Concert Review: Crankdat, Samplifire, & Tazu (Nov. 22)

Main takeaway: This show reminded me why I love dancing.

Opinion of show: Samplifire Stole the Show

Starting off the show was Tazu, a young Chicago based producer. I was planning on arriving after his set, but I'm glad I didn't. Tazu balanced playing heavy bass music while still incorporating slower bpm’s and leaving space for the audience to take breaks and settle in. I definitely think he will make a name for himself in this industry. Even at his young age, he's managed to open for Crankdat, Allycvt, Levity and others. I thought he was the perfect opener and can't wait to see how his career develops.

Then, Samplifire came in playing high energy riddim, with clean transitions, and just got the crowd going. What made this performance stand out compared to the main event was the transitions and anticipation of the crowd's energy. Right when you wanted to jump, there was a drop or clip that encouraged you to do just that. And when you were ready for a break, there was a long build up or slightly slower song. It was flawlessly timed, he anticipated every shift in energy, and it led to the perfect flow of a performance. 

Samplifire was a tough act to follow, and I don't think it worked to Crankdat’s advantage. Unlike Samplifire, I found that Crankdat’s transitions were overly choppy at times. You would hear one clip of a song or vocal, but it would switch before you could even recognize what was playing.

Maybe Crankdat's social media presence brought in a crowd that was looking for this? As in, looking to hear clips they recognized, whether that be a vocal of some meme or a 2 second clip of a 2000’s hit. Sometimes I enjoy those things too and I have NO hate or superiority over people who go to shows for that. I love a good vocal clip, and as long as you’re having fun and not causing problems I support you. But, sometimes I think bigger dj’s can get away with ignoring the energy of a crowd and play whatever, because people will go crazy regardless.

There definitely was a reaction from the crowd at the clips he incorporated and how he switched between songs, so perhaps my opinion is the minority. But, the 'reactions' in question only lasted for the length of the vocal clip or drop then people stopped dancing. All in all, Crankdat played a great show that was lively and incorporated amazing lighting, but if you took away the recognizable vocal clips, you’re left with a show that flowed somewhat oddly.