Here at Outernet, London
“This album is about my fucked up family; it’s not about love or hate, it’s about the whole thing.”
Standing tall above his devoted disciples, preaching words of deliverance and love, the monolithic Kenny Beats conducted a contagiously feel-good sermon in London.
For those clutching against the railings in the standing pit, Beats must have seemed as an ordained preacher, a figure so dizzyingly tall from his pulpit bearing a multitude of pop-verified tracks over recent decades. Whilst the railings imminently broke within the first track, the venue was perfect for Beats’ show - a ubiquitous lighting rig, an equally monolithic backdrop screen projecting a myriad of swirling scenic imagery, and a 360-degrees audience arrangement reminiscent of a large-scale Boiler Room set.
Along with an unmistakably young demographic for tonight, the crowd reveled in this worldwide producer whose second home materialised to this location. A reciprocated adoration also went unmissed, for Beats made clear his enthusiasm for collaborating with artists from London - showcasing his knack (which has undoubtedly taken him this far) for being a part of the current Zeitgeist, producing with all walks of life (from Ed Sheeran to JPEGMafia) striding to situate themselves ahead of the curve.
Aside from his versatile taste, Beats’ segues and track mixing bore an effortless impeccability, barely pausing for breath except for the occasional safety check with those crucified against the front row barrier. And within his strictly hour-long set, it’s mind-boggling to think of the number of crowd-favoured bangers crammed together: Kendrick & Ye; The Prodigy & Daft Punk; Snoop Dogg & DMX; Missy Elliott & Drake; PinkPantheress & Baby Keem - just to mention a handful.
Perhaps it was the regimented hour slot tied to his performance which provided the ultimate hindrance to Beats’ legacy tonight - curtailing the lone track performed from his recently acclaimed debut LP, Louie. As Beats was quickly ushered away at breakneck speed to the despair of his adoring fans, it was hard to not feel some sort of despair as the real connection with his audience prematurely withered away.
For an inspiringly shared experience with Kenny Beats, preaching a celebration of loved ones, the opportunity to effectively tie the knot with the audience went amiss. Perhaps the expectation of a longer set or more tracks from Louie or even more onstage guests, the mastered producer failed to solidify his status tonight as one of the true modern greats. Ultimately, the deified producer's fire and brimstone set came tantalisingly close to galvanising his desperate throng of disciples.
8/10
Kenny Beats' debut LP, Louie, is out now via XL Recordings and can be found below.
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