“Nelly, Nelly, Nelly,” echoed from the jaw-dropping mass of people that came out to see him headline the Celebrate St. Louis concert series Saturday night at Soldier’s Memorial.
It was 8:45 p.m. – well past the 8 p.m. start time. But almost on cue with the chants, St. Louis’ own rap superstar followed the St. Lunatics on stage, and all was forgiven in what will go down as one of the most memorable experiences in the concert series’ history.
“Where My Party People At” kicked off the hour-long set that illustrated the unifying force in music and the unity among a city coming together to celebrate one of its own.
The official count is yet to be released, but estimates have reached more than 40,000. Individuals on hand to see the bodies compacted from Market to Chestnut with scattered crowds extending as far as Union Station might not consider the number a stretch. The Soldiers Memorial steps were filled – so were the steps of the Old Courthouse and the Peabody Opera House.
The audience demographic was from high society to homeless, all age groups and ethnicities.
“I’m going down, down baby,” a group of four boys with soccer haircuts standing on chairs sang in unison along with Nelly as he performed his breakout hit “Country Grammar.”
They couldn’t have been more than toddlers when the song was originally on the charts – if they were even born. Yet they mimicked every word in the exact cadence of the man who made the lyrics famous more than a decade ago.
A grandmother named Lynn had a custom made bedazzled T-shirt with “Nelly” written on the front and “#1” on the back. She wore a rope gold necklace and danced along to every song.
“Get it, ‘Golden Girl,’” someone yelled out as she bounced along to Nelly’s hits.
It was a good night to be from St. Louis – Nellyville, indeed.
As the city showed up in droves, Nelly and the Tics lit up the stage like they had everything to lose.
Between the snippets, guests verses and full-length songs, about 20 selections were squeezed into the hour and 10 minute set. They included hits like “Air Force Ones,” “Stepped on my Js,” “Hot in Herre,” “Ride Wit Me,” and “Grillz.” He also laced Nelly verses over recent hip-hop hits like Wacka Flocka Flames “No Hands,” T-Pain’s “All I Do is Win” and Drake’s “YOLO.”
He allowed his partners in rhyme some shine time as well. Murphy Lee performed several of his guest verses and his own hits “What Da Hook Gon Be,” “Look At My Shoes” and “Get Money.” City Spud was given special praises before kicking into his “Ride with Me” verse and Ali performed a snippet of “Breathe In, Breathe Out.”
“We’re showing out,” Nelly said. “We’re gonna make some people mad because we’re going over on time … but we at the crib.”
The audience roared – and Nelly continued.
He called up fans on stage to dance along with him for “Body on Me” and “All in My Head.” One young lady was so lucky to sing Kelly Rowland’s verses in his Grammy Award winning hit “Dilemma.”
The experience was a once in a lifetime/you had to be there priceless situation – and not just for the lucky ones who got called to the stage.
Everyone played a part – most obviously when an off-key choir chimed in to sing the hook on “Just A Dream.”
The same could be said for the headliner. It was as if Nelly had been waiting his whole career – better yet, his whole life – for this exact moment.
“Shout out to all of the other local artists out there trying to make it,” Nelly said. “We have as much talent here as any other city. This is St. Louis – not just Nelly – in the history books.”
