Concert Review: Danny Brown Got The Moves, ALG Is The CEO and I Love Bruiser Wolf

Evelyn Lopez

Music Journalist

I have experienced a full-circle moment. Over a year ago, I wrote an album review for Scaring The Hoes Vol. 1, and on April 11, I heard some of my favorite tracks from this project live. This is my first concert review with my first media pass! I cannot express how excited I was to be at this show. As a fan of Danny Brown, this experience furthers my appreciation for his music, stage presence and contagious laugh.

The opening acts carried themselves with immersive energy. First on the stage was Detroit native Bruiser Wolf. Bruiser would say his name then point the mic to the crowd to have them repeat his name and encourage everyone to “WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!” Occasionally, I prefer to stand back and listen to the room chant, but Bruiser is so funny. His energy convinced me to join in too. Bruiser performed “I’m A Instrument” because the personality in his voice is unique and radiant just like an instrument. Whenever he got on the mic it was like watching stand-up slam poetry. I would love to hear Bruiser Wolf get into voice acting. I appreciate the animation in his voice and performance.

Bruiser’s rhymes are full of wit and out-of-pocket analogies. It makes sense that he would collaborate on Quaranta and work so well with Danny Brown. Similar to Brown, the music can get real. I always think the funniest people have the biggest hearts, and Bruiser showed that to me when he performed “Mama Was A Dopefiend.” The hook is catchy, and you get carried along in the beat and story. Bruiser loves his mama, and I felt the love after he took a minute to collect himself to perform such an emotional song. I even got to tell Bruiser how much I enjoyed his set after the show. He thanked me and gave me a sincere hug.

Next up was Alice Longyu Gao. Actually the coolest person ever. ALG stepped out in the cutest dress with bow details and got on stage next to their pink harp. I’m very new to Alice, so I had not expected to watch them play the harp as they sang “Let’s Hope Heteros Fail, Learn And Retire.” All I could think of while watching this performance was, “Wow, I needed this.” They gleamed with chaos and looked so chic. After this performance, I consider myself an ALG stan. The hyper-pop singer-songwriter is hardcore and full of vibrancy. 

During this set, a mysterious figure stood out from my peripherals. I turned to see Danny Brown in a gray, wizard-like cloak standing directly behind me. I did a couple of double-takes before I finally accepted my reality. I looked over, at my photographer with wide eyes and mouthed, “He’s right behind me.” We had just made a new photographer friend backstage as well, he was the first to say anything. “Sup, man,” he said, then went in for a fist bump. My partner and I saw that as a way in for a fist bump.

ALG wraps up, and Danny Brown steps in. Wizard cloak, platform boots and all. He opened with “Monopoly,” a crowd-pleaser for longtime fans who waited hours just to get to the barricade. He took us back to XXX, to Quaranta, and through Scaring The Hoes Vol. 1. Danny Brown’s fans are reciting every word from every era. Watching “Orange Juice Jones” and “God Loves You” come to life (without JPEG) is in my top five concert moments after this night. 

At the end of his set, he thanked everyone for their time and of course, we got an encore. “I am 43 years old. I’m in bed by 10 p.m., man.”. He may be 43, but he still has the moves. In the encore, he brought back Bruiser, and they performed “Y.B.P.” — an homage to their past lives as both rappers share their Detroit backgrounds.

Overall, my photographer and I had a great time at the show. We had our first experiences in the media section, which is now a core memory for me. I am excited to see what Danny does, whether musically or while guest-starring on local Youtube shows and cracking old-head jokes.

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