CONCERT RECAP: Big Gigantic w/ Crizzly @ House of Blues NOLA 11/16/12

As I waited outside the House of Blues Friday night for my ticket to arrive, I soon realized that this was a hard ticket to acquire. Possibly one of the most sought after tickets that I have ever seen through all of my time spent at the House of Blues. As the ticket office’s sign read SOLD OUT one raver after another kept coming up to me trying to beg, borrow, or steal my pass through the door.

Once inside Shanook was closing out his set to the growing and glowing amoeba-like crowd. Next up was Crizzly who I was told from a friend not to miss. For the next hour leading up to Big Gigantic the Austin, TX native provided the SOLD OUT crowd one dub-filled, hip-hop electro, high energy set filled with an astonishing remix of “Ni**as in Paris” and Lil Flip’s “The Way We Ball“. Crizzly will be one Electro/Hip-Hop Producer to look forward too in the future as he will continue to gain popularity. He gained at least one more fan Friday night.

Big Gigantic. What’s in a name? What does a name mean? It didn’t take long for Dominic Lalli (Saxophone/Producer) and Jeremy Salken (Drums) to provide an explanation as the House of Blues turned into an LED infused wonderland. The Boulder based duo asked the crowd to do it big as they took the stage, and big…well that doesn’t even begin to describe it. The massive stage setup they brought with them to New Orleans reminded me of if Daft Punk’s Pyramid collided with DEVO’s domes. IT WAS HUGE. …So huge I don’t know how they got it inside the building but as the first smooth sax note and pillowing synth beats began pouring over the crowd during “Rise and Shine”, the cocoon-like structure came to life in a beautiful way. Live drums when added with a saxophone is what sets this electronic act… or shall you say jamtronica act apart from the rest. Its no wonder they headlined the late night bill at Bonnaroo last June.

Going into their set they perfectly mixed in many of their new tracks from NOCTURNAL as well as some classic Big G. staples from A Place Behind the Moon. The crowd was in a never-ending sway and bobble from the floor to the rafters as hits kept coming with a huge remix of Adventure Club’s “Do I See Color” to Big Gigantic’s wildly popular remix of Aloe Blacc’s “I Need A Dollar”; and to my delight Knife Party’s “Bonfire” made it’s way into the setlist in a big way as the crowd went into an all out dub step frenzy for a few sweaty minutes. All in all a solid set and flawless showing for Big Gigantic once again in New Orleans.

I, along with the entire city, will gladly welcome their next return (hopefully soon) to the Crescent city.