BOOKA SHADE @ The Congress Theatre

Booka Shade
Where: The Congress Theatre
When: October 23rd, 2010
Reviewed/Photographed By: Neil Miller, Jr.

The second and final night of the Deadmau5 shows held a special advantage over the first night – and that’s the inclusion of a real special guest, my native Germany’s own Booka Shade. No one quite does what this duo can both in the studio and onstage. They’re known for combining elements of Minimal, Techno, Tech-House, and whatever else tickles their fancy into a sound that is very much “Booka Shade,” as they so succinctly put it. Their latest album, “More!,” is a foray into territory that is much more upbeat than that of their last release, “The Sun and the Neon Light”. One thing’s for sure – the material on “More!” fits in perfectly with the rest of their live repertoire.

Even though Booka Shade doesn’t frequent American soil as much as we’d like them to, they’re a relentless touring machine across the globe and it shows in only one of their live sets. When you watch these guys, not only are you seeing an authentically live Electronic show, you’re also witnessing two guys who genuinely love the stage and their crowd. They smile and laugh the whole time they’re performing, never taking themselves too seriously – their fans came there to have a good time, and Booka Shade are there to deliver. Plus, it’s always cool to see someone playing an Electronic drum kit onstage.

Initially, I was concerned that maybe the Deadmau5 crowd wouldn’t take too well to this challenging duo. They make Electronic music for people who like their Dance music with substance – it provokes thought through the rich layers of sound they pile on top of each other, so essentially Booka Shade is more of the analytical Electronic music fan’s favorite act. Sure, on the surface, they make crowd pleasing tracks fit for any dancefloor. But it’s the progressive build of each track that sets them apart from the rest. They know that a four-to-the-floor beat for seven minutes straight isn’t always the way to go, so for a crowd who are used to that from their Deadmau5 and their David Guetta, it might be a bit challenging. Luckily, Booka Shade entranced their audience with classics such as ‘Body Language’ and ‘In White Rooms’ with no hindrance whatsoever. If one ever needed evidence of Booka Shade’s title as one of the best Electronic acts out there, a live set is all it would take to prove their worthy of the praise. This October Saturday night was likely a highlight of the year for many if only thanks to Booka Shade’s stellar live set. They can’t disappoint when they take to a stage – so if you’re reading this from a city they’re soon to hit, you have my word that this is likely one of the best Electronic shows you can ever see. It doesn’t get more live than this, my friends.