Article by Giulio Taminelli | Photo by Andrea Ripamonti
«Too rock for the hip hop world and too hip hop for the rock world». This is how Jordan Edward Benjamin, better known as, defines himself Grandson. An eclectic artist who has accumulated acclaim from 2018 to today (also thanks to an important collaboration with Mike Shinoda in the song Running From My Shadow and in the related video), establishing himself as one of the “names to remember” of the modern rap metal scene. Driven by the curiosity to know more about this Canadian boy born in '93 and naturalized in the United States, I participated together with the trusted photographer Andrea Ripamonti in the Italian stage of his «Inertia Tour 2026», located in the setting of General Warehouses of Milan, dedicated to the promotion of the latest album Inertiareleased on September 3, 2025 by XX Records, a label owned by Grandson himself.
PINKSHIFT
The Magazzini audience was warmed up while waiting for Grandson Pinkshiftan American band formed in 2022 from the meeting between singer Ashrita KumarThe guitarist Paul Vallejo and the drummer Myron Houngbedji. Their show, made up of just eight songs in total from both of the combo's albums, could be summed up with the classic adage “short but intense”. Just over half an hour on stage in which Ashrita Kumar's energy infected everyone present in the room. The desire to scream, make noise à la Rage Against the Machine and a concrete desire to make the entire audience feel like protagonists and accepted regardless of sexual orientation or origin, a theme also touched upon by Grandson and the real “core” of the entire evening. A good performance for them, made even more interesting by the absence of I'm gonna tell my therapist on youa track that made them famous internationally but decidedly more immature than their current productions
GRANDSON
That Grandson he is in strong contact with his audience, it is clear from his entrance on stage. No frills or skits. He and the band simply enter, greeting those present with a great gesture of affection and start playing. It is precisely from this “playing” that it is worth starting this layman's analysis of the music of Jordan Edward Benjamin. Honestly, it sounds much softer with headphones! Live the experience is much more similar to an “old school” rap metal concert (I don't feel like bothering the Rage Against the Machinebut Grandson himself cites them as his point of reference). The credit for this metal twist certainly goes to the bass line. Powerful, musical, very deep, capable of making your ribs tremble. Say it what you want, but the entire concert was supported by wonderful bass lines capable of filling the ears of those present without ever contrasting the high voice of Grandson.
Speaking instead of managing the public, from this point of view the singer demonstrates an easy communicative ability. Compared to other frontmen who use their presence to generate a sort of awe in the fans, Grandson demonstrated throughout the concert that he wants to be on par with the audience, joking, inviting them to clap their hands or shout depending on the occasion and even allowing a fan to come up to play the guitar during LITTLE WHITE LIES. This relationship of love and care for the audience, expressed by the artist also in words during a moment of pause in which he underlined how much he cared about the fact that every person at the concert should feel free and safe, can also be seen when analyzing the set list.
Despite the nine inertia tracks present in the list, somehow Benjamin also managed to include several album and EP representations, so as to represent a good portion of his – for now – short but prolific career, a reasoning that allows you to “tune in” both to the early fan who perhaps prefers the early works, and to the younger fan who arrived at the event driven by the latest news. In short, a good concert both from a musical and human point of view, perhaps spoiled by too much haste in performing all the songs in the setlist, but certainly an excellent show for all Grandson fans.
Click here to see photos of Grandson in Milan or browse the gallery below
GRANDSON: the setlist of the Milan concert
- AUTONOMOUS DELIVERY ROBOT
- BURY YOU
- We Did It!!!
- Oh No!!!
- BELLS OF WAR
- Stigmata
- PULL THE TRIGGER
- Darkside
- Overdose
- 6:00
- LITTLE WHITE LIES
- SELF IMMOLATION
- Masters of War (Bob Dylan cover)
- BRAINROT
- WHO'S THE ENEMY
- Hold the Line (Tom Morello cover)
- Heather
- Drones
- YOU MADE ME THIS WAY
- Blood // Water
- Encore:
- WWIII
- Riptide
- Stick Up
PINKSHIFT: the setlist of the Milan concert
- Evil Eye
- Anita laughs
- Authority Problem
- BURN THE WITCH
- Spiritseeker
- Blood
- Love It Here
- the kids aren't alright
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
