Posted by Scott Willats
It’s been a healthy amount of time since Deadmau5 capped his Meowingtons Hax tour with an epic show at the Rogers Center in Toronto. Since that magical night I have heard and seen performance discussed and dissected everywhere, from talk radio to blogs to pop culture magazines. It seems like nobody fully understood how just how extraordinary that night was going to be until it was over. Until they’d witnessed it for themselves.
Those of us who love EDM and Deadmau5 and Toronto electro never doubted that the evening would be memorable. We didn’t worry if it was going to sell out, if the music would to sound good in such a large venue, if Deadmau5 was really capable of making this performance historic. These questions never passed through our minds. We just knew we had tickets to something special — and that was that.
And special it was. I was thrilled when I heard that Deadmau5 planned to memorialize the occasion with a concert DVD. The night was such a glorious celebration of Toronto electro — and when it was over, I knew there were many people who would one day tell their kids and grandkids about being there. We needed a visual record. When the “Aural Psynapse” video popped up, it was flashback time for those of us who’d been there — and proof, for those who hadn’t, of just how insane the night really was. After seeing that video, I was practically salivating at the prospect of being able to experience the whole show again.
Now that I’ve seen the DVD, I can say definitively that this is the closest feeling you’ll come to traveling back in time and being at the show. The quality of the camera work is right up there with the meticulously engineered audio. In fact, and I tread lightly here, it almost feels as if you’re getting to see more of the night than you did if you were actually there. Think about it: as soon as most of us arrived at the Rogers Centre, the sheer adrenaline of the night took over. Many of us had never had the experience of being in the same space with so many thousands of others who shared our taste in music. Never had we witnessed a sea of 10,000-plus glowing ears while listening to the likes of “Strobe,” “Ghosts N Stuff” and “These Chords.” When you slip this DVD into the player, you’ll immediately recapture that feeling — and maybe even see a couple of things you missed at the time.
And again, I have to underline the sheer quality of the production. Nothing is overlooked. Every kick and snare and clap and hat is highlighted perfectly. The obligatory shots of the audience are smartly chosen, capturing honest, intimate moments — and s**t, if you were there, maybe you’re in one of them. Even if you can’t stand this kind of performance DVD, let me tell you: this is the exception. You can sit and watch it start to finish, or just enjoy it playing in the background at a gathering. The convenient track listing and the ease with which you can skip through songs helps make this a must for Mau5 fans.
Only one thing I’d change: if I had my wish, there would be a bonus DVD featuring the opening acts. It would have been nice to see the killer sets by MSTRKFT and Crystal Castles one more time. That aside, I’d judge the Meowingtons Hax 2K11 Toronto DVD a success — just like everything else that Mr. Joel Zimmerman puts his fingers on. The attention to detail and superb production values make it a joy to watch. Oh yeah, and it just happens to showcases one of the best EDM performances this country — or any country — has ever seen.
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