The monsoon season has made its presence all too known on the front range. The moisture is always welcomed, but damn, why does it have to be all apocalyptic and shizz? In preparation for first night, I had purchased women’s galoshes because I was expecting torrential downpour. I was forced to purchase women’s boots because Target only sells women rain boots, however this was all for not because had one of the best nights of weather in the last two weeks.
This year, Global Dance Fest went out on a limb to extend the weekend celebration to include a school night. The line-up read like a very uncharacteristic GDF for night one, appearing like a Monolith night schedule of old.
Boulder kids Big Gigantic held their own on the main stage blending mind-crushing beats accompanied by the two man wrecking crew manning a sax and drum kit. The pricey visuals looked stunning and played off the cool breeze that was omnipresent for the duration of the evening.
Kid Cudi’s last official visit had him holding down opening duties for Asher Roth. Yes, Asher Roth. The strong backing crew for Kid Cudi provided the solid foundation for his strong stage appearance that elevated his game to near Drake-like levels. From the sing-alongs to the crowd interaction, KC won the crowd over instantaneously. He’s quickly staking his claim as one of the best in the hip-hop game with his quick wit that relies heavily on his excessive SWAG status that never seems to falter. Cudi’s set ended strongly with his gargantuan collaboration with producer David Guetta, “Memories.”
The vibe for Empire of the Sun was one that you would expected for a Cirque du Soleil performance. The choreographed dancers, the ostentatious outfits and perfectly timed music all felt very much in place as the final act of the night. Lead vocalist Luke Steel did his best Lady Gaga impersonation with the over-the-top attire that slightly resembled a crown inspired by the Statue of Liberty. The night belonged to Empire of the Sun. At times, the show felt like it borrowed from Prince and the New Power Generation with the overt sexiness and funk all spinning off of svelte dancers that littered the stage on “Breakdown.” A feeling of complete elation covered me from head to toe when I found myself screaming the lyrics at the top of my lungs to “Half Mast” to the girl next to me wearing torn fishnet stockings, furry boots and a bunny tail. I’d be lying if I didn’t hope there was going to be contortionists or fire dancers, but the glamorous take on “We Are the People” more than sufficed.
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Julio Enriquez is a Denver writer and photographer, editor of the blog and a regular contributor to Reverb.
