BLAZED AND CONFUSED WITH SNOOP DOGG, SLIGHTLY STOOPID, MICKEY AVALON, STEPHEN MARLEY, USANA Amphitheatre, July 20
WEST VALLEY CITY — The party lasted well into the night when the "Blazed and Confused Tour" hit the USANA Amphitheatre Monday night.
Headlining the show was none other than the Dogg Father himself, Snoop Dogg.
Also on for the ride was the reggae-punk band Slightly Stoopid and Stephen Marley.
Opening the whole show was brat rapper Mickey Avalon.
Avalon, whose set was peppered with samples taken from the likes of OutKast and Billy Squier, did his best to the get the early-arrivals into the mood.
His set actually started a little after 6 p.m., when the bulk of the ticket buyers were still en route to the amphitheater from work.
While the man is not on par with the likes of Eminem, his nasty-boy rapping struck a nerve with some of the listeners.
However, it wasn't until Stephen Marley hit the stage when things began to liven up.
Marley, who carried the torch of love, peace and unity, as his father, Bob, did back in the '70s, played a celebratory set that featured a couple of his father's works — "Three Little Birds," "Buffalo Soldier," "Could You Be Loved" and "Funky Reggae Party."
His original works included "Chase Them," "Mind Control" and "Lonely Avenue."
Marley was joined by his brother Julian during "Iron Bars" and stayed for the rest of the set.
Marley's high-energy set was the only real "Family-friendly" segment of the night.
The man's lyrics were void of profanity and innuendo.
That changed when Slightly Stoopid hit the stage.
The band — lead singers/guitarists/bassists Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald, drummer Ryan "RyMo" Moran, percussionist Oguer Ocon, saxophonist DeLa and trumpeter C-Money — blasted out their blend of punk rock and reggae.
Joining the San Diego band was reggae legend Half Pint.
"Sensimilla," a cover of UB40's "I Would Do For You" and "Runnin' with a Gun" were a few island-beat highlights of the set. The suggestive "The Way You Move" and "Freedom Fighter" had the crowd dancing in clouds of smoke.
By the time Snoop Dogg hit the stage, the audience was feeling all right. His trademark strut and smooth-as-honey delivery seduced the dance-ready audience.
A mix of new tunes including "Sexual Eruption" sounded tight and crisp as did old-school Dogg's "Gin and Juice."
After nearly 20 years in the business, Dogg, born Calvin Broadus, can still freestyle with ease.
e-mail: scott@desnews.com