Eventim Apollo has been a hub for some of the greatest artists to leave a legacy throughout the decades. From The Beatles to Bob Marley, the hallowed halls of Hammersmith have left memories to the masses and have the future generation of stars mark it as a bucket list venue in terms of performing.
The latest competitor to tackle the iconic stage is Canada’s and October’s Very Own PARTYNEXTDOOR. Whilst being on away grounds, this felt like a homecoming tour for Jahron Brathwaite.
The attire of the night honoured 2024’s most talked about album cover. Not so much the seductive pose of Lanazia Greene, but in honour of her iconic French twin braids, as the female select of fans styled fashionably, notably accompanying the hairstyle with a black leather pleated skirt which many adhered to. W6 was undeniably ready for PND to unleash his index of certified hits.
With the crowd rapidly growing in its hundreds, AAA ensured a welcoming wait, warming up the feels with a selection of 90’s and early 00’s anthems reminiscent of Chucky and Tazer’s ground-breaking R&B Slow Jamz. Every song was greeted with deafening screams, and you wouldn’t be considered daft to ponder the thought of it being a re-run of Outkast’s “Hey Ya” video shoot.
As a blanket of darkness amassed the venue, what next was inevitable. An already lively crowd turned the decibels up once more as PND arrived in style, attired in an all-black leather fit as he connected with fans through the latest P4 and DMX-inspired single “Lose My Mind”. The time had come for fans to encounter an hour of relentless classics from his 11-year catalogue.
On a night where the autumn weather kicked in around the UK, summer feels were brought to the forefront, Party running through a collection of carnival-esque anthems including “For Certain”, “Loyal” and the self-written Rhianna masterpiece “Work”. The ever-present live band and a seductive quartet of lipstick-red dancers intensified the atmosphere, whilst a backdrop of vintage visuals complimented PND’s now-accustomed alluring sound, setting the mood and ambience for an impressive evening.
This was a night where PND complimented his most loyal of supporters. A tribute was fitting for those who had waved the flag since 2013, throwing it back on a Thursday night to the youthful days of Soundcloud and a fan-favourite in “Persian Rugs”, which had West London in a frenzy.
There was a sense that this was a celebration of Party’s longevity. Spinning back between each instalment of his PARTYNEXTDOOR projects gave the 3,000-plus capacity an opportunity to really embrace one of R&B’s most consistent discographies.
With an eagerly awaited joint project in the works with Drake, many started to consider the thought of a guest appearance as the show went on, but whilst the 6ix God did not appear, disappointment turned to elation as PND covered star-studded hits in “Controlla” and “Over Here”.
As the curtains closed on an eventful evening, every PARTYNEXTDOOR enthusiast could say they got to hear their favourite PND track. The mission was complete for Jahron Brathwaite who stamped himself as the next member of the legacy club at Eventim Apollo.