Devin the Dude at Fortune Sound
By Connor Brooks
Walking into Fortune Sound on a Friday night, one can already anticipate the presence and style that Devin the Dude – along with the cast of characters that he brings with him – is about to carry.
However, before the main act there are a total of 3 opening acts, all with their own appeal. Greg Beamish, the first act, is a good start, but unfortunately has his beats cut out at the end of his set. But in the spirit of a true entertainer, Beamish saves it with an impressively fast-paced freestyle. A fair ending, but his awkward starts and stops made it very close to a complete train wreck. HeatWave is the second act, with two backup guys on the mic. They definitely have great style, but seem more to be singing along to their backing tracks than actually rapping. The next act completely owns the stage: the roly-poly swagger of Clemm Rishad is definitely something the audience loves, with him screaming, “When I say smoke that, you say weed!” to the crowd, and of course, the crowd singing it right back. The large front man has the crowd going so well, if you didn’t know any better, you would think he was the headliner.
The thing is, the night has just begun. Because when Devin the Dude comes out with a booming, “What’s up Vancouver?!”, the roar of the crowd lets you know that something great is about to happen. Devin the Dude is every stoner rap fan’s dream. Half the show, he’s seen smoking a joint. He’s practically a Mary Jane magnet. Singing lyrics like “Who’s got weed? Pass that shit?” Genius. And his personality is just incredible. It’s clear that he’s having fun with the crowd, and the crowd is having fun with him. An audience member is seen giving him a shirt of his, and like someone who truly loves his fans, Devin wears it for the rest of the show. By the middle of the set, it could be the ten joints that are being passed around each corner of the room, but the crowd is pretty into it; the smoke could be steam coming off
their bodies. With songs containing extremely catchy choruses like “She Want That Money” and “Doobie Ashtray”, the fans enthusiastically shout each word, sometimes even to the more complex lyrics.
Something noticeably strange though is the DJ. He’s in the back doing practically nothing. Even more, he’s sitting down. Actually, it’s pretty clear he’s asleep. The DJ actually is actually sleeping! That wins the funniest moment of the night award, definitely. But despite the unconscious band member, the beats keep going, and they are fantastic. They range from very sexy and mellow to the hard and aggressive, a progression Devin pulls off with skill and finesse. The music stops at about 11 PM, with the star of the show giving his front row fans handshakes and hugs, as the rest of the audience presses forward to get a moment with the night’s
Overall, the Fortune Sound Club doesn’t disappoint. Great showmanship in all acts, and a fun atmosphere makes the night. An early ending, but one that leaves you wanting more. Of everything learned this Friday evening, one thing is for certain: Devin certainly is, in all ways, shapes, and matters of the word, The Dude.