There's a great quote from master drummer Bill Bruford - "Being a performer doesn't mean being able to do it once perfectly in perfect conditions; rather it means being able to do it imperfectly in imperfect conditions night after night."

Dude, Michael, you're like the retired baseball player who is now an analyst in the broadcast booth. Calling everything like someone who's done it for 20+ years. Amazing.

I can not believe how much of an absolute rock star Lauryn is here. Just completely runs the show like a field marshal while also nailing the vocals. Incredible stuff

Bassist Doug Wimbish is not just a "pro." He played on Grandmaster Flash records when the others on this stage were toddlers. Legend.

Incredible! The fact that they're obviously struggling to keep up with her wishes, yet still sounding simultaneously tight AND loose is a testament to their incredible talent. Wow.

I genuinely think I might prefer your in-depth observations regarding band dynamics than anything to do with chord progressions, harmonies, melodies, etc. Absolutely killer Michael!

There are pros that can shred and then there are pros that can pull in and communicate, feel each other and create something amazing. What’s great too is the audience probably didn’t even notice half of that.

This is without a doubt the best reaction in terms of musicianship on youtube. No bullshit talking here. Michael, you are a serious guy.

yo... this should be required viewing for every gigging or aspiring-to-be gigging musician out there. we focus too much on being perfectly instagrammable. but that’s not real life. real life is this. any gigging musician knows what this feels like - it’s terrifying and exhilarating (when it works!) and precisely what makes live music so great. big props to you for showing such excitement over this near trainwreck saved by world class musicians! thanks!!!

You need to react to more live Lauryn Hill performances. She directs the band always.

What a talent she is, I feel like she should/could have been mentioned with the all time great singers, as well as being probably the best female mc ever.

Hahah love this video. Such pure observstion for upcoming musicians. Great stuff thank you brother.

Lauryn Hill, The Roots, and Eric Gales. holy shit, thats a group. how the hell have i never seen this

She got PIPES! Man, those guys were quaking in their boots....lol...she RUNS that band. Amazing performance.

This was like a masterclass from the stage on how pros make it through a song that's just NOT going as planned. Can't get frustrated and throw your hands up. Can't lay back and try to look like you have it under control. You just gotta dig in and make sure the audience hears good music no matter what.

Commenting again because I can't believe how giddy I get watching this. Not a musician but a music LOVER and feel this so deeply. That would have been unreal to witness the show

The irony of the main repeated lyric being “this ain’t working” thru the adjustment patch was just perfect haha did not expect this kind of break down but made me appreciate the performance (and Lauryn in general) even more!

A few years ago I got to know Eric a little bit and had the privilege to eat lunch with him and his wife. Truly kind and humble souls. Just a world class person all around

I'm blown away by your observations. Have played keyboards all my life, and guitar only a couple, never ever heard anyone break a performance down like this. R E S P E C T.

It's been years since I've heard Lauren Hill and I forgot how damn good her voice is. Her tone, power and phrasing is incredible and she sings with such emotion. Despite the technical issues, which I think were fairly minor and were probably unnoticed by the audience, the overall performance was awesome and I feel like I just just at a Southern Baptist church revival!

Eric Gales ability to play the guitar upsidedown and backwards gives him unique bending, shredding and Dramatic chords.... The best cat right now...

this is one of the few times I've gotten chills watching one of your videos. absolutely incredible stuff. Love this song, love the roots. I just started playing live music with a band and this is inspiring watching them overcome this. PRO BALL

Michael, you are, as clear as day, on another level. It’s so entertaining and educational to watch. It was like a lecture. My absolute respect

The body english that Eric Gales puts in to his playing is just off the hook. Reminds me of a Santana interview where he says something like you can't hold a strat like you're petting a cat. You watch Hendrix and Clapton and they hold it like it's a machine gun or a flame thrower. That's what I think when I see Eric play, then his voice comes in and it is so silky smooth it just blows me away every time.

This is my favorite video you've ever done. This breakdown was spectacular.

Bassist is Doug Wimbish of In Living Colour fame.

I was straight tearin up by the end of this from Lauryn's emotional vocals. There is top tier, and then there is that sliver above that where Lauryn lives.

Man, that was tense. Could feel it like I was on stage with them. Hold me. Also Eric looked so stunned when they brought it down during his solo, before he recovered, made me laugh pretty good. Great video Parmesan-o!

Dude! You're just so much fun to watch! I'm not even a musician and I can't get enough of your reactions to these videos. Your joy in describing what's going on in the band makes these so enjoyable to watch. Thanks for the funk you put into my morning today!

Dude such a masterful performance from Lauren and the whole band and your commentary made it so much more. Being a pro isn't all about being perfect it's about being able to overcome adversity and still produce amazing results

This is a singer with killer adaptive skill it’s pretty amazing

Your passion for music is incredibly contagious. Thank you for sharing with us.

The most perfect shows are sequenced but they have no life. This is what live music is all about....Imperfections to perfection.

Thanks for the really interesting perspective on pointing out the interactions in the band. It makes the performance even more impressive!

Ex-Factor is my FAVORITE Lauryn Hill cut. Funny thing is I have no idea how I got here with you in my algorithm to play all her live versions but somehow this was a nice landing. I stopped in my tracks, listened and loved, loved the reaction video and all that passion emanating off you. I mean, I felt like I was watching a suspense thriller with your narration. "You gotta continue to sell what you brought to the party. Now we gotta look and see how Lauryn wants to get out of it." Oh, and, "No, Siri, no" This was fun to watch after a 14 hr shift giving COVID19 vaccinations and testing people. I can go to sleep with a smile on my face. "That's pro ball!" And I'm a pro Nurse ready to get back in the game tommorrow!! Thanks for the uplift!

You know, if I had just watched that video without your commentary, I'd have been blown away by the performance, but I would have missed your dramatic play-by-play! Thanks for the enthusiasm - you draw me in every time, and I enjoy your insights. This was a blast!

When I saw that lineup I had to click! What a show. Loved how you broke down what was happening, I would never have noticed any of that stuff and just thought it was a great show. This was a testament to professionals doing it and doing it well. 10,000 hours on display! I remember buying Eric Gales' first album when it came out when he was just 16, so cool to see him still rocking.

James Brown keeps a hawk's eye on his band during live performances.

The world needs more of this music. Lots of talent on this stage.

This is realism at its finest. Sure the big guys with all the sound equipment in the world can run click tracks or backing in their ear and be exactly on with pre-recorded stuff, but for the rest of us, playing live is that organic experience of being a little fast, a little slow, hitting on a dragged out beat, and just being musicians to get through it all together.

They pulled it off so well a novice like me would’ve never caught most of what you pointed out. I wonder how they approached the situation after that song ended.

And they managed to bring it together with great leadership and you could feel that peak towards the end.. it was just amazing!!!

Her performance on ACL a few years back was so phenomenal. Give it a peek, you will not be disappointed.

I dig where Michael’s at on this one too. As a musician one of my favorite aspects of watching the pros like these or famous touring bands play is picking up on the “on the fly” cues, seamless corrections and interactions between the players.

I could be wrong but that bass player looks a lot like Doug Wimbish. It even looks like he's using a spector bass which is a brand he's been using for years. Doug Wimbish is an absolute beast and you should definitely check out some of his solo stuff.

That might be my fave reaction yet on this channel

I love this guy’s analysis of what is going on in real time and his appreciation of the musicians handling of the various situations ! I love it because many of us every day type artists have the same os similar experiences but he analyzes this for those who aren’t aware of all the stuff going on. Thanks for the enthusiasm and putting it out there this is the essence of performing and making it happen!

PRO BALL indeed! 🔥 Excellent job in conveying the tension and excitement of a moment like this - where things aren’t quite right, but the musicians work it out in real time, in a magnificent way 👊🏼💎🔥

As I watch you I use to sing in the choir we were taught never ever watch the audience..never we watch the pananio player.. we knew just by her body when we were wrong and when we got it right the smile on her set us back on track

#ThatsProBall indeed! This is fascinating to the point of being *enthralling* Any time I've been in a crowd where I can see the players are obviously having to overcome whatever difficulties, I tend to slip into a strange beaming-my-best-positive-vibes, almost prayer, mode.... willing them to get get thru it. And if they manage to pull together something special like this, the wave of relief makes my applause louder than ever. :) p.s. I'm a decades-long Living Colour fan, but I didn't know til now that Doug Wimbish played with Lauren Hill. What a musician that dude is!

I've always been an L H fan....when she did that tour a few years back I went and saw her do it all...sing her butt off, do ballads, play guitar, did soul, reggae, rap and ROCK! out like I've never seen before.. She's so talented. Her band was FIRE! She blew my mind. A 5 time Grammy winner right?

I was fortunate enough to be a sideman and co-arranger for three bands that fronted strong female vocalists- the most fun and greatest challenges I've had an amateur musician. In all cases it was the trust between singer and band that made the music work- hand gestures, subtle queue, eye contact, and a bit of mind reading kept the train on the track.

One is not just learning. But we're being entertained and having fun all at the same time. I'm a fan of the Lady Lauryn Hill God bless ❤️🇬🇧🙏❤️

Lauryn hill has a live performance of Freedom Time, this is a phenomenally intimate performance I highly recommend❤️

I witnessed a similar situation at the puyallup fairgrounds during a Coheed and Cambria performance. When Claudio walked over to his amp and cranked the master volume knob (a clear no-no during a mic’d performance), I knew the sound guy was f’kin up and for some sick reason, it made me happy. Just like this made you happy 😂

I think that IS " pro ball". As concert goers or viewers we mostly don't have a clue about the dimension you speak of. SO much to listen to here & learn. Always though I have been impressed with big complicated setups seemingly magically synchronized to end a song bang on one particular beat ( as here). It is magic, also as you point out, it is pure professionalism

Quest’s love of Ringo coming in behind the beat makes me want to hug him for the exact right amount of knowing non awkward man hug time

How am I just hearing about this. My favorite singer of all time, my favorite band of all time playing with my favorite guitarist. I'm late I'm sorry

OhYea, The ROOTS BAND F'ing ROCKS. Going back on the road at 60. Blues still pouring out! Thanks for your work.👍

His enthusiasm had me

Watched this one twice now, would love to see more of this stage analysis, its like commentary on a spanish soap opera! Excellent content!!!!!

Hey Michael - great vid. As a performer (juggler) i always loved to watch my musician colleagues being human while delivering a superhuman performance. It always felt like seeing the glue that held it all together.

Your ear is impeccable and this was nothing short of a masterpiece

I would not have known all the little things going wrong or how they were trying to correct it real time without you pointing it out. It gives me so much more respect for all there, especially lauren, for fighting through it. Do more videos like these if you can please. It's not really about messing up...it's about how do you work through it or even better, overcome it. Amazing stuff!

I've seen it so many times by now. 20 times or more? And I love seeing it too - Lauryn and you! Great and a wonderful explanation and accompaniment from you! Thanks!

Most of the people watching the performance could have been none the wiser, they were just having a great time watching. Michael's, "That's Pro Ball." says it all.

You're pro ball Michael and we all know that! Keep up the great work!!

Can't even imagine making these moves on the spot! Great video as always, Michael!

seriously, Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is one of the best albums of all time

It's people talking without speaking..I love it!!!

I think this is Lauren's finest performance. Even with the sound/tempo challenges, Did you notice how she improved upon the studio version? Some musicians of the forty on stage may have studied that cut alone - without her up-tempo staccato chorus. Genius Doug Wimbush 🙂 pulls it all together !!! Eric plays the perfect solo for this. Then they 12:15 all jump in to the ending perfectly. Thanks again for sharing and explaining for us.Mike.

Love it! Another breakdown of a great song. You insight to why this song was emotional for the performers and the audience. It was a shared vibe, they gave their all and the audience ate it up.

what's so damn impressive is that it's completely organic. Thank you for pointing everytihng out.

Wow! That was intense to watch! The ending was 🔥 I never knew Eric ever played for Ms. Hill.

Great Splaining Michael. So much more in that than I would ever have picked up on. Your commentary added a whole next level of appreciation.

This the best react video i ever seen, is a real lesson to me, most of all i enjoy the energy you put in it. Laurin hill i have nothing to say about it. The bass man is something else. Thank you thank you...

Thanks bro Ive never seen this performance AMAZING, and your break down is amazing as well !

You give us a view of musicianship I’ve never seen or contemplated. Thanks.

Thats Doug Wimbish on bass. One of the masters of the masters. Studio Extraordinaire and Living Colour legend.

You got you a new subscriber after this video. Great job bringing out the professionalism definition...”that’s pro ball!”

This is great. Thank you. I think Lauryn Hill is quite the perfectionist and backing her may be a bit of a tightrope walk each show. I saw her perform The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill a few years back and she was constantly turning to the band or signaling them while she sang and faced the audience. It sounded great for being at a large park in Chicago and we felt badly for her that she seemed so tortured at it not being exactly as she wanted it to sound.

Talking about “the show must go on” PRINCE HALFTIME SUPER BOWL SHOW. during a storm!

I worked 89American Stones tour. Stage ,production, lights n softgoods. Yes it was 👍great. Living Color was their supporting act. Doug was the kick was bass player back then. Luaryn 's performance here blows away any Mick jagger shows I've ever seen. Total Top Notch

Lauryn is just incredible

Just stumbled across you today. My Dude! Love your enthusiasm and minute by minute break down. Wow. You clearly have a passion for great artist, music and group dynamics. Keep rocking

Michael, some of us are your students...and are on the “path” to becoming “musicians”...many of us have never been in formal bands...maybe some of us have never played with other people!.. This was SUCH an EDUCATION.... about how MUSICIANS (not simple “guitar players’) work together, communicate in different ways.....SO F’N COOL! WOW!!!!!.....

The view from Earth as a stellar performance aims even higher.... and she, pro among pros is not satisfied with stellar, purely FOR the audience's sake. I think of what wonders I'm hearing VS what more she imagines, and that itself is just amazing.

Honestly, The Roots playing with 311 had maybe the greatest jam session of any show I've ever attended. They're criminally underrated from a musical perspective. And Lauryn Hill is an absolute queen.

Man i already had respect for you but honestly I grow so much respect for you as I watch these videos!!

I taught Lauryn guitar when she lived here in Miami...shortly before Unplugged.

great one! revisiting miseducation and fugees is always a revelation

I love that i can physically see how much you love music man. Im an official fan 🤙🏾

You are a joy to watch Sir, your enthusiasm and optimism is contagious.

❤💛💚 a special one

best act of years

You finished the video just as well as they finished the song. Great video thank you

There is a whole 27 minute or so video of this i've seen. It's a mission from the start for the whole thing, this is the second song in the set, first track is so quick that nothing really gets resolved. sound and arrangement issues but they all make it work so everyone has a good time, I sure did. Great video by the way.

Kick ass! Throwing some chill on that ending. Just damn

This was really interesting to watch, thank you.

Can't stop watching this video Michael !!! I should be practicing, the past two nights lol but seriously. Playing out 16 yrs. A roadie 6yrs.(McCartney, Stones, Dead etc. Best live show I have ever seen.🎵🎵🎶🎶🎯