Over the past decade, Pharrell Williams and the Neptunes have helped to craft the sound of modern music, working with artists such as Jay-Z and Gwen Stefani, but some may still be unaware of the unit’s heavy rock ‘n’ roll persona. New Orleans residents got a taste of it during their recent performance on the Heineken Red Star Soul Tour October 13 at The Metropolitan.

The group’s stage show was an all-out assault on the senses. Williams and his band mates jumped around wildly as they were surrounded by neon strobe lights and the brash sounds of their accompanying band. As the intense stage show continued through the night, the crowd was moved by several underground rebel anthems including 2008’s “Spaz” and “Rockstar”. While these tracks started a makeshift mosh pit in the front, older attendees looked on in awe. The night reached its climax with “Lap Dance” which featured several attractive female attendees parading around the stage while Williams took the liberty to introduce himself to the ladies.

In addition to its headliners, the show featured newcomer Mickey Facts. Like N.E.R.D., Facts’ sound is an eclectic mixture of rock and hip-hop. He even went as far as to feature the group in the title for his In Search of N.E.R.D. mixtape. While both acts gave solid performances, the most interesting aspect of the night was their crowd. It consisted of young hip-hoppers, middle-aged couples, and frenetic rockers. In an age filled with artists purposely aiming for “crossover” success, it’s amazing to see a concert full of renegades actually achieve it.