Zeds Dead Preview

Tonight is the night that many of us have long been waiting for, as Zeds Dead gets their fall tour started at Boston's own Royale Nightclub. The Canadian duo of DC and Hooks have been on fire in the last couple years, lighting up the festival circuit from Camp Bisco to Ultra Music Festival, and many in between.

Their Altered States Tour promises an exciting new chapter in their highly successful crusade that has ridden the crest of the electronic music wave that has swept over the country. While the pair has strayed from their dubstep roots over the last year or so, venturing more into the realm of trap, recent performances have included an interesting fusion of the two genres that has kept us guessing. ZD has been actively promoting the tour, with a twitter campaign using the label, #alteredstates, to get fans buzzing about what is in store, as well as releasing an hour-long mix, titled "Altered States Summer Mix




Following last spring's massive lineup of shows at Royale, we're incredibly excited to get back to business. Although the leaves may be changing, and the weather is cooling down, you can bet on it being hot as a summer day in Royale tonight, as Zeds Dead brings the roof crashing down!

Tune in for our review of the Zeds Dead show in the coming days at EDMBoston.com!!!

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UMass Amherst Cancels EDM Events on Campus

UMass has made an unprecedented move to protect students by banning EDM events on campus. NV Concepts had booked massive acts such as Above & Beyond were for October 4th and Pretty Lights for October 30. However, these events won't be taking place anymore. You can read the full email that went out to students below. We will continue to monitor the situation and let you know details as they come in.

A short time ago, the University cancelled the Return to Fantazia, an
electronic dance music event scheduled at the Mullins Center. We were
gravely concerned about a rash of MDMA, Ecstasy or Molly-related
overdoses and deaths in the Northeast related to these events.
Unfortunately, the factors that led to cancellation of the Sept. 21
concert have not positively shifted. In fact, we have grown even more
concerned about ongoing reports of overdoses at such events.

The Molly-taking culture at these shows is real and now exceedingly
dangerous to the health and safety of concert attendees. As a result,
the University is cancelling Above & Beyond, scheduled for Oct. 4, and
Pretty Lights, scheduled for Oct. 30.

While it is true that college students should be trusted to take
responsibility for their own actions, our administrative and student
leadership must also take responsibility for creating a safe and
positive environment that encourages and cultivates good
decision-making. That is ongoing work and critical to building a
community of care and active engagement.

We have broadly shared information about resources and promoted
campus-wide awareness on the dangers of Molly, an illegal, manufactured
drug banned by our Code of Student Conduct. For more detailed
information on Molly and its side effects go to
www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/mdma-ecstasy-or-molly, or
contact University Health Services, the Center for Health
Promotion,
Dean of Students Office or the UMass Amherst Police Department.

We know EDM concerts are not the only place a student can use Molly or
other drugs, but the evidence is clear that Molly use is closely linked
to EDM events. We certainly hope the deliberative process the
administrative staff and the Student Government Association took in
evaluating this matter highlights the seriousness of the issues and our
commitment to a safe university environment. The educational efforts
will continue. The campus-wide discussions on the use of Molly, alcohol
and other drugs will also continue. Despite the disappointment some
students will feel, we hope this is an opportunity to hone in on the
values that we aspire to as a community: care, civil discourse and
meaningful engagement in each other’s lives.

Students who have purchased tickets for the Above & Beyond and Pretty
Lights shows can obtain refunds at the point of purchase.


Enku Gelaye
Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life

Zachary Broughton
President, Student Government Association

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Zedd House of Blues Show Review

By Mike Hurowitz

As an overwhelming majority of Bostonians now know, German Dj, Zedd's show at the House of Blues ended in terrible tragedy. While Zedd's performance was truly memorable, we lost a member of Boston's vibrant electronic music community, and EDM Boston would like to extend its deepest condolences to anyone affected by the young woman's passing.

Although we in no way downplay the significance of this event, our community must move forward, and one of the most important steps in that process is to remember the reasons behind our passion for this music. I believe that had the tragedy not occurred, this show would have gone down as one of the best to hit Boston in some time. While it has received a tremendous amount of negative publicity, the show was a positive experience for most of those in attendance.

After a summer in which there was essentially one venue in the city that attracted major electronic acts, it was a welcome change to be back within the friendly confines of the House of Blues Boston. The building was packed near to capacity, and from start to finish, there was an atmosphere of excitement and electricity. With fans practically spilling over the railings, Zedd took the stage to a thunderous round of applause.

As the first stop on Zedd's Clarity Tour, we were among the first to witness his new high-grade production. Combining eye-popping stage visuals with impressive Dj skills, Zedd kept the crowd in a frenzy from start to finish. While hits such as his chart-topper "Clarity" were inevitably included in his set, he went beyond his own production to make it a true DJ set. He played tracks by house music giants such as Swedish House Mafia and Hardwell, as well as remixes and mashups of his own, lacing each track with his own original interpretation.

Displaying his remarkable ability to read his crowd and pick his songs accordingly, Zedd seemed to control the pulse of the crowd. While there were moments when it seemed like the roof would blow away, there were also melodic points in his set during which the crowed seemed to sway and move as one. During his encore performance of "Spectrum", the crowd seemed overcome with a sense of joy and togetherness.

While we can by no means disregard the tragedy that took place, we should use this opportunity to move in a positive direction, and focus on our love of this wonderful music. It is our responsibility to learn from these events, and move the community in a positive direction. And if we can harness the unity that was felt that night, I like our odds.

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