Vegas. It’s the epitome of a great headphone headtrip, and it put The Crystal Method on the map of many an electronic music listener. Since it’s release in 1997, they’ve continued to produce, to record and to tour. Their tour touched down at the Republiq of Seattle on a Thursday, and admirably made an argument for a weeknight get-down.
Watching the club come to life over the course of the evening was a treat. DJ Lifeguard started the night to a fairly sparse crowd, still a bit too self-conscious (and sober?) to dance very much; the laser lights and smoke cascaded around, anticipating a point later in the evening when the mayhem ensued. The crowd loosend up and began to swell during Johnny Monsoon’s set, cutting loose and filling the floor by the end. Dancers also ascended to several podiums around the perimeter of the floor, enticing everyone to follow suit and dance harder. The Crystal Method transitioned right in smoothly and elevated the intricacy of the mix and the ebb & flow. Crescendoing to peak after peak in their mix, the crowd continue to fill the room and rode the crashing waves of sound around the floor. They have a super-energetic DJ style – jumping, hands in the air, yelling, intent on every little detail in the mix adding more. Their infectious belief in their sound drives the crowd. I love to see energy sharing between crowd and artist at a show, and the exchange was palpable here.
They have a few more dates coming, including Mardi Gras in San Diego and some NorCal dates in April. Check out their set, and plan to stay late – it only gets better as the night goes on.
