RECAP: Major Lazer, Paradiso 27 April 2013

Diplo and associates stroke down Saturday night in Paradiso and took visitors to the most intense workout ever given outside the gym. This wasn’t a concert anymore.

Without a band or vocalists Major Lazer entered the stage. Their plan is an old fashioned rave, with all the trimmings. In 2009, Major Lazer, scored (when they were still a duo) a monster hit with debut album “Guns Do not Kill People, Lazers Do.”

The sequel “Free The Universe” is now in stores.

Both the critics and the audience praised the project and its creators Diplo and Switch for the ingenuity. Major Lazer has only one frontman now, producer Diplo.

A disagreement over the musical direction of Major Lazer, had decided Switch to leave the group. The mix of modern electronic elements with traditional dancehall rhythms still forms the core of the Major Lazer sound.

The evening started with a short openingset from Cashmere Cat. His fine blend of melodic R&B and dubstep was a good starting point for the audience, yet it wasn’t be able to prepare for what was coming shortly after.

ATTRIBUTES
Diplo, familiar with the royal festivities next week, is appropriate to wearing a bright orange suit. Before the starting signal is given, he shares a load of vuvuzelas. It would not be the only attribute of the evening. When the first beat dropped the room exploded. It’s Saturday night and everyone was prepared for a party. Major Lazer does not do ‘normal’ parties. What we get is a tightly coordinated Project X where everyone in the room is about to give themselves. Dancing is not only contagious, it is inevitable. The moshpit that forms the stage runs through to the back and covers at least half of the hall.

TOPLESS
Standing on a wall of speakers Diplo pulls his jacket and shirt. It is warm, that is certain, but that has nothing to do with it. He wants to see meat. With a bare-chested he calls to join everyone. Again, does not seem possible resistance. The shirts flying in the air, both of men and of women. Absolutely everything is taken out of the cabinet, including the successful implementation of the Harlem Shake, a sitdown, a bump-and-grind session of two dancers, and the necessary stage diving.

LADIES
Women respond to Diplo’s invitation to shake their ass on stage. With throwing money Major Lazer encourages the ladies. The advanced students are challenged to vibrate with legs in the air. The few parents who are present, presumably to accompany their child, undoubtedly experienced an uncomfortable moment. However, it remains harmless entertainment. And this party has no sour faces.

Major Lazer will be back on Queensday in Tivoli, Utrecht. Do you have tickets? Get ready for a great evening.