Bladee’s electrifying performance at SOMA with Ripsquadd

Before the night even fully started SOMA had a line all the way around the building, everyone wanting to get the best spot on the floor for Bladee‘s show. In just 30 minutes after doors nearly the whole mainstage floor was packed with an invigorated audience anticipating Bladee and his opener Ripsquadd. Ripsquadd is a collective duo comprised of Rip and Lusi, who are frequent collaborators with Bladee in the production of his music.

On the dot at 8, Ripsquadd came out to play a amped-up DJ set. With the combination of the precise authority over the music by Ripsquadd and the phenomenal lighting design it was a challenge to not be excited for what more is to come. No matter where on the floor you were it was impossible not to feel the high energy of the concert.

The ambient music during the intermission before Bladee’s set kept the audience on their toes with jumpy excitement, with many taking out their phones in an attempt to record his walkout. When the crowd spotted even just the flicker of security’s flashlight backstage they knew Bladee was walking out, the screams and squealing of fans instantly filling the room. The second Bladee started his first song of the set it felt like more of the shaking of the floor was coming from the jumping of the audience than the bass of the speakers. He played a long initial set of 22 songs into an encore of 4 songs. Every single song had such a large audience engagement it was a challenge to even pin a song as the audiences favorite. If I were to note one though, it would be the first song of the encore “Who goes there“. There were constantly hands in the air moving to the rhythm of the songs. The set design was another notable part of the night as I really liked the faux flickering candles and a book and quill that added to the entire shows ambience.