On Tuesday night Check Yo Ponytail 2 hosted a dance party, and even though headliners Anamanaguchi weren’t slated to play until midnight, the room was full by 9:45 pm with fans anticipating a rare performance by Chrome Sparks. Though currently on tour with the 8-bit power punkers, gigs by the (pretty much) instrumental electronic outfit tend to be few and far between, making this night even more memorable.

Led by the project’s founder, Jeremy Malvin, the trio stepped onstage and immediately stationed themselves behind their respective instruments and walls of synthesizers. Without saying a word, the drummer tapped a beat and the rest of the band followed with ethereal synthesizer riffs and twinkling samples. In a world saturated by laptop DJs masking their lack of physical performance with grandiose visual spectacles, it was mesmerizing to watch Malvin and his crew recreate each electronic sound manually during the set. Shielded by an army of synthesizers, samplers and drum machines, Malvin looked as though he was in another dimension as he swiftly twisted and turned knobs, pounded keyboards and kept the beat simultaneously.

Coming from a background in classical percussion and a fascination with synthesizers, Malvin’s Chrome Sparks is refreshingly mellow, sophisticated and percussive for dance music. Though the project began in the former Miniature Tigers drummer’s Brooklyn bedroom, performing the atmospheric songs with a full band breathes new life into the robotic electro recordings. As the three-piece delved deeper into its set, it hypnotized the crowd. Though these people were here to dance, they stood and swayed, transfixed by the spectacle in front of them. At times the show seemed more like an art performance – with each audience member studying the men onstage – but halfway through the set, something changed.

“Thank you,” Malvin said after playing the first song with vocals (that word is used lightly). “We’re so stoked to be here. There’s so many people here! This is insane,” he exclaimed in awe of the turnout. As the crowd cheered, awakened from its hypnotic state, the set’s mood changed from atmospheric to upbeat and danceable. As the band played “Marijuana,” the single off Chrome Sparks’ recently released Sparks EP, the audience danced along and continued to do so for the remainder of the show. And even though he wasn’t the headliner, Malvin’s performance garnered an encore cheer and gracious applause. And rightfully so.

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