(Photo courtesy of The Stakes)For some, football is treated more like a religion than a sport, and while everyone has their own unique pre-game ritual, there is one ritual that is universal to all football fans — the tailgate. Every true sports fan knows a tailgate is not complete without good food and good music.
Thankfully for those in attendance at Devils on Mill on Saturday, The Stakes, a local multi-genre band, provided the music part of the equation as the Sun Devils prepared to take on the Oregon State Beavers.
The local band, which combines multiple genres including hip-hop, soul, folk, jazz and funk seemed to pull off just the right mix, appealing to everyone in attendance.
Stakes emcee, Zeedubb, began the performance by declaring it "National Kick-a-Beaver Day" in honor of the Sun Devils, asking the crowd, "Have you kicked a Beaver today?"
The band was accompanied on stage by disc jockey Sac Fly, who mixed tracks during intermissions as well as DJ i-DEE, a rapper who occasionally traded bars with The Stake's two emcees, Lord Kash and Zeedubb.
Its set stretched over three hours long to amp ASU students up for the game.
The group, which has been together for over a year has played for numerous venues throughout the Valley, consisting mainly of bars. While the band says it loves performing at bars, the members unanimously agreed that playing for the pre-game event, Devils on Mill, is much more rewarding.
"I like that this event is all ages," The Stakes emcee Lord Kash said. "It makes for a cool atmosphere. Music is for everybody, not just the people old enough to get into bars. An event like this is more of an experience. It's like a giant house party."
Sun Devils of all ages were moved by the music. At one point in the show, 1-year-old Glorena Bailey, who was in attendance with her father, Rob Bailey, ran to the front of the stage and began to dance. Lord Kash saw the young girl's enthusiasm and said that, "Seeing this makes it all worth while."
As the performance came to an end, DJ Sac Fly and The Stakes drummer, Kevin Phillips, engaged in a musical battle that delighted the audience.
Members of The Stakes said they felt more than welcomed by the Sun Devils and were grateful for the opportunity to perform for them.
"The show we do is real hip-hop culture," Phillips said. "This event allows us to reach our target audience. Everyone here has a lot of energy and is school-spirited. We love that they allowed us to play here."
Reach the reporter at cmgaray@asu.edu and follow him on Twitter @ghost1effect
