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The master of electronic hip hop helps Denver get their dance on
It takes a special DJ to not only be able to show off their spin and mixing talents outside the confines of the standard club, but then be able to attract a high volume of fans to come and watch you at a legitimate concert venue. Because let's be honest, a live show watching a guy stare at a table is less than awesome by a long shot. That is, unless said the DJ is a creator of a sub genre of music, as well as having the ability to create sounds and beats that overwhelm the senses. Enter DJ Shadow, long dubbed as the creator of instrumental hip hop. Most likely never referred to by his regular name, Josh Paul Davis has heavily influenced the hip hop DJ scene with the release of several of his albums, and certainly had no problem gathering an impressive crowd who were willing to simply watch a variety of programmed visuals which were projected on both a massive screen stretching the stage and his live DJ booth, called the "Shadowsphere," which was essentially a massive sphere with space for his tables and himself to play the set in. But judging from the crowds energized dancing and enchantment with one of their all time DJs, Shadow was doing everything right.
The band Pigeon John started off the evening, bringing a completely original and fresh sound to the crowd. Hip hop mixed with electronic beats, and the soothing female backup vocals helped the crowd get into the dance party mode. From the outside lobby of the Ogden Theatre, one could have mistaken the band for a typical hip hop outfit, but upon closer examination the band was able to mix creative lyrics and sounds with a heavy hip hop beat.
DJ Shadow didn't make his fans wait long though, and started his set shortly after the openers. With a brief greeting to the crowd, he retreated to his sphere to magically mix his beloved songs live. A wide array of creative visuals splashed across the background screen and across the "Shadowsphere." At times, wide angle cameras within the sphere would show the DJ doing his thing inside of the sphere, and then would blend back into another insane mixture of visuals. Within 30 minutes into the show, the sphere spun around to the opening where all could finally watch Shadow mix his masterpiece. He would take breaks here and there to explain how the concept had come about, and that Denver was one of the last places on his worldwide tour.
The show was a hit and the dance party went deep into the night!
