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Dover's own Cypher Clique helps kick-off Firefly 2015

Rob Kalesse/Delaware Public Media
Dover's Cypher Clique plays the 2015 Firefly Festival

Thursday marked the first time a band from the First State's capital city played the Firefly Music Festival. So naturally, Cypher Clique, Dover's own hip-hop trio, went on first, promptly taking the stage at 5:30 p.m., essentially kicking off the four-day music fest.

"I think the fact that we're from here, it makes it feel like we get to open up the festival," Michael Thomas, aka "Mic Anthony," said after their set. "And who better than a band that's from here to get things started?"

From the jump, it was clear that Mic Anthony, joined by Jamal James, aka "Relay," and brother Daryl James, aka "D-Major," were prepared to hype up the crowd and start the party early. Although only a couple hundred people stood by the Backyard Stage as the trio stepped on stage, within minutes, music lovers flocked to their sound.

"The crowd definitely showed a lot of love and was really excited," said Relay. "It was a great, great show, and I'd love to do it again. It was a lot of people and a huge stage, but I was ready to roll."

Cypher Clique, for the first time, got the chance to perform with a live band - backed by Dover’s 3rd Movement during their 30 minute set. The addition of drums, bass and electric guitar helped fill out the enormous space taken up by the Backyard Stage.

"[Having a band] really enhanced the show, more than having a DJ with head phones because of the instrumentation," said Relay. "It just diversified the show, allowed for some long breaks, and I think gave people who like rock and a full band the chance to experience us."

Mic Anthony agreed with his bandmate, adding, "Honestly, that was the first time [with a live band], and I can tell you right now, we're definitely going to bring them on for at least three or four more performances this year."

As the show went on, the sun began to peek out from behind the clouds, and the humidity began to rise. Despite temps in the low 70s, after performing their second track, "Apples, Peaches, Oranges," the trio were visibly sweaty.

"You know, we all work out a lot, and we hit the treadmill a bunch, so we can be prepared to really get the crowd going at live shows," said Mic Anthony, laughing. "But man, it was hot up there. I started drinking other people's water in the middle of the set."

The crowd reached more than 1,000 festival-goers as Cypher Clique continued their set, and most fans were jumping and raising their hands along with the beat. As D-Major, Relay and Mic Anthony continued to jump and run around the stage, it appeared that hip-hop might be one of the most physically strenuous genres to perform live, if done right.

"It's physical, sure, but I think you have to show the crowd that the adrenaline is pumping and you're committed to putting on a good show," said Relay. "If you don't, the audience knows it and they can see right through you."

Mic Anthony even confessed to nearly blacking out at one point early on in Cypher Clique's set, though not due to exhaustion or the physicality of the set. As he put it, "For the first two songs, no matter the venue, I kind of black out, because I'm just in the zone to perform."

Cypher Clique wound down their set with a rockin' version of their popular single, "Party and B.S.," which begins with the lyric, "There ain't a single weekend that I'm sober in Dover."

After opening Firefly Music Festival with a tight set, the Dover natives will likely remember this emotional high long past this single weekend.

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