If you happened to be near Colfax Avenue last Friday or Saturday night and felt some shaking in the ground beneath you, it was probably coming from the Fillmore Auditorium. The Los Angeles-based trio, The Glitch Mob, was proving why they dominate worldwide as one of the biggest names in the electronic genre. The tour followed the release of the group’s new album, “Love Death Immortality.”
Doors opened at 7 p.m. on both nights, and the bill was well rounded with some talented openers. The trap master, Salva, was a standout on the first night with some thumping bass lines and big drops. The growing crowd really got moving when he dropped his remix of Problem’s “Like Whaaat.” Ana Sia played after Penthouse Penthouse on night two, dropping some fresh house tracks with surprisingly deep bass lines that slapped the crowd with energy.
Both nights saw lengthy set changes of about 20 minutes before The Glitch Mob. After a lengthy buildup, four men pulled away a large black sheet, revealing the set, and Justin Boreta (Boreta), Edward Ma (edIT) and Josh Mayer (Ooah) took the stage.
A large LED screen hung in the background, which was filled with impressive visuals throughout the performance. Four large, raised bass drums, customized to look like pieces off an alien spaceship, were arranged across the back of the stage. Each artist also had a pair of snare drums by their side.
Every man was positioned one of three DJ consoles, each one combining a traditional controller and four programmed tablet devices. Each console was tilted forward 45 degrees to give the audience a clear view of what the producers were doing throughout the show, a unique and effective way of bringing the audience into the performance. The group turned up the energy quickly on Friday night with the high-tempo, high-energy track “Mind of a Beast” off the new album. On Saturday, they started things off with the older “Drive It Like You Stole It,” a song that exemplifies the classic Glitch Mob sound. The crowd was moving and the temperature was rising in the Fillmore.
For the most part, the same songs were played both Friday and Saturday night, a major disappointment to two-night ticket holders. Most of “Love Death Immortality” was played on both nights, but the group did a great job mixing up the order and injecting older hits such as “We Swarm.”
The fans went wild when they played their remix of The Prodigy’s “Breathe,” which features a dominant, crunchy bass line and chopped Prodigy vocals. The fast-paced track had the whole crowd jumping to the beat.
“Beauty of the Unhidden Heart,” a track off of the new album featuring the chopped vocals of Sister Crayon, only played on Friday. On Saturday, The Glitch Mob dropped their remix of Daft Punk’s “Derezzed” from the “Tron” soundtrack, a techno jam that made the fans feel like they were dancing on a motherboard.
The Mob had a great weekend, keeping the energy high and the crowd moving. The crowds of the Fillmore returned the favor, cheering the group back to the stage for three-song encores on both nights. The group also requested of both audiences that they put away their cell phones for the encore. “Just experience this,” said Boreta. “Be here with us right now.” The crowd cheered and most obliged.
The show let out at around 11:45 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, and masses of sore fans flooded out of the auditorium. The Glitch Mob has been around the block and created an energetic, engaging performance, which tops that of many other electronic artists. They will continue their tour through October at international destinations such as Paris and London. They are highly recommended for anyone who enjoys electronic dance parties.
