BY SASHA BASANT
If there’s anyone who can hype a crowd on a Thursday night, it’s certainly Private School. The hip-hop influenced alternative rock band took Maryland by storm when they opened for Vince Stapes, leaving their name echoing through the room long after they left. From being front and center in the pit to having the energy high all night, the Los Angeles-based band ensured the spotlight was on them.
Their live performance delivers the promise of their music: rowdy, loud and unforgettable. As the band’s lead vocalist, Khaki made sure the connection between the band and the audience never felt one sided. Leading the mosh pit from the beginning of the set to the end, he spent the majority of the set in the pit alongside the crowd, further immersing the audience in the experience. Blurring the line between performer and audience, the entire room became part of the chaos, it was clear the focus was on being in the moment, enjoying your time, and being a part of the show.
Balancing tracks from their debut album “LIKE THE RENTS DUE,” released earlier this year, with tracks from their previous EPs the band gave the audience a true sample of their discography. With heavy guitar driven by South Florida's very own AGodd, Private School collides two genres effortlessly into one another. Their hip-hop influence doesn’t fall flat live, undeniably present in Khaki’s lyrical and vocal delivery, while their rock influence shines through instrumentally and in the band’s overall sound. The combination gives the trio an identity of their own.
Conversations between songs revealed just how much of an impression they were making. Overhead whispers included, “I was not expecting the opener to be this good” and “I’m going to have to start listening to them.” You couldn't tell who already knew the band and who was discovering them for the first time. Everyone seemed equally captivated by the three guys on stage.
Unlike most of the shows I’ve attended, there wasn’t necessarily one song that stole the spotlight, but rather a set that maintain it’s momentum for beginning to end. From the first track to the last, the crowd remained just as involved, with the energy never seeming to settle.
The trio proved that you don’t need to headline a show to leave a lasting impression. Private School may have come in as an opening act but they performed like the crowd was waiting for them. From the first track to the last, the energy never seemed to settle, with the crowd just as involved throughout the entire performance. Whether you’ve heard of the band before or not Private School with 52k monthly listeners is definitely a band to keep in rotation.
