On February 3rd, Colorado local SoDown put on his biggest headline show to date at Mission Ballroom.
Ehren Wright, also known as SoDown, is originally from Boulder, Colorado and grew up bumping hip-hop, funk, soul, and reggae. He’s been heavily influenced by the artist Pretty Lights, like many other music lovers in the Centennial State. He then went on to play opening support for Pretty Lights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in 2017. From there, his career started to take off.
Ehren’s distinct sound pairs uplifting saxophone with vigorous bass and vibey melodies. SoDown is also known for branching out into subcategories like SoChill, SoHeavy, and SoGroovy, which encompass the specific atmospheres Ehren aims to create. Some of his most popular tunes include “Cliffs,” “With You,” and “Alive.” In recent years, SoDown has risen to the top with album releases in 2021 and 2022. He continues to reach new heights, and his Mission Ballroom punctuated his rise in unforgettable fashion.
Josh Teed
Josh Teed opened the night, and many fans were excited to see him! Not only did he throw down a filthy experimental bass set, but he also perfectly mixed in some live violin. Josh did a fantastic job elevating the crowd’s energy and setting the mood for the rest of the night. He was a fitting choice for opener as he perfectly blends instrumentals and bass just as SoDown does.
Evaluation
Evaluation was the next opener, and few knew what to expect! He nonetheless smashed it with his set. Aligning with the merging of instruments and bass, he played a deep, bass-filled set and even shredded on a guitar. He made for a great addition to the lineup, and we love that he also mixed his instrumental talents with bass!
Jaenga
Jaenga, the next opener, is a Colorado local and fan favorite. Known primarily for his association to the infamous Deadbeats label, his presence is powerful in the Centennial State. Jaenga switched up the energy by bringing wobbly and bouncy tunes into the mix. He engaged the crowd by playing music from artists like Dirt Monkey and Boogie T with his own spin.
kLL Bill
kLL Bill, the B2B duo of kLL sMTH and Mr. Bill, was the last opener and they showcased a versatile set. The previous kLL Bill set in Denver took place at 1STBANK Center in August 2022, and many were excited to have them back! They delivered their usual eccentric freeform bass but also mixed in some bass house as well, which excited the crowd. Overall, they were an excellent addition to the lineup.
SoDown Set and Production
Per usual, SoDown crushed it with an amazing performance and production. This set was a perfect mix of heavy, soulful, and vibey elements with many new and unreleased singles and collabs! Along with older original songs like “Cliffs” and “Alive,” he played banging, new collabs with Inzo, TVBOO, and Ahee. SoDown also surprised the crowd with tracks that seemingly came out of nowhere, like “Blasta” by LSDREAM and Inzo, “Open Your Mind” by Big Gigantic and GRiZ, and CloZee’s remix of “Majesty” by Apashe.
The energy that SoDown brought to Mission Ballroom was undeniably through the roof, only elevated further with each saxophone solo. The production rose to the level of the music as the iconic Mission Ballroom disco ball spun and lit up all night! The evening was packed with beautiful visuals, perfectly synced lasers, and a confetti finale to close it all out. Whether it was your first time seeing SoDown or one of many, he gave it his all, and it showed through the screams of pure bliss that filled Mission Ballroom.
It was a truly uplifting experience to witness SoDown’s biggest headline show thus far with a phenomenal support lineup. It’s been a pleasure to watch him evolve as an artist and raise other emerging artists along with him! SoDown at Mission Ballroom will be a show for the books and we cannot wait to see what he and the supporting act artists have in store for the future.
Photos by Kyle Brim
