Crowd surfing, waving hands, screaming fans and those familiar rising puffs of smoke were the result of Zion I sending the Sac State audience into a frenzy with the hard hitting beats of Amp Live and precise lyrics of Zumbi on Thursday at the University Union Ballroom.

Sacramento rapper Random Abiladeze opened the show with two drummers, two guitarists, a bass player and a saxophonist. It was very refreshing to hear a live band in a rap performance. The saxophonist created a unique sound to the band as he played the main riffs of the songs and the occasional guitar or drum solo created a nice mix of rock and hip-hop.

Their fifth song of the performance brought back childhood memories because the main chorus was a variation of the “Inspector Gadget” theme song.

I really enjoyed when Random Abiladeze lived up to his namesake and sang a classic blues song towards the end of the performance, showing that he is skilled in various genres and styles of music.

Random Abiladeze said concert organizers UNIQUE made him feel welcome to the campus and Program Advisor Zenia LaPorte, is one of the best coordinators he has worked with.

Carlos Amaya, senior digital media major, said, “(Random Abiladeze) can pull off different aspects of music with such tenacity… he doesn’t drop a beat.”

Next on stage was San Jose group The Holdup. The band blends various styles of music such as hip-hop, reggae, pop and rock. I liked the mellow tones and catchy choruses of their songs. The Holdup sang about partying, drunk-texting and having a good time.

The crowd of several hundred people erupted when lead singer Mike Garmany began performing classic rap songs from the nineties such as “I Got Five on It” and songs by Notorious B.I.G.

The mob of people grew and drew closer to the stage in anticipation of Zion I after The Holdup left the stage. When emcee Zumbi of Zion I came running on stage he immediately sent the crowd into screams and cheers of excitement with his energy and charisma.

Codany Holiday provided back-up singing with his incredible vocal skills reminiscent of classic soul singers like Marvin Gaye. He also showed amazing vocal range as he wailed at the top of his lungs.

At one point producer Amp Live joined Zumbi at the front of the stage to play his beats live on a digital drum pad, which is what Amaya said he had been looking forward to the most about the performance. Although Amp Live played his beats live for much of the show, it was exciting to watch him come from the back of the stage and really showcase his skills.

Stephanie Marquez, senior public relations major, said she liked Zumbi’s interaction with the crowd the most.

Zumbi interacted by yelling out chants and speaking with the crowd about ideas like meditation and transporting your mind to another place. He also had the audience waving their hands, pumping their fists and clapping their hands to the rhythm of the songs.

I was most impressed when Spaceman Cell and Enzyme Dynamite from The Bayliens made a guest appearance on stage and started free-styling with Zumbi. I had to ask and make sure they were free-styling after the performance because the rhymes and flow sounded so good.

Zumbi, Amp Live, Random Abiladeze and The Bayliens came to the audience floor to talk with the crowd after the show. Zumbi was surrounded by a small mob of people trying to get pictures and autographs. The groups showed genuine interest in interacting with the audience, and it pleased me to see how friendly and approachable the artists were.

Although I do not listen to local indie music, the incredible performances of these groups and their motivation to connect with their communities left me with the impression that I should definitely start exploring the underground scene.

Tzahuiztil Sanchez can be reached at [email protected]