also star in their own TV show, The Wannabes, which just premiered on the Starz Network. The show has been airing on a number of networks for the past couple of years worldwide. I am really excited for what lies ahead for them. Check them out at www.savvymusic.biz<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Lil Wayne is a childlike character and I found him fun and entertaining. \u00a0Besides enjoying his energetic persona he provided me the first opportunity ever to photograph a performer with a skateboard on stage. He also allowed me to witness seemingly every person in the Pavilion flip each other off and say, in unison, \u201cI don\u2019t give a fyuck\u201d. \u00a0 Kinda the way I feel about our current administration (Rolling Stone \u2026 take note- not everyone who writes about music supports the liberal left). Anyway, I guess that makes Lil Wayne the David Allan Coe of Rap.<\/p>\n

His music? In a word\u2026 interesting<\/em> is all I can say.<\/p>\n

Wayne said there were three things that the crowd should know about him. \u201cOne, I believe in God. Two, I ain\u2019t shit without you, and Three, I ain\u2019t shit without you!\u201d<\/p>\n

Glad he believes in God\u2026and recognizes the importance of the consumer. I think many of today\u2019s performers, across all genres, have forgotten who is responsible with them getting to where they have gotten! \u00a0 Until next time hope you keep it between the navigational beacons.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by David Clements Sep 11, 2011 at 08:00 PM I knew this event would test my objectivity. I am happy to report that, despite my skepticism, I liked what I heard this past Sunday night. There were four openers before Lil Wayne hit the stage and each had a certain appeal to me. The… <\/p>\n

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