Concert Review: Tech N9ne

Independent Grind Tour
Pops – Sauget, IL

I’m not what you would call a typical hip-hop/rap fan. In fact, I can’t stand most of it.  Friends got me hooked on Tech N9ne a long time ago, but I was very resistant to even consider going to a concert.  I finally got talked into going, and the concert was absolutely amazing.  This show in Sauget, IL was the second time I have seen the Strange Music Crew, and they continued to amaze.

The History:

While I have never been particularly attracted to rap or hip hop music (aside from a brief Nelly obsession in high school that I’m not proud of….), I do thoroughly enjoy things that make me laugh.  It was for this reason I began to listen to Tech N9ne and the rest of the Strange Music crew in college.  Tech, Kutt Calhoun, Krizz Kaliko, and Big Scoob never cease to humor me with their lyrics.  They are generally offensive and humorous in nature, but often times it takes a few times through to get the clever lyrics.  I once told someone that Tech’s songs remind me of a Shrek movie.  The song is good to everyone…..but all the little kiddies don’t really understand most of it.  By everyone, I mean Tech fans.  By kiddies, I mean dumb people.I digress……What I did not know was that Tech N9ne and his crew are just as well known for putting on incredible concerts as they are for their quite humorous lyrics.

The first time I saw the Strange Music Group was on the Sickology Tour at Bogart’s in Cincinnati in 2009.  I went into that show expecting it to be a complete flop.  Any live performance I had ever seen before of hip-hop and rap has involved a massive amount of dudes who are screaming into entirely too many microphones.  Add in a little microphone feedback, and my ears are bleeding just talking about it.  However, Tech N9ne was nothing like that.  I was amazed at how they all sounded when they were on stage at the same time.  Somehow, this crew figured out how to rap together, in harmony, and make it sound great.  Their timing was perfect, their voices were complementary, and even their mini-dance routines looked cool.  I specifically remember looking over at a friend saying “WHY IS THIS SO GOOD?” I was shocked, surprised, and totally hooked.

However, Tech N9ne and I were in a lovers quarrel before the show at Pops.  My friends and I had been dying to see him since that show in early 2009, and all immediately bought tickets when he booked a date in Indianapolis on his tour in early 2010, even though he booked it at what we would later find out is the worst venue in the city.  He ultimately canceled that show because the sound system was so bad.  Problem is, he canceled the day of…..one hour before its start…..while we were all tailgating outside and pumped.  And THEN, when he booked his next tour, he didn’t give Indy a date.  Not happy.  I showed Tech who’s boss by buying a ticket anyway and driving 5 hours to see him on the Independent Grind Tour.  We no longer are arguing.  I apologized.

The Venue:
Pops is outside St Louis in a small town called Sauget, IL.  (As a small side note, we are still unsure how to pronounce this town. My group of friends has collectively decided on So-gay.  Partially because we think its French.  Mostly because it’s funny.)  Its a decently sized venue that immediately impressed me with its “feel”.  The walls are lined with posters indicating shows that have taken place there in the past.  The list of bands/groups represented was quite impressive, especially how many different genres were represented.  Apocalyptica to Lifehouse, Kottonmouth Kings to Flogging Molly, Mushroomhead to Anberlin, it seemed like this venue had no qualms having all kinds of different shows.  It was the kind of place that I’m guessing many now-famous bands look back on and have great memories from one of their first tours.  The PERFECT kind of venue for me….I’d love to go back sometime.It was easy to see why Pop’s did a great job of attracting the top tier of bands still playing at small venues.  The place was actually really well set up.  It had two bars, one on either side at the back of the room, that were easily accessible.  There was easy entry/exit, a huge, open standing area, and plenty of restrooms.  The staff was as friendly as you could expect after a couple of 24 ounce Bud Lights, and all in all, Pops really impressed me.  Most importantly, the sound was VERY well set up, and I would be interested to see how the audio equipment there stacked up against some of the other venues that I have been to that charge twice as much and have four times as many people.  Props to the owner of Pops.  (pun definitely intended)

For starters, I have to comment on the interesting structure that Strange Music shows have.  Its completely different than all the rock shows that I’m used to.  There are four people who all have their own songs, but its not as if they all do their own separate show.  The music never really stops, and theres no set change.  Once the show starts, its just 2 hours of music with various mixes of artists on stage at all times.  It reminds me of a hockey game.  If you blink, you’ll miss a complete line change.  The first time I saw it I was quite confused, but now I think it’s one of the most interesting things about their shows.Back to the show:  Tech always starts his own show solo, and opened with several songs that I don’t love, but fourth on the set list was Riot Maker, and by that time I was all systems go.  They group sounded great, and the lights and “show” was much better this time than it was last time.  You could tell that T9 is getting even better as a live performer and entertainer, which is impressive.  The crowd was also great….There wasn’t a single fan in the house that wasn’t stoked to see this group.  Most of the people there had probably been supporting Tech since his first few albums, and we were all PUMPED.

Back to the music.  Here’s quick breakdown of the show in the form of a list of the best songs that they did, in reverse order.

Honorable Mention:  Welcome to the Midwest, That Box, Areola, Bout ta Bubble – all GREAT songs, but nothing about this specific show that pushes them into the top 5.

5.  Riot Maker – I struggled to pick this over a song written about nipples, but this blog is supposed to be about the live show and not my personal favorites (the song, not nipples, although I like both).  Riot Maker probably wouldn’t make it on my top 10 Tech N9ne songs, but the way they do it live makes it one of their best.

4.  I’m a Playa – This is the song they closed with, and it was really cool.  The crowd was crazy, and I like this song because it involves all four of them being on stage at the same time.  Its the culmination of my amazement at how good they all sound, even when they are all rapping at once.  However, at the very end, some of the openers did wander out on stage, and the dude-microphone ratio did get a tad high.  Regardless, it was a great way to close the show.  I’m a huge fan of the one-arm pulse motion that takes place during this song.  I dont know how else to describe it other than its exactly like the Florida Gator chomp, without the bottom half.

3.  Caribou Lou / KC Tea –  I just straight love these songs.  I was so worried that because KC Tea came out, they would stop playing Caribou Lou live.  I mean how many songs can you sing about a drink?  Turns out two is the correct answer there.  They did sort of a mash up of these two songs and it worked really well.  I love how excited the crowd gets when they come on.  I do maintain, however, that both of these drinks would make me vomit from sugar intake.

2.  Einstein – This is my favorite song that this group has, so I could be a bit biased, but every show I go to I just cant wait to hear them do this song.  Honestly, at the risk of exposing this blog as worthless, I have no idea what makes this song so great live.  I think it has something to do with the amount of participation that the crowd gets into.  I also like the moves they do on stage during the song.  Difficult to explain, as “squatting bouncing towel flip thing” does not sound awesome.  It is.  Just trust me.

1.  Salue – What a perfect song for a bunch of drunk people!!  The lyrics say it all!  “All my people here we go, raise your cup and say Salue! LETS GET DRUNK IN THIS BITCH!”  I fully agree.  Lets do.

A few side notes about this show, and T9 shows in general:

1.  Refrain from taking pictures during the song Areola.  I’m sure you can guess why, but if not, I’ll just say that my friend Shane “disappeared” for the last few songs of the show.  We found him in the parking lot.
2.  Dean’s Liquor store, in Collinsville, IL is not only a cool liquor store with a super nice owner, but it is also in a dark netherworld that takes a cartographer and a wizard to find.  Resist the urge.  Go to the Walmart, even though it’s not on Google Maps.
3.  Don’t call Pops for directions.  When I called and asked whether I turn East or West on Monsanto Drive, the ever so kind gentleman on the phone said “Well, that depends on which way you are coming from.”
4.  Every time I hear the name Big Scoob, I think of Sweet Dee saying “Awww, you’re like a big round wizard!”  Anyone?

The Afterparty:
The real party this weekend was the pre-party, that involved several epic game of kings, some Bo Burnham, and me flexing my question master muscles.

As far as after parties, a Tech N9ne concert will take most of the energy out of anyone, but we did find a bit of juice left in the tanks afterwards to hang out.  A few beers on the way home, and a rather embarrassing trip to Steak and Shake where the waitress tried to sell us live chickens, and we were ready to crash.  Another great concert in the books!!