5/4/13

Show Review: Dirtyphonics wsg Le Castle Vania at The Crofoot Ballroom on May 2, 2013




As the EDM bubble continues to build larger and larger, so do the different approaches to live performance. From 1-man dj sets, to EDM acts with live singing and instrumentation, and even twerkers and hype men, acts are constantly trying to change things up. Dirtyphonics accomplish this with a 4 man, high energy dj set. 

Up and coming French dubstep and drum and bass foursome, Dirtyphonics, performed at The Crofoot Ballroom on Thursday night with opening support from Le Castle Vania and ETC! ETC!. From the opening sample of Redman’s “Let’s Get Dirty”, the crowd knew that they were in for a special night of loud playing EDM music. The four pieced, Dirtyphonics, maintain steady energy throughout their live sets, the fact that they’re a four man group works to their advantage and allows them to come into the audience to stage dive, spray water on the audience, and even stamp the crowd (yes, with an ink stamper) throughout the show. They play their live shows using a CDJ or beatpad, which allows them to re-edit their songs live while playing them.  Dirtyphonics are currently on the road in support of their album Irreverence, which was released in March by Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak Records. Their set was highlighted by Irreverence tracks “DIRTY”, “Los Angeles”, which features Modestep, and their next single “No Stopping Us” which features UK based rap group, Foreign Beggers.



Dirtyphonics are comprised of members Pho, Charly, Thomas, and Pitchin, who all DJ and work the stage in unison. The audience became pure chaos when Dirtyphonics broke into their remix of the Skrillex hit “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites”. Dirtyphonics will next be in town next month as part of Belle Isle’s rock and dubstep heavy Orion Fest which includes Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bassnectar, Datsik and Borgore amongst others. The hard rock/heavy metal component was prominent during the show, as Dirtyphonics stopped to pay tribute to Slayer’s Jeff Hanneman, whose death had been announced earlier that day. The focal point of Dirtyphonics live show is “the crown”, a strobing four-pointed upside-down crown upon which each member claims a point. The illuminated crown is the foundation of their light-show.





Atlanta’s Le Castle Vania, aka Dylan Eiland, opened the show playing a fast-paced set to a still filing in crowd. On stage, Le Castle Vania exudes fun and boyish likability, you want to have fun because it appears that he's enjoying himself. His set included his take on Knife Party’s “Internet Friends”, Smashing Pumpkins’ “Zero”, Daft Punk’s “Around The World” and Kaskade’s “Turn It Down. LCV also included his original tracks “The Light” and “Play Loud” into his raucous, roughly hour long set. Le Casle Vania last made it Detroit as part of 2011 and 2012’s touring EDM-filled Identity Festival. Expect to hear more from both of these rising stars quite soon.