Ten years of new millennia music has quickly passed us by.  Some young bands or artist’s found solace in the roots of a genre (Josh Groban with classical; Linnzi Zaorski in vocal jazz; Wayne Hancock with country swing, etc.) while others successfully merged musical foundations to create innovative sounds for a new generation (Guru fusing hip hop and jazz; Dropkick Murphys with traditional Irish folk and punk).  Although the dance genre is a broad term in itself, it has become an outlet for artist seeking unconventional means to traditional musicianship.  Artists such as RJD2 and Moby mixed various genres perfectly to produce an unusual yet a commercially accepted sound.  We, as music enthusiasts, look for that tribute to the old but yet twisted into something new and the technology of the dance genre would be the best candidate to do just that.  So when a group like Zero 7 performed at House of Blues San Diego, my hopes ran high… but the question was, could they deliver it live?

I’ll be very honest, if you were coming to hear them perform the same success of their first release Simple Things you’ll be extremely surprised (or, in some cases for fans, disappointed).  Gone is the chillout groove that many had known and loved, and ushered in is the folky-pop grind of their latest release Yeah Ghost.  Their performance was a strange mixture of gospel soul and acoustic guitar ballads… Garden State soundtrack it was not.  This left much of the audience saying, “What the fuck?”  But if you look at Zero 7 purely as a studio production then perhaps that’s where the fault may lie.  Understand the mind of a true musician and the art will definitely be exhibited in the live performance.  How do artists of electronica perform live?  Just as Zero 7 did, through expression.  Like dance, envision Zero 7 without boundaries of a limited structure.  The soulful sounds of rhythm and blues gave such a rich texture juxtaposed next to the earthy lament of the acoustic ballads.  It was the calm before the storm.  So for the patience of those desperate for 7's popular tunes, the wait was not in vain.  Finally towards the middle of the set, the energy picked up, the beat bumped steady and the crowd woke to its feet.  Ah, yes, dance dance you motherfuckers!

Zero 7 ended the show and their 2009 tour with a three song encore which included an acoustic version of “In the Waiting Line.”  I’ll be honest, I walked away from this show not knowing if I actually liked or disliked Zero 7’s performance.  I was dazed and bewildered.  But one thing I do understand from this show is never to expect the usual.  No matter what, you’ll leave with an experience—both good and bad.

Courtesy of D.C., thanks again:

Count Me Out

Mr. McGee

Pop Art Blue

Zizou (Everything Up)

Speed Dial #2

Swing

Home

Ghost Symbol

The Road

Destiny

You’re My Flame

Seeing Things

Dogs Abs

Medicine Man

(Encore)

In the Waiting Line

Pageant of the Bizarre

All of Us