Lightning wasn’t the only thing lighting up the night Saturday. Just one day after the release of their highly anticipated collaboration EP, Buzzin’, powerhouse artists Shiba San and CID gave an electric performance on their latest ALL U NEED tour stop in Durham, North Carolina. A cultural hub for the weird and funky, the Durham Fruit served as the container for their glowing display of electronic music prowess. (Just one room over, Dan Savage’s national amateur erotica festival, HUMP! was screening films from this year’s selections.)
The show opened with support from artist Brooke Legends, who brought his own unique Latin flavor to the four-on-the-floor house sound that we all know and love. With soaring vocal samples, luscious keys, and compelling drops, Legends had the early crowd out on the dancefloor, building the hype for what was still to come. In the corner, fluorescent ribbons moved through the air, evocative of bright streaking flames, as the words “complete freedom of expression” rang out through the speakers. Later in the night, Legends gave me some insight into the music played during his set, explaining that 40% of it is unreleased—a hint perhaps at some bright new releases ahead for the New Jersey native, who now resides in North Carolina.
Next up to the booth were Shiba San and CID. By this point in the night, the crowd was thrumming with excitement. Both musicians boast impressive careers in the industry, and the decades of experience between them show. They held the crowd in rapt attention with their infectious tech-house sounds for the duration of their 3.5-hour extended set. Moments of reverb-washed tension-building paid off via bone-rattling bass lines and snappy percussion grooves. The disco ball overhead cast beautiful swirling lights through the audience, who, in turn, swirled and swayed to the music. Tucked away in the corner, one man danced his heart out in a prop phone booth. Lush chaises were left empty as even the allure of a comfortable seat amidst hours on the dancefloor wasn’t enough to draw people away from the action.
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