Ed Banger’s very own SebastiAn made his almost scheduled yearly return to Los Angeles last Friday, teaming up with Sharooz, Destructo, and a surprisingly talented and sexy opener. Last time I got to be victim to his relentless bass was HARD Haunted Mansion 2010. Before that was the tragedy of HARD summer 2009 that he didn’t even get to play at, and even before that was HARD Haunted Mansion 2008. AKA the rave that woke America up. I’ll never forget when he opened…slamming on Motor and going to a remix of the Strokes that never seemed to surface on the internet. It was everything you’d dream a sebastiAn show to sound like live. Heavy. Massive. Distorted. Packed with samples. Filled with bass. I could go on forever. Nothing but sweetness! What put this show aside from the formers, other than the fact that it wasn’t a HARD event, was that this time he came locked and loaded with a new live set at his own show.
The air inside Control became thick with anticipation and body odor as the clock drew closer to 11:30. At that time and for the 60 minutes after, the speakers would be on the verge of blowing out due to sebastiAn’s merciless concoction of harmonic bass and volume. SebastiAn came out to the deafening cheers, right on cue. Arms in the air. No smile. No real sense of emotion on his face whatsoever. As everyone was still trying to figure out exactly WHAT his live set entailed, the show began with twisted synths and a cigarette in hand. I worry about how much the amount of cigarettes he smokes during his sets is just for show and not a serious problem. He knocks em back like they’re magical fairy joints that give him the power to melt faces at the expense of lung capacity. Regardless, he makes it look posh as fuck.
SebastiAn – Walkman
His stylishly epic opening consisted of ‘Tetra,’ probably my favorite track off his collective full length Total. Through the next few songs with help from the videos projected above, his set began to make more sense. With the phrases “VOTE SEBASTIAN” “SEBASTIAN FOR PRESIDENT” “YOUR NEXT WORLD LEADER” scrolling behind him on the video, it all came together. The black prism he was stationed on was a podium and not a covered stack of cigarette cartons! This is the first time I had ever seen a live set like this. A live set that was based more around an idea and not how much money you can put into the production and lights. He proceeded to drop all the classics: Ross Ross Ross, Walkman, even Dog! Through the set and the rather disturbing war images behind him, he’d raise his hands as if to be gaining support from future voters. The video stream continued to get eery with an enormous sebastiAn dome. The eyes went side to side as if to try to hypnotize you while he muttered French profanities (I’m assuming) at the crowd. “VOTE SEBASTIAN” flags dropped as the roaring cheers of those in attendance continued to get louder!
SebastiAn – Tetra
As 12:30 rolled around and my acceptance of his set coming to a close was acknowledged, the show ended with a bang. Literally. He was shot and assassinated. Well I guess, I don’t mean that literally. He’s alive and well, and the proud artist of one of the most unique and creative live shows I’ve bared witness. I’ve said this in prior posts about sebastiAn’s music, but there’s something about the way he makes his bass hit and the melodies he puts together that force you to react. When it’s live it’s like nothing else. I love it. I love him. And I can’t wait til his next album. SebastiAn is in the process of completing it early next year, so be ready. He can’t stop, won’t stop, and I’m gonna be there every step of the way. He’s got my support.
VOTE SEBASTIAN
moRe tunEs
SebastiAn – Jack Wire (Instrumental Version)
SebastiAn – Ross Ross Ross
Uffie – Difficult (2006 Parties Remix by SebastiAn)
videOs
Prime starts at 1:27
