At the half-way point of his 2018 “Independent Grind Tour,” Tech N9ne conjured up his inner demons and unleashed them upon the thousands in attendance on Tuesday night. His “Pre-Halloween” performance at the House of Blues in Anaheim was simply brilliant and highlighted with exclamation points the incredible talent that this man possesses. Whether it be writing, rapping, or performing on stage, Tech N9ne continues to push boundaries that most artists would simply just avoid.
The first opener to take the stage on Tuesday was Fresno’s very own Anilyst. To say this guy was solid would be an understatement. Seff whipped the near-capacity crowd into a frenzy that would set the stage for the rest of the evening. After a raucous 20-minute performance, Arizona native Futuristic was up next. This guy was on fire during his 30 minutes on stage. And as fans were just beginning to catch their breath, Dizzy Wright took the stage and assaulted the crowd with a powerful set that literally rocked the venue to its core. This was independent rap at its best.
Finally, around 9:45PM, house lights dimmed and a short intro video signaled the start of Tech N9ne’s eagerly awaited performance. As the video came to an end, Tech made his way to the stage in an all-grey jump suit, black face paint (mirroring his look in the video), and kicked off his set with “Anti” (off 2015’s Special Effects). Energy levels were now at an “11” as the show got underway and there was no turning back at this point. Add some of Tech’s Bou Lou Craft Beer (in partnership with KC’s Boulevard Brewing Company), and you had all the ingredients necessary for one heck of a Halloween party.
Over the next hour and a half, Tech N9ne (along with the multi-talented Krizz Kaliko) put on a clinic for the now capacity Orange County crowd. Fans were treated to a mega-set consisting of 30 mind-blowing tracks such as “Welcome to the Midwest,” “Einstein,” and “Worldwide Choppers.” “Straight Out the Gate” (2013’s collaboration with System of a Down’s Serj Tankian) transformed the general admission floor into a swirling mosh pit, and fan favorite “Anxiety” calmed the crowd down—if just for a few moments. The show ended just as it began with a high-intensity encore featuring “Caribou Lou,” “Don’t Nobody Want None,” and “Hood Go Crazy.”
If you have been considering catching Tech N9ne on his Independent Grind Tour this year, make the call now and buy your tickets today. Tech is an absolute genius—flawless vocals, relevant lyrics, and non-stop energy from beginning to end. He brought it on Tuesday evening and showed everyone in attendance why he is considered one of the most incredible artists on the planet today.
DIZZY WRIGHT
FUTURISTIC
ANILYST
