You would think that after seeing Deadmau5 3 times in the last two years, twice in LA and once in New York, I'd seen it all. This last Friday, I was given another opportunity to see the Mau5 here in New Orleans. But this wasn't as easy of a decision to go as it has been in the past. Did I want to spend the money to go see a set that might possibly be just like the set I saw a couple months ago? There was no way the new Mau5 head was going to make its way to New Orleans, the scene here isn't worth it. Plus, early Friday morning, it was pouring rain in New Orleans and one of his facebook updates read "fuck being sick!." Great! Having not heard any new releases from him since For Lack of A Better Name and shitting my pants since I hadnt started studying for my finals that were this week, I was leaning towards not going.
But that didnt happen. Some little voice inside me said "How can you not go?" Curious to see what the EDM scene is really like down here in New Orleans and praying for him to play some of his new tracks from his upcoming album, I decided to go. Also, Insomniac was helping run the event, you know, the guys that put on the biggest and best events in Los Angeles. I had to go give them my support.
Here is how the night unfolded:
THE VENUE: The event started at 9:00 PM (thats what the ticket said) but we didnt get there till 11ish so I cant confirm. Upon arrival to the venue, the Contemporary Arts Center, I broke down laughing. It was your stereotypical hidden warehouse in the middle of the downtown business district. This was nothing like the events these days back in Los Angeles, but there is a first time for everything. It took us a while to get in (30-45 mins) but sure enough we got in before Deadmau5 was getting on. Once stepping into the venue, I was immediately hit by the stank and heat radiating from the center of the crowd packed in front of the stage. No ventilation + ~1000 people + building being made entirely out of bricks = WORST SAUNA I'VE EVER BEEN IN. It got so sticky and steamy in there that my camera lens kept getting stuck while trying to open. Thats not fog in the video's people, its pure nasty stank.
THE MUSIC: Luckily, the venue was the only crappy part of the night. I couldn't tell you who was spinning before Deadmau5 came on, but he was throwing down some nice house/ Dutch electro.
Deadmau5 came on finally at 1:00 am, with his blue Mau5 head (at least I was right about him not having the new LED Mau5 head with him). Right away he started hitting us with some heavy minimal beats I haven't heard him throw down before. After three banging songs into his set, the Zelda theme started to fill the room. I thought I knew exactly what song was coming next, but when the beat dropped, I was caught off gaurd. I quickly realized it was Deadmau5's new version of You Need A Ladder featuring vocals from Sofia Toufa (apparently the song is called Sofia Needs A Ladder).
Next came Moar Ghost n Stuff, and Deadmau5 decided to throw the Rob Swire vocals on top of that version.
The highlight of the night came after a couple songs. Deadmau5 laid down a rough smacking on the entire crowd by throwing down his version of Killing in the Name Of by Rage Against the Machine. His version tweaks up the bass riffs in the originals and adds some heavy electro synths to it without straying too far from the original. His song mixed right into the end of the original and had everyone going wild
Then came something I didn't expect at all from the Mau5. Blowing out of the speakers after Rage was some filth dubstep. The venue may have sucked, but the bass from the dubstep he was playing was blowing out eardrums.
Another highlight of his set was his new song supposedly called "Some Chords." This song was absolutely ridiculous. I assume it is one of the new tracks on his upcoming album (I HOPE). In my opinion, this is his best single since Ghost n Stuff. Deadmau5 and Wolfgang Gartner were recently in the studio together earlier this month, and I have a feeling this may be one of their tracks they worked on together. Regardless of if the Mau5 did this song by himself or not, its sure to be HUGE once released.
With about 20 minutes left in his ~ 2 hour set, Deadmau5 slowed things down a bit and moved into his famous progressive stuff (i.e. Strobe, Not Exactly, Arguru[the piano version]). Not being able to handle the heat anymore, my group and I decided to bounce with about 10 minutes left into his set.
Now that I have seen Deadmau5 4 times in the past 2 years, in 3 different cities, what did I learn? Just when you think you know exactly what to expect from Deadmau5, he proves you wrong. While it was hotter than Hades in there, the set is the best I have heard from him. I give him the utmost respect for powering through his sickness and delivering a massive set. All in all, Insomniac and Ampersand threw an incredible party.
2 more months from now I will be back in sunny Southern California, where it will be time to see Deadmau5 for a 5th time at Electric Daisy Carnival. Now THAT will be one HUGE spectacle. There is no doubt in my mind that he will have the same stage set up as he did at Coachella, including that crazy new LED Mau5 head!
