Swet Shop Boys packed Webster Hall, previewed RSD EP (pics, review)
Ahead of their slot at Coachella, the Swet Shop Boys, Himanshu Suri (formerly of Das Racist), Rizwan Ahmed (who is also an actor) and producer Redinho, dropped into Webster Hall for a sold out show. The night featured Queens-based rapper Anik Khan, DonMonique and Mixpak’s Jubilee and Dre Skull DJing b2b to open up the night. Though Khan was slotted pretty early, a 7:30 start with the headliners supposedly at 10 pm, a lot of people had turned up for the local rapper and his powerful, but brief set really got the crowd moving. Unfortunately an issue with the venue’s sound system followed and the hall was left in silence for nearly 15 minutes as the crew worked to get the audio going so Donmonique could perform a short set of her own.
Around 10 pm, Swet Shop Boys took the stage to applause from a rapturous crowd. Heems gave shoutouts to his hometown audience (he too is from Queens). Not to be outdone, Ahmed earned equal applause when he asked if Wembley (in England) was in the house. The group opened with “Zayn Malik” and moved swiftly through a couple of songs off their debut LP, slowing down a bit at one point to allow Ahmed to put his shoes back on (he was mimicking TSA style security). The group also gave the audience a taste of the new EP, Sufi La, that they’re releasing on Record Store Day, as well as a solo, political rhyme from Ahmed. They wrapped up with crowd favorite “T5” which they restarted quickly so they could get the audience in on the “Inshallah… martial law” chant. The enthusiasm made them restart it again but third time was the charm as the crowd leapt in the air and shouted along with the band.
Above, check out photos from their show at Webster Hall and below, you’ll find a performance with short interview for The New York Times, the setlist plus a list of remaining tour dates.
This weekend, they’ll be at Coachella (Swet Shop Boys are in our guide to hip hop at Coachella and our Coachella guide for movie & TV fans), and they’ll be part of a conversation at USC after that.
Swet Shop Boys setlist:
Zayn Malik
Shottin’
No Fly List
Shoes Off
Tiger Hologram
Phone Tap
Half Mohgul Half Mowgli
Soup Boys
Sufi La
Need Moor
Aaja
Sour Times
[encore break]
Zombie
Thas My Girl
Benny Lava / Batalvi Medley
Din-e-iLahi
T5
Swet Shop Boys 2017 Tour Dates:
4/15 Coachella Indio, CA
4/17 USC, L.A., CA (Art & Identity Discussion)
4/20 Echoplex, L.A., CA
4/22 Coachella Indio, CA
5/31-6/4 Primavera Sound Fest Barcelona, Spain
6/1 Scala London, England
6/2 Berlin, Germany
8/4-8/6 – Osheaga, Montreal, Canada
