Macklemore plays ‘Best show of 2013, hands down’ at Michigan State University

By STEPHANIE ALLEN

Updated: March 20, 2013, 7:22 PM

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GVL / Robert Mathews
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis present The Heist World Tour at Breslin Center at MSU.

GVL / Robert Mathews
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis present The Heist World Tour at Breslin Center at MSU.

GVL / Robert Mathews
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis present The Heist World Tour at Breslin Center at MSU.

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There was no shortage of fur coats or thrift shop finds at Michigan State University Tuesday night, as thousands of fans packed the Breslin Center to see one of hip-hops hottest new artists.

And after MSU students broke out in a “Go Green, Go White” chant, amping up energy in the almost sold-out venue, Macklemore knew exactly where he was.
“I see why Magic Johnson went to this school,” he said to the crowd. “You guys are really f——— good at jumping.”

Even though he was in the “Freezing ass state of Michigan,” Macklemore said there wasn’t anything better than seeing the filled MSU arena.

“You people put goosebumps on my arms already,” he said after his first song.

Fans gave him the loud, Michigan welcome he was looking for at the show, which was sponsored by ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, making it his “Best show of 2013, hands down,” he told the crowd after.

About 6,500 of the 8,000 available tickets were sold, ASMSU director of public relations, Haley Dunnigan said. And with fans all the way up into balcony seats, the arena looked, she said.

All seating was assigned, which caused some issues when Macklemore asked everyone with floor seating to move closer to him.

“Security’s going to hate me,” he said, while people crowded around the stage.

And they did, stopping the concert halfway through to make everyone move back, appeasing the fire marshal, to which Macklemore said, “I’d rather rap, than make everyone go home.”

“Reserved seating in the floor area was out of our control,” Dunnigan said. “Due to safety concerns, it was decided that seating was to be assigned.”

Despite the seating hiccup, Macklemore continued to rap, and fans, including Grand Valley State University student, Eric Baumgardner, enjoyed the venue.
“I think the Breslin Center is an awesome venue, even though I am a Michigan fan, I can’t argue that this venue was electric and had a full house of screaming fans,” Baumgardner said.

Because the majority of the Breslin Center staff is MSU students, on-site police handled all security issues.

“There weren’t any huge problems,” Dunnigan said. “There were some alcohol related instances, but that’s to be expected.”

Most fans, including GVSU student Abbey Atanasoff, respected the venue staff and were there to watch Mackelmore perform.

“I wanted to go because I really love Macklemore and the fact that he has a strong message behind a lot of his songs,” Atanasoff said. “The concert was awesome. He had a great energy and really got the crowd involved.”

He tried to get everyone singing along with him, keeping the whole venue on their feet, especially during songs such as, “Thrift Shop,” “Can’t Hold Us,” and “Same Love.”

“The concert was amazing,” Baumgardner said. “He performed with a lot of energy and made it extremely fun and enjoyable and let his sense of humor play a role in his performance, which I really liked.”

He didn’t hold back at all during his encore performance of “And We Danced,” during which he wore a long blonde wig with a pink and purple sequined cape.

“He looked ridiculous, but it was hilarious, entertaining, and exciting all at once,” Baumgardner said.

arts@lanthorn.com

Published March 20, 2013 A&E, PageOne