Concert Review: Nero and Dillon Francis

With all the hype I've been giving Dubstep of late on the blog, I figure it was about time I practiced what I preached by attending one of these high powered, electronic shows the kids are going to nowadays. Basically my decision came down to two choices: @nerouk at the Electric Factory or @bassnectar at the Liacouras Center. I know, I know, why don't you just go to both you ask? Well, the thought of me not being as thrilled with the genre as a who popped into my mind pre-concert, so I decided a dip a toe in to check the temperature before jumping in.

And so after my traditional delicious pre-concert meal at Silk City Diner, I decided to go with Nero over Bassnectar. As a quick sidebar, I really don't like diners in general, but Silk City is more of a foodie ho tspot than a diner. Where else could you get a delicious Pan Seared Lamb Burger?? #MouthWatering. Anyways, truth be told, I probably couldn't have gone wrong either way, but Nero's event was not only scheduled before Bassnectar, I also wanted to try something different saw European electronica as the perfect deviation from the norm. Little did I know, I'd also get to see a pretty solid and well known act in @DILLONFRANCIS.

There were a couple things that I learned right off the bat when I walked into the @efactoryphilly before Dillon's set. For one, I confirmed that Dubstep/EDM/Whatever you want to call crazy electronic music there days is a genre of our youth. When I pulled up to a parking lot that was completely empty, I first thought there was something wrong, then learned real quickly that it was because most of the concertgoers were too young to drive. There's always going to be a form of music that's young and rebellious and it just so happens Dubstep has earned that stigma in 2012. It truly is fascinating to see so many under the influence teens just trying to have a good time tripping out on flashing lights everywhere you look. Another thing I learned is that college age is the cut off for the floor/pit. I had the patience to stick out being shoved and bumped for the whole hour and a half of Dillon's opening act, but me and my kinfolk were not going to endure another hour and a half of that noise. Sure, Electric Factory requires you to be of age to be upstairs, which partially accounts for the age differential, but I don't think it would be much different if they allowed the youngsters upstairs.

I'm not sure if you caught what I said a couple sentences ago about the length of the opening act too. Never have I witnessed such a long set from an opening act! Maybe it was a harbinger of things to come and an indication of my age, but when I looked at my watch and it was 10:30 with the opening act still on stage, I was a little concerned. Still, I can't hate one bit on the set the Dillon provided that was chalked full of drum and bass samples to go with the high powered Dubstep/Electronics.

Finally, just before 11 PM, Nero hit the stage to one of the more powerful concert intros I've ever witnessed. You wanna talk about a hype entrance that will make your eyebrows stand and your eyes glaze over! The sensor input alone is comparable to being 3 inches away from a computer while watching a kaleidoscope screen saver going 150 mph. Compliments to the sound guy too because when the music is so synthesized and electronic, it's easy to over-do it and border on causing hearing damage. Evidence of the quality sound was exhibited when the beautiful @alanawatson was able to deliver her high pitched vocals on their hit Promises without getting completely drowned out by the electronics.

My two favorite songs the entire night were without a doubt their performance of Must Be the Feeling(below):

and their mash up of Reaching Out with the Promises instrumental.

Reaching Out was far from my favorite track on Welcome Reality, but when you mash it up with one of their best songs, you might as well hit the elevator to the top floor.

When the concert finally starting wrapping up around 1230 or so, I felt pretty numb. And since I was driving it had nothing to do with booze or that Molly the kids are talking about. I truly wasn't conditioned to endure the 4 hours straight of electronic music with maybe 30 words being spoken and no breaks in between songs. I can appreciate good bass, which is why Dubstep is growing on me, but damn man, I felt old trying to stick out the craziness. Maybe it would be been a different story had I gone all ham sandwich like I wish I could have, but I probably still would have been feeling the effects of waking up at 6 AM, working 9 hours then having 4 hours of electronica pelted at me with a bass cannon. All in all, it was an eye opening, enjoyable rush of energy that I was happy to have experienced first hand. Next up @Skrillex...#Bamboozle