The Halloween season promises costumes, parades, pumpkins, lots of candy, trick or treating and another Haunted Hill concert by L.A. hip-hop legends Cypress Hill. This year they have three: Wednesday's show at The Novo in Los Angeles and two in Philadelphia (October 26) and New York (October 25). CelebStoner attended the latter show.
Frontman B-Real told the crowd that it was their 27th Haunted Hill concert in New York, where the tradition began when they were still an up-and-coming band. Unfortunately, it will be the last one at the PlayStation Theater in Times Square; the venue is closing after a New Year's Eve show by the Disco Biscuits.
"It's one of the most important gigs we play annually," he says in the documentary clip below. "It orginated in New York City and we've expanded to other cities."
It's not like they create a spooky experience. There's no stage design or anything reflective about the orange holiday. It's all in the music and the clouds of cannabis smoke that bonds the group with their loyal fans, many whom date back to the band's first album in 1991.
After opening sets Roc Marciano and Funkmaster Flex, Cypress hit the stage at 11 pm and played a 90-minute set of hits mixed with cuts from their 2018 album, Elephants on Acid. The current lineup is B-Real, Sen Dog, Eric Bobo and Mixmaster Mike.
Set List
Band of Gypsies
Real Estate
The Phuncky Feel One
Hand on the Pump
When the Shit Goes Down
Latin Lingo
Latin Thug
Tequila Sunrise
Mixmaster Mike/Bobo Jam
Weed Medley: I Wanna Get High > Dr. Greenthumb
How I Could Kill a Man
A to the K
I Ain't Goin' Out Like That
Illusions
Rock Superstatr
Insane in the Membrane
Jump Around
After the show, B-Real talked about his chain of Dr. Greenthumb's retail pot shops in California, where he opened his fifth shop in Los Angeles on October 18. He hopes to bring the brand to New York once the Empire State legalizes cannabis, but until then he and his team will focus on California and other states like Michigan and Oklahoma.
Following the L.A. Haunted Hill show, Cypress has just one other event on their 2019 tour schedule: the Haute Mess Music Festival in Austin on November 9.
