The weekend’s biggest concert also happened to be the weekend’s biggest costume party. Deadmau5 orchestrated the Halloween bash at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on Saturday night, joined by Fatboy Slim, A-Trak, Tommy Lee and Feed Me.
The masked maestro, and really all of his openers, individually carry enough music and fans to have each had their own events that evening, but the combined force was exceptionally heavy.
A-Trak has been spinning for about half his life, and it shows when it comes to cuts. His stage setup was minimal, and steered away from over the top lights. A bottle of Corona and his signature cap accompanied him during the set which included the recent, and questionable hit, “Big Bad Wolf” from his other project Duck Sauce. Luckily, the music video which sent it viral didn’t make an appearance.
Fatboy Slim‘s age puts him outside of the so-called “rave generation,” but there’s no doubt he helped birth it. At 48, the Brit hasn’t slowed down a bit and neither has his music. Plus, “Praise You” is a classic song, even beyond the breadth of electronic music.
Deadmau5 assaults the senses. If the pumping synths and mountainous builds weren’t enough, there’s the visual component that only the Gagas and the Britneys can out shine. Thousands of half-delirious people in costumes can’t be wrong; it’s hard to be wrong when dancing like a maniac.
And when tickets to the sold out show were going for over $150, don’t be surprised when the guy next to you decides he’s not going to risk losing his spot to go to the bathroom. Besides, it’s dark in there, and those drops of warm liquid could have just been sweat, right?
A live set from Deadmau5 is more of an experience than a show. The glowing mask, the giant cube, the cult of worshipping fans; it’s hard to say which takes it that extra step. But like the night as a whole, it’s all of the awesome components brought together that does the trick.
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