TVD Live Shots: Action Bronson, Roc Marciano, and Meyhem Lauren at the Fox Theater, 3/11

In support of his new album White Bronco, rapper Action Bronson has taken to the road along with partners in rhyme Meyhem Lauren and Roc Marciano. The Monday after Daylight Saving Time’s “spring forward” BS found the trio at Oakland’s Fox Theater. Not surprising, the fans slowly trickled into the venue. But you can usually gauge the ticket sales at any Fox show by the number of bars that are open and, with all but one bar running, the attendance quickly swelled to a fair-sized crowd.

For those not contributing to the haze of weed smoke that hung over the crowd, the contact high was inescapable. And with only two turntables and a microphone on stage, the change-overs were speedy. Together, this made for an evening that would prove to be chill by any measure. In fact, none of the acts even brought a single piece of merch to sell, leaving the venue opting to hawk Fox Theater shirts and hoodies.

Meyhem Lauren kicked things off and immediately had the crowd in his pocket. There was no doubt that the Oakland crowd loves this guy and, even when he stepped on stage later that night during both Roc’s and Action’s sets, he was met with huge cheers. In comparison, Roc Marciano seemed to have a tougher time keeping up the momentum. It wasn’t a bad set but he just never seemed to click with the crowd in the way that Meyhem was able to.

Action Bronson finally took the stage at 9:30, emerging from the haze at the back of the stage with his fist in the air. Unlike both Meyhem’s and Roc’s approach of hopping from mid-song to song, Action took a much more structured approach, laying out the new tunes in short bursts as his DJ kept the beats and the cloppity-clop of horse hooves rolling. It didn’t come as a surprise when Roc and Mayhem (more cheers) joined Action on stage over the course of his set. What did get the room mega-pumped however, was when The Alchemist made an unexpected appearance, hyping the room as Bronson rapped on.

A great crowd and a free contact high meshed perfectly with a night of tunes and Action Bronson’s self-deprecating humor. It doesn’t get much better than this for the day after springing forward.