The Internet at Funk N Waffles

The Internet plays sold-out show at Funk ‘N Waffles downtown

OFWGKTA band The Internet played its first Syracuse show to a packed house at Funk 'N Waffles downtown, and the group has hopes to return.

At 7:15 Sunday night, The crowd bum-rushed the 250-person venue of Funk ‘N Waffles in downtown Syracuse. Some concert-goers had been waiting as early as 5 p.m. to get a quality view at The Internet's Sept. 27 show, which is a part of its Ego Death tour.

“I missed them in Manhattan because I went to see Jonny Craig,” said Yvette McCloud, a Verizon T-1 tech coming all the way from the Bronx, New York, who was among the early arrivals. “They were playing across town [the same night].”

Felicia Bennett, a bandier program senior and intern for Creative Concerts, the company responsible for putting on the show, sees attending the concert as another hands-on experience during her internship.

“I met the band when they came in and they’re really, really cool,” Bennett said. “I watched them set up and helped them unload all of their instruments.” Having only listened to the band once, Bennett still expects an exciting show. “Their vibe is great; everyone should be vibing on a Sunday.”

Wondaland Records’ latest find, St. Beauty, a soulful rock duo comprised of Alex Belle and Isis Valentino, headlined the show, swaying the crowd with a four-song set, including the pair's first single, “Going Nowhere,” and a passionate cover of “Twice,” by Little Dragon. Only on their second tour, the two said they feel that The Internet is an excellent match for their sound. “We have the same spirit,” says Valentino. “It’s all about how the music makes you feel.”

Jazz-soul trio Moonchild followed with dreamy vocals accompanied by mature saxophones from all members. Amber Navran, lead vocalist of Moonchild offered up a punchy cover of Erykah Badu’s “Bag Lady,” rivaling that of the original, along with a five-song set list.

The crowd later sang along to Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright,” to which the main act, The Internet, entered the stage. The group consists of five members, Matt Martians and Jameel Bruner on keyboard, Midtown Pat on bass guitar, Christopher Smith on drums, and Syd Tha Kyd, of OFWGKTA fame, as lead vocals. The hip-hop soul fivesome engaged the crowd with an 18-song setlist, including a number of hits from their latest album "Ego Death" such as “Special Affair,” “Girl,” and “Get Away,” along with a fun cover of Usher’s “U Don’t Have to Call.”

“We’ve been doing a lot of new stuff because we’ve been realizing that the fans at these shows know more of the new stuff,” Syd said. “But we try to throw in a song from each album. We had to cut a few old songs because we noticed that the fans weren’t really excited about them.”

This was the band’s first show in Syracuse. Syd Tha Kyd said he enjoyed the experience and hopes to return to the city sometime in the future.

“College towns are always good for shows,” Syd said. “Gotta do it at some point.”

The band’s next stop is Buffalo, New York on Sept. 29 at Waiting Room, and it plans to end the tour Nov. 5 in San Diego, California.

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