From teenage girls with braces to Wall Street suits, old men, and testosterone-filled tough guys, everyone came to see Big Wax spit at the Mercury Lounge on Wednesday night.
It was a ridiculous scene as purple braces and pigtails stood shoulder to shoulder with XL t-shirts and tattooed drunks. The only element of continuity among the crowd was that each demographic resembled coeds on spring break.
It’s an appropriate theme since most of Wax’s lyrical content centers around getting high and drinking Bud Light. Or Tecate. Or Coors. (Wax opted for a Tecate can on stage Wednesday.)
There was so much energy pent up inside the cozy little venue that the performance started before Wax ever made it to the stage. The opening DJ roused a group of twenty-somethings into a dancing frenzy. Photographers around the area mounted the stage for a birds-eye-view photo shoot of the raucous action. From that point on, plastic cups littered the floor and spilled beer coated the audience.
Wax performed “Dispensary Girl†seated on stage with his acoustic guitar like an open mic as he cracked jokes between songs. His personable nature and charismatic attitude was thick unmistakable. Wax reached out and shook all the out stretched hands in the crowd. At some points he balanced one foot on the monitor and leaned over the stage to give everybody love.
He kept the acoustic Taylor around his neck and stood up to play “Two Wheels,†backed by a full band, which included his partner and fellow emcee Herbal T on bass, an electric guitarist, drummer and two back-up singers. Herbal T received a welcome so massive that it appeared as if he had his own cult following.
Before Wax sought out a solo career he played guitar and sang for a six-piece band, MacGregor.
Wax is currently on tour to promote his “Scrublife†mixtape, which is littered with drugs and alcohol references that will keep a frat-party alive all night long. The youtube video, “New Crack,†which, he boasts on the track’s intro on “Scrublife,†now has over one million views, spurred major labels to take notice of the new star and made Wax a worldwide phenomenon. The song was rerecorded was rerecorded and now appears on the mixtape.
After Wax’s performance the audience called him back to the stage for one more, whereby the new-jack rapper performed the “New Crack†encore.
The most impressive moment of the show was when Wax and Herbal T put down their instruments and rapped a cappella for an incredible length of time. Wax illustrated his speed rapper skills and kept the rhythm as he changed up his style throughout the song. Herbal T’s flow was just as notable, especially his natural ability to work the crowd. Even when on bass, Herbal T is able to perform as a hype man.
“Scrublife†is available online for free at Wax’s website (Waxdotcom.com). If the crowd on Wednesday was any indication, if you’re 420 friendly and in favor of a beerpong game, the mixtape is probably for you.
Photos by Ryan Sit
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