Unofficial Site About N.E.R.D.: N*E*R*D - Rogers Arena

2010/11/05

NER*D - Rogers Arena - Vancouver, BC

N.E.R.D. started the night off with Pharrell, Shay and Chad in front of a live band – including no less than two drummers – as well as a couple of vivacious dancers. “I Wanna Jam” was an appropriate opening track, followed by a few others from the new album Nothing. The new album – called Nothing because apparently the band had to wipe out the recordings and start from scratch on it – is a danceable blend of new sounds and familiar Neptunes styles which any N.E.R.D fan can get into. “God Bless Us All” slowed things down a little as Pharrell dedicated the sentimental track to “every human being that’s gone through something,” and noted the problem with bullying in schools.
In fact, Pharrell talked about quite a few poignant and pressing issues: the man and consumerism, the celebration of individuality, the collective self-esteem…and of course women came up in the course of things as well. “She Want to Move” is an older track from Fly or Die, and definitely one of the band’s more popular classics: this led well into the new single “Hypnotize U,” a sexy Daft Punk collab that was recorded at George Harrison’s studio in London. The Nelly Furtdao collab “Hot n Fun” made its appearance, followed by a revisit of In Search Of…, N.E.R.D’s first album. “Rock Star” led into “Lapdance,” which broke down and sprawled out across Pharrell’s ironic lesson as he commanded the crowd to jump together in support of individuality.