Skrillex Lands At Navy Pier
By Robert Martin in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 20, 2014 7:30PM
When emo-kid turned mega-DJ Sonny Moore invaded Navy Pier last weekend, he left behind the wild theatrics that accompany most Skrillex shows. There was no mothership or Skrillex Cell in sight. While these expensive set pieces serve as a nice distraction, he doesn't need them. More erratic than an inflatable arm-flailing tube-man, the 26-year-old alone is a sight to behold.
Dropped in the hangar-like setting of the Pier's exhibit hall, Skrillex's Saturday night bass extravaganza further solidified him as one of the best live acts in dance music. The word "performance" is often debated when it comes to those who queue songs for a living, but Moore's work is more than deserving of the term. The energy he puts into his hour and a half on stage is capable of matching the intensity of the beats pumping out of the sound system at dangerous volumes. Watching him dance his ass off to these songs inspires everyone to get moving in a way that more DJs should aspire to.
In terms of engagement, Skrillex knows a thing or two about crowd control. Saturday's set list saw the bass man playing through his hits with less room for the deep cuts we have seen at smaller club shows. It was exactly what these kids wanted. Going to his back catalogue for songs like "Devil's Den" and "Bangarang" Skrillex remixed and tweaked these crowd-pleasers to give them a fresh feel several years later. Most of these remixes aren't available to the public, making the live show a distinct experience that can't be had listening to Skrillex any other way.
A$AP Rocky collaboration "Wild for the Night" tore through the room and Moore's hip-hop sensibilities prove to still be strong as he worked ILoveMakonnen's weekday-party ballad "Tuesday" into the mix shortly after. Recruiting A$AP Ferg to open the show also proved a tactical move in furthering the important relationship between rap and dance music.
Skrillex is simply among the best in the game. In three years of extensive touring as an electronic act, Sunny Moore has cheered up a bit and made us do the same. His excitement for the craft is infectious and if Navy Pier was any indication, he will keep audiences in his clutch long after the mothership makes its final voyage.