Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "big beat"

The Crystal Method lights up Harlow's with electric show

2009-06-18T02:39:00Z

Twisting hundreds of knobs, playing several keyboards, and filtering sound through two Apple laptops, The Crystal Method worked at a frenzied pace entertaining the hyped crowd inside Harlow's on Tuesday night.

The diverse crowd donned sunglasses, earplugs, glowing necklaces and even light emitting shirts as The Crystal Method wowed them, distorting breakbeats to perfection and putting on a dazzling performance.

DJ LA RIOTS opened the show at 8 p.m. to a nearly empty dance floor. As the clock neared 10, the crowd had grown substantially in anticipation for The Crystal Method.

Nearly 150 people on the floor and 50 more in the seats cheered as The Crystal Method crept through ambient fog onto the small stage, making quite an entrance.

On the day of the show, rumors that the venue had changed from Empire Event Center to a smaller Harlow's were confirmed by The Crystal Method's Twitter and promoter, Brian McKenna. Switching venues turned out to be a plus.

"This many people at Empire looks like a disaster, but [at Harlow's] it looks pretty good," McKenna said.

As the band began its set, at least six people took out DSLRs. A unique light show offered opportunities galore for photographers to capture the band in an array of red, blue and yellow light.

The Crystal Method, a duo consisting of Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland, surrounded themselves with electronic music gear. They played a 90-minute set of their hit songs, each song flowing seamlessly into the next.

Each little piece of equipment, knob and keystroke helped to perfectly recreate the band's signature sound.

Several additional sound technicians added to the band's audio presence, including one who manned a soundboard with 50 faders the whole night. Another played the Australian didgeridoo, a tubelike instrument (see photo above).

Kirkland occasionally used a talk-box, a device which made his voice sound robotic. During one song, the two entered a call-and-response dialogue with their keyboards and knobs.

As the bass thumped, many in the audience waved their hands in the air and twirled their wrists in circles. Illuminated by white, purple and pink lights, the audience lit up but never let up.

"Thanks so much Sactown," Kirkland screamed near the end of the show. "It's good to be back."

"Shout-out to my parents!" added Jordan, who pointed at his parents in the audience.

Tuesday: The Crystal Method rocking Harlow's

2009-06-16T04:41:48Z

Why should you see The Crystal Method on a week night at Harlow's?

Band member Scott Kirkland gives a modest reply: "I know the economy's bad, and it's on a Tuesday night, but it's a real big show."

What speaks more than an intimate show at Harlow's is the band's longevity. According to Kirkland, "longevity," is still the band's greatest achievement. Over the last 15 years, the band has cut four albums, three remix albums and scored two No. 1 records. A platinum record and a Grammy nomination have also been bestowed on the band.

Now on tour to support its latest album Divided By Night, the electronic music duo got an unexpected start in a grocery store.

Ken Jordan and Kirkland met in the break room while employees of a Las Vegas grocery store. Kirkland was messing with a drum machine, Jordan walked in and the two coworkers started to talk about music.

The next thing they knew, the two young musicians were making music together. Nine months later, they had both moved to Los Angeles and in 1994, they dropped their first single "Now is the Time."

Both Jordan and Kirkland grew up listening to metal, rock and roll and pop. Their first three albums incorporated the riffs and beats from these genres, while the duo added vocal samples and distortion.

That was until their latest album. In Divided by Night, guests like Matisyahu and Emily Haines of Broken Social Scene bring hip hop and indie elements into the mix.

"We're trying to create something different from the last album," Kirkland said. "With the vocalists, we kind of look at them as another layer. We're creating something new to continue to expand ourselves."

At the show, the musicians will be playing their old hits like "Keep Hope Alive" and "Busy Child," along with new material. (links open up music videos). Inspired by their Las Vegas roots, a light show will add to an entertaining stage production.

"[The current tour has had] the best responses for a live show in probably 10 years" Kirkland added. "I think everyone's going to be really happy with the show. It's [going to be] a fun night."

The 21-and-over show will be at Harlow's, located at 2708 J St. Opening band L.A. Riot is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at harlows.com or at the door. Tickets that were purchased for the Empire show will be honored at Harlow's.

*Photograph credit Maura Lanahan