Sound Colour Vibration (Music | Art | Film | Technology | Science | Culture)

All photography and words from Oliver Walker | http://olivermwalker.com/

A day after their victorious debut on The Boiler Room, Low End Theory put on a show befitting the launchpad of much of the LA beat scene. The home base is a club called The Airliner, and on Wednesday nights weekly you can enjoy the likes of guests such as Jonwayne, Nosaj Thing, Teebs, or Daedelus. On the cusp of their six year anniversary was a special occasion as an earlier (somewhat) cryptic Facebook posting indicated a certain Flying Lotus would be playing. Thavius Beck just signed with Plug Research and this nights Low End Theory appearance was in part a celebration of the record he just dropped with the label The Most Beautiful Ugly.

After just wrapping up a backing spot to Animal Collective at the Hollywood Bowl, music fans were treated to Flying Lotus, live at Low End Theory, for ten dollars a head. The Gaslamp Killer just released his debut album Breakthrough and was powerful and concise, with a set designed around quite a bit more then some clever breaks. In between some Eprom, Jeremiah Jae, and Jonwayne, his set was clear minded and well thought out. D-styles played some more Bay area artists, and Nobody brought the night its hip hop element with some Watch the Throne, Mack 10, and Jay-Z.

While Nobody and D-Styles presented well done DJ sets, Daddy Kev and official headliner Thavius Beck presented experiences that approached electronic arrangements of fifteen or twenty minutes.

Thavius Beck had an excellent portion that sounded like some grime, Ennio Morricone and included a black metal drum track that I really enjoyed. Every time I thought the beat had filled up to the point of sounding overstuffed and the only thing to do would be to start something else, Thavius brought in some fresh element, whether it be some funk piano or other loop to complement what was already there.

Long curated sets are wonderful but there is also nothing wrong with spinning some fantastic wax. Nocando always proves to be essential for the evening breaking up the more hip-hop based sets with some free-styling or Q & A with the crowd.

After the residents and Thavius had played, Flying Lotus was on the stage. Coming to Low End right off the release of his latest full length record Until The Quiet Comes, Flying Lotus was a welcomed surprise for the dedicated core audience that frequents the club. Zodiac Shit was happening, reminiscent of the vibe of Fly-Lo’s work on Adult Swim. Steven Ellison had some Mortal Kombat fx’s queued up to drop into the mix and had a great introduction to “Putty Boy Strut” from G.O.O.D. Music’s recent single “MERCY.” In between a J-Dilla track, some Zomby, and a Radiohead homage, the crowd got extra rowdy. I’d never seen crowd-surfing or speakers getting knocked off at Low End before but I don’t really blame them. Flying Lotus’s underground hometown show and the headlining of a true veteran Thavius Beck was both musically triumphant and a deafeningly sweat-drenched party.

+++