House of Vans Brooklyn closes shop this September, finishing its eight-year run in Greenpoint. Last night, Queens native and rap’s answer to Guy Fieri Action Bronson kicked off the venue’s final summer House Parties season. The Fuck, That’s Delicious star brought rap duo B.A.G (comprised of SF’s Blimes and Seattle’s Gifted Gab) as well as up-and-comer Darnell Williams as openers.
Duo B.A.G opened the show, offering up punchy hooks and party anthems like their first hit collaboration, “Come Collect.” Darnell Williams then took the stage for his first Brooklyn show, energizing the crowd with his easy flow and commanding presence. He dropped hits like his Casey Veggies collab “Yung Spike Lee,” as well as Detroit delicacy inspired beat “Coney Island.” The Detroit-born rapper was the show’s standout talent, dabbing up members of the crowd and promoting East Coast pride with his 2018 single “Fuck Hollywood.”
Action Bronson came out swinging, whipping the crowd into an immediate mosh pit with the opening bars of “Actin Crazy,” the second single off of his 2015 release Mr. Wonderful. He strutted across stage with beer in hand, rapping the crystal-healing inspired lines of “Banzai” with a crystal filled dog bootie balancing on his head. Bronson electrified the crowd and carried himself with the clout of a veteran rapper on his home turf. The well-earned respect Bronson has earned was on display – the King of Queens owned the stage, plugging the new season of Delicious (out July 10) and signing copies of his bestselling cookbook for fans onstage between songs. Bronson swaggered through his Chance the Rapper backed hit “Baby Blue” as the crowd screamed along with the chorus, and later growled and yelped through an unexpected but not unwelcome cover of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes.”
Unsurprisingly, the show quickly devolved into a riotous mosh pit, as Bronson and co. launched a seemingly endless supply of neon orange and blue hoodies into the crowd, sending concert-goers into a scramble for merch set to the Gipsy Kings’ “Bamboleo.” Matt Carrillo aka “Young Mexico” of Bronson’s “The Untitled Action Bronson Show” took centerstage for a three-minute saxophone solo in the middle of the set. Bronson teased his forthcoming mixtape, White Bronco, which comes after his split from Vice records in April and handed out cans of his Stillwater Artisanal beer collaboration, Action Bronson’s 7000. Later, Bronson waded through the crowd to perform “Easy Rider” atop the venue’s half pipe. The Viceland star ended his show impeccably – the DJ blasted Pink Floyd’s “Money” while Bronson threw cheese steaks into the crowd.
-Christian Bischoff
All Photos Credit: Jonathan Mehring (IG – @mehringsbearings)/Courtesy of Grandstand Media
