Girl at the Rock Shows

Saturday was a ridiculously cold day here in Minneapolis. I don’t think the temperature ever hit an actual number and just hovered at and below zero. It was quite miserable, if I’m being honest with you, but I wasn’t going to let it stop me from spending my night out enjoying some amazing live music, including the completely sold-out Ekoh show at the 7th Street Entry. Although I had never heard of Ekoh or opening act Arankai before, I knew I was in for a treat just based on how packed the intimate venue was and the feeling of excitement that was floating through the air.

Arankai seems to have taken over the scene in record time. There’s really not much about this musician online, which makes sense given that his first show was just last month. Looking at his socials, all I can really tell is that Arankai did a great job marketing his music and merch before stepping on a stage. Although this is not a method that works for everyone, it clearly worked for Arankai because, within the first song of his set on Saturday night, he had the audience all kinds of worked up. The young crowd was singing and bouncing along to his harsh beats, as if their lives depended on it. It was a weird environment to be in, but one that fascinated me. I would like to say I definitely have a finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the music scene, but this one caught me off guard.

Stylistically, Arankai’s music isn’t quite my thing, but I get it. It’s intense and brutal. There were times when there was an almost noise influence to his sound that reminded me of Death Grips, but other moments that felt more like a standard hard-rock/metalcore band like Bad Omens. Again, not quite my thing and, when it came to the live performance, everything Arankai did felt slightly overproduced to me and like I couldn’t quite hear Arankai’s actual voice or sound, but the kids were into it and, with that excitement in the air, it was impossible not to lose yourself in Arankai’s extreme world. Being that this is Arankai’s first-ever tour, I think it’s safe to say that we can expect to see him on more stages, more frequently, as we move into the new year. I may not fully get what he and his band are doing, but the kids do, and they clearly worship this musician.

The same could be said for Ekoh. I’ll be honest, I picked this show to cover on Saturday night out of convenience. I was already covering the show happening just a few steps away at First Avenue, and I figured, why not check out something new at the same time? Sometimes this works out, sometimes it doesn’t, and sometimes it leaves me pleasantly confused. That’s where I landed on Saturday night– in the pleasantly confused realm.

The music of Ekoh (born Jeff Thompson) is a mix of Eminem and Linkin Park. Yes, I am aware of how bizarre that sounds, but trust me on this. There’s a rap element, but it’s an Eminem-style rap element. At the same time, there’s this sense of drama with slight electronic influences and loads of heavy guitars and drums as you would get from Linkin Park. The way Ekoh blends these two vibes and adds various twists and turns to the mix is nothing short of original and unique, and it is perfectly pleasant to listen to. The sound took me back, and although I have a feeling Ekoh is much younger than I am, it was great to hear him pay homage to the sounds of my childhood.

It wasn’t just the music that hooked me about Ekoh; it was the way that Ekoh and his backing band performed. Although the sound felt super produced like what we got from Arankai, there was something almost raw and vulnerable about it. I’m not talking about the overall sound. Sonically, Ekoh was nothing short of a kick to the gut, but there was this sense of tenderness that came from the way he performed. Whether that was the way Ekoh and the rest of the band silently interacted with the audience or just the aura that radiated from Ekoh as he sang certain lines and songs, there was something super genuine and from the heart that I was picking up on but couldn’t quite put my finger on.

I walked into this show without knowing anything about either act, and although there is still an air of mystery surrounding both Arankai and Ekoh for me, I get it. The music from both acts may not have been the perfect cut of tea for me, but it definitely opened my eyes to a whole new scene that seems to be taking the youth over one show at a time, and I can’t wait to see more and dive a bit deeper into it.

Line Up:

Arankai

Ekoh

Venue: 7th Street Entry

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 22

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Mosh-ability- 4 out of 10

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- $0

Broken Bones- None Noticed

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing

Fights- None

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 0

Idiots Taken Out By Security – 0

How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-

Arankai – 0

Ekoh – 0

Show on Deck — The Big Wu / Kiss The Tiger

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