Simian Mobile Disco // Robotic Pirate Monkey 5.31.12

OUR BLOG

Simian Mobile Disco // Robotic Pirate Monkey 5.31.12

Selene Locke
Jun 3, 2012
cervantes, Euphonic Conceptions, Robotic Pirate Monkey, simian mobile disco, Souls In Action

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Selene Locke

Selene has lived in a handful of states on both coasts, but she considers herself home in Boulder, CO. She studies International Affairs at the University of Colorado, and in her spare time, can probably be found at a show with her camera in hand. She's been shooting shows ever since she started her own music website at 16. Though the website didn't work out in the end, her love for live music and photography definitely stuck. Someone once told her that she has the "sluttiest" music taste they've ever heard of, which is pretty accurate – she'll listen to just about anything as long as it pleases her ears. Besides music, her four favorite things are red lipstick, whiskey, traveling, and Twitter. Follow Selene on Twitter: @selenemarya

The Music: Admittedly, we were a bit surprised by the pairing of Simian Mobile Disco and Robotic Pirate Monkey. Would RPM's deep, funky dubstep really mesh well with SMD's dancy, techno-influenced electro?

In short, yes. In a scene where dubstep tends to stick with dubstep and house tends to stick with house, it was refreshing to see two electronic artists sharing the same stage to express a different take on things. We dug it - after all, we'd much rather see a slightly mismatched bill than one where every DJ rehashes the same tracks during their sets.

The Crowd: We quickly realized just how lucky we were to see SMD in such an intimate, tight-knit setting, even just for a DJ set. It wasn't the overcrowded sea of bodies that we often find at a Cervantes show, but RPM and SMD are both acts that compel some heavy dancing, and it was obvious that the crowd appreciated the opportunity to move a little more freely. And believe us, they did - we saw some pretty great dance moves being busted out under Cervantes' famous disco ball.

The Scene: Everyone knows a great show isn't just about the music, and this one had quite a bit to offer. We absolutely loved the live painting going on at the side of the dancefloor - the bright, psychedelic airbrushing perfectly complemented the night's vibe. If that wasn't enough, the venue's video screens were flashing and pulsing with color all night as well, always changing but always in tune with the thumping bass.

Favorite Moment: Stepping inside from a quick cigarette break to hear the first deliciously echoey chords of SMD's "Put Your Hands Together." This was a personal favorite from their just-released Unpatterns (check out our short review here), and after the boys of RPM stepped down from the stage, it was a perfect taste of what the rest of the evening was going to bring.

All in All: Souls in Action and Euphonic Conceptions have both been bringing some very exciting shows to the table in Denver lately, and this one was certainly among the best. We're also stoked for the next time Simian Mobile Disco hits Denver for a live show - if their DJ set delivered this much, we're in for a serious treat.

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