Wu Tang Clan @ Cali Vibes in Long Beach 2/6/2022

February 4th, 5th and 6th of this year marked the debut of the California Vibrations Festival more widely known as Cali Vibes. The three day reggae festival was held at the Marina Green Park in Long Beach California and featured headliners Rebelution, The Marley Brothers and Dirty Heads. Along with up and comers like Hawaiian songstress, Hirie, there were some big names who weren't headlining.  Pepper, Slightly Stoopid, Sublime with Rome, Shaggy and Atmosphere for instance. And then there was one act on the bill that was not like all of the others. Rap legends Wu-Tang Clan played on the main stage on Sunday. What's more surprising than them being on a a reggae festival line-up was not only were they not a headliner but Wu-Tang was on before the second to last band. 

Wu - Tang Clan @ Cali Vibes 2/6/2022
photo by Nikki DeMartini

It was my first time going to a music festival to go to a music festival rather than work it in a long time and I was there to see Wu Tang that night. It was my first time seeing them live. The sun was still up when their set started and first on stage was a DJ to hype up the crowd. He wanted us to make some noise before he'd have the clan come out. One by one the Wu Tang Clan hit the stage. First up was U-God followed by Masta Killa, Cappadonna, GZA, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck. The last two members to join the rest of the clan on stage, RZA and Method Man garnered the biggest reactions from the crowd. 

Wu - Tang Clan @ Cali Vibes 2/6/2022
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Each member of Wu Tang hit the stage with such a pure energy that was hard not to feel. Passion exuded from them was they rapped. A positivity lingered in the air with all of the weed smoke. I couldn't get over how happy they all looked up there. Method Man was almost unrecognizable in his his ear to ear smile that kept flashing through out the set. RZA was having such a good time I lost count of the number of champagne bottles he sprayed into the crowd. Fans through up their wu hand sign when instructed and did so even when not instructed. Everyone was having a good time. 

Wu - Tang Clan @ Cali Vibes 2/6/2022
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Wu - Tang Clan @ Cali Vibes 2/6/2022
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Ever changing graphics lit up the back of the stage with things like the Wu-Tang logo, "Wu Tang Ain't Nothing to Fuck With", and of course "Wu Tang Is Forever". Snippets of old music videos and throw back footage were spliced in, too. They paid tribute to ODB, the DJ spun Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" which the crowd sang along to, they covered The Beatles and Rick James and Bob Marley's "One Love".

They gave love to Long Beach and reggae music and to everyone who was there. Wu Tang was such a rejuvenating high that night at Cali Vibes. Seeing how stoked Wu was to be there and knowing how stoked I and everyone else was to be there to see them.
It was a great festival set. 

set-list 2/6/2022
1. Gravel Pit 
2. Slang Editorial 
3. Winter Warz
4. Uzi (Pink Ring) 
5. Da Mystery of Chessboxin' 
6. Killa Bees on the Swarm 
7. Solid As a Rock
8. Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nothing to Fuck With 
9. Shame on a Nigga 
10. C.R.E.A.M
11. Method Man
12. Tearz
13. Breaker, Breaker 
14. Protect Ya Neck 
15. Come Together (The Beatles cover)
16. Reunited
17. For Heavens Sake 
18. Severe Punishment 
19. One Blood Under W
20. 4th Chamber 
21. Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover)
22. Mary Jane (Rick James cover)
23. Ice Cream 
24. Bring the Pain 
25. Can It Be All So Simple
26. Da Rockwilder
27. Shimmy Shimmy Ya
28. Brooklyn Zoo
29. Got Your Money 
30. Da Rockwilder
31. Duel to the Death 
32. Triumph