Lowdown Hudson Music Fest 2017: Common
Disclaimer: Excuse the lack of footage as I was trying to enjoy the little that I was able to see.
What is a summer season in New York City without free music festivals? So of course there are tons of free music events going on within the five boroughs. One of the many happen to be the 2017 ‘Lowdown Hudson Music Fest’ taking place on the grounds of Brookfield Place. Brookfield Place is an upscale office complex that offers a shopping mall experience downtown, in the FiDi (the Financial District). This year’s festival is two nights of music fun with Common, Lion Babe, OK Go and Flint Eastwood.
Unfortunately for me, I missed Lion Babe’s performance. I was only able to catch the last half of Common’s set. I left work after eight o’clock and jetted downtown to the festival. Truth be told, I am not a huge Common fan. I am very familiar with him and his art but I never really dove into his music. Well there was that brief moment in 2008 when I could not stop listening to his ‘Universal Mind Control’ album.
He delivered his most well known songs from his catalog including “Go!,” “The People,” “I Want You,” “Testify,” “Ghetto Dreams” amongst others. He also paid homage to many Hip-Hop greats of the past during a DJ mash-up. For what I experienced I thoroughly enjoyed it. I grabbed a Stella, threw it back and enjoyed the sounds of Common.
The “festival” only lasts two nights. Tonight was more of the “urban” flavor as tomorrow’s performers will be Flint Eastwood opening for OK Go.