So was last Saturday at Holocene a battle of the laptops? Not so much. Things got started with just a solo DJ in the foyer area in front of the bar. There wasn't a laptop in sight as he just spun with decks and there really weren't many people in sight either, let alone people dancing. Already open and going on for over an hour at that point, people sat at tables against the walls in conversation as a lone dancer took to the dance-floor. It was awkward.
Then Copy took to the stage. He who is "Portland's Best Band" according to Willamette Week played a set slightly under an hour in the regular portion of Holocene which hadn't been open prior. Breaking out his keytar and with the assistance of his laptop and some bright and lively logoed projections his set was fairly energetic, but sounded like a less-involved Metronomy. So much of the energy of his recorded output was lost on the dance-floor that was very near vacant, but also very near full. Full of all the people there, but because it was a less than half capacity crowd there were still many gaps, which on the upside allowed for some people to reach their dancing potential by being able to use the extra space in the process.
Very near midnight I spied Mr. Brace Paine, who introduced himself as Nathan, and talked to him a bit.
Finally MSTRKRFT took to the stage and eased into the sound that defines their debut album The Looks. Lyric-less dance music that instantly moved the masses. The crowd had filled out a bit more and now the only gaps on the dance-floor were those against the wall, spots previously littered with onlookers who had now joined in.
They were more house and club, rather than the electro that their myspace profile also pegs them as. Aside from a set heavy on lyric-less tunes, they also didn't communicate too much with the crowd, but it didn't too much matter either way. They certainly and undisputedly brought the cool.
After their set they headed over to Dunes to play their after-show party alongside Mr. Brace Paine from 2:30 on. I didn't end up going unfortunately as I was too cheap to shell out for a cab and caught the last bus home instead.
'Fist' Copy MP3
'Woman' MSTRKFT Wolfmother Remix MP3
Homework to seek and download:
1. Why did they form a DJ trio with Brace Paine?
2. What is that song I keep hearing on that commercial that sounds like DFA1979, but not quite?
3. Wait someone has remixed a MSTRKRFT song?
Homework hints:
1. What band is he who is Paine in?
2. Duh
3. The answer is in their myspace top 16 or 24 or whatever. . .
Love "Woman". I read your blog from time to time, but this post was the one that got me to put it on my bookmark list. Keep bringing the good stuff.
Posted by: Face | November 02, 2006 at 06:22 AM
Wow! Yay-thank you!
Posted by: Nilina | November 03, 2006 at 03:13 PM
where i met you! i was talking jazz about a zine. the show was highly anticipated and greatly enjoyed.
Posted by: rob | November 06, 2006 at 11:28 PM
they play this song at the gap i work at, one of the only decent songs they play, but of course im quite sick of it after hearing it 200000 times.
Posted by: mizzle | November 07, 2006 at 11:18 PM
sexy results mstrkrft remix is featured in a lot of commercials (verizon..). these dudes are so siiiick, it kills me.
Posted by: jessie | July 11, 2007 at 02:10 PM
MSTRKRFT are great DJ's! Thanks for the informative blog! I love that whole sound, like JUSTICE, BOYZ NOISE, DAFT PUNK, THE EYE CANDY TWINS, CASSIUS are all inovating as Dj's!
Awesome blog!
Posted by: Pablo Discobar | September 30, 2007 at 06:28 PM