Gabriel Saint has performed as High Top Kicks in venues from Nevada to Florida, but he said returning to the Spanish Moon for shows like this upcoming Saturday’s performance always proves refreshing. “The Spanish Moon is just raw,” Saint said. “There’s no disconnect between you in the audience.” Saint explained that before, during and after the show, he’s able to interact with the crowd; climbing on to the stage places little distance between himself and his fans. In addition to an explosive sound system, a shotgun style floor creates a proper setting for electronic music. Saint explained his familiarity with the venue always makes it comfortable. “It’s definitely a home court advantage,” he said. “I’ve played there to ten people, I’ve played there at capacity.” Saint continually writes, produces and performs material for the heavily bass-centered electronic dance troupe, but he’s picked up some business tactics in the three years since his band claimed its name. “You learn stuff like how to perform and play live, but there’s something that goes with being booked, dealing with promoters and booking agencies and bar managers,” he explained. “There’s a whole part of being a business man – being an adult and carrying yourself and not acting like a dumb rock star because you had a couple of good nights.” Saint also keeps a constant eye on his website and Facebook page, posting free downloads like his recently released “I Want You Remixes EP” which showcased his single and its remixes by other artists. But these sites run two ways, since Saint uses feedback from fans as input for new musical ideas. He explained this plays a large role in choosing what songs he mixes into his music as well as the general direction of his work. “That’s how I make my decisions, based on what the people listening to the music want,” he said. “They come first, I come second.” Saint said this online catering is essential to his success. “You’ve got two kinds of fans, the real world fans you play shows to and online fans who get downloads,” he explained. “Play to them live and give them free downloads.” High Top Kicks began differently from Saint’s current design. The band started with a loose group of musicians including elements like drums, guitars and keyboards. “We stopped using a drummer and started using electronic drums, and then we stopped using guitars, and it ended up being a duo,” Saint explained. Today, Saint writes and produces the music and performance sets, with the live stylings of Meriwether bassist Brent Armstrong during performances. Armstrong has participated in the project from its beginnings and serves as an important part of live sets, Saint said. “Brent’s like a lead guitarist,” Saint explained. “I write all the songs and put the sets together, but when it comes to laying down a lead synth live or playing a guitar live or laying down the extra bells and whistles – because I don’t have four arms – that’s where Brent comes in.” In addition to creative and personnel changes, Saint said High Top Kicks plays live music entirely from iPads with the use of Lemur Software. This software allows the musicians to play music from their comptures using an interface of prompts on iPads. “We create mini-controllers through our iPads that control our computers,” he explained. “Every button is ergonomically designed for my hands. It’s right there. I open up my laptop, turn on my iPad and boom, I’m ready to rock – I’m there with the audience.” Like past Spanish Moon High Top Kicks shows, Saturday’s will be themed. Doors open at 9 p.m., and discounts will be awarded to fans dressed as twins. 
 
____ Contact Austen Krantz at [email protected]