(Eyediola Photography)
Going into Tuesday night’s show, my level of anticipation was at an all time high and I couldn’t wait for such a massive throwdown at Cervantes’ Other Side. It was a night packed with nothing but top-notch talent from beginning to end and the talent was through the roof. As if a headlining performance from Poland’s very own Radikal Guru wasn’t enough to get me excited, Syte and Congi would also be making their highly anticipated Denver debuts and taking us on a complete musical journey on this fine Tuesday night. Everyone that was in attendance contributed to the thick vibe that consumed the entire dance floor and it was a Tuesday night that won’t soon be forgotten. Here’s the rewind!
The night began at 8:00pm sharp as local DJ’s ‘King Doja’ , ‘New Renaissance’, and ‘Gumshoe’ took the stage to battle it out and show get the crowd moving early in the night. This week’s battles were some of best that we’ve seen at Electronic Tuesdays over the last couple weeks and every DJ brought their ‘A Game’ to demonstrate their abilities behind the decks and show us what they’re made of. Making the most out of their 30 minute time slots, each act performed amazing sets and once again proved how talented the local electronic music scene in Colorado really is. After a heated battle among the 3 DJ’s, Gumshoe ended up being crowned this week’s winner and will advance to the next round of the DJ battle competition taking place on April 12.
Following the DJ battles, it was now time for the UK’s very own ‘Syte’ to take the decks and amplify the energy in the room. Upon stepping up to the stage, Syte instantly had me questioning and reevaluating whether I was still in Denver at Cervantes’ Other Side, or if I’d been teleported to an underground warehouse in London where this deep, minimal style that he was performing had originated. The vast majority of the tunes that Syte was performing were new to me and it was evident that his entire set was comprised of exclusive and original material. Having listened to Syte’s ‘Get Darker’ set from the Mindstep Music Takeover prior to Tuesday night’s set, I knew to expect a deep and low-end journey of sub bass and I surely wasn’t disappointed. Throughout his entire set, the crowd chanted and roared in approval as Syte’s sound was rumbling the entire dance floor and he made quite the impact in his Denver debut.
SYTE
(Eyediola Photography)
Next up in rotation on this massive night was the one like Nikka T. Although he is a highly respected member of the cannabis industry in Colorado and well-known for his solventless method of hash extractions, Nikka T also spends his time DJ’ing and he turns heads when he’s live in the mix. His performance was packed with a good mix of Reggae, Dancehall, and Hip-Hop and on Tuesday night he perfectly set the tone for Radikal Guru’s headlining performance. I was particularly a fan of Nikka T's mixing abilities and next level track selection. Heads were nodding, bodies were moving, and the audience had been properly warmed up by the time that Radikal Guru took the stage.
NIKKA T
(Eyediola Photography)
The dance floor at Cervantes’ Other Side was packed out from front-to-back as it was now time for Radikal Guru to make his highly awaited Denver debut at Electronic Tuesdays. Having listened to Radikal Guru’s sound throughout the years and been an avid listener of his ‘Rootsteppa EP’ I was overly excited when I found out that he would finally be making his was to the United States hailing all the way from Poland. Internationally recognized for his unique sound that encompasses true roots-influenced soundsytem culture, seeing him perform in the intimacy of Cervantes’ Other Side was a very special treat and I have Sub.mission to thank for it! From the moment that Radikal Guru took the stage, Radikal Guru spent zero time getting straight down to business and began to unleash suffocating levels of bassweight with smooth reggae-influenced tones that were impossible not to dance to. On Tuesday night I found Radikal Guru’s set to be a rather meditative and therapeutic experience. Often times throughout his set I found myself closing my eyes and surrendering my soul to the low-end vibration that was being transmitted from the sound system and shaking the ground beneath my feet. His silky smooth, dubbed-out, vibrant energy purveyed his world class abilities as both a DJ and a producer. The lighter crew illuminated the dance floor as Radikal Guru’s classic tunes such as ‘Dread Commandments’, ‘Sound System’, and ‘Stay Calm’ had the entire audience lost in a daze. His tropical, vibey sound was refreshing and there wasn’t a stagnant body throughout the entire venue. He also performed an arsenal of tunes from his hometown label ‘Moonshine Recordings’ and instated a proper lesson in true soundsytem culture that was much needed. When it was all said and done, Radikal Guru made a lasting impression in his Denver debut and I’m very fortunate to have been able to finally see this legend perform live and direct at Electronic Tuesdays.
RADIKAL GURU
(Eyediola Photography)
Following up a massive headlining performance from Radikal Guru, it was now time for Congi to take the stage and close out the night with a bang! Representing the ‘Chord Marauders’ ‘Mimm’ & ‘Deep Heads’ collectives, Congi is widely known for an experimental and unique approach to bass music. On Tuesday night Congi had the late night crowd vibing ‘til the very end and delivered a set that was well rounded and packed with surprises. Some of my favorite tunes such as Skream’s ‘Rutten’ , Vivek’s ‘Asteroids’ and a remix of Congi’s very own ‘Somnium’ that I was not very familiar with. Congi’s closing set blended euphoric soundscapes with half-steppy influences that transformed the dance floor into a melodic atmosphere. Congi tested the limits of the sound system at The Other Side and those subtle bass lines penetrated the entire room until the night drew to a close.
CONGI
(Eyediola Photography)
Author: Carlos Galvan