Now that fall term at the University of Oregon has started, Eugene’s WOW Hall is full, once again, of students not yet ready to leave summer behind. Club kids couldn’t complain, though, as last night’s sold-out show brought EOTO’s Dubstep Tour to town, and with it a slew of techno-trippin’, dub-steppin’ artists ready to ring in the new season.

 

 

 

BestNewBands.com

 

Opening the show was Connor Jay of Medium Troy, the bohemian dub group whose members have earned the title “Kings of the WOW Hall” for their numerous sold-out shows at the venue. Jay’s unscheduled performance was a delightful surprise, and his high-energy set set the bar for the evening. Watch the clip above for a sample of Jay’s innovative, and highly impressive, turntabling skills.

BestNewBands.com

Up next was MiMOSA, a self-described “crunk-step, dub-hop” producer from Los Angeles. He had a great set, although the dancehall was so hot and full of smoke that I found myself less interested in the music and more concerned with the ceiling smoke detector that was going off nearby. After moving to another part of the room, it was much easier to concentrate on MiMOSA’s trancelike loops and bass beats. Above is a clip of his spin on Outkast’s “B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad).”




BestNewBands.com

When MartyParty took the stage, the South Africa-born artist promised a rockin’, “hippy-hoppy” dance party – and he didn’t disappoint. The crunk/dub/hip-hop DJ mixed techno loops into samples from Khia’s “My Neck, My Back,” MIA’s “Come Around” and Nelly’s “Country Grammar.” In the above clip, MartyParty proved he was no one-genre pony, however, as he remixed The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” much to the crowd’s delight. His enthusiastic stage presence, along with his knack for turning old pop songs into new techno treasures, is why he was my favorite performer of the night.




BestNewBands.com

EOTO’s set was starkly different from its preceding performers’: the electric duo of Jason Hann and Michael Travis is 100% improvisational – no pre-recorded loops, samples nor basslines. Watching the two men create such electric experimentations, however, gave me a true appreciation of their methods and music, as well as a deeper understanding of electronica/techno in general. Because they never play the same stuff twice, the above clip is truly a one-of-a-kind performance.

EOTO, MiMOSA and MartyParty will play Portland’s Wonder Ballroom tonight before wrapping up the Dubstep Tour in Seattle tomorrow. From there, MiMOSA and MartyParty will travel to Montana and Colorado for a few shows; the Midwest leg of EOTO’s tour will begin October 8 in Lincoln, Nebraska.