The Tempest

Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: Entertainment

The Beastie Boys arrive at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards in Miami Beach, Florida.

The smell of marijuana filled the air at the Greek T, heatre in Berkeley and the stage was set for a night of hip hop.

Bay area DJ Peanut Butter Wolf was introduced by MCA, and opened with his unique style of mixing classic rock with hip hop rarities. The sound was quite low when he started to play, which prompted one fan to yell...
"Turn it up! Turn it the f--- up!"

"Enter Sandman" and "Whole Lotta Love" both got strong responses from the crowd. Peanut Butter Wolf closed with a variety of reggae mixes and a rare Beastie Boys track called "Country Delight."

Mix Master Mike prepped the audience with about three to five minutes of loud, rocking mixes; including beats from the Kill Bill soundtrack. Even though Mix Master Mike's intro was more or less the same three years ago in Worcester, Mass., it's still a treat to see one of hip-hop's most talented DJ's do what he does best.

The Beastie Boys haven't forgotten where they come from. This was clear with their opening songs, "Time For Living" and "Gratitude," punk and hardcore classics that got the crowd into it from the moment they hit the stage. Although the set list was missing some tracks from their new album "The Mix Up," such as the single "Off The Grid," the show consisted of enough solid songs from multiple era's to please most of the crowd. "Sure Shot", "Root Down," "No Sleep Till Brooklyn," "Paul Revere" and "Ch-Check It Out" all got the crowds approval.

As the show progressed, the cloud of marijuana over the floor section grew, which prompted Ad-Rock to give his approval to the crowd. He stepped up to the microphone in between songs and started to say "Inhale…." A cloud of smoke floated into his face, he produced a giant grin, then said "exhale."

Being on the floor so close to hip-hop legends was amazing, even if the stage at the Greek Theatre is about six feet high. Being about ten rows back didn't put too much strain on the neck, and it was the perfect distance from the mosh pit-which got the heaviest use during "Tough Guy," "Air raid on Mojo," and "Sabotage."

There were many shout-outs to the Bay Area throughout the night that got some of the loudest cheers from the proud local audience. Ad-Rock proposed a toast to the whole Bay Area after coming out for an encore. With a glass of champagne in hand, the band directed the audience to make enough noise for the whole Bay Area to hear them. The response was indeed enough to satisfy the Beastie Boys as they went into "Intergalactic," "No Sleep Till Brooklyn," and "Sabotage."

The show was enough to satisfy any die hard or casual radio fan, and considering it was their last U.S. show before heading to Europe for a string of shows, it was more than enough to satisfy me.

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