As an ever-growing thick white blanket of snow shielded the city of Denver with the biggest snowfall we’ve experienced so far this Winter, Tuesday night was definitely one of the best Electronic Tuesdays I have ever attended and the intense weather conditions weren’t enough to keep the dedicated bass music lovers from coming out and dancing the night away at Cervantes’ Other Side. From the moment that I had found out that Leon Switch would be making his mile high return to perform a headlining set at Electronic Tuesdays, my calendar had been marked with great anticipation and I knew that this would be one of the greatest throwdowns of the entire year and I surely wasn’t disappointed.
As the snow on the streets transformed into icy roadways and the temperatures in the air proceeded to drop, the dance floor at Cervantes’ Other Side was heating up with a fully loaded lineup of some of the sickest bass music talent. The night began at 8:00pm sharp with the weekly DJ battles and this week selectors DeadNasty, T.O.C., & Spliff took the stage to showcase their styles and make the most out of their 30 minute time slots in hopes to advance to the next round in the competition and be crowned the winner. After a heated battle among the 3 DJ’s, Spliff beat out the competition and emerged as this week’s winner and his experimental sound was very well received and set the tone early in the night. Congratulations Spliff!
Spliff
(Eyediola Photography)
Following the opening DJ Battles it was now time for Sub.mission resident DJ Dillard to take the stage and kick things up a notch. Over the years Dillard has become a true staple in the dubstep scene throughout Colorado and is highly renowned for his skillful abilities as both a DJ and a beat-maker. With certified releases on labels such as Mindstep, FatKidOnFire, & Dubanimals, to only name a few, Dillard demonstrates his abilities as a truly well rounded artist and to see him perform live is always a special treat! On Tuesday night Dillard held it down on the primary support slot for Leon Switch and got the crowd moving with his signature low-end sound that ranges from reggae dub to more minimal styles that perfectly embody the Sub.mission style. My favorite part of Dillard’s set was when he threw down Skream’s classic dubstep banger ‘Oskillatah’ and set off the crowd. That tune is a true gem and to hear it played out live is a rarity that must be cherished among many others. Hard hitting beats paired with vocals from Sub.mission resident emcee XTS amplified the energy in the room and loosened the crowd. Big ups to Dillard for putting on yet another massive performance and setting the tone yet again!
Dillard 
(Eyediola Photography)
Now it was the time that we had all been waiting for, the highly anticipated Denver return of the legend himself- Leon Switch! Internationally recognized as one of the true leaders of underground bass music, Leon Switch demonstrates a world class ability of inducing crowds into a deep state of meditation with his unmistakable deep, dungeon-like soundscape. With well over 2 decades of musical experience under his belt, there isn’t a single doubt that Leon Switch is one of the most influential names in bass music and to see him perform live and direct in a venue such as Cervantes’ Other Side on this cold and stormy night was truly special. Prior to his performance on Tuesday night, Leon Switch led an intimate production workshop at Cervantes’ Other Side and offered valuable insight to some of Denver’s upcoming producers and gave them a glimpse into the sound design that Leon Switch has demonstrated dating back to the early days of Kryptic Minds and beyond. In my opinion, one of the things that truly sets Leon Switch apart from the average producer is his unprecedented ability to evoke some of the purest, most raw emotion with his sound that taps into your innermost thoughts and captures your soul. The atmosphere of the room was Deep, Dark, & Dangerous and the lack of lighting reverted the crowd's attention to what truly matters most; the music. I can assure you that on this very frosty night, the weather wasn't the only thing chills down my spine. Mr Switch's twisty, morphing bass lines resemble a cataclysmic underground vibe that that takes you on a journey and I can never get enough. Tunes like ‘The Divide’, ‘Deadlock’ & ‘The Fine Print’ were among the crowd favorites and the dance floor was covered by a sea of moving bodies with a roar form the crowd that was truly remarkable. The flames from the lighter crew illuminated the dance floor and clapping hands accompanied the audience demonstrated the appreciation for that raw, uncut UK sound that Leon Switch is all about. It was reassuring to see so many people come out and flood the dance floor regardless of the 10+ inches of snow that Denver received and proved that the true heads will make an effort to come out and witness these monumental nights in sound. Leon Switch’s set on Tuesday night further solidified why he is one of my favorite DJ’s/Producers and he delivered a performance that won’t soon be forgotten. If you were there to witness this truly massive performance, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Leon Switch
(Eyediola Photography)
Check out this video of Leon Switch closing out the night with some true holiday spirit re-work Christmas-y tune!
Following up a huge headlining set from the one like Kryptic Minds is not an easy task. However, on Tuesday night TJ Ryan, AKA ‘Astra’ stepped up to the decks and brought the heat like never before. As the clock struck midnight and Astra took the stage, it was officially Nicole Cacciavillano's birthday and we definitely celebrated in style. Just want to take a moment to give a very special shout-out to the boss lady herself for building and developing the dubstep scene in Denver because without her, none of this would be possible! Big ups and much love to Sub.mission Founder/CEO Nicole!
Astra had beat out the competition and won both of his previous battles at Electronic Tuesdays over the summer and was crowned the battle champion of the month of August and on Tuesday night he made his return to Cervantes’ Other Side to unleash some proper bass weight and show us what he’s made of. Astra is a current resident of the city of Boulder and on Tuesday night he was mobbing deep with a solid crew of 40+ homies from throughout Colorado that came out to support him in one of his biggest shows to-date. Upon taking the decks, Astra spent zero time messing around and made his presence on the stage felt. Out of the handful of times that I’ve seen Astra perform, his versatility, next-level track selection, and supreme mixing abilities combine to make him an exciting talent that puts you on edge and always keeps you guessing. 140 tunes ranging from artists like J:Kenzo and Truth and all the way to Tipper demonstrate Astra’s vast musical background and extensive catalogue. From beginning to end, Astra had the crowd hooked and he kept the crowd raging ‘til the lights came on and the show was over. Whether he’s throwing down at a house party in Boulder, spinning on a party bus to-and-from Red Rocks, or holding it down on a closing slot at Electronic Tuesdays, Astra has what it takes to get the crowd moving and he never disappoints.
Astra
(Eyediola Photography)
Big ups to everyone that braved the weather and made it out to this massive edition of Electronic Tuesdays with some of the sickest local and international talent all under the same roof. Sub.mission is responsible for some of the most memorable nights that I’ve had since living in Denver and this past Tuesday night was no exception. See you all next week at Electronic Tuesdays for a special edition holiday party featuring back-to-back performances from some of Denver’s sickest locals and a headlining performance from Supreme!