Omar Apollo: Live from Paisley Park
Delivering a stunning live performance, Omar Apollo finds himself in Prince's iconic estate Paisley Park. The livestream incorporates behind the scenes footage from Apollo’s visit, and the exclusive live premiere of "Apolonio.” KXSC DJ Ana Cruz reviews the streamed performance.
Delivering a stunning live performance, rising newcomer Omar Apollo found himself in Prince's iconic Paisley Park in Minneapolis this past Tuesday.
The genre-flouting artist performed an hour set in front of a reduced crowd, a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. With the implementation of numerous health and safety protocols, the venue was able to provide a cautious worthwhile experience for attendees.
A day after the performance, the concert documentary debuted with partner Moment House, a creative platform founded by USC alumni. The platform describes itself, “as the simplest way for artists to create special, ticketed experiences for their fans.”
The live stream hosted a “pre-show” of sorts which highlighted the recording and rehearsal process at the illustrious facilities. The video collection emphasized the influence Prince’s artistry had on Apollo’s musical development.
The concert then kicked off with “I’m Amazing,” the first track off of recent album release “Apolonio.” Quickly followed by crowd-favorites “Ashamed” and “Kickback,” the Indiana artist never missed a beat.
Donning a combination of a dreamy purple velvet suit and platform white boots, Apollo demanded attention. The eclectic wardrobe and glitter-scarf draped microphone stand mark a new era for the Mexican-American artist.
Recent singles “Kamikaze” and “Stayback” were exciting to witness, as it was unsure when fans were going to be able to experience the live version of the tracks. And the support of lead guitarist Oscar Emilio, drummer Jackson Shanks, and bassist Kram Bass boosted the tracks with their intricate solos and dynamic add-ons.
Strobing neon yellow and purple lights beams traveled beyond the stage and into the masked audience. Even with guidelines in place, it was clear that not even a pandemic could halt the energy in the concert venue.
And the constraints of the virtual medium did not dull the concert experience. The various camera shots and high-production curated an all-encompassing perspective for the at-home audience.
As a tribute to the legendary Prince, Apollo incorporated a few of his favorite songs into his set. The earnest renditions of “I Wanna Be Your Lover” and the brief “Crazy You” placed Apollo’s progress in perspective. With Prince's iconic symbol hanging overhead kept both Apollo and the at-home audience aware of the venue’s significance.
Apollo’s high-powered performance shined on "Ignorin," a loaded track with fast-paced call outs and intense delivery. “Where my Latinos at?” asked Apollo before breaking out into his signature head-turning dance moves alongside the now bossa nova hype track.
With funky layered instrumental, the live extensions of tracks like "Hey Boy" expanded it well beyond the recording. And the placement in the setlist allowed it to shine as it sat between heavy hitters.
The modern corrido “Dos Uno Nueve (219)”, a track titled after Apollo’s Indiana area code, was brought to life with the plucky guitar strums and heavy bass from the band. As a result, Apollo was able to engage with the audience with strong rhythmic lyrics.
Apollo closed the set with the electrifying track “Hijo de Su Madre,” which consistently delivers a mind-blowing ending to his shows. And this was no exception.
A slow camera zoom out revealed the scattered crowd and confetti galore. Marking the end of the livestream, a black screen with the white text read: “The Moment has passed.”
“Apolonio” is now available on all streaming platforms under exclusive license to Warner Records.