Action Bronson Rocks State Theatre: Memorable 2023 Performance in Portland
July 22, 2023 - Seeing Action Bronson at the State Theatre in Portland, Maine, was one of my highlights of my year. It's rare to witness great rap/hip-hop acts in town, so when one of the best shows up, it's a can't-miss event.
It had been about 10 years since I last saw Dr. Bachlava at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, MA. The previous show was entirely different, with a DJ backing, a much smaller music catalog, and him throwing TVs and other “life essentials” into the crowd.
When I first caught a glimpse of his residency in New York, I noticed that Action sounded different; he was playing with a live band, and that band suited his sound and energy perfectly. Seeing that, I knew I had to attend one of these shows. At first, I was ready to take a flight to NYC to catch a show, but then a short tour was announced, and Portland was on the list, making it a win-win situation for me.
This was my first show at the State Theatre, and personally, it was the perfect setting for Bronson. A smaller venue where you could feel the energy and electricity running through the place, along with the free-flowing beer, spirits, and cheese pizza at the bar. The sound hit differently throughout the night and made the Human Growth Hormone Band resonate throughout.
From the moment BamBam came out, his stage presence was electrifying, to say the least. He brought the energy to light up the place, starting the show with Dmitri from one of his most recent EPs, Lamb's Over Rice; the place was fully dialed in. Then moving into bangers like Baby Blue off of Mr. Wonderful, Latin Grammy's off of Only For Dolphins, and closing out the show with the legendary Easy Rider off of Mr. Wonderful, a song that, I might add, was reinvented for this new sound with a killer guitar solo. The crowd sang along, became talented dancers like Bronson, and soaked in every moment of the show.
What made this show different was the talented group of musicians that extended Bronson's already fantastic sound. With an array of instruments, including guitars with some killer solos, bass, drums, keyboard, and a soulful saxophone, the combination of live instruments with his style created a dynamic and captivating performance that had everyone hooked. It felt like this was how his music was meant to be experienced – with the added depth and richness that only a live band can provide.
As a fan, I can't help but hope that he builds some future albums with this sound. Bringing in these live instrumentals with his vocals and lyricism is magic waiting to happen. I also hope he adds some of his classics from Blue Chips and Rare Chandeliers for future shows with this new sound. Those songs are gems that would undoubtedly shine with a dose of HGH.