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The weather behaved, even if the rapper known as Logic didn’t.
“They told me I can’t cuss,” Logic told the crowd. “But (expletive) that.”
Who would’ve guessed on a night when stormy weather threatened to soak everyone attending the free concert going on at Discovery Meadow Park in downtown San Jose that the big problem would turn out to be a few F-bombs and the like?
But that’s the way the second night of AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! — the free concert series held in conjunction with the Jan. 7 College Football Playoff National Championship at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara — turned out on Saturday, Jan. 5.
. @Logic301 takes stage at #ATTPlayoffPlaylist #NationalChampionship #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/o3ycmQNRAJ
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) January 6, 2019
Logic explained from the stage that he was in danger of having his set cut short by organizers due to his language. Of course, he was just doing his normal show — rapping his regular lyrics — which made one wonder if the organizers had actually taken the time to listen to Logic’s music before hiring him to perform.
“You did book a rapper,” Logic said in response to the reported threats to pull the plug.
. @logic brings 18 year old fan Jacob onstage to rap with him pic.twitter.com/KTpcq5nBdu
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) January 6, 2019
Fortunately for everybody involved — especially the approximately 5,000 fans in attendance — Logic basically was able to finish his roughly hour-long set.
Basically.
It did end rather abruptly, with organizers quickly setting off the concert series’ nightly fireworks display in a fashion that left many fans believing that Logic had been “cut off.”
Social media was absolutely buzzing with complaints from fans who thought Logic had been “disrespected.”
“It was also rude that they disrespected him by cutting him off with fireworks live,” tweeted @realwordshipper
It was also rude that they disrespected him by cutting him off with fireworks live
— zach (@melatoninshots_) January 6, 2019
“They cut off @Logic301 tonight for swearing. That’s so not fair but ‘it is what it is’ I guess,” added @JessicaSerrano0.
https://twitter.com/JessicaSerrano0/status/1081817801025712130
The concert was being streamed live online for those who weren’t able to make it out to Discovery Meadow. Judging by the angry reactions on social media, however, the stream appears to have been cut short.
Now that is some fast rapping @Logic301 #NationalChampionship #ATTPlayoffPlaylist pic.twitter.com/S90giXXG30
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) January 6, 2019
Besides those issues, it was an otherwise nice evening of music, which also featured a performance by soulful crooner Leon Bridges.
Of course, there was much hand-wringing leading up the event, as many worried about the forecast for rain. And surely that concern kept many people away. The concert drew some 5,000, which is less than half capacity for the venue. But it was still a much bigger turnout than what was reportedly seen on Day 1 of the concert series, Friday, Jan. 4, for a lineup headlined by Alessia Cara.
#CFBPlayoff – @leonbridges takes stage at #ATTPlayoffPlaylist in #SanJose pic.twitter.com/NBfzzALlOL
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) January 6, 2019
But the weather turned out to be much better than expected. There were a few quick showers, but mainly the skies remained clear. That made it even easier to enjoy the performances.
Overall, Logic proved to be quite charismatic — promoting, as always, his values of “peace, love and positivity.” He compared the crowd to a family, encouraging people to treat each other that way, and even brought one fan by the name of Jacob onstage to rap with him.
Plus, his vocal work was sensational as he rapped with precision and power through such numbers as “Fade Away,” “Wu-Tang Forever” and the multi-platinum hit “1-800-273-8255.” (The song’s title is taken from the number of the American National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.)
Bridges also sounded strong as he worked the crowd with the likes of “Coming Home” and “Beyond.”
The concert series is scheduled to conclude on Jan. 6 with a lineup featuring Ellie Goulding and OneRepublic. Here’s how to watch the concert without getting rained on.
For more information on the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! shows, click here.
More @leonbridges at #ATTPlayoffPlaylist #CFBPlayoff #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/DgIgm7Fmlo
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) January 6, 2019
