Jun 20

Jun 20 Review: Anno XI at Eulogy

The decision to move Burial Beer Co.’s Anno XI celebration from Forestry Camp to the indoors/outdoors location combination of Eulogy and the new VISUALS rooftop bar proved a prescient one.

With June 15 winding up being the hottest day of the year so far, the prospect of baking in the sun for seven hours grew increasingly unappealing. But in the air-conditioned confines of the South Slope venue, the strong lineup of forward-thinking music — sadly sans rapper Domo Genesis, who had to drop off the bill — made for time well spent.

Thom Nguyen & Adam Lion

Irreversible Entanglements was originally scheduled to go on first, but vocalist Camae Ayewa had been delayed by travel issues, so local improvisers Thom Nguyen and Adam Lion stepped in last-second to kick things off. Nguyen’s energetic percussion and the peaceful minimalist marimba playing of Lion were a thoroughly engaging combination that made for an excellent tablesetter for the afternoon.

Liberation Technology

With their vocalist still in transit, Irreversible Entanglements members Tcheser Holmes (drums), Keir Neuringer (saxophone), and Luke Stewart (bass) stepped into the second slot originally planned for Domo Genesis, performing under the moniker Liberation Technology. It had already been announced that Irreversible Entanglements would follow clipping.’s headline spot, so the jazz trio’s set was an unexpected bonus.

It really was quite the treat to witness the three immensely skilled musicians in the zone, and the crowd appeared to agree. It’s never clear how receptive an audience will be to a free jazz set, but it’s hard to imagine not being blown away by the trio’s mastery of their craft. It also heightened my own anticipation for Irreversible Entanglements’ performance.

MAVI

Prior to the day, MAVI was the only artist on the bill that was completely off of my radar. It didn’t take long to realize that I was an exception to the rule, as the Charlotte-based rapper had fans singing along to every word from the moment he grabbed the mic. Getting caught up in the intoxicating energy of the young MC, the vibe of the room shifted towards a more celebratory atmosphere. MAVI was fully engaged with the crowd, enticing dancing and hand-waving as he unraveled thoughtful verses. I’m a late convert, but it’s clear that MAVI is a name on the rise.

Yaya Bey

Speaking of artists that won’t remain under the radar much longer, Yaya Bey delighted those in attendance with a glorious set of funky R&B. Backed by a rock-solid trio on bass, drums, and keyboard, the Brooklyn-based singer primarily performed tunes from her excellent new album, Ten Fold, culminating with “iloveyoufrankiebeverly,” her ode to Philly soul legend Frankie Beverly of Maze.

clipping.

Although the lineup was loaded with capable headliners, there was no question that clipping. was the biggest draw of the afternoon. Preceded by a brief celebratory introduction by Burial’s co-founders, which included a mention of the brewery’s collaboration with the group on a special beer, the room really filled up as the experimental hip-hop trio led by Tony-winning Hamilton star Daveed Diggs prepared to launch into their set.

The crowd included a bunch of small children gathered around the front of the stage. Their parents may now be regretting that decision, considering just how confrontationally loud the noisy group got at moments. Paired with the power electronics of William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes, the rapid-fire flow of the verbose MC proved even more impressive in person than on record. Performances of “Club Down” and “Body for the Pile” were especially intense.

Irreversible Entanglements

As soon as clipping.’s set concluded, Eulogy pretty much emptied out with most showgoers heading either to the roof or the streets. But the few dozen people who remained in attendance were rewarded with an exceptional set by Irreversible Entanglements. Although three of its members had already performed earlier in the day, there was an entirely different energy with Camae Ayewa, aka Moor Mother, joining Holmes, Neuringer, and Luke Stewart.

A theme of Black liberation had been present throughout the festival, but it really culminated with Ayewa’s compelling poetic spoken word vocalizations. From her solo records to collaborations with artists like Billy Woods and Irreversible Entanglements, Moor Mother has been one of the most evocative artists of recent memory, so it’s a shame that so many people exited early, but I’m grateful that she made it to Eulogy in time to perform.