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Posted in hiphop | music on November 30, 2011

Frank Ocean played 2 nights @ Bowery Ballroom

Frank Ocean at Bowery Ballroom (photo by djerickidd)
Frank Ocean

"During this show Mr. Ocean didn't do much. Mostly he stood at center stage, moved his hands a little and allowed the audience to take note of his background visuals, which were thematically pegged to each song: clips from "The NeverEnding Story" during "Dust"; a montage from "Menace II Society," "Boyz N the Hood" and other black coming-of-age tales during "Songs for Women." For "American Wedding," a remake of the Eagles' "Hotel California," he strapped on a Guitar Hero controller, turned his back to the crowd and pretended to play the song on the game as the screen showed him ringing up a flawless score: "1000 note streak!"" [NY Times]
Frank Ocean played his first two NYC shows at Bowery Ballroom on Sunday (11/27) and Monday (11/28). The dates were rescheduled from his original 11/6 date at the venue which he postponed at the last minute due to illness, and both were sold out. The show was performed like most of the other shows on his tour with his usual antics and a similar setlist (which you can check out below). Time Out New York thought the show was "all in all, a modest statement," but The Village Voice seemed to really like it, and mentioned that Frank "has brought a sort of relevance to [R&B], a hipness usually associated with indie-indie rock or underground rap." What did those of you who made it out to the shows think of it? If you missed them, some videos are below.

--
Frank Ocean - "Acura Integurl" at Bowery Ballroom

Frank Ocean - "Disillusioned" at Bowery Ballroom

Frank Ocean - "Swim Good" at Bowery Ballroom

Frank Ocean - "By Your Side" (Sade cover) at Bowery Ballroom

Frank Ocean Setlist (11/27):
By Your Side (Sade cover)
Thinking About You
Swim Good
Dust
Songs for Women
Acura Integurl
No Church in the Wild
Made in America
Disillusion
Super Rich Kids
Pleasure
We All Try
American Wedding
Novacane
Strawberry Swing
--
Miss You (Beyoncé cover)

Tags: Bowery Ballroom, Frank Ocean, Odd Future
posted at 10:19 AM on November 30, 2011 in hiphop | music | Comments (38)

Comments (38)

I was pleasantly surprised. Not that many performer could hold a crowd's attention just standing at a mic for an hour, but dude has charisma and charm to spare.

Posted by Paul | November 30, 2011 10:23 AM

Very, very impressed. Then again, I went in expecting nothing.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 10:27 AM

Please explain to me why he gets covered on this site. Might as well cover Usher and Justin Bieber.

Billy Ocean>Frank Ocean

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 10:29 AM

The guy can fucking sing. And he makes it look so effortless. Will be huge once he releases an album that the masses can handle (from the sounds of Disillusion and Super Rich Kids, his next album will be an indie hipster hit, and the album after that will be gigantic).

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 10:30 AM

10:29 has never listened to NostalgiaULTRA.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 10:31 AM

I don't understand why Tyler The Creator gets the most buzz out of this band of idiots

Frank Ocean is the only talented member of Odd Future

Posted by Mark | November 30, 2011 10:35 AM

bieber my balls

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 10:38 AM

Yes he can sing but the show was just ok. Actually quite boring and most of the crowd around me was being lulled to sleep. The ones above saying it was very impressive and what not probably also think Odd Future is groundbreaking. Also, not sure about the whole "it was sold out" thing. I was able to buy 2 tickets for me and my friend at the front desk downstairs. This was after doors opened and before the show started. If that all means sold out well then yes it was sold out.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 10:41 AM

Billy Ocean>Frank Ocean

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 10:50 AM

What the hell am I watching here. This shit is straight up Karaoke.
At least have a band to back you up to play this top 40 bullshit.

Posted by Confused Person | November 30, 2011 10:52 AM

@1041 I was one of the above people. I think anyone who even tries to compare Tyler with Frank is an idiot. Apples and oranges.

Great show. Great new material, great performances of the mixtape tracks. I don't know what else you would have wanted from a Frank Ocean performance.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 10:53 AM

the gods must be crazy part 3

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 10:53 AM

Nope sorry 10:53 #1 far from a great show.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 10:56 AM

I also thought it was really good. I hadn't heard any of his songs, to tell you the truth. Just went to see what was what. He had my attention for the whole performance, never checked the time or anything.

Any guy who can actually pull-off a show that is just him, standing alone, with a microphone, has skills. Dude has tons of talent. It was undeniable.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 10:58 AM

LOL people will go see anything

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 11:06 AM

Liked the show, different than most of the stuff I typically see/listen to. He's got a great voice, sounded real good live.

Posted by Tremags | November 30, 2011 11:20 AM

11:20 agreed

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 11:25 AM

Can someone explain why people are hating on Frank Ocean? What about this show did you not like? What about him as an artist do you not like?

As far as I can tell, he's undeniably talented.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 11:26 AM

Did he play Loverboy, Carribean Queen and his greatest song ever, When the Goin' Gets Tough?

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 11:27 AM

Hey Hey You You
Get Into My Car

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 11:31 AM

11:32/11:31 we get it. they're black and have the same last name.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 11:39 AM

Oh, I see how it is now .... white boy gotta bring race into it .... well, fuck ya 11:39. The connection is that the have the same last name and they both suck. Time to consult your PC guidebook on sucking I think.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 11:42 AM

can't imagine anywhere I'd rather NOT be then at bb last night

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 11:59 AM

He's a decent singer, but this sounds like a very boring live show. So slapping on a Guitar Hero controller is what makes modern R&B relevant these days? Right. Go to a Maxwell or Jill Scott show if you want quality live examples for R&B.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 12:00 PM

For maximum R&B, see The Who

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 1:08 PM

Frank Ocean - as good as Drive Like Jehu Live.

Billy Ocean = Frank Ocean

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 1:41 PM

Someone please out the rhythm and blues back in R&B.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 1:43 PM

yeah, out the rhythm and blues

all our prays

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 2:07 PM

1:41 - What? How DARE you... on both counts!

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 2:25 PM

Frank Sinatra > Frank Ocean
Tribe > Sabra

Both are factual.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 2:32 PM

I am mos def in the camp on #1, but #2 is pure B.S. Sabra rocks Tribe's doors off, son!

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 2:50 PM

If you look closely at sabra's ingredients, you will notice it contains "potassium sorbate" whereas tribe is an all natural creation... Which in my opinion gives it a slight advantage over sabra.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 3:04 PM

I'm going purely by taste. No comparison in taste IMHO.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 3:16 PM

I prefer Sabra's creamy consistency over Tribe's dryness.
However, I think the Ceder's brand is actually better then both.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 3:23 PM

All this chat about chickpea mashes is making me hungry. I'm heading down to the local bodega and gonna grab a few 16oz containers now.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 3:27 PM

Caribbean queen, now we're sharing the same dream. And our hearts they beat as one. No more love on the run.

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 4:01 PM

show smelled like farts

Posted by Anonymous | November 30, 2011 6:51 PM

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