My cousin, Donovan who is THE Kanye stan, saw the opportunity to be blessed by Yeezus and went for it. I was lucky enough to be partner-in-crime. This Monday, October 17th, will mark a full week since the Saint Pablo tour (about a week ago).
We bought our tickets around a good two months in advance, enough time for me to almost forget about it. The smartest decision we made was getting an actual seat in the arena than rather suffering the combination of weed, liquor, and adolescent teens under the influence of possibly both in the general admission. Fortunately, the show wasn’t cancelled or postponed due to his wife dealing with the aftermath of being robbed in Paris.
The car ride from Omaha, NE to Saint Paul, MN is approximately 5 hours and 30ish minutes. We officially left a little before noon and got at the Xcel Energy Center around 6:30ish. Our parking spot ticket saved us so much time. Unlike the Quest, now known as the CenturyLink Center there was multiple lines so getting in line and through the line wasn't as ridiculous as I experienced before.
We went in line and got merch first, which was surprisingly not expensive. Don't get me wrong, it can get VERY expensive but I was satisfied with my $40 t-shirt.
My stan of a cousin on other hand, actually kept control and didn't blow all his money. But he ended up with a hat and a long sleeve.
Now let's get into the show.
We got into our seats and the people in our row were very cordial. But for some reason, when it comes to concerts, I somehow get surrounded with annoying teens under the influence or overly obnoxious adults with no filter. Now both of our phones were in a crisis, my iPhone died and my car charger wasn't feeling the Apple brand. My cousin's Android was able to get some juice but not enough for a concert. Running on 30%, we're anticipating the arrival of Yeezy while stuffing our faces with overpriced hot dogs and soft drinks.
It's 8:30, the doors open at 7 and the show is supose to start at 8. Constantly checking the time is further draining the only working phone we have. And, again, it's 9:15. WHERE ARE YOU YEEZY?!
I'm starting to catch an attitude because this waiting game could be my small nap time, re-energizing myself for the main event.
......"if Young Metro don't trust you I'mma...... *pow!* *pow!* *lights!* *lights!*
The intro of Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1 starts to play and while my attitude is fading, I'm still getting my life.
The stage is slanted and he is constantly gliding across the entire crowd of the general admission. The special effects that are only able to be seen from the TV's around the arena. Of course the man of the night went through the album of The Life of Pablo and Yeezus. But I was very shocked that he went further back in his catalog and performed some Kanye classics. Classics such as, Touch the Sky, (which the crowd went insane on. He stopped the track and replayed it again since he was too surprise of craziness.) Jesus Walks, Good Life, All of the Lights, Heartless, and plenty more that can't cross my mind at the moment. I WAS GETTING MY LIFE Y'ALL!
The only part that gave me the heebie-jeebies was towards the end of the show, his last song was Ultralight Beam. He had a light on himself and also a light underneath him which was on the crowd. Ultralight Beam has a gospel vibes, especially if you have been in a black church, and seeing the light shinning on him and the crowd having their hands in the hair as if they're praising to Kanye was kinda creepy. What made it worse is that he is gliding across the crowd so it gives off the appearance of himself being Jesus and walking on water. People around me are screaming, "praise Yeezus!" and jumping up and down as if they're being blessed in a church which seems blasphemy in my eyes. And in typical awkward Kanye fashion immediately when the song was over, he ran off his stage and onto backstage and that's all folks!
All the time driving and waiting for only an hour and a half or possibly a two hour show.
I was expecting a Beyonce level of greatness when it came to the concert. I wanted him to perform for at least three hours, (he has enough catalog material of work) have stage props, the whole nine. But when it comes to Yeezy, what you get, is what you get.
He is still one hell of a performer, and it was one hell of a show. I would pay to see him again.
