March 20, 2023
I had my first experience at Underground Music Cafe in Minneapolis Thursday night for 454 and MIKE’s concert. The crowd filled the venue with excitement before the show started. I walked in and took my position standing in the crowd. After a moment, I looked to my right and realized I was standing right next to one of my friends. We laughed and shared our mutual excitement for the show. I then looked to my left and realized I was also standing next to MIKE, who was hanging out near the crowd, laughing with friends and getting ready for the show to start.
The night opened with a DJ set from Niontay. The crowd was already dancing as soon as it started and it inspired me to get deeper into the crowd. Niontay’s set flowed right into 454’s set. He walked on in sunglasses and a hoodie on the cold, snowy night. He joked to his Minnesotan crowd, “I’m out here with no jacket, just a hoodie, walking in here, goofy as hell”. He kept the energy up and kept the crowd dancing along to his set.
I’ve played 454’s tracks in my own DJ sets before, so my excitement to see him was palpable. He has a unique and inimitable voice and everything I have listened to by him sounds fresh and fun. 454 had the whole crowd jumping up and down. This was 454’s first visit to Minneapolis. He was supposed to join Amine last year, but got sick and had to miss the show. 454 ended his set on his biggest song to date, “LATE NIGHT,” and MIKE was in the crowd dancing along and taking pictures of the set on his phone like a true fan and friend.
Next to grace the stage was MIKE. As he got set up, he talked to the crowd saying, “Not gonna lie I’m feeling a lot of love in here. This is my first time in Minnesota.” The crowd answered him with excited cheers.
The soulful beats and remixed samples that are signature to MIKE’s songs filled the room as his set went on. The DJ would occasionally pause the beats and you could hear the crowd singing to fill in the silence. It made for an immersive concert experience.
MIKE’s songs complemented the cozy atmosphere of Underground Music Cafe; the warm lighting, the long bar, and the New York-style exposed brick walls. Towards the end of his set, the groovy vibe of the song, “Crystal Ball” was a huge hit with the crowd, inspiring dancing and cheering. It seemed like everyone knew the words. There’s a lot of love for MIKE and 454 in Minneapolis. The crowd's excitement only grew from the beginning to the end of the show.
After the show, MIKE took a step outside and greeted fans as they passed him walking out of the show. MIKE, 454, and Niontay were all a part of the show all the way through. When they were not on stage, they were in the crowd, dancing, and having fun.
The whole show felt intimate and conversational even though it wasn’t necessarily a small show, with fans filling the room. It was the relaxed and fun vibes I expected from such great artists, and the friendliness of the performers and the crowd made for a great first experience at Underground Music Cafe.
