Lindstrøm @ Webster Hall -- May 25, 2012
Review: Damien
As an ardent rock show attendee, I'm always struck by the most noticeable non-musical difference between rock show and electronic/dance parties: time travel.
Let's back it up a little bit.
When plotting to see Norwegian producer / electronic musician Lindstrøm on the NYC stop of his short North American tour at Webster Hall on Friday night as part of the venue's weekly Girls & Boys dance party, I observed the long-practiced rule of showing up 30-45 minutes after doors were scheduled to open at to minimize the standing-around-filling-up-the-venue time prior to the first opener. As it turns out, that is very much a rock show rule - with doors scheduled to open at 10pm, I arrived shortly after 10:30 to learn that doors to the Grand Ballroom concert area weren't going to open until midnight.
Luckily, the inbetween time consisted of a pretty badass pre-party in the Marlin Room below the Grand Ballroom where DJs strung together poppy electronica with Keith Sweat remixes as concertgoers waited for the velvet rope to open up for Lindstrøm and the subsequent Simian Mobile Disco DJ set. This proved to be a smart move on the venue's part - partygoers loosened up to the beats as drinks were consumed and random girls in cat outfits danced on the side room's stage and bars, and as the crowd danced with increasing fervor it became clear that all of Webster had become a full-on funhouse outside the confines of time.
I got that feeling even before I somehow wandered down to The Studio in the basement to jump about as two other DJs dressed like extras from Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome bust out Hot Chip's new-ish single "Flutes" mid-set.
