Concert Review: Lando Chill Takes Us Elsewhere
When I first heard Lando Chill’s name, I kept on thinking of Lando Calrissian, of Star Wars, and the universal pastime of “Netflix And Chill.” (#imanerd) Yet, I was not far off. On one hand, Calrissian is a seeker; journeying through the universe with a wry, sly verbosity and gravitating presence. On the other, “Netflix And Chill” produces some of our riches thoughts through relaxing moments. At Elsewhere, Lando was a combo of both.
There is a professorial aura to Lando Chill that helped him when introducing new tracks from his upcoming LP, Black Ego, out on October 12. It transformed his new music into the public dissertation of a man analyzing who he is as a layered human being versus who he is according to social labels. He is a rapper, a black man, a philosopher, a weed-smoker, a family and friends guy, a relaxer, a party- lover, a historian, etc. In perspective, we all can be a million things in one, and, from “Fauna” to “Free Pack,” Lando Chill showed that, in a way, we are all like diamonds being cut and shaped by the jeweler known as Life. The problem is: will he cut us so much that we lose our value?
Once again, I know I am diving into deep waters, but Lando Chill is like a “Netflix & Chill.” You think you are going to his show to swig a beer, bounce to his bopping episodes/ songs, and, ultimately, lay into the night’s serene ambiance. Then, you realize that you are, inadvertently, watching Black Mirror. For all that you try to serene yourself into the moment and go blank in thoughts, you become invested in his verses picking at their symbols, meanings, characters, and wondering whether he is using “double entendres.” Still, from “Dah Vapor” to “Peso,” you felt relaxed into rhythms that fused everything we love about genres such as Electro, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Reggae: their beats hypnotize but their verses makes you think.
Sonically, Lando Chill chops, sides, and motions his lyrics, again, like he is aligning diamonds. He even moves his hands as if he is lining the air before him, which is what teachers do. If you ever walk into a college course or see a politician/ public speaker talking, you will notice they pose and push their voice and hands as if to frame their quotes on your mind’s wall. Lando Chill does the same. For More Information On Lando Chill Click Here.
