Bassnectar sets the tone of Fall 2012 tour in Greensboro

Photo by Ann Woo.

Bassnectar’s Fall 2012 Tour kicked off in Greensboro, N.C. on Thursday night, Sept. 27 and it was a banger, to say the least.

Doors opened at 7 p.m. but Bassheads were in full force, forming lines several hours before. The vibe was high outside the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, with fans exclaiming their excitement for the night to start.

From Bassnectar show first timers to veterans of years past, the variety of his fan base was easily noticeable. Paint was splotched on mostly everyone’s faces and bodies and Camel Bak’s were everyone’s best friend.

Charlotte’s own Styles N’ Complete went on at 7:30 p.m. and they stuck to fast beats and remixes of a variety of rap songs by Big Sean, French Montana, Lil Jon along with others.

It worried me just how much they weren’t using their stands. There is some negative scrutiny in the Electronic Dance Music scene, with fans proclaiming some DJs to “just press play.” Styles N’ Complete’s performance did feel like that.

While they showcase some talent, their set made me feel like the show was an opening of a new club rather than a concert.

Gladkill went on soon after Styles N’ Complete’s 30-minute set and he started his part of the night by saying, “I’m gonna play some pretty s**t for you guys.”

And that he did.

His sound is an idyllic and amazing mixture of trance, electronic and dubstep, with fusions of hip-hop.

It would be the soundtrack to a fairy’s life, and while it would be considered more as “late night” music, the crowd was loving track after track at 8:15 p.m.

Gramatik, the last of the opening acts, went on stage after Gladkill’s 40-minute killing performance and he was ready to get the crowd up to its full hype.

One thing that clearly stood out was the gradual intensity of the lights and visual effects by act after act.

Everyone in attendance would agree that there is no question on why Pretty Lights signed him to his label, Pretty Lights Music. Gramatik’s sound is so versatile and distinct – almost describable as the son of Daft Punk and Pretty Lights.

Some of the tracks performed during his set included a crowd favorite “Talkbox Intended,” “Fist Up” and “Solidified.”

His sound got more bass heavy towards the end of his set but the audience showed him love with roars and cheers through the entire set.

There was a brief break in between Gramatik’s set and Bassnectar’s to get the stage ready, and the crowd anxious with excitement.

Bassnectar opened the show with “Get It While It’s Hot” and boy was it hot. The entire room was shaking due to two reasons: the heavy bass packed tracks and the thousands of bodies that were moving as one in the shoulder-to-shoulder packed room.

“North Cack-a-lacky, how y’all doing?,” asked Bassnectar, aka Lorin Ashton, to the over-joyed audience.

Throughout the night, he played the perfect combination of his old classics and new ‘bangers.’ It’s incredible though – after all these years, he never loses sight of who he is.

Old and new tracks such as “Say Yeah,” “Weed Wid da Macka,” “Ping Pong,” “Ugly,” “Matrix” and of course his remix to Ellie Goulding’s “Lights” were played.

Bassnectar’s remix to “Lights” was popular last year, before Goulding’s regular version started getting plays on the radio this year. Bursts of confetti filled the air during the song with thousands singing along to the catchy lyrics.

He ended the show with “Open Your Eyes” and his set ended just as spectacular as it started. At the end of the Bassnectar show, as with any of his shows, Lorin likes to take “family photos” towards the end.

By midnight, the picture was taken, the confetti was on the ground and faces were melted. Lorin set the tone mighty high in Greensboro for the rest of his fall tour.

Category: Arts and Entertainment, Niner Times