GZA of Wu-Tang Clan at Nectar Lounge

On May 13, Nectar Lounge hosted a packed night of hip hop, with local artist Greg Cypher opening up for the legendary GZA and his live band, The Phunky Nomads, during the Liquid Swords 30th Anniversary Tour.

When I arrived at Nectar, the venue was already crowded and buzzing with anticipation. I’ve known Greg Cypher for many years, so it was great to see him in front of such a large audience. His opening set featured guest appearances from local artists Chimaroke Abuachi of Theoretics and Remember Face, along with Rick Reams and Angie Staxx.

The set highlighted both familiar faces and newer artists from the Seattle scene. It was cool to see Chima perform again. I remembered him from his earlier days with the local hip hop group Nu Era, who used to perform regularly at University of Washington events back when I was attending UW.

By 10 o’clock that night, the atmosphere inside Nectar Lounge became more intense anticipating GZA to take the stage. Fans pushed to the front of the stage, some of them carrying Wu-Tang Clan vinyl records and sneakers in hopes of getting them signed after the show.

When GZA finally took the stage, the crowd cheered with excitement. He performed the entirety of his classic 1995 album Liquid Swords, delivering a set that reminded everyone why the album is of the most respected records in hip hop. Backed by The Phunky Nomads, the music took on a powerful live funk sound that added new life and energy to classic tracks.

Seeing GZA perform live felt like a privilege. Compared to the rest of Wu-Tang Clan, GZA’s style has always been calm, cerebral, and controlled. The Phunky Nomads did a great job of backing up his laid-back delivery with upbeat funk music. I was happy to capture him on camera and witness a member of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan in person.