Image Courtesy of Rock on Philly
Seattle was alive on Friday night with Hotel Garuda in town. Along with SAINT WKND, Hotel Garuda came to The Showbox Theater on November 17th and put on an electric performance for their enthusiastic audience.
Over the past two years, the duo has received endless praise from every corner of dance music publications, dominating the HypeMachine remix charts and racking up millions of plays in between support from world-renowned DJs, festival main stage performances and more. So naturally I was itching to see them when I found out they were coming to my city.
When I arrived at the venue, SAINT WKND was already playing his music. The raw sounds of 20-year-old Maximilian Seethaler’s tycoon SAINT WKND fuses danceable mixtures of deep, tech and house beats with a subtle, tropical-like inspired round of evocative chilled indie sounds. He was a charming and handsome young man and I couldn’t help but smile at his charisma and energy while he played his music. As if he couldn’t get any better, I’m pretty sure he has Hedwig tattooed on his right forearm; maybe it’s just an owl but I would like to believe he’s a Harry Potter fan. SAINT WKND looked very happy on stage, and that is part of the reason I love live music, to see artists interact with their fans and with their songs is truly a sight to be seen.
Image Courtesy of SAINT WKND’s Instagram
The crowd around me was dancing and laughing and enjoying themselves. People come to The Showbox for a fun night out—there are multiple bars on site, which the 21+ folk enjoy. I, on the other hand, enjoy people-watching all the drunk people as I am not much of a dancer and I really prefer to stand, absorb the music, and observe the artists and my surroundings. I have made note that this is not exactly socially acceptable at EDM concerts though. I had a few strangers, rather rudely, point out and mock my decision not to dance. That is okay with me, I stayed standing and minded my own business, but it is worth pointing out that if you attend such concerts the expectation is that you dance to show your enjoyment of the music (or you could join me quietly in the back).
Hotel Garuda came on after SAINT WKND and was greeted warmly by the excited crowd. They used the Pioneer brand sound system to mix their music. After extensive research on this equipment I still don’t have a great understanding of how it works, only that these two men navigate their sound system flawlessly. They moved with and around each other very gracefully to produce music that was chill and exciting at the same time. They were very interactive with the audience; dancing and getting excited with them. It really makes the whole experience better, for me at least, to see them enjoying themselves and to see them be proud of the atmosphere they are creating.
Image Courtesy of electricsloth.com
I am never disappointed when I get to see live music. Whether or not it is “my scene” I always enjoy myself. I have been really trying to expand my music horizons and I am very happy with my choice to try some new things. With Thanksgiving coming up, I will be happy to share how thankful I am for KXSU and the opportunities it has given me to learn and experience new music as well as meet and connect with individuals, at concerts and on campus.
BRIDGET BENEVIDES | absorbing music like flowers absorb the sunlight | KXSU Music Reporter