DJ Shadow played two sold-out nights at Music Hall of Williamsburg with Noer the Boy (pics from night 1)
With 2016 marking the release of his fifth studio album The Mountain Will Fall and the 20th anniversary of his now-classic debut album Endtroducing….., Josh Davis, aka DJ Shadow, has a lot to celebrate. His current North American tour wrapped up with two sold out shows at the Music Hall of Williamsburg this past weekend (10/14 &10/15) where Shadow acknowledged that while always pressing forward with his music, he does need to reflect on the past and give the fans a little of what they want.
In recent years, Shadow started his own record label, Liquid Amber, through which he has released tracks from artists like Bleep Bloop, Nite School Klik (a Shadow side-project) and Noer the Boy. Noer opened up for Shadow on both nights at Music Hall with a short set of glitchy percussive tracks (sans vocals). Then a 40-minute interlude allowed the stage to be turned over and the projectors tested before Shadow himself took to the decks.
Shadow’s set covered dug deep through his catalog, both as an independent artist and in collaborations, as well as incorporated newer productions, including the “Stem” remix from Clams Casino. Few if any tracks were performed entirely straight-forward (as much as I could tell). The continuous mix saw Shadow run the audience over with tracks like “I Gotta Rokk,” one from 2004 with vocals from Zack de la Rocha, his U.N.K.L.E. collaboration (with James Lavelle) “Rabbit in your Headlights” that features Thom Yorke and “March of Death.” Classics like “Midnight in a Perfect World” and “Six Days” appeared in remixed or overhauled variations.
About halfway through the show, a scrim was introduced between the audience and Shadow allowing for the use of more projections and visuals (which were also shown on the ceiling of the venue too). A little before his encore, which included “The Sideshow” and “Organ Donor”, Shadow introduced his current single “Nobody Speak” by remarking that we are living in some “interesting times…” The aggressive, politically-charged video for the song, which features Run the Jewels, was played in its entirety.
Check out pics from Friday night’s show in the gallery above.
