Seraphina Lotkhamnga on April 16th, 2012

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Who: The Weeknd at the Outdoor Theatre
In 3 or Fewer Words: Atmospheric hook-less riffs.
Forgettable Because: Like Azealia Banks, Canada’s the Weeknd (aka Abel Tesfaye) made his live debut via Coachella’s telecast and pulled a massive (and extremely fashionable) crowd. The only difference between him and Banks was that her rhymes had more hooks than his R&B tunes did. Backed by an impressive band who enhanced his atmospheric instrumentals, the Weeknd sang as many riffs as there are as many waves in all five oceans. Unfortunately for the exceptionally skilled singer with a buttery falsetto, all that talent seemed to get lost in his muddled melodies. With only a few songs toward the end of his set containing distinct climaxes, the Weeknd’s set was mostly one heap of audible yearning executed in a plethora of “Oohh, girl” phrases. However, none of this seemed to concern the crowd as they were just ecstatic to see him perform.
What I’d Tell My Friends Who Were at Gotye: You win.
– S.L. (Concert photography by Scott Dudelson)