Ogden Twilight: Killer Mike and Hippo Campus

Killer Mike • Hippo Campus • Bad Luck Brigade • August 8, 2024 • Ogden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Mark Daluz

Ogden Twilight hasn’t been pulling any of their punches when it comes to insane show lineups. Diplo, St. Vincent, and Killer Mike making an appearance to name a few. But this particular show has been a big mark on my calendar for quite some time. Having indie-rock favorite Hippo Campus and hip-hop star Killer Mike perform on the same day was one that initially confused me. I was eager to see it nevertheless. 

I hyped this show a lot to my friends and they too were excited to go see this lineup perform. We arrived at a sweltering hot Ogden Amphitheater but that wasn’t going to hinder any of the experience. Walking around the venue, we were treated to an already packed house of people. This was the first time in a while I’ve seen so many people show up so early into a show. But let’s be honest, Hippo Campus has a massive fan base here in Utah. I would soon come to know how big Killer Mike’s was too. 

Bad Luck Brigade 

I was at the Ogden Amphitheater a month prior so I had good footing with the venue. After munching down on one of the best corn dogs I’ve ever had, the music started playing. The first band that got to perform was the Bad Luck Brigade. I didn’t know anything about this band but we soon got to find out that they were a five-piece band from Logan, Utah! They have a jazzy hip-hop feel that resembles the Beastie Boys. The audience vibed along with their music and I was quite impressed with how big their discography was for being a new band. Bad Luck Brigade was chill compared to the rest of the acts but was a great way to ease into the show. 

Hippo Campus

Initially, I wanted to come to this show to see Hippo Campus again. I’ve seen them live twice before and both times we’re magical. I have only cried three times at a concert and one of those times was when these guys played “Warm Glow” in Idaho a year ago. When I made my way over to the pit, it was apparent that the people in the front were minutes away from losing their minds.

The last time they played in Utah was at Kilby Block Party 4 while only a year ago, is still a long time without their fanbase seeing them. Around 30 minutes after the Big Luck Brigade left, they came out from backstage and made their way to their mics. They were technically still “opening” so I guess they didn’t need to make a grand entrance. Either way, the crowd went haywire. All my friends were sitting down but once they heard the joyous screams of the audience, they popped off the ground to see them. As I made my way to the pit, people were pushing their way to the front. Even in the VIP area where there was very limited seating. It was a struggle to make my way to the pit with the sea of people.

They opened with the song “Poems” which was a great way to get things started. Most of their set consisted of songs in their new pop era like “Paranoid”, “Ride or Die’ & “Yippie Ki Yay”. But they also sprinkled in their classic indie rock classics like “South”, “Baseball”, & ending it off with “Buttercup”. Throughout the show, it was great to see every single person have eyes locked on them. Even when I was trying to make the best of my time in the pit taking photos, It takes a great band for me to put my camera time and relish the fact that great performers were right in front of me. Hippo Campus was a great time and my bias towards this band made me think this was going to be the peak of the show but boy was I wrong.

Killer Mike

Killer Mike was someone I only knew by name. I was familiar with listening to songs where he was in collaboration with Young Thug and Ty Dolla Sign. Even before coming to this show, I thought it was a little weird to have Hippo Campus (mainly an indie rock band) as an opener for Killer Mike (who focuses on hip-hop/rap). They have varying audiences and I thought the people who showed up were either there for Hippo Campus or Killer Mike. But the organizers knew what they were doing because this turned out to be one of the best concerts of my life. 

It took about 45 minutes to transition into Killer Mike but it was worth the wait. My friends and I were sitting down when all of a sudden we heard the calls of a gospel choir and the audience erupting. I didn’t know I needed a gospel choir at the moment in time but wow was it chilling. Those singers were the Mighty Midnight Revival and after shocking us with their talent. Killer Mike was introduced onto the stage who I assumed was his DJ and jumped straight into “DOWN BY LAW”.

I wasn’t the only one who was surprised by how amazing this start was. Looking at the people in the front row (who looked like they were there for Hippo Campus) we’re also gasping at the brilliance in front of them. Even when taking photos, I would be in disbelief at how cool and badass Killer Mike was with his aura and rap. 

Besides just the music and vibes, Killer Mike’s show was a powerful platform for social advocacy and thought-provoking messages. It was more than just a display of musical talent, it was a call to action for everyone there. Throughout the night, he addressed issues of politics, race, addiction, and social justice, making the audience think about the world around them and stand up for their beliefs. Killer Mike engaged with the crowd in between songs, sharing personal stories, cracking jokes, and expressing his gratitude for their unwavering support. His humility and authenticity shone through, endearing him to his fans even more. Just looking at the people around me, I could tell that they were having a spiritual awakening. I was also having one myself. One of my closest friends was crying throughout the show from how powerful his messages were. 

We had to leave a couple songs early to pick a friend up from the airport, but we walked as slow as humanly possible to soak in as much of the show as we could. During the drive back home, I felt a sense of euphoria that I have only experienced twice. When I first saw Jacob Collier and The Backseat Lovers. I never expected someone like Killer Mike to be added to that list but that’s the beauty of music. You never know when your favorite artist will show up. Since then, he has been added to my rotation and has gotten deep within his discography. I truly mean it when I say give Killer Mike a chance the next time he comes around your area! He won’t disappoint.