Photos by Lily Stockton
The third and final stop of Gesaffelstein’s Enter the Gamma tour was a night of inspiring clashes. The eclectically styled crowd complimented one another’s outfits in a chain link of aesthetic overlaps, embodying Gesaffelstein’s unification of diverse demographics through music. Perhaps this is because his music is mainly instrumental, with minimal vocal textures and effects only on occasion. The main character in a lot of his tracks is the colossal bass: a decidedly unifying sound unmoved by the nuances and perspective of a lead vocal (which can sometimes render music too personal to have broad appeal). Gesaffelstein allows his audience to fill in that gap with their ideas, feelings, memories, and style.
As Lily is escorted to the photo pit, I take in the vast, almost Roman colosseum-style arena. Eight columns stand on stage in a firm and commanding posture. The contrast of the black columns and the bright white light behind them, coupled with the sound of the audience rumbling and echoing, gives the impression of the Harkonnen planet Giedi Prime from Dune, where the black sun renders the planet colorless. The colossal setup, created by a French graduate, was an inspiring display of stage design in one of LA’s most iconic venues. In the audience, I meet a newlywed couple from San Diego…both seem very eager to get acquainted if you catch my drift.
As we wait for Gesaffelstein to come on, the bright light slowly blinks with an ominous synth drone from “Opr” panging, setting the tone for the rest of the show . When Gesaffelstein comes on, he’s wearing his signature titanium-looking mask, giving him a sheen robotic second-skin finish. His concealed identity streamlines the integral aesthetic of his performance, separating art from artist and infusing the audience with genuine passion. His “eyes” flash brightly in the darkness between the songs. Each track flows into the next with no interruption, with only a few moments of pads and synths separating the songs until the drums and bass for the next track subtly begin shifting the vibe. The show was a high-camp retro-futurism tour de force that I imagine would make Depeche Mode and Skrillex proud.
My favorite track to see live was “Your Share of the Night” off his new album Gamma, with its 80s stadium rock-inspired vocal delivery, which reminded me of Pet Shop Boys, a band I always listened to with my dad. It was fun to recognize similar energy across generations, housed in a song that sounds both like the past and the future. I also enjoyed hearing “Hellifornia”, a classic Gesaffelstein cut that sardonically winks at the music culture and sound of LA and the industry. It’s fun to participate in meta hyper-self-aware visions of the industry, it feels like dancing in the mirror.
The artist’s enigmatic aura only heightened the intensity of the experience. Without relying on excessive theatrics or banter, Gesaffelstein let his music speak volumes, pun intended, creating an atmosphere that was both intimidating and irresistibly captivating. The crowd hung on every beat, every unexpected turn in the soundscape as if trying to decipher the cryptic messages hidden within the layers of electronic textures. Intense and sleek, it is hard not to fall headfirst into the pulsating abyss of Gesaffelstein’s dark and super-charged vision of electronic music.
Gesaffelstein’s Enter the Gamma tour was a powerful reminder of music’s transformative capacity, both for the artist and audience and the unsung heroes who make these grand visions on stage possible. Especially for a couple of young creatives breaking into the industry, inspired by the dazzle and impact of accessing and being a part of such a large and impactful production.
