If you ask 10 Coloradan electronic dance music die-hards which group has the best laser show, you are going to get 10 resounding cries of “Savoy!” It is not up for debate; the electro-house trio of Ben Eberdt, Gray Smith and drummer Mike Kelly has a live show unlike any other in the genre. On Saturday, Feb. 15 the Brooklyn-based group stopped by the Fillmore for a sold-out show on the last leg of their nationwide “Get Lazer’d” tour.
Savoy’s newest album, titled “Self Predator,” was released in January, and is full of bass-thumping tunes aimed at moving a crowd. Savoy was formed in Boulder, Colo., so Colorado holds a special place in their hearts, and they are always well-received by energetic hometown crowds.
On top of all that, a day before the event, Savoy posted on their Facebook page, “Denver @ The Fillmore tomorrow!!! We are bringing the biggest laser setup we’ve ever used and maybe in the world… Bigger than Red Rocks ;).” The group is referring to their set during the second night of Global Dance Festival in July of last year. Needless to say, anticipation for the show was sky high.
Doors opened at 7:30 p.m., and house music played as the floor of the Fillmore slowly filled. An unnamed DJ took the stage at around 9:15 p.m. He played some textbook house tracks, which featured little more than drum loops, filter and phaser. Members of the crowd were heard comparing the set to banging on pots and pans. Boredom abounded. The fans wanted Savoy.
At 9:45 p.m. the Chicago-based underground dubstep/drum-and-bass producer, DotEXE, saved the crowd. DotEXE (real name Scott Stanley) is known for his killer remixes of popular electronic tracks, although he also has a sizeable vault of heavy originals. No set change was required, so he picked things up right away and got the people going.
Highlights of the set included remixes of some recognizable tracks such as Eiffel 65’s “Blue (Da Ba Dee),” Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So” and TNGHT’s “Higher Ground.” The fans were frenzied. Stanley also dropped his “Dopest Dope Remix” of Krewella’s “One Minute,” a banger that rode in the wake of Krewella’s skyrocketing popularity in the last two years. He also played a remix of Meg & Dia’s “Monster,” a track that reached viral status as it earned over nine million views on YouTube. His set was a great compliment to Savoy and ended at about 10:40 p.m.
The energy remained high in the Fillmore despite a lengthy 30 minute set change. Fans emphatically sang along when the house played the Gorillaz classic “Clint Eastwood.” The floor had a great energy, and the venue was packed from front to back.
With a dash of irony, every fan’s wish was answered at 11:11 p.m. as Savoy took the stage, which was adorned with three headless, naked mannequins, two DJ podiums on either side and an elevated drum set in the center.
The group kicked things off right away with “Perfect World,” a slow-building but powerful track from “Self Predator,” the album that clearly dominated the set. Four high-placed laser machines turned on and started cutting colors through the air of the venue, and the crowd went wild. They continued with “UGH,” “Five Stars” and “Mind Over Matter,” three bass-heavy electro tracks that got the venue bumping.
Savoy then played one of their more popular tracks, “I’m in Need,” a song that was released three years ago, but of which a new “MVP” version is featured on the new album. The song was met with loud cheers and a lot of movement. Then, unexpectedly, seven more laser machines kicked on when the song dropped, bringing the total to 11. Because they were placed lower, this brought the planes of light to inches above the crowd’s hands, an experience for which words do not do justice.
Webs of colorful light danced in the open space of the auditorium for the rest of the set, which featured almost every (if not every) song from “Self Predator.” Notable jams included “Cata,” a powerhouse of a track with a huge bass line and high synth stabs that features downtempo electronic producer LoBounce. Savoy also dropped their remix of Krewella’s “Come & Get It,” which marries their heavy dubstep drops with Krewella’s electro-pop precision.
The set ended at about 12:25 a.m., and it did not take long for the crowd to cheer them back onstage. “I cannot tell you how proud we are to be from this state,” said Kelly as they retook their places. The encore reached the height of energy of the performance. They began with “So Bad” off the new album, then transitioned into “Make Me Feel Good” from last year’s release, “Three Against Nature.” Savoy then finished off the set with their massive remix of Heather Bright’s “We Are The Sun,” a heavy dubstep jam that finished the night with a bang.
“That was probably our favorite show ever,” the group tweeted afterwards. The performance was absolutely spectacular, and the crowds left the venue with smiles on their faces and streaks of light still faintly dancing in their retinas. While the electronic dance genre can sometimes be a bit repetitive and bland, this show was refreshingly unique. Savoy’s unmatchable sound and unbeatable light show made the tickets worth every penny. If you are an electronic dance music fan, they are a must-see, plain and simple.
