Photos taken by Vickey Ford of Sneakshot for Okayplayer.
If you hadn’t heard, the hardest working band in the world — The Roots — were taking their brand of Illadelph funk to our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., for a quick holiday tour. Okayplayer, of course, was on-hand as our trooping photographer, Vickey Ford, snapped all the best shots during the lengthy performance.
Opening up the show with special guest DJ Kool was D.C. own legendary crew, Rare Essence. As one of the forefathers of Go-Go, Rare Essence came ready to lay down the grooves. Armed with a 10-piece band, they took the audience back to the days of “The Black Hole,” an infamous go-go nightclub, and performed fan favorites such as “Overnight Scenario,” “Body Moves” and “Turn It Up”. There was one point during the show when Frank Knuckles and Questlove snuck out from backstage to join the band in performing with the former hopping on the congas and the latter playing the cowbell.
You can never have enough cowbell.
By the time Philly’s finest (and future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees) hit the stage, it was announced that they had sold out the venue for the fifth time in a row. In the crowd were those who were longtime fans, newbies (young and old, like 65+) and those who just “came to see The Tonight Show band.”
For longtime Roots Crew fans, the holiday jaunt was exciting and interesting as the hardest working band in show business was packed to the teeth with new faces. From Tuba Gooding Jr. (Sousaphone / Tuba) to Mark Kelly (Bassist) — The Roots have grown and diversified from their original 1987 incarnation. Now working arenas and venues like a new age Grateful Dead, The Roots paid tribute to those who just passed on (“Careless Whisper,” “Everything She Wants,” George Michael) and, of course, honored the life + legacy of Prince (“Let’s Go Crazy”).
One of the many highlights of the show was Captain Kirk Douglas‘ solo, where he sang “Careless Whisper,” The Weeknd‘s “Starboy” and Sade‘s “Sweetest Taboo” before transitioning into his rendition of Guns ‘N Roses, “Sweet Child o’ Mine”. All in all, it was a memorable experience and another showcasing as to why The Roots are one of the greatest bands of all time.
Below, check out the setlist and thumb through the gallery to see other highlights above. Lastly, don’t forget to cop The Roots & John Legend‘s Wake Up! vinyl reissue by clicking here.
Intro
Me & Baby Brother
I know You Got Soul
Break You Off (Tuba Solo)
The Fire
Game Theory
Star
I Don’t Care
Sections
Clones
What They Do
Love of My Life
Proceed
Next Movement
Without A Doubt
Get Busy
(Jeremy Solo)
You Got Me
The Seed/ Move on Up / Apache
Men @ Work
* Notes by Vickey Ford of Sneakshot for Okayplayer.
The post Rockin’ Around D.C. With The Roots On Their Holiday Run [Recap + Gallery] appeared first on Okayplayer.
