Eminem at Citi Sound Vault at Irving Plaza
photo by Jeremy Deputat

Eminem, Childish Gambino & more played Irving Plaza before the Grammys (pics, video)

In the leadup to the 2018 Grammys, the “Citi Sound Vault” series presented intimate shows with some very popular artists at NYC’s Irving Plaza. The first show was The National (pics, setlist), who went on to win their first-ever Grammy (Best Alternative Album for Sleep Well Beast). Then came the biggest of all, Eminem, on Friday (1/26). Em is headlining tons of festivals this year, including Coachella and NYC’s Governors Ball, so this was a rare chance to see him at a place like this before he begins making those much bigger rounds. Eminem didn’t play much of his uninspired new album, but he did offer up a nice handful of classics, including “Stan,” “The Real Slim Shady,” “The Way I Am,” “Kill You,” “Criminal,” “White America,” “Without Me,” “Square Dance,” “Soldier,” “Lose Yourself,” “My Name Is,” and “Just Don’t Give A Fuck.”

The next night (1/27) was Childish Gambino, who performed at the Grammy Awards ceremony and won the award for Best Traditional R&B Performance (but lost everything else he was nominated for, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year, both of which Bruno Mars won). He stuck mostly to his latest album, Awaken, My Love!, and also did covers of Tamia’s “So Into You” and Stevie Wonder’s “Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You),” and a freestyle. He mentioned on stage that he’d be back in NYC for a proper show, and he confirmed this weekend that the next Childish Gambino album will be his last. Also, this happened:

https://twitter.com/michaelsbieber/status/957754269574287361

Pictures of Childish Gambino and Eminem are in the gallery above, and videos and their setlists are below.

The “Citi Sound Vault” series also included Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds playing a nearly-three-hour show at Irving Plaza the night of the Grammys. Happening in conjunction with the series was the Citi and Live Nation-presented The Roots Jam Session at Gramercy Theatre. That went for four nights. You can see videos from throughout the series and pics of night two HERE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW3vx9lS8gg

Eminem at Irving Plaza – 1/26/18 Setlist (via)
Band Intro
Square Dance
Won’t Back Down
3 a.m.
WTP
Kill You
White America
Mosh
Evil Deeds
Rap God
Soldier
Just Don’t Give a Fuck
Criminal
The Way I Am
Walk on Water
Stan
Love the Way You Lie
The Monster
River
My Name Is
The Real Slim Shady
Without Me
Not Afraid

Encore:
Lose Yourself

Childish Gambino at Irving Plaza – 1/27/18 Setlist (via)
Me and Your Mama (Intro only)
Have Some Love
Boogieman
Riot
III. Telegraph Ave. (“Oakland” by Lloyd)
Baby Boy
Sober
California
V. 3005
Terrified
So Into You (Tamia cover)
Redbone
Stand Tall

Encore:
Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You) (Stevie Wonder cover)
Freestyle