I was not entirely prepared for what was about to happen when Anderson .Paak and his band The Free Nationals took the stage last night at The Fillmore in San Francisco.

I was tired. There was a long line to get in, snaking around the block. I kept thinking "I'm too old for shows" as we mulled about the venue, inspecting the posters from shows past. So when the clock struck 9:30pm, and the lights dimmed, and the terrible pop music that The Fillmore was blasting ceased, I was not in the greatest state of mind.

Anderson .Paak immediately changed that. His energy is infectious, and after a few minutes, my mood lifted. I’m not normally impressed so easily, but Paak is charming as hell. I was hooked, captivated. I haven't seen many artists sing and play the drums at the same time, and it was hypnotizing to watch. 

"Bay Areaaaaaa!" he shouted, "We in this together!” The crowd was thrilled, smiling, laughing, smoking joints, dancing. Anderson .Paak seems to bring out the best quality of San Franciscans: that chill, love-everyone-around-you vibe. You've felt it before, even if it's absent most of these days — that soul that's at the heart of so many Dolores Park days or rooftop dance parties. It seems like Anderson .Paak's spirit is cut from that same mold.

In an in-depth feature, Pitchfork described Paak as being "preternaturally gifted at extracting positivity from pain,” and it’s clearly evident in his live performance. Paak brings a soulful intensity to his music — it’s all-encompassing, and when you’re listening to it, you barely have room for any other feelings but joy.

Highlights at the show (from his recent album Malibu) include "The Season / Carry Me,” “Put Me Thru,” “The Bird,” and “Room In Here” — I also loved his performance of “Drugs,” from his album Venice, and “Link Up” from album Yes Lawd!, a collab with Knxwledge called NxWorries.

If you haven't seen Paak on tour yet, there's still time. Here are his upcoming performances:

Friday 28 October 2016 – Sunday 30 October 2016
Voodoo Festival 2016
City Park, New Orleans, LA, US

Suwannee Hulaween 2016
Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, Live Oak, FL, US

Friday 02 December 2016
Anderson Paak with 2 Chainz, Ice Cube, and others
The Forum, Inglewood, CA, US

Saturday 10 December 2016
Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood, CA, US

Thursday 26 January 2017
Anderson Paak with BASSNECTAR, G-Eazy, and others
Buttermilk Mountain, Aspen, CO, US