By Jodi Root

P.O.S. kicked some major A.S.S. last night at Reggie’s Live, pumping out massive raw energy in support of his two-week release Never Better. Kicking the set off were Doomtree friends/collaborators Sims, Paper Tiger, Mictlan and Lazer Beak, who were throwing positive vibes and unity out like candy at a parade. I can’t even describe the events as a series of act one, two or three, as all dudes were representing on each other’s sets like it was a family reunion. The kids in the crowd went bananas as the Doomtree family busted out old and newer tracks alike, even partaking in an inner-crowd dance party, getting the audience to their feet to thrash about and then even making sure “no one got hurt.”

P.O.S. busted out several classics from Audition and his debut record, but focused mostly on what he described as “most exciting to play”—the brilliance of what is his third album Never Better. And let me tell you, boys and girls, there was never a more appropriate album/tour name than that to describe last night’s performance. From the crowd participation in “Drumroll,” the insane scratching intro to “Savion Glover,” and insane bumpin’ booty shaking beasts of “Goodbye,” (see vid above), the tracks and efforts were flawlessly executed. P.O.S. also brought forth “Been Afraid” for the first time on the so-far 12 date tour—and got the crowd screaming along to the rock-infused chorus of “Terrorish.” Additional highlights included the title track, “Never Better,” the drum beat infusion of “Optimist (We Are Not for Them)”—which P.O.S. coyly introduced as, “This one’s for us,” the loopy production of “The Basics (Alright),” Sims/Mictlan/Lazer Beak rap-along “Low Light/Low Life,” and “Graves (We Wrote the Book).”

Several other crowd faves were accounted for as well in the 22-song set, including multiple Doomtree collaborated sing-a-longs. I’ve always been a fan of P.O.S’s recorded works, but last night’s performance definitely upped my appreciation factor tenfold as I witnessed firsthand how diverse of a multi-dimensional artist he really is. Whether it was his mad production work on the synth/loops, diverse rhyming abilities or how he wailed on his guitar—dude owned it. Confident, yet forever humble, P.O.S. brought Chicago everything he had and made sure to share it with those most important to him—his ever devoted fan base and fellow peer musicians. P.O.S. served the perfect soundtrack of raw, positive and most importantly REAL energy last night, bombing the warehouse walls of Reggie’s and I’m just grateful to have been a part of it.

Myspace: P.O.S.
Myspace: Doomtree