After having been following the UK electronic dance music scene for almost a decade, it was at the Republic in New Orleans that I would finally have an opportunity to see the British trio peform. Unfortunately, do to a few different complications, Joseph Ray was the only one able to make it that evening and was set to do a DJ set. What ensued was a wonderful experience of nostalgia, breaking new grounds, and an experience to say the least.

After having watched Cookie Monsta open, I have to admit that I was prepared for a performance of live electronic music that I had yet to witness. Seeing only one member of the trio arrive on stage was worrisome, but the thing that I noticed was that he was using CDJs instead of a laptop combined with Ableton software, as most DJ setups end up playing out. While they weren’t a pair of Technics decks and vinyl records, but turntablism is still an art to be mastered and enjoyed as an audience member.

There were plenty of throwback tracks that made me realize why I find a DJ set so enjoyable – the live influence of crowd reaction and emotion can completely persuade a DJ to pursue one or two avenues of remixes/mashups/songs that they otherwise may never have pursued in a live setting. Seeing that the crowd is digging the Daft Punk remix you just threw in to tonight’s set on a whim? Why not follow it up with an a capella rendition LCD Soundsystem track over your newest single release.

While I will be the first to admit that I am not a dubstep fan, Ray’s ability to constantly twist and bend the genres into something unique but still fun and danceable allowed me to enjoy the night without worrying about too much bass rattling my brain. If I didn’t like the wobble bass being played at the moment, I knew there was an electro house track on the come up that I could get down with.

Don’t miss out on Nero at BUKU this year, you’ll regret it if you do!