- There is a lot to be said for simplicity. Often events can get muddled because the promoters spend too much time on irrelevant details. Thankfully this was not the case when Emote Music and Freq Boutique, in the cozy confines of the Would Shop, brought Perc to Colorado. Around midnight I found my way through a makeshift door in a chain link fence that served as the entrance to the small, north Denver warehouse. I felt an instant connection when I arrived, as familiar faces from local crews as well as seasoned enthusiasts seemed be out in force.
Following the bass in through the doors, I was greeted with a modestly filled room accompanied by slower, chugging techno courtesy of Tess. A few dips in sound didn't discourage him, as Masomenos' remix of "Burning Boats" and what sounded like Tim Xavier's remix of "Frozen in Time" had hips locked in a solid groove. Freq Boutique boss Steve Penders, AKA Mick Finesse, brought the BPM's up along with the intensity. His set was a perfect bridge between opener and headliner: He kept the space filled, smiles on faces and everyone moving.
Photo credit: rltvty
After 2 AM, Perc took over with an absolute banger, Lucy's remix of Go Hiyama's "Postmodern." Deep synths grabbed a hold of the space, and Perc made sure never to let it go throughout his set. The following hours were littered with plenty of Robert Hood, clapping, cheering and relentless movement. There was a vintage vibe to his performance, reminiscent of an endless, bumping Detroit groove. Faster, but not too fast, dark yet colorful, hard yet inviting. The Londoner's set seemed like a much-needed release for more than a few people on the night.
Perc described it himself as one of the best that he'd had in a while. After what seemed like only a few hours, Emote boss John Templeton was brought on to keep the night alive, and I soon departed as the sun came out to signal a new day. The 250 who made it in (people were turned away at one point) were treated to a proper night of techno in a single dark room, with solid sound and amazing music. Simple.