If you haven’t heard of PartyNextDoor (AKA PND), you’re behind. Signed to Drake’s OVO label, PND first came out with his self titled project in 2013. His sexual ballads with a hip hop sound blew up so quick there didn’t seem to be a time where PND was not poppin. After his first self-titled project (which I argue is his version of a classic “House of Balloons” album) he came out this year with PARTYNEXTDOOR TWO. Not as good as his first, but still releasing some dope singles in between the albums such as “Persian Rugs” and “West District,” Los Angeles enthusiastically showed out at The Roxy Theatre November 22nd.
Supposedly beginning at midnight, the fans (a few I met had been waiting since 12PM that day) were not let into the theatre until 12:15AM. After filing into the tiny theatre, the audience began to get rowdy. It became obvious how unnatural it is for humans to stand and wait in such close proximity when a trail of groupies pushed to the front to stand by fans who had been waiting since the afternoon. One girl who had been waiting for a while chanted, “I”VE BEEN WAITING FOR PARTY AND I DESERVE TO PARTY!”
Luckily, the curtains raised at 1:15AM to reveal a suede couch with fantastical small lights hanging from the ceiling giving a romantic illusion that you had just entered the den of a young bachelor.
As soon as PND came out, it became clear that Los Angeles was more a fan of his image than his music. He sang over his own pre-recorded voice, and let the audience sing full verses at times. Besides my personal disappointment in his sound live, the energy of the room was on fire. Everyone was pushing to be touched, looked at, or somewhat acknowledged by Party. Every song he played was a crowd favorite, and everyone (including myself) knew every word. Even Drake made a guest appearance at the end of the show, giving the audience a small speech about how much he fucks with PND as an artist and *awe* as a friend. With both of them on stage in such a small venue it was dope to see them so up close (because let’s be real it’s hard to imagine Drake existing within more than a meme). And then, it ended. After 45 minutes.
All photos shot by Anaka Morris
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