EDM Boston reviews the CNTRL Tour with Richie Hawtin at Rise from Halloween

By: Adam

While there were many acts coming through Boston on Halloween this year, one not to be missed was Richie Hawtin and his CNTRL tour gang in toe.  Of all the shows available for Bostonites to go to, this was one of the most traditional electronic acts playing other than Danny Tenaglia. Held at the after-hours club Rise, the EDM Boston team had a blast at one of the more unique and refreshing shows we've seen in a long time.

Rise is in the DJ Mag Top 100 Clubs for a reason. Their lights and sounds are absolutely incredible. Besides this, Rise is regularly open until the early hours of the morning (6am to be precise), something no other place in Boston does, allowing party-goers to dance until dawn. 

The venue is split into two floors, the lower level is a lounge and the upper houses the most underground dance scene in boston.  The upper floor is beyond dimmly lit and can be an intimidating area. Despite this, tucked to the right side of the dj booth is a room lit by tv screens displaying visuals.  We found this area to be the best spot in the upstairs as it had less people, freedom to move, and didn't feel creepy.

The crowd at this show was slightly different than what we expected from a typical crowd found at Rise. For the most part, the audience was full of people 21+ (mostly above 25), who were looking for a night to appreciate the sounds and techniques of these international techno artists. The College Tour that the CNTRL gang was trying to kick off seemed to be attracting less young people than they thought.  However, that didnt stop anyone from having a good time

Ean Golden started the night with a good opener and a minimal sound, followed by Paco Osuna, who had stronger bass drops to get the crowd excited. Loco Dice introduced a more acid house sound, which brought up Richie Hatwin. Each of those DJ’s each carried seamlessly off of the last one so that the music never slowed.

Previously known as Plastikman, the minimal house DJ from the early 2000's, Hawtin's sound is probably unlike any track you have heard being produced lately. As his set progressed, it literally felt like you were floating on waves of music. It might be simple, but it has generous peaks and troughs. Through the course of no more than a few minutes, you encounter new instrumentals coming in and out in a melody which was unlike anything I’ve heard before.

           

The CNTRL tour coming to town was a treat, and definitely something interesting to break up the electro-house sound that has been over-saturating Boston. While it may not be everyone’s ideal choice in music, these sets live were something to be deeply appreciated for any EDM lover. Be sure to check out all of our photos of the event at our Facebook page, and give us a like when you're there!