Alumni Brings Electro to UCSB
The Steve Aoki Experience in the Hub
By Denny Directo / Films Coordinator
If you’ve ever been in the Hub at UCSB, then you know it will never be the same if you witnessed the return of UCSB alumnus-turned-disc jockey Steve Aoki this past month. The beat maker behind the growing music label Dim Mak Records appeared free of charge and brought new meaning to WARP. After deservedly rushing off Deejay Raph, who warmed up the crowd while Aoki mumbled his way through a merchandise signing sesh for fans, the UCSB alum quickly won the crowd over with the first few seconds of the synthetic beats of his smash hit (and Isla Vista favorite) “WARP 1.9.” With the help of an insane music system, the prelude climaxed, the beat dropped (“1, 2… woop, woop!”) and all hell broke loose. Needless to say, Gauchos knew what they were in for and the tone for the rest of the set was maintained by a trifecta of his popular hits, new and old. This was made apparent when one student was so “moved” by the beats that he scaled the rafters with the help of some friends.
Aoki’s calculated mash-ups between his major remixes such as “Gifted” by N.A.S.A. (featuring Kanye and Santogold) as well as the star-studded “Forever” by Drake, Kanye, Lil Wayne, and Eminem maintained the DJ’s electrifying opener but was arguably interrupted by the inclusion of some tunes from fellow label-mates. Tracks such as the Bloody Beetroots’ “Cornelius” and his electro remix of the Refused’s “New Noise” were lost in translation for a crowd riding (or rolling) the coattails of his most popular tracks. Still, by the second time the perennial stage spectacle leapt from his speaker stacks or spit a geyser of Gatorade into the sold-out crowd he was redeemed.
Any objective concert goer (who either undeservedly snagged the sold out ticket or were inexplicably dragged by their friends) would note the major constellation of light shows, snuggle piles, and the special few who’s pupils were the size of golf balls (kids will be kids), but Aoki’s set was something not to be missed.The show as a whole highlighted not only his emblematic style and eclecticism, but also captured the growing influence electronic music has had in the current music scene and party culture (especially in IV). The Hub provided the ideal acoustics and lighting for a heavy techno set, but also the intimacy of an underground rave. Aoki’s return to his old stomping grounds was uncompromising, fun, and in a word: EPIC.
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