Prophets of Rage surprise fans with stellar set in Brooklyn

The supergroup surprised fans after their set was cancelled at Governors Ball.

Jordan Uhl
Brooklyn, New York
Monday 06 June 2016 12:45 EDT
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Tom Morello.
Tom Morello. (Jordan Uhl for The Independent)

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Rain couldn’t stop the rage on Sunday.

After the potential for inclement weather brought this year's Governors Ball to an abrupt halt before the final day, the Prophets of Rage—the Rage Against the Machine, Cypress Hill and Public Enemy rock-rap supergroup—booked a surprise pop-up show at the Warsaw in Brooklyn. New York.

Governors Ball attendees who had their plans thwarted were rewarded with discounted $10 tickets to the show, but some fans weren’t fully satisfied.

Kevin McCollum drove in from southern New Jersey specifically for Kanye West’s closing performance but said the Prophets of Rage set—which was added to the festival’s lineup as a surprise on Friday evening—was also something he was looking forward to.

“It’s kind of lifted my spirits about it, but I would have rather seen Prophets of Rage and Kanye,” McCollum said.

Chuck D and B-Real perform in Brooklyn. Jordan Uhl for The Independent
Chuck D and B-Real perform in Brooklyn. Jordan Uhl for The Independent (Jordan Uhl for The Independent)

The band of thunderstorms that swept across the northeast and midatlantic on Sunday caused Governors Ball organizers to cancel the final day in its entirety, with some acts scheduling make up shows.

McCollum and even Chuck D, Prophets of Rage vocalist and Public Enemy front man, voiced disgust from the stage during the set, playing on the festival’s name with genital-oriented wordplay.

The setlist was heavy on Rage Against the Machine hits, with a few Public Enemy and Cypress Hill tracks. The band opened the set, fittingly, with the Beastie Boys classic “No Sleep Til Brooklyn.”

DJ Lord, the turntablist from Public Enemy, readied the at-capacity venue with a deafening mix of ‘90s hip hop, both classic and modern rock, and a peppering of today’s hits.

The supergroup, which has promised to “cause a ruckus” near the Republican National Convention in Cleveland next month, is set to embark on a national tour with proceeds benefitting homeless charities in each city.

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