REVAMP RIFFS: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis @ 9:30 Club

All photographs by Deanna Saracino for REVAMP.com.

U STREET CORRIDOR -- The fast-rising sensational Seattle born rapper known as Ben “Macklemore” Haggerty and partner/producer Ryan Lewis played a sold out crowd at the 9:30 Club on Tuesday night and put on arguably one of the most exhilarating concerts of the year.

It’s not every day that you see an artist perform with such intensity like it’s their last show. Throughout the night, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis put forth an overwhelming display of energy. They captured the crowd’s attention and didn’t let it go.

Their sincerity throughout the night was refreshing. You could feel them soaking in every moment and never took the stage for granted. So proud of their independently produced, self-released album The Heist, (that is currently # 1 on iTunes) It’s obvious this isn’t just an album, but rather a personal journey of expression for them.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis might be best known for the message behind the music. The lyrical importance placed on each song is a direct reflection of why they have such a dedicated fan base. Singing about human rights, gay marriage, substance abuse, loss of friends, Cadillacs or shoes, nothing is off limits and everything has an inspiration behind it. The spectrum is vast.

The duo sent the crowd into frenzy when they played their hip-hop anthem “Thrift Shop”. No one seemed to care that Macklemore was rapping about something as ridiculous as hand-me-downs. He quickly borrowed attire from the crowd finding himself the most outrageous sequenced jacket and a very snug fur coat for Ryan Lewis. Regardless of your music taste it was impossible not to appreciate the simplicity of such a catchy song and fearless display of crowd surfing.

Macklemore got serious and the crowd couldn’t help but sing along when he played “Same Love”. He called it “the most important song on this album”. The heartfelt message of equality and pro-gay marriage left the audience with an emotional highlight for the night.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are in a class of their own and two of the most captivating artists currently on tour. They really went above and beyond to put on a show of a lifetime, which left most mesmerized and dripping in sweat from head to toe.