Category: Electronic

Disco Biscuits Unveil ‘Revolution In Motion’ At Webster Hall

To commemorate their first studio release in nearly 13 years, The Disco Biscuits staged a release party at New York City’s famed Webster Hall on March 29. With help from a couple of friends, the band played their new album Revolution In Motion from start to finish over two sets that spanned nearly four hours, much of it without a break between tracks.

Along with their typically incredible light show via Herm Light Designs, and corresponding animation from Blunt Action and Todd Kushnir projected on a screen behind the band, the album came to life and cemented its lore in Disco Biscuits history.

The sold out show had a buzz about it for weeks leading up, with the night having a slight bit of warmth to it in the East Village, ushering fans inside shortly after doors to secure a spot for a night that was years in the making. With the tracks from Revolution in Motion debuting since 2022, fans are well acclimated to the new material, as well as the depths of jamming that can unfold from any of the songs. Therein lies the beauty of what the Disco Biscuits have created in their ninth studio album, and not just the music – the story that intertwines the songs was revealed in full earlier this day, completing Part 1 of Revolution in Motion, with the band saving the day on the alien world Polyfuzia.

The band was joined by three special guests this evening – Erin Boyd added soul with her vocals on “Twisted in the Road” and “Why We Dance,” Matteo ScammellÂ singing alongside guitarist Jon Guttwillig on “Tourists (Rocket Ship)” and “To Be Continued…,” and guitarist Cloud Chord joining for “Tourists (Rocket Ship)” and “Spagaâs Last Stand,” which had keyboardist Aron Magner step out with a keytar for back-to-back playing alongside Cloud Chord. Guests for the Disco Biscuits are infrequent at best, and the three etched their names into Biscuits’ history as well as the fans memories.

In lieu of a song-by-song breakdown of the show, we encourage you to listen to the full show here on Nugs.net. The show is best enjoyed in full from start to finish, taking the story along with the music and explorative trance-fusion jams.

A full summation of the night, however, is best found from Brian Stollery, who offers the following thoughts on the evening that unfolded at Webster Hall.

In the kaleidoscopic carnival that was the Disco Biscuits’ album release show for Revolution in Motion, their first sonic odyssey in 14 years since Otherwise Law Abiding Citizens, the band once again proved themselves as the cosmic jesters at the crossroads of the Grateful Dead’s experimental psychedelia and the pulsating heart of modern analog techno’s transcendental oneness revolution.

Despite the show’s seemingly one-dimensional faÃ§ade, the Biscuits unfurled a rich tapestry of musical textures and ideas, a mÃ©lange of old school anthems and Gen Z deep house reverberations that were so audaciously mediocre they ascended to a peculiar echelon of brilliance, embodying the band’s signature blend of tongue-in-cheek humor and earnest musical exploration.

Among the cacophony, “The Deal” emerged as a transcendent hymn, a bizarre yet profound meditation on business acumen that captures the essence of the Biscuits’ ability to spin mundane realities into psychedelic gold, propelling the audience into a state of intellectual spiritual mayhem, where fun collides with the sublime in a spectacular explosion of sound and fury.

Disco Biscuits – Webster Hall, NYC – March 29, 2024

Set 1: Shocked > The Wormhole > Twisted In The Road > Another Plan Of Attack > Times Square >Freeze
Set 2: Tourists (Rocket Ship) > Spaga’s Last Stand, Who’s In Charge > Space Train > The Deal > One
Chance To Save The World > Why We Dance
Encore: To Be Continued

April 1, 2024
Bad Tuner Releases New House Single “repeat to fade”

Brooklyn-based DJ Bad Tuner has shared a new rhythmic single “repeat to fade” ahead of his EP Look At Me But Through Me, set to release on April 5.

With the single release and an EP announcement, Bad Tuner has also shared that he will perform a string of live shows this spring with a live show at the Elsewhere Hall in NYC on April 19. This will be Tuner’s return to the Brooklyn’s Elsewhere rooftop as he sold out the venue in May of last year.

His new single “repeat to fade” is also accompanied with a music video directed by a Baltimore-based cinematographer Patrick Elmore. Tuner’s”repeat to fade” is an anthemic house song, with immense bass and a brutally rhythmic percussion presence that moves in sync with the seductive vocals screamed back by high-pitched harmonies. The house single is a vibrant party song ideal for those who dare to be courageous on the dance floor, with vocals that have an alien air to them, while the percussion acts as an anchor to Earth.

Tuner shows an innate sense of depth and a distinctive style all his own in his new EP Look At Me But Through Me. The six-track EP incorporates unique twists on modern conceptions of UK garage, the sleek and deceptively syncopated productions of the lo-fi house scene, and glitchy hyperpop flourishes. Each of the six tracks embrace entirely eclectic soundscapes, becoming a portal into their individual, wondrous worlds. Look At Me But Through Me EP is set to release on April 5 via Foreign Family Collective / Ninja Tune.

Tuner’s new single “repeat to fade” is available to stream everywhere. Tickets and more information for the live dates and the artist can be found here.

Bad Tuner Live Dates

April 5 – (EP Release Show) @ Listening Room, Chicago, IL

April 19 – (Bad Tuner & Friends Headline) @ Elsewhere Hall, NYC

April 27 – Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO

May 3 – Monarch, San Francisco, CA

June 6 – The Spotlight, Los Angeles, CA

March 28, 2024
Music is Art Festival to Returns to Buffalo AKG Art Museum After Seven-Year Hiatus

The Music is Art Festival announced its grand return to Buffalo‘s AKG Art Museum after a seven-year hiatus on September 21 at Buffalo State University.

This year’s festival promises an eclectic mix of music, live performances, art installations, and interactive experiences. The Music is Art Festival has always been a beacon of artistic expression and cultural gathering in Buffalo. The festival showcases what the creative and bright community has to offer. The scenic AKG and Buffalo State campus provide a canvas for Buffalo’s artistic prowess and vibrance.

The festival includes various diverse musical performances of many genres, choreographed dances, dazzling art exhibits, and unique, original vendors. The festival also includes theatrics, interactive experiences designed to engage, inspire, and entertain attendees of all ages.

Over 100 bands and acts are set to perform. Hundreds of art exhibits are set to dazzle attendees. Various other games, performances and displays of artisanship look to encapsulate the beauty of multiple art forms at once.

“We are thrilled to bring the Music is Art Festival back to the AKG where it really grew into the encompassing event that it is today. AKG Buffalo and Buffalo State are not just venues; they are symbols of the rich artistic heritage and vibrant community spirit that this festival celebrates. We’re committed to creating an immersive experience that highlights the incredible talent of Buffalo’s artists, musicians, and creatives.”
Robby Takac, Festival Founder

For more information about the Music is Art Festival, including how to participate or attend, please visit their website at MusicIsArt.org/festival.

March 27, 2024
Excision Performs a Double Header in Buffalo

The Dad of dubstep himself, Excision, kicked off his two night event in Buffalo on March 19. Buffalo Riverworks got two shows on the famous Nexus tour which has steam-rolled not only the EDM world, but the mainstream music scene as well due the innovative production quality.

Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

Openers Bring the Heat

When Excision stops into town he is a master when it comes to putting on a performance. He brings out the best of the best openers that help curate that energetic environment he is known for. Night one started off high intensity sets from Jkyl & Hyde followed by LAYZ. LAYZ has been a continuing growing force in the bass music scene with her heavy hitting beats and new age sound.

LAYZ, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

Ray Volpe followed up with his set that only continued to fill Riverworks with more energy. Ray Volpe’s highly sought after ID “Laserbeam” is one that immediately gets the crowd raging. Bass music icon Eptic wrapped up the line of openers with his cutting edge baselines and masterwork song structures.

Eptic, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

This stacked line-up of openers paved the way for yet again another undeniably jaw-dropping performance from Excision. Of course this festival creator is no stranger when it comes to wowing the crowd. His booming success at Lost Lands each year goes to show his mastery at not only producing music, but producing a high quality show. It’s the reason Excision, also known as Jeff Abel, resides in the epicenter of an ever-expanding realm of bass music.

Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

This DJ legend opened up his set with visuals that outlined his famous “X” symbol as fans signaled out to him in the crowd. The suspense filled the room as the music intensified and Jeff took over the stage.

Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

The bass was booming that night as Excision played his numerous hits including “Name Drop” and “Titans.” He invited humor into his sets for those who are able to catch the memes he cuts into segments of different songs. One famous meme this producer always has in his set is “my name’s Jeff” from the movie 21 Jump Street.

Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

A New Age for Production

Countless people were head banging, opening up huge mosh pits, and grooving with flow toys. The insane energy at an Excision show can’t be replicated anywhere else. His visuals are are so advanced that even mainstream artists like Kanye are trying to figure out how to replicate the quality.

Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

Excision has implemented 3D visuals into his Nexus tour. This has taken the rave experience to a whole new level and is a must see. On night two he had one segment during his show where Shrek was seen dancing from a distance. Then as the beat dropped Shrek appeared to be popping out of the screen towards the crowd. This had fans wide-eyed and looking towards each other in shock. No one could believe how immersive the projections was.

Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

This made it even more so with Buffalo Riverworks assistance by allowing Excision to use the side screens so more people could relish in this renowned production quality. No other artists at Riverworks utilizes the side screens so it’s safe to say Buffalo holds a special spot for Excision.

Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

Excision may be the king when it comes to dubstep, but he also knows how to get people right in their feels. Every time he performs his collaboration with Illenium titled, “Feel Something,” it does just that. People were seen embracing each other and teary eyed as it played.

Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

Trying to describe an Excision show will never do it justice. So northeast music lovers take that drive to go see a stop on this tour. The Nexus tour has stops at Boston on March 24 and Cincinnati on March 27. Get your tickets here.

March 25, 2024
In Focus: Disco Biscuits at Empire Live

On Wednesday, March 13, a hungry crowd packed into Empire Live on North Pearl Street for the Disco Biscuits, currently on tour ahead of the release of Revolution in Motion, Part 1, due out on March 29.

The show marked a return to a smaller venue in Albany, instead of the Palace Theatre, where the Philadelphia trance-fusion pioneers have played 7 times, dating back to 2004. The 1,000 capacity Empire Live offered a club feel to the show, an underground vibe where fans of the Biscuits could gather and dance to nearly three and a half hours of live electronic jams. For a night, this was Albany, New York’s hottest club, and even with sightlines what they are, the crowd carried on and enjoyed the mid-week throw down late into the night.

Opening up with “Morph Dusseldorf,” the twists came early with samples of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” dropped into the nascent “Morph” jam, honoring a fan’s birthday request and offering a glimpse of untzgrass, at long last. “Triumph” slipped in next, giving way to 30 glorious minutes of “Save the Robots” leeching into the ending of “Astronaut,” giving way to an inverted version of the fan favorite. A resounding “Suspended in the Air” middle section of “Astronaut” was particularly blissful, while the ending section was peppered by another sample, this time Tone Loc’s “Funky Cold Medina,” with the middle-age crowd nodding at each other upon recognition of the now 35-year old song.

After a standard 30 minute setbreak, the Biscuits returned with “M.E.M.P.H.I.S.,” venturing out into a spacious jam that found its way into the end of “Naeba,” which would be the second inverted song of the night. The slow churn into the song, as well as the stretched out ending were disco bliss, had plenty of room for improv as well as to dance – this was not a coincidance.

A Tractorbeam version (instrumental) of recent debut “Dino Baby” followed and made way to “Another Plan of Attack,” the two songs being the newest songs of the night, following nearly two hours of old school songs. With sampling becoming commonplace this tour, another surprise in the form of “Hella Good” from No Doubt was found in parts of “Another Plan of Attack,” and while this could have been the end of the night, the Biscuits whisked their way into a 36-minute “I-Man” that had twists and turns and the crowd fist pumping along well past midnight.

An encore featuring the recently released “Spaga’s Last Stand” was all that was left in this deep tank of electronica improvisation, where we find the Biscuits at the top of their game.

The Disco Biscuits will be back in New York on March 29 at Webster Hall for the album release show, followed by two nights at Town Ballroom in Buffalo over March 30 and 31.

Stream the full show from Albany here on Nugs.

Setlist via Biscuits Internet Project
Disco Biscuits – Empire Live – Albany, NY – March 13, 2024
Soundcheck: Magellan, Wet
Set 1: Morph Dusseldorf¹, Triumph > Save The Robots > Astronaut^2 3 > Save The Robots
Set 2: M.E.M.P.H.I.S. > Naeba² > Dino Baby⁴ > Another Plan of Attack⁵ > I-Man
Encore: Spaga’s Last Stand
1 with ‘Jolene’ (Dolly Parton) samples
2 inverted
3 with ‘Funky Cold Medina’ (Tone Loc) samples
4 Tractorbeam version (instrumental)
5 with ‘Hella Good’ (No Doubt) teases

March 17, 2024
Chelsea Cutler Sells Out Radio City Music Hall

On the New York City night of February 23, Chelsea Cutler sold out her first ever Radio City Music Hall headline show. Nearly 6,000 New Yorkers wrapped around the Midtown blocks, adorned in Cutler-inspired sneakers, jerseys, and “vintage” Cutler merch. The energy circulating from city to city on “The Beauty Is Everywhere Tour” finally arrived in Manhattan, and it was well-received.

Photograph by Shauna Hilferty

The evening began with an opening performance from the New York City native group, Yoke Lore. Lead singer Adrian Galvin exclaimed how gracious he was to be on stage at “the most beautiful venue.” Galvin and drummer, Rafe Bouchard, warmed up the rapidly filling auditorium with their folk-pop discography. He sang crowd favorites like “Beige,” and “Shake,” and thrashed his limbs in a feral yet simultaneously elegant dance. Yoke Lore also performed one his favorite childhood songs, “Truly Madly Deeply,” which felt like an unveiled sentiment to playing at Radio City.

After Yoke Lore departed, Radio City’s iconic velvet curtains lowered to the stage floor. Behind them, stage crew shadows danced in a fit of productive motion, bringing Chelsea’s stage to life. It wasn’t long before the lights dimmed, hushing everyone’s conversations into a silence of excitement, and the curtains lifted to reveal the massive stage.

Photograph by Shauna Hilferty

White scalloped arches framed a platform with a miniature catwalk where a microphone waited at the end. A drum set, guitar setup, and Chelsea’s signature sound board accessorized the stage. Retro strobe lights at the base of the stage, casting long shadows over the audience while synth swallowed the space, and an intro-audio oding to the beauty in everything carried up to the mezzanine.

At the close of the audio, Chelsea appeared on stage. Her song “Something More” was the perfect opening song, and a great introduction to the yearn and desperation behind her record “Stellaria.”

Stellaria’s production grade is too large to be put in the confines of a single “type” of music. Chelsea really tapped into her personal writing style, and introduced her fans to the story-telling air of folk music. Instrumentally, the record is versatile – it relies on Cutler’s usual mastery of percussion and riffs, while also introducing more twang carrying sounds, and displays a phenomenal usage of synth. Radio City was the perfect venue to hold room for the performance of “Stellaria.”

After her first few songs “I Don’t Feel Alive” and one of her crowd-favorites, “Cold Showers,” Chelsea couldn’t contain her excitement. She stopped to acknowledge how “pretty fucking cool” it was to be playing Radio City. “It’s a Friday night in the city I call home! New York City, how are you doing?” The crowd erupted, charging Cutler’s amped energy.

Cutler spoke casually with the audience, like they were all just chilling together at a party she was hosting. “There are a few important things to talk about. One, I’m a bit of a sneakers girl, but tonight… I’m wearing loafers! Two, my mom just got a hip replacement and she is here tonight!” The crowd applauded Mama Cutler.

Photograph by Shauna Hilferty

On tour in celebration of “Stellaria,” Chelsea Cutler is fortifying her already established fanbase. Having been in the music industry since her college days, Chelsea is ever-evolving as a musician, bridging an experimental gap between genres. The community at the foot of her sound has only grown, as she’s planted her voice in the genres of folk-americana, pop, and continues to water her roots in electronic exploration. Her willingness to try something new grows her listener count album by album.

Cutler’s fanbase is composed of a large listener demographic. Fans of multiple genres, fans of all ages, and fans from the LGBTQ+ community. A Chelsea Cutler show has always been the friendliest and most welcoming environment, and it was heart-warming to see that energy occupying a notorious space like Radio City.

Photograph by Shauna Hilferty

The show rolled into some of Chelsea’s archives from albums “When I Close My Eyes” and “Sleeping With Roses II.” Songs like “Easy” and “AF1s” elicited a surefire singalong from the audience.

Sewn around two of her newer songs dealing with the weight of self-reflection “Hunting Season” and “Growing Up Is Hard,” were two of her older songs “NJ” and “Crazier Things,” two songs written with romantic grief. The parallel lines running beside each other added an intensity to the performance.

Halfway through the setlist, stage crew rolled out a rickety wooden piano and Cutler’s incredibly talented bandmates, drummer Michael Mason and keys player J.T. Becker stepped back to make room for an acoustic set that wrapped with her song “Hotel June.” Acoustic sets deeply favor Cutler’s flutey tonal ability, allowing her range to take up more sonic space.

The lights dimmed and the piano was pulled from the stage to make the transition into a different sector of her sound. When the lights flashed back into motion Cutler reappeared to sing two of her hits “Sad Tonight” and “The Reason.” “The Reason,” from “Sleeping With Roses” is a staple at a Chelsea Cutler concert, with one of the most electrifying instrumental choruses to ever drop.

After a few more tracks, the show closed with one of Chelsea’s most received single releases, “The Lifeboat’s Empty.” The seated structure of Radio City couldn’t contain the fans, as they jumped and pushed into the aisles. It was the perfect send off song, before Chelsea ran backstage.

Overhead, the lights turned on but Chelsea Cutler fans knew better than to assume the show’s over. It wasn’t long before reappeared on stage for an encore. She acoustically performed her most recent song of transcendence, “Your Bones.” The audience took matters into their own hands, singing the chorus as Chelsea sat back in awe.

Photograph by Shauna Hilferty

The evening closed with another track from “Brent,” “This Is How You Fall In Love.” The lyrics felt like an ode to her fans, her tour, and the earned chance to perform at Radio City. As the slow and melodic sound came to an abrupt close, Chelsea’s outro song “Paper Planes” took over the speaker and she exited the stage with the widest smile. The audience collectively sang along as they filed out of the auditorium.

Photograph by Shauna Hilferty

“The Beauty is Everywhere Tour” has been a true display of enjoyment, passionate songwriting, vocal maturity, and Cutler’s self-acceptance as a human being. This record has done great things for listeners and for Chelsea herself, and a sold out Radio City Music Hall is a symbol of that achievement.

The project behind this tour is a display of the cleanse that comes with the discomfort of acceptance. Acceptance of one’s self, acceptance of the mundane, acceptance of the past/present/and future. Acceptance sometimes feels otherworldly, like a transformance. This is what “The Beauty is Everywhere Tour” has been for Cutler – an artistic exploration of the space between one’s existence and their sound.

Setlist:

Intro/Something More

I Don’t Feel Alive

Cold Showers

Loved By You

Easy

AF1’s

Hunting Season

Growing Up Is Hard

Crazier Things

Men On The Moon

NJ

Devil On My Shoulder

You Were Good To Me

Hotel June

Sad Tonight

The Reason

You Don’t Think About Me At All

Stay Anything

Your Shirt

The Lifeboat’s Empty

Encore:

Your Bones

This Is How You Fall In Love

March 17, 2024
Kaivon Returns to Buffalo Bigger and Better than Ever

EDM producer Kaivon returned to Buffalo on March 8 performing at his largest venue to date in Western NY, Town Ballroom. The melodic bass artist got to perform is latest tunes off of his 2024 album Ultraviolet.

Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

Local talent Electric Dad and ZWAAN kicked off this night of future bass music. This was followed by Drezo. LA-based producer Drezo introduced the crowd to a style of G-House which pays homage to hip-hop elements. He brings those rap mixes that everyone knows blended with his bold beats.

Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

Then the transformative artist known as Kaivon brought an uplifted vibe as soon as he stepped on the stage. His visuals instantly give a euphoric feel especially with the use of colorful lighting.

Even though Kaivon is loved for his melodic heartfelt songs he still designates sections of his set for lovers of heavy dubstep. The way he can make people teary eyed from his mix of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For” and then headbang right after to the following song is why so many people keep coming back to a Kaivon set.

Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

Kaivon’s performance brings attention to the parts of life people love most. His set is meant to reconnect the crowd and bring a nostalgic feel. He does this through powerful visuals and several mixes of popular songs. Artists he mixed into his set included Paramore, Rufus Du Sol, The Fray, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

Finally getting to hear songs for the first time off of his sophomore album Ultraviolet was a euphoric feeling. Especially with the performance of “Pretty” which gets everyone in their feels with its angelic rhythm. This only grew more when he performed his throwback fan favorite song, “I Love You.”

Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

Kaivon’s shows bring a unique force to EDM culture. He is a reminder of why living in the present moment is so important. He creates a space that grounds people and invites people to reborn in a positive framework.

Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

These next few weeks are packed with EDM shows in Western NY that you don’t want to miss. INZO performs on March 15 and Excision has a double header at Buffalo Riverworks the following week. Get your tickets here.

March 13, 2024
WIRE Festival Returns to Knockdown Center, May 16-19

Plunge into a techno paradise in Queens from May 16–19, when WIRE Festival makes a return to Knockdown Center. This year, the event broadens its scope, delivering three days of non-stop pulsing beats.

On Thursday, May 16, festivities begin with evening talks in collaboration with the Resident Advisor, preparing the ground for an enjoyable weekend. Stage 1 is the Main Hall, where techno’s seminal and innovative acts perform. Meanwhile, Stage 2 is the scene of takeovers. This year, Wire has invited Berlin’s Mala Junta and Amsterdam’s Vault Sessions. These two European collectives will redefine techno in 2024.

A staple of WIRE, the Ambient Stage returns with exclusive sets from versatile New York DJs. As night passes, the stage delivers an extraordinary sound trip through artists’ collections. On Sunday morning, the outdoor closing session at The Ruins features house-focused DJs, offering an intermission from the nonstop techno beats. The outdoor house stage is a new addition that will expand the experience.

WIRE Festival – Photo by Bryan Kwon

With artists like Surgeon, Rødhåd, Boris, Oscar Mulero, and more, WIRE’s lineup is a techno lover’s paradise. With more than 30 years of experience, Surgeon embodies the energy, adventure, and individuality that define techno. The crew takeovers on Stage 2 carry on their tradition, pushing the boundaries with Vault Sessions and Mala Junta.

WIRE Festival is arranged by the team of Téa Abashidze, GeGa Japaridze, and Tyler Myers—the brains behind BASEMENT and the RUSH series. Individual day passes for WIRE Festival at Knockdown Center are available for purchase here, while the weekend passes have sold out.

March 7, 2024
Legendary French Duo AIR Announce Tour, Coming to Beacon Theatre

Legendary French duo AIR has announced an extensive North American tour to celebrate the 25 anniversary of their debut album Moon Safari, which includes two stops at the Beacon Theatre on October 21 and 22, 2024.

AIR live in Vienna by Chérie Hansson.

Similar to their recent European tour, which sold out in record time, AIR will be playing their widely celebrated album in its entirety for the first time. The band released the demo version of “New Star In The Sky” ahead of the digital release of the 25-anniversary deluxe album on March 15, featuring over ten cherry-picked Moon Safari audio rarities.

On Jan. 16, 1998, AIR released Moon Safari, an album that catapulted Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel to the top of electronic music’s ladder. Their sound – Fender Rhodes trills, loping basslines, and sensual yet playful vocal hooks – conjured the sensation of the masses.

Since forming the band in 1995, the prolific duo has released six albums in addition to their acclaimed EP Premiers Symptômes, the release of the aforementioned classic Moon Safari, and two soundtracks that sold millions of copies. AIR garnered an extensive list of worldwide accolades for their unique brand of downtempo electronic music.

“The hype was a violent experience,” reflected Jean-Benoit Dunckel, 25 years later. “AIR’s music is not accessible or easy to discern: The format is strange, the voices are strange, the subjects are strange. Even ‘Sexy Boy’ sounds strange. We were a duo doing some electronic thing, dreaming of selling 10,000 copies and being recognized by other musicians as cool. Then suddenly, we met the world. Personally, it took me time to see that we could be a big, important band.”

In short, Moon Safari was a nest of contradictions. Today, the record’s legacy is canonical, but its multi-million success was far from assured.

“This kind of bedroom music was all about fantasy,” says Nicolas Godin. “In my mind, I was picturing myself at Capitol Records, surrounded by all the best musicians, feeling like Burt Bacharach. In reality, I was in the fucking 18th arrondissement of Paris, with a sampler, singing into one microphone. But when your fantasy is so strong, I think it goes in the wires and through the speakers. The power of Moon Safari was to make people believe in what we believed in.”

While AIR’s precise alchemy and absence of geographical anchoring placed Moon Safari outside the grip of trends, the album intersected with the world below’s revolutions at precisely the right moment.

Through Moon Safari, AIR transfixed some of the great visionaries of the late 20th century — David Bowie, Madonna, Beck — as well as influencing preeminent aesthetes of the incoming age – including Charlotte Gainsbourg Kevin Parker, and Sofia Coppola. AIR helped fan the flames of a rare Francophilia which surged through the typically nativist British charts in 1998. Moon Safari birthed three hit singles in “Kelly Watch The Stars,” “All I Need” and “Sexy Boy,” which shifted over half a million copies in the UK and pushed AIR into headline contention at banner festivals such as Glastonbury.

25 years on, it’s not hard to alight upon why Moon Safari has stood the test of time. AIR’s unique grasp of pace and mood, surety of direction, and earworm hooks compelled the world toward it.

“To me,” Godin concludes, “Moon Safari is perfect.”

Presale goes on sale on March 7 at 10 a.m., while general tickets are on sale on March 8 at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased here. There are VIP packages and experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. Packages include premium tickets, an official tour poster, vouchers to the concession stands, and more. For more information, visit vipnation.com.

AIR PLAY MOON SAFARI

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2024

*Not a Live Nation Date

9/25 – Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre

9/27 – Seattle, WA @ Benaroya Hall

9/29 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum

9/30 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum

10/2 – San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic

10/4 – Denver, CO @ Bellco Theater

10/6 – Minneapolis, MN @ State Theatre

10/8 – Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre

10/10 – Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre

10/12 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall

10/13 – Montreal, QC @ Place Bell

10/15 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway

10/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met

10/18 Washington DC @ The Anthem*

10/21 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre

10/22 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre

10/24 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle

10/26 – Miami Beach, FL @ Fillmore Miami Beach

10/29 – Dallas, TX @ Music Hall at Fair Park

10/30 – Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheatre

March 6, 2024
Ben Silver, SM INK and CAUZEE Putnam Place

DJ and producer Ben Silver – best known for his work with Orchard Lounge, will play a solo set at Putnam Place this Friday, March 8, with B2B special guests SM INK and CAUZEE.

Presented by BRZY Studios and Putnam Place, the evening promises to immerse attendees in the deepest realms of house, techno, and downtempo sounds.

Supporting acts include SM INK, a rising talent from New York’s capital, and Cauzee, Albany’s own late night sound manipulator. Together, the pair will deliver back-to-back sets that blend minimal, deep tech, and house, guaranteed to keep the dancefloor energized.

Organizers of the show are also using the evening as a platform to help raise funds for Music Education. Working with the Ian McGuire Music Scholarship Fund (IMMSF), a raffle will be held, where participants have the chance to win a VIP package, which includes two passes for the event, two more for any future show at Putnam Place, plus a special “Spring Garden” vinyl record from IMMSF.

Proceeds will support music education, continuing the legacy of Philadelphia musician Ian McGuire. The Ian McGuire Music Scholarship Fund is dedicated to advancing music education for aspiring musicians. Established in memory of Ian McGuire, it aims to nurture the next generation of talent, reflecting Ianâs passion and dedication to music.

Doors open at 9:30 PM with the show starting at 10 PM. The 21+ event at Putnam Place showcases not only rising talent from Albany’s electronic scene, but also Ben Silver’s distinguished style, sets aiming to blend ethereal cosmic synths and refined rhythms, a craft perfected through years of national touring and club residencies.

For tickets and more information, visit theticketing.co/e/bensilver.

Find out more about Ian McGuire Music Scholarship Fund and contribute directly at ianmcguiremusic.org.

March 4, 2024

Built in Breakdance