Chicago, IL -- On Friday evening, DJBooth.net was invited to attend NBC’s “Locals Only” secret show featuring hometown favorite

Common

. The event, which was held at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Arts Warehouse, admitted roughly 200 contest winners as well as various special guests and VIPs.

Attendees enjoyed complementary drinks (courtesy of the good people at Hennessy) and a variety of finger foods (the veggie wraps were enjoyable) as they excitedly awaited Common’s arrival on stage. Thanks to the veteran mixing of

DJ Twilite Tone

, the roughly two-hour wait didn’t seem too long.

Complete with a six-piece live band, the Southside native performed several cuts off his brand new album,

Universal Mind Control

, including “Punch Drunk Love,” “Gladiator,” and “Sex 4 Suga,” as well as fan favorites like “Go” and “Testify.” Despite battling an ongoing cold (travel and Chicago weather will do that to a person), Common laid down his rhymes with plenty of energy and pizzazz.

Though various music critics have failed to identify with Common’s new,

Neptunes

-produced sound, hearing him perform most of his brand new album live proved that his diverse talents as an emcee are no secret.

Common on stage

(L) DJ Twilite Tone, (R) Andrew Barber (of Fake Shore Drive), Christi Love, and DJ "Z"

All Photos By

Eric Weiler