Taking in a U2 show at a European soccer stadium, with a rotating stage and enough pyrotechnics to eliminate a small country, has its charms. But put me in a sweaty run-down house of music like the Kinetic Playground and I’m good to go.

Stepping onstage just after midnight, Zmick, a progressive rock, jam-till-your-ears-bleed foursome out of Urbana, IL, kicked off its set with the Dead’s “Eyes of the World.” Despite perhaps lacking originality in song choice, the tune glistened with newfound swagger as guitarist Brad Miller went into a warp-speed shredding of the high E string. With mouth open and aggression noticeably flowing through his body, Miller played the role of a sadistic dictator terrorizing his lowly servants as they watched attentively below. Thankfully, Miller was just showing his Gibson who was boss. Segueing into a reggae number (“Stay A Little Longer”), heavy on a doo-wop bass line from Dan Wonsover, the musicians began bobbing their heads in unison; an unintentionally similar, yet far less creepy tribute to Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan á la Night at the Roxbury. Factor in a Red Bull-infused crowd that had begun to shimmy in bubbly fashion to the loopy keyboard effects from Mike Donato, and the rage was on in full force at the ‘Playground.

Zmick’s strong suit lies not in its vocals but in its intricate and well-thought out jam sequences, kept particularly tight by drummer Kris Ahrens. A chilling rendition of “Billie Jean,” with the help of Jesus-stunt-double and guest vocalist Jaik Willis, gave MJ his due.

The jam scene, to many, might be predictable. Zmick doesn’t seem to mind. Laying down freeform sound for hours for its loyal followers seems to be reward enough for the blissful boys from Urbana.