Gramatik at Royale - Show Review

By Mike Hurowitz

As electronic dance music continues to grow in popularity, the short attention spans that defines the music industry requires artists to continually strive for new ways to wow fans. With EDM involving at an ever-increasing rate, it is becoming clear that a significant way in which some artists are meeting the demand for innovation is by adding elements of live music into performances.

Last week Royale Nightclub got in on the live EDM trend, playing host to Gramatik. An up and coming artist currently signed to Derek Vincent Smith's label, Pretty Lights Music, Gramatik has been surging in popularity, coming off an opening spot on the Bassnectar tour to set off on his own. Alongside Gramatik was the producer and guitarist, F.A.Q.

Unlike many electronic shows, which rely solely on the DJ to get things going, Gramatik took a back seat for the first couple minutes, allowing a funky guitar riff from Eric Mendelson to get the show started. Mixing his production seamlessly with the guitarist, Gramatik's got into the mix, dropping beats that sounded like something of a fusion of Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, and the Lord Himself. As one man put it, leaning to shout in my ear during a particularly jazzy tune, "if you look up 'funky' in the dictionary, there's a picture of Gramatik!"

Perhaps the most special part of the show, however, was the fact that, apart from all the lights and music, there was a message behind the mayhem. During a remix of "Nexus", by Dr. Kucho, Gramatik displayed across the screen the message, "Stop Cispa", a reference to the movement to block a piece of legislation that many artists have decried as an invasion of our internet privacy. Another particularly moving part of the show came when the visuals displayed a sequence of flying through the streets of Boston, with the words "Boston Strong" displayed across the screen.

The show was a spectacle to behold. Gramatik left his mark on an ecstatic Boston crowd, many of whom had not expected as strong a performance as he gave. As artists such as Gramatik, Griz, Big Gigantic and more continue to prove to us the worth of live elements in EDM, we eagerly await what is in store!

Keep up to date on all upcoming shows with the EDM Boston Calendar of Events!