Steve Aoki, Head Hunterz, Caked Up, Austin Music Hall, Austin -

AUSTIN – PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR, the rave is on.

The line leading to the venue, meandered for at least two city blocks. Anticipation was in the air. Party-goers joined the line, waiting for their chance to enter their sanctuary of syncopated beats and high energy light shows. They came to party in paint and glitter, some in their tutus with flowing stars-and-bars capes, some in masks, bikinis, or thongs and hairy uggs. They were there for the show and, more importantly, to be part of the show. The venue staff was well rehearsed. Security was good, yet friendly, helpful in all ways.

The music began and the floor quickly filled to capacity. In total the mosh pit grew to more than five hundred revelers, energized by the pounding rhythms. The opening act, Reid Stefan, followed by Max Styler, set the mood, and soon the entire venue filled. The mosh pit extended upward and outward like an inverted pyramid. Music was non-stop. The flow from one artist to another was almost seamless. The pulsing beat was intoxicating. The floor, the walls, the building became one with the driving musical energy.

Caked Up started their set and took the experience to a higher level, standing and dancing on the mixing desk. The transitions between songs eased the audience, then a change of tempo and thumping bass jolted them back with increased intensity. With only a momentary pause for hand-off, Head Hunterz started his set. With measured skill the tempo slowed, raced, slowed, and raced again. One could notice the emotion of the crowd was being controlled by these clever manipulations. You realize that the difference between the opening acts and those that follow was focus – focus on music versus focus on audience. Head Hunterz’ set came to an end. The audience was spent. As the house lights came up for a short 15 minute intermission, a collective breath was taken.

Soon, the house lights dimmed, and a second wind revived the crowd. A chant began – Aoki, Aoki, Aoki…As if summoned by the renewed energy, Steve Aoki appeared on stage. Music blasted the audience; multiple video screens filled the room with color and imagery carefully choreographed with the driving beat. Confetti cannons fired, filling the air with even more excitement. The crowd went wild. Steve was singing, dancing, mixing, and driving the tempo. In a matter of minutes Steve threw a sweat-soaked t-shirt into the audience. Setting up a new spin on the mixer, Steve raced to center stage with a bottle of champagne in each hand. Anticipating what was to come, the mosh pit became a single-minded, thirsty creature. From one side of the stage to the other, Steve teased and taunted the audience. He worked them to a fevered pitch. At a crescendo in the music, champagne spewed into the waiting crowd. More, more, more…

The entire audience is now one finely tuned, synchronized dancing machine – arms waving, bodies jumping in unison. Steve, the showman, was not finished with this crowd. He returned to his mixer and dramatically slowed the tempo. With a pounding, near subsonic bass beat, part of the stage scaffolding began to move. Ten-foot tall robots danced to the front of the stage. Blasts of steam shot from the fists of each robot. The crowd was mesmerized, shocked at first, and then re-energized. The music reacted, and again, Steve was driving the dance tempo. What more could he offer? Rubber rafts appeared on stage. Randomly selected people were launched from the stage in their rafts and sent surfing over the mosh. Confetti cannons fired, again . At one point three separate rafts were navigating the audience sea. A wave formed in the back of the room and soon all the rafts were back on stage, emptied of their delighted cargo. Another sweaty t-shirt was thrown into the crowd. Surely, the crowd could stand no more. Once again Steve moved to the front of the stage. A sheet cake was tossed into the crowd, and more champagne was spewed to wash it down. More driving music and the show came to an exhilarating end.

This show was the premiere opening for Steve Aoki’s #NeonFutureExperience. All-in-all the show was well done. I have just one comment: Steve, if you are going to throw cake, get your hands into it and make a mess with it. The audience will be eating out of your hands.