Below is an extract taken from the Michigan Press review of “Rock The Rapids 2010″
[...] At Tuesday’s “Rock The Rapids” show in Michigan, 6,677+ mostly tweens and teens — who might be solely directing and funding the music industry — crowded the stands to fist pump in dramatic unison to their favorite summer hits.
A sound system that could have been clearer and consistent issues with feedback throughout the evening — which were at their worst during the headliner’s set — would have knocked this review down a notch had it not been for the powerful performance by B.o.B., the hardy pipes of rising R&B beauty Shontelle and the intricate rhymes and varied beats of drummer/rapper duo Chiddy Bang.
The bulk of both B.o.B. and Chiddy Bang’s sets were filled with solid hip-hop tunes anchored with versatility. Of course, the crowd came for their radio-friendly hits featuring catchy, melodic choruses. But the excitement for young people of seeing the faces that match the songs they’ve come to love for a few months kept energy high throughout the entire evening.
Pop/R&B Barbadian newcomer Shontelle, clad in a sparkling, rainbow-colored romper of sorts, was a welcome relief to the male-dominated lineup. Her hits “T-Shirt” and “Impossible” made the set. But for whatever reason, she only sang two additional tunes for a total of a 15-minute set.
I would have taken a longer Shontelle performance and a shortened Baby Bash set, which featured the on-again-off-again reggae/dancehall rapper mostly shouting spare lyrics to loud tracks of his hits, which, granted, are many. [...]
(more photos coming soon!)
