CHICAGO | On Friday, November 15th, I saw electronic artist, Tycho, at the Salt Shed. Despite missing most of the first opening set at the Salt Shed, I am glad I caught the last song of the first opener, Brijean. Over a groovy electronic beat, the Los Angeles duo had a mesmerizing performance of live bongos (a first for me!).
Immediately after, it was time for Salt Shed to transform into a lively electronic club. With only the turntables and flashing moody lights, electronic DJ Pluko let the music speak for itself. People trickled in to form a packed GA section. I enjoyed watching from the seated section above the GA section, watching hundreds of bodies sway aimlessly back and forth to the music.
As the set progressed, the bass got louder and louder with every beat drop. You could feel the energy spreading in your body. My favorite part of the set was when he remixed the legendary MGMT song “Kids” with SOPHIE-style hyperpop laser sounds, ultimately manipulating it to be a dark dance heater. After 30 minutes, Pluko hopped on the mic to greet Chicago and show love for Tycho.
Pluko’s last few songs paid homage to classic EDM with a modern twist, remixing angelic vocals into energetic bangers. His closing song “Runaway” was a dance-worthy electronic song reminiscent of his entire set— upbeat tempos mixed with clear, fitting samples.
The stage crew swiftly disassembled the mountain of equipment left on the stage, while a buzz of anticipation filled the air for Tycho. A few minutes after 10 pm, Tycho came on with force. A disco ball illuminated the now fully packed Salt Shed while Tycho and his band blasted their artful music. It was my first time seeing electronic music performed with live drums, keyboard, and guitar, and it was riveting.
The entire show was filled with fun, playful visuals that paired with the music perfectly. Whoever created them deserves a raise! After playing a few songs, Tycho hopped on the mic to express his gratitude to the fans.
I learned the band took a hiatus from touring and this show was one of their first tours back performing. The house lights came on and Tycho was taken aback by the turnout, sharing “This is crazy” at his first clear view of the crowd.
As his performance continued, the crisp instrumentals married with the emotional electronic music, tugging on a distant feeling of belonging. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the concert and cannot wait to dive into their discography over the upcoming winter break.
