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• Canopy Club »
  708 S. Goodwin Ave. Urbana, IL 61801
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I should have known better to think a Wu-Tang Clan show would go on without a hitch.

I have heard stories about their shows being a mixed bag. Sometimes they would be a knockout, while other times they would be in shambles, with members not acting interested or not even showing up at all.

Saturday's show at Canopy Club fell in the middle of the two extremes. While not every member was advertised to be there, (Method Man is currently on tour with Redman), others simply didn't show up, (RZA was inexplicably absent). Still, a few other members really stepped up their game and carried the show to the best of their ability (major props to Raekwon, Masta Killa and Inspectah Deck).

GZA and Ghostface Killah, arguably two of the best-known Wu-Tang Clan members, seemed very disinterested in performing, with Ghostface seen texting at one point, and often just standing on stage without a mic. While this could also be due to the sound problems, it seems these guys didn't even make an effort.

Wu-Tang Clan started strong, performing songs from all over their career (and the obligatory Ol' Dirty Bastard tribute, "Shimmy Shimmy Ya,") but as the show went on, more and more members just wandered around the stage aimlessly. Members like GZA and Ghostface just walked off stage, acting as if there was somewhere better to be and with the group playing Chicago the night after, I have to wonder if they received the same treatment.

The hits were there, but a lot of times they were in short bursts. For example, "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit" lasted for 30, maybe 45 seconds, and others such as, "Gravel Pit" and "Bring da Ruckus" didn't last much longer. The only song they really milked was "C.R.E.A.M.," much to the audience's delight. It was a definite highlight in a night that had too few.

The music was loud and the beats were great, but it just wasn't coming together. The crowd was so much more excited for the Wu-Tang Clan than the Wu-Tang Clan themselves, and to see them not try was a shame.

The show ended after about an hour, (and it had started an hour late on top of that), and was rather anticlimactic after such a strong start. It was clear that not all was well, and Raekwon could only carry the show for so long. The group was not working as a unit and for many, the performance was not worthy of the $35 ticket price.

Openers Krukid and Ice Water Inc. showed so much appreciation for the group, that it was a bit disheartening to see the group itself act so disinterested. Krukid's opening set showcased a great rapper, and Ice Water Inc. showed promise as well, (even if their set was only three songs long).

Both acts were exciting, energetic and performing in the moment, something Wu-Tang Clan didn't even attempt to be.