Photos from yesterday's Rock the Bells at Merriweather Post Pavilion
Rock the Bells, the annual star-studded hip-hop festival tour, came to Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia yesterday.
Baltimore Sun photographer Shantel Mitchell was there to capture the action, from Nas to Big Boi (who I interviewed last week) to the Roots (pictured).
Here's a link to more photos from the show.
I wasn't able to make it to Merriweather to review the concert, but if you were there and you want to tell us how it went, go for it.
(Baltimore Sun photo by Shantel Mitchell)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
The concert was dope overall. I wish some of the bigger acts had more time. A couple of the acts (Big Boi specifically) seemed to rush through their acts.
I didnt get a chance to see most of the artists on the 2nd stage unfortunately. I didnt know there was a second stage until halfway through the show. I felt they could have kept it to one stage and put some of the headliners of the B stage on first at the main stage.
The crowd was dope. As much as people talk about how bad rap is I wish I could show them the crowd at the concert last night. All races, cultures and ages all getting along to listen to some good music.
The concert wasnt as packed as it was last year though, that could have been an effect of the recession. The field was pretty packed but a lot of the seats under the pavillion on the sides were entirely empty.
Overall a great show. Busta, Common and The Roots put on great performances as usual.
Posted by: bcplanning | July 13, 2009 4:01 PM
a lot of ppl think rap is dope for dopes & kids & not really music
Posted by: karlosi | July 13, 2009 7:52 PM
RTB was amazing. There is no equivalent to the quality and number of shows you get to see. I couldn't believe they had rza and reakwon on the 2nd stage but they owned the crowd anyway. Great performances by all in a peaceful setting. A testiment to real hiphop and I was blessed to be there.
Posted by: Chuck | July 14, 2009 9:49 AM
Just posted a full review here:
http://www.bmoremusic.net/2009/07/review-rock-bells-2009.html
Posted by: Brett | July 15, 2009 9:34 AM