Reviews > Shows
Published: 2013/02/21
RJD2 at Brooklyn Bowl

RJD2
Brooklyn Bowl
Brooklyn, NY
February 9
Electronic jammer RJD2 can make you feel like the erratic star of your own existentialist-noir drama when listening to his music in digital formats, but a concert of his proves capable of a collective experience. On February 9th at the Brooklyn Bowl, Ramble John “RJ” Krohn broke his rabid concentration to grin with genuine glee as waves of merging beats crashed to cinematic highs over a crowd of dancing—really dancing—20-something Brooklynites. His easy showmanship and tightly controlled sound- and genre-manipulations pushed the music to an almost physical presence rather than lingering as a cool background score to a Friday night hangout.
Announcing himself onstage with a voice distorter and a full body suit/welding mask ensemble (it’s still “upgrades to the cock and balls region”), RJ made a quick wardrobe switch back into his usual modest polo. Then, along with a live drummer, he spent the next hour and a half darting back and forth between four turntables and a massive collection of vinyl to churn out extended jams of songs from his most recent album Deadringer and older beat-juggled 70s and 80s funk classics, producing reenergized cheers of recognition for “1976,” “The Horror,” “Smoke and Mirrors,” and “A Beautiful Mine” (his catalyst to universal fame after being fit to the opening credits of Mad Men. )
Because live shows are grounds to experiment, his faithful and sometimes dazedly monotonous adherence to RJD2 familiarity might be a flaw, but a highly pleased audience screaming along to show-closer “Let the Good Times Roll, Part II” kind of reevaluates that criticism. Hats off if I had been wearing one.
Relix A/V
Golden Bloom "Flying Mountain"
Golden Bloom stopped by Relix to perform a tune from their latest EP No Day Like Today.
The Chapin Sisters "Crying in the Rain"
The Chapin Sisters share an tune from their new album A Date With the Everly Brothers.
Night Moves "Country Queens"
Minneapolis-based Night Moves share a song from their record, Colored Emotions, live at Relix.
The Giving Tree Band "Brown Eyed Women"
The Giving Tree Band enjoy a spring day on the Relix rooftop, while performing a classic Grateful Dead tune.
Hayden "Blurry Nights"
Canadian singer-songwriter Hayden performs a duet with his sister-in-law Lou Canon. The song appears on Us Alone his first record on Broken Social Scene’s Arts & Crafts Productions.
The Milk Carton Kids "Hope of a Lifetime"
The Milk Carton Kids share the first song from their new album, The Ash & Clay.
Premiere: Ana Popovic "Object Of Obsession"
Here is the new video from Serbian guitar ace Ana Popovic. “Object Of Obsession” appears on her latest album Can You Stand The Heat.
Ron Sexsmith "Nowhere To Go"
Ron Sexsmith visits the Relix office to perform a tune from his latest record Forever Endeavor.
Latest Content
- Dame "Sugar Muffin"
- Dead Confederate: In The Marrow
- Interlocken Adds Widespread Panic and John Fogerty, Furthur to Play Workingman’s Dead
- Iron & Wine at The Beacon (A Gallery)
- The National "Don’t Swallow the Cap" on Letterman
- A Great Night in Harlem (A Gallery)
- "Friend of The Devil": Elvis Costello, Lyle Lovett, Grace Potter, Keller Williams, Ministry…
- American Idol’s Randy Jackson To Produce Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds
Comments
There are no comments associated with this posts