The Animal House Tour was back in Baltimore last weekend, and bigger and better than 2013. With a stacked lineup, the night started early with one of our favorites, Ape Drums. No need to warm anyone up, this show wasted no time as the crowd was already waiting for the doors to open for the immediate start of the party.
Ape Drums started off the night at 8:00 p.m. He’s been doing his own creative things, and when the headliner, Bro Safari, gave him a shout out– it was like a giant confirmation that he’s been doing it right.
CRNKN took over the decks next, and seemed to be a little more relaxed with the mic and better mixing than when we saw him last year. CRNKN is great because you couldn’t possibly guess what he was going to play next– and when you try to, he surprises you with something completely different.
ETC! ETC! made his first appearance on the Animal House Tour. Without skipping a beat, he dove into doing what he does best– throwing down some bass heavy tunes. Even if Rams Head Live didn’t have the bass to really shake the place, they made up for it (kind of) with overall volume. Just like when you’re in a crappy car with a rattling trunk, and the best option you have is to turn up the speakers just to drown out the clatter.
DJ Craze took over his personal vinyl next, and did a quick level check for his mic and turntables. He is a performer first, but doesn’t sacrifice any part of the music to execute– meaning, he is scratching behind his back and spinning around in the middle of his show sometimes. His performance was really a great change to have in a show like this before the headliner, Bro Safari, came on.
Bro Safari seems like the nicest guy around. That’s what makes the tour diary videos from this year and last year so funny because they always act like he’ diva he is and how most people on the tour with him just do as he says and aren’t really cool with him. Because you know its a joke, that’s why everyone is on tour with him because he is awesome!
With hype-man MC Sharpness and a hundred Bro Safari foam glow sticks thrown into the crowd, the set was nuts from beginning to end. Bro Safari acknowledged the crazy crowd and special dance moves of some people on the balcony– the crowd was hard to contain.
Drinks were flying around, and even Bro Safari narrowly missed being hit by one. The audio control booth complained that they too were getting a free water shower anytime another tune dropped.
That bothers me too when you get hit with a fresh, freezing cup of water– but hey, what are you going to do? After all, it’s called the ANIMAL HOUSE TOUR!
