By Maxwell:
For electronic dance music fans, a well played DJ set is akin to a voyage of fantasy. In that fantasy, you are taken along a journey filled with emotional highs and lows in which the DJ unfolds a musical story customized to the crowds desires and expectations.
AcousticaElectronica brings the aforementioned notion to life and makes the figurative fantasy into reality. The newly created concept by ToUch Performance Art blends a live DJ set, by The Wig, with a theatrical performance, opera singing, and live musicians. It’s a hodgepodge of the arts never seen before, and only electronic music is capable of successfully tying together this myriad of arts.
The show left EDMBoston wowed that something this artistically avant-garde was bold enough to premier in Boston and return for a second go. AcousticaElectronica originally premiered during the Together Festival back in March. AcousticaElectronica brings something new to the EDM game that stretches the live music experience past an auditory experience to a new visual dance experience.
AcousticaElectronica leaves no doubt that you are entering an alternative experience from the moment you walk through the Oberon Theatre’s entrance. The performance hall feels like a traditional nightclub, yet you also know/feel like it’s a theatre. The confusing identity crisis subsidies as the opening DJ warms up the crowd on the open dance floor. Two go-go dancers entertain the crowd with draw dropping sexy manipulations of their body. The feeling in the room is dark and mysterious yet strangely inviting. Sexy house, minimal, and tech house tunes like “I Get Deep” (Joris Vorn This is Not A Remix) vibe throughout the room. While the audience is loosening up, Go-Go dancers expedite the process by inviting crowd members on to their raised platform boxes, in the middle of the dance floor to dance with them.The room is laid out similar to...
Royale; there’s a stage at the front with a large dance floor in front of it. In the back of the room is a bar on the ground level and above a mezzanine deck. To stage right is a VIP table section, which features an elevated slim stage behind the banquets backed with tall mirrors.
After approximately forty-five minutes from the doors opening, mysterious action begins happening in the room. While sitting down a mysterious young lady bumped against me, leaving a rolled up raven note. In it, it read
“One need not be a chamber to be haunted, /
One need not be a house; /
The brain has corridors surpassing / material place.”
It flustered us with chills of what on earth was going to take place at AcousticaElectronica
If one were wrapped up in conversation, or not paying attention, it would have been easy to miss these cryptic notes or other actions in the crowd. While not crucial to what was unfolding, it provided early drama and captivation.
“You F*cking bitch”
Screamed out a man in a bow-tied suit, as a woman stormed off. Was this the start of the show? It was confusing, yet gripping. The signaling of the start of the show wouldn’t come until two stage crew members moved the Go-go dancer’s platforms away from the middle of the dance floor and the lights went dim.
The music started and a white clad ballerina kicked off the show from the back mezzanine deck. She quickly made her way down a staircase and onto the VIP raised area. Before I noticed she was on top of my table making her way to the dance floor. As the ballerina’s act unfolded, we were greeted with a progressive house opera track which grabbed the audience’s attention and announced the beginning of the show with vigor.
The opening track’s composition blended house, classical, and opera music. After the show, EDMBoston spoke to the producer Colin Thurmond, about the music. He told us all the tracks played throughout the show are either original compositions or remixes that ToUch commissioned for AcousticaElectronica. This explained the fact that neither we, nor shazam, recognized any of the music aside from the famous classical music hooks. While this would be discerning to most, it was captivating and a breath of fresh. The music’s production value was second to none and The Wig, AcousticaElectronica’s DJ, played it well. In addition to The Wig’s set he joined forces with a live guitarist and piano player. For this reason, we’d recommend seeing AcousticaElectronica for its musical merits alone.
If one were wrapped up in conversation, or not paying attention, it would have been easy to miss these cryptic notes or other actions in the crowd. While not crucial to what was unfolding, it provided early drama and captivation.
“You F*cking bitch”
Screamed out a man in a bow-tied suit, as a woman stormed off. Was this the start of the show? It was confusing, yet gripping. The signaling of the start of the show wouldn’t come until two stage crew members moved the Go-go dancer’s platforms away from the middle of the dance floor and the lights went dim.
The music started and a white clad ballerina kicked off the show from the back mezzanine deck. She quickly made her way down a staircase and onto the VIP raised area. Before I noticed she was on top of my table making her way to the dance floor. As the ballerina’s act unfolded, we were greeted with a progressive house opera track which grabbed the audience’s attention and announced the beginning of the show with vigor.
The opening track’s composition blended house, classical, and opera music. After the show, EDMBoston spoke to the producer Colin Thurmond, about the music. He told us all the tracks played throughout the show are either original compositions or remixes that ToUch commissioned for AcousticaElectronica. This explained the fact that neither we, nor shazam, recognized any of the music aside from the famous classical music hooks. While this would be discerning to most, it was captivating and a breath of fresh. The music’s production value was second to none and The Wig, AcousticaElectronica’s DJ, played it well. In addition to The Wig’s set he joined forces with a live guitarist and piano player. For this reason, we’d recommend seeing AcousticaElectronica for its musical merits alone.
The production of the show took full advantage of the varied music The Wig played. Within his set was a smattering of House, Progressive House, Trance, and Drum and Bass. Each one of these tracks was used accordingly with the scene taking place at the time. For example, a dramatic moment in the storyline took place to an emotional trance piece and a fiery fight scene played out to the sounds of drum and bass.
If Electronic music isn’t your thing have no worries, AcousticaELectronica brings a variety of dancers throughout the show. One can observe aerialists, hula-hoopist, ballet, and modern dancers. The dancing throughout the show was fun and entertaining. Be it that dance isn’t EDMBoston fortay, other then watching a mesmerizing go-go dancer, we can’t comment about the level of skill that went into the choreography. However, we can say that AcousticaElectronica’s choreographer is trained at the New England Conservatory and went on a hunt through New York City for the best performers for her show. Nonetheless, we found the crowd enjoyed it and the average theatre goers would love it. While the aerialists were dynamic and fun to watch, iit was the drum and bass group that was wowing. They had suits with neon lights that were remotely controlled and turned on and off in tune with the music. Much like you’ve seen on youtube (http://youtu.be/-Rot9uaVO8s), these guys were awesome and fierce!
The best part about AcousticaEectronica is that the party never stops, literally. When the performance ends the DJ continues playing for two hours after the show for everyone to dance and have fun like in a standard club.
When we look back on what we observed, the show was overwhelmingly entertaining. The first thing you will notice at AcousticaElectronica is that there is so much going on during the show. Don’t be alarmed. We recommend focusing in one or two elements so you can fully grasp them.
For more about the show listen to a sitdown video ToUch Performing art Made with the Producers and DJ that put together AcoutsticaElectronica:
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