Pharrell Williams: the ice cream man

Pharrell Williams at Jimmy Kimmell Live!, June 10, 2008 (Credit: Scott T. Sterling)

Supporting N.E.R.D.’s latest CD, Seeing Sounds, with dates on Kanye West’s “Glow in the Dark” tour and festival dates around the globe, singer Pharrell Williams makes a point to give the people what they want. “It’s almost like cheating,” he said of the band’s high-energy sets moments before a TV show rehearsal in Hollywood this past June. “We’re only onstage for like 45 minutes. We just play songs like ‘Lapdance,’ ‘She Wants to Move’ and ‘Everybody Nose,’ and there’s always a big response. When we start playing longer headlining shows, we'lll get into the deeper album tracks,” he promises. "But in situations like these, we get right to it."

Given Williams’ new fascination with mosh pits and drum-and-bass beats (the live outfit now features two drummers), expect lots of audience participation during his group’s HARD performance this Saturday night. Keep an eye on your girlfriend during “She Like to Move,” as N.E.R.D. usually turn the stage into a massive girls-only dance party on that particular number.

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