Emancipator, Random Rab, Tor
Tuesday, February 5 at The Canal Club
Doug Appling (better known by his stage name Emancipator) has managed to captivate the dubstep audience without a single wobble or “drop”. Maybe it’s just that the kids need to fuel their never-ending show-hop, and Emancipator happened to fill that Tuesday night’s void. Or maybe it’s that Emancipator offers something new and refreshing, and the scene is just now catching on.
Emancipator, Random Rab, Tor
Tuesday, February 5 at The Canal Club
Doug Appling (better known by his stage name Emancipator) has managed to captivate the dubstep audience without a single wobble or “drop”. Maybe it’s just that the kids need to fuel their never-ending show-hop, and Emancipator happened to fill that Tuesday night’s void. Or maybe it’s that Emancipator offers something new and refreshing, and the scene is just now catching on.
If this show had happened two years ago, the room would have been scattered loosely with head-bobbers, maybe a few rave kids. Tuesday night’s show was packed. I quickly realized that Emancipator was no longer an underground “post-dubstep” sensation, as the room filled up with flat brim hats, heady pins, live painters, and trippy hula-hoops. You could tell just by scouting the room that most of these people were show-hoppers.
The crowd moved and grooved to the opening music of Tor and Random Rab, both artists in the same vein as Emancipator. Their organic, solid and serious grooves gave the room a new vibe. Tor’s skilled record digging ability showed. With fat drum loops, soft textures and scratchy samples from records long lost to the ears of today, Tor tore through people’s eardrums, driving home the sounds from beyond.
Shortly after, Random Rab brought out the mellow. His psychedelic audio work was simultaneously relaxing and mentally stimulating. The crowd really seemed to mesh with Rab’s tunes. His music didn’t sound too far of from other downtempo artists who thrive in the festival scene.
As the clock struck midnight, Emancipator came on stage to much audience jubilation. Violinist Ilya Goldberg joined him onstage, and the two immediately granted the crowd exactly what they were wishing for. Maybe it’s that Emancipator’s music is slightly more recognizable, as he has been around since 2006, but maybe he is really on to something that no one else can seem to capture. His tunes were original, groovy, and sent out an immensely pleasant vibe. You could tell that both Goldberg and Appling were genuinely having fun performing. They played a solid hour and a half set, and not one second was boring. Unlike many DJs, Emancipator was fun to watch.
This show made the Canal Club shine, and I actually heard multiple people saying how much they enjoyed the venue. More intimate than The National, The Canal Club lets the listener feel more engaged. The stage is lower and the speakers are at ear level, spreading the sound waves right through the dancing audience. This worked to Emancipator’s benefit. They might have wanted a few more songs, but I don’t think any fan could’ve asked for a better show.
