This past Saturday, I had my first experience at Madison’s Majestic Theater. As a young person from the East Coast, I was at first uneasy about the art scene when moving to Madison, fearful that my surroundings would prove to be a little too Podunk to offer anything worthwhile. I was quickly proven wrong, however, by the countless and incredible acts that rolled through last year, including two of my favorites, Gramatik and Cherub, during the Age of Reason Tour. When I heard Cherub was making a second stop right at the beginning of the school year, I instantly bought a ticket and resolved myself to having a rad first semester.

There is nothing quite like the Majestic. It is intimate, old and located in a part of the city that feels actually urban. A few quick shots of tequila and I was ready to groove to the undeniable funk and fun of the Cherub experience. Arriving at 10:30, I had to wait a solid hour before the duo—comprised of Jason Huber and Jordan Kelley—made an appearance. As the audience waited, we jammed out to their opener, ProbCause. ProbCause—whose real name is Colin Grimm—is a rapper from North Side Chicago whose fame has been growing, especially since the release of his most recent album, The Recipe Volume II, on which he collaborated with Chance the Rapper. The set’s volume was off, as was the general vibe before a Cherub headliner. Despite this, ProbCause spit well and held the attention of a very drunk and somewhat restless crowd.

The clock hit 11:30, and the magic began. The two took the stage, and their lighthearted but exuberant energy radiated out and into the crowd instantaneously. Then, unexpectedly, Jason addressed the crowd directly, exclaiming how stoked he was to be back in Madison, saying “I love you so much,” right before dropping some new material that got the crowd bumping. It was nonstop boogie town from then on. Pulling tracks from their beloved Mom & Dad album and their latest EP, 100 Bottles, the pair played perfectly to the overjoyed crowd. The show was completely sold out and the love was palpable between the audience and the artists. Huber and Kelley asked the crowd to sing back the lyrics to their latest single, “Jazzercise ’95.” Before going in, Huber told the crowd to go online and access their music online for free. He urged them, once again, to “show the love.” Cherub was headlining this show after an extensive summer festival circuit marked by hype and a growing fan base, and their excitement showed.

There is something special about an artist’s come-up, more special than the security of fame when artists might potentially dismiss their own fan base. Cherub and their entire persona are refreshingly free of cynicism. In an August interview with Metro Jolt, a reporter asked Kelley if there was anything new in the works. Kelley responded, “Wanna hear something?” And just like that, the reporter was given a private viewing of Cherub’s collaborative and creative process, comprised of all new material. What cool guys.

At the end of the show, after giving props to ProbCause and thanking the audience for an awesome night, Huber confessed to wanting to see the Mayweather fight and asked if someone in the audience to host him and Kelley for a second round of fun. Then Kelley picked up his bass and strummed out the first notes of their final song for the night, “Doses & Mimosas,” to a cheering of the rowdy crowd.