deadmau5 has released “retro5pective: 25 Years of deadmau5,” a series of shows paying tribute to his remarkable quarter-century journey as a pioneer of electronic music.
Set against the iconic backdrop of the Hollywood Bowl on April 27, followed by the Brooklyn Mirage on May 2-3 and a doubleheader at Colorado's iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater on November 1-2, the series promises a comprehensive chronicle of the influence of deadmau5.
We attended its inaugural performance at the Hollywood Bowl and can attest that it is an unforgettable experience.
Kicking off the night was an electrifying performance by Meute, a techno music band whose dynamic act set the stage for an extraordinary evening. After his stellar performance, deadmau5 took center stage alongside his old friend, Steve Duda, for a special DJ set under his alias BSOD.
The old friends opened some beers together and performed as memories of the couple were projected behind them. The sudden appearance of Tommy Lee and DJ Aero transformed the stage into a rare quartet performance like WTF?.
Stevo Rood/Live Nation Hewitt Silva
After the performance of WTF? came to an end, deadmau5 returned to the stage, ready to hypnotize atop his iconic Cube. Over the course of three exciting hours, he treated us to an incredible show, performing classics like “I Remember,” “Strobe,” and “Ghosts 'n' Stuff.”
Accompanied by a cast of talented vocalists, including the energetic SOFI for “Sofi Needs a Ladder” and the kinetic Kiesza for “Bridged By a Lightwave,” the atmosphere crackled with excitement and energy. His longtime collaborator Lights took the stage and wowed the amphitheater with a brilliant performance of “Raise Your Weapon” and then reappeared to sing “drama free.”
Hayla's mesmerizing performance of Kx5's hit song “Escape” further captivated the audience, while Meute's brief return added an unexpected twist to the show. deadmau5 even teased a new song, “The Truth,” featuring hip-hop group Coast Contra.
deadmau5 flaunted a variety of different mau5heads, each of which brought a new dimension to the performance. Meanwhile, the art in the Cube transported us into a vortex of mind-blowing images, including footage of past performances and a variety of dazzling visuals.
At one point, deadmau5 delighted fans with a nostalgic nod to the beginnings of his career by seamlessly weaving the iconic intro to “Ghosts 'n' Stuff” from 2008's HARD Haunted Mansion.
Deadmau5 plays the intro edition of Ghosts N' Stuff from Hard 2008 and recovers all the sensations >>> pic.twitter.com/DfGZMU4VeQ
– Proximity (@ProximityM) April 28, 2024
In a touching moment towards the end of the show, deadmau5 invited the audience to raise their lights, transforming the amphitheater into a sea of twinkling stars as he delivered an emotional live performance of “Strobe.” This introspective and simple performance was one of the most surreal of the concert, a painful tribute to the enduring legacy of his music.
At the time of this article's publication, Friday's “retrospective” show in New York is sold out and few Tickets It's Thursday, May 2, when deadmau5 will also make an appearance at Rough Trade NYC stores. Fans can stay tuned for more updates by subscribing. here.
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