SPILL LIVE REVIEW: MACHINEDRUM w/ BRUX @ VELVET UNDERGROUND, TORONTO

MACHINEDRUM w/ BRUX

@ VELVET UNDERGROUND, TORONTO

MAY 29, 2024

The Velvet Underground on Queen Street was the site of many out-of-body experiences on Wednesday. The venue hosted Machinedrum, the American electronic music prodigy from North Carolina.

Fans packed the house, with many bringing vinyl records of his new album 3FOR82 in hopes of getting an autograph. I chatted with one fan who had been listening to him since the ‘90s, “His sound design, his shuffled drum beats, I can go on and on, [they really stand out].” Another fan described him as “off-kilter” adding, “I don’t know what to expect, I’ve never seen him perform before…I’m really hyped.”

However, before the main show began, the crowd was greeted with an opening set performed by BRUX, the Sydney-born, Brooklyn-based DJ and producer. ‘A lot of demos’ is how she described her set while on stage. The performance caught some people off guard, but it wasn’t long before everybody was on the dance floor completely enthralled. BRUX did a great job energizing the crowd, and more impressively, kept their energy high throughout her entire time on stage. Her set sampled sounds from a wide variety of sources, and transformed them into upbeat bangers. The crowd stood in awe as her beats transitioned from fast DnB breaks to deep booming kicks in their face. BRUX had an infectious energy on stage, while dancing and jumping to the music, there was a laser focus in her eyes, compelling the crowd even further. It is easy to see why Machinedrum has placed her as an opener on multiple locations of his tour.

Shortly after BRUX got off stage, it was time for the headliner to rivet the crowd. Machinedrum was joined on stage by Ian Maciak, the independent/session drummer and producer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Before the show, Maciak was explaining how he had added chains to his drum set to produce a specific sound.

Machinedrum revealed this was his second time performing his new album, 3FOR82, for the world. The experience was surreal. With insane visuals in the background and live drums crashing any semblance of order, the crowd was possessed by the music. Machinedrum, or Travis Stewart, was locked in with his gear, constantly tweaking a knob or changing something on his laptop to entice the crowd. His use of different genres led to an unforgettable AV experience that was as stimulating as it was precise. As a fan of Jungle and EDM, I always wonder why more artists do not incorporate hip-hop sounds in their catalog. Stewart did exactly that, with deep, booming 808s and energetic high hats, the audience could not stop dancing if they tried. Maciak’s expertise on the drums came as no surprise, but it was Machinedrum’s live vocal mixing that stole the show. For people who had listened to 3FOR82 before the show, it was not a simple live re-listening session, instead, Stewart was remixing his songs live in front of the audience. This turned out to be a recipe for success as he could interact with their energy and respond to what they were feeling. Once the set was over, Stewart stayed on stage for an extra half-hour to the crowd’s delight.

Fans left the show happy and worn out after a long night of non-stop vibes.

(Photography by Arya Gunde)

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