Morning Choir is thrilled to bring you coverage of this incredible 2020 show, DECIDUUS, featuring the queen of the underground herself, Hiroko Yamamura. Wait, did we say 2020? In an alternate universe without COVID, maybe it would have gone ahead as scheduled then, but we’re stoked to have finally made it a reality—even if five years later than originally planned. Instead, we bring you coverage of DECIDUUS ft. Hiroko Yamamura as it really went down, in collaboration with Rainbow Rave, April 25th, 2025, at The Fruit.
The show got off to a hot start with Durham’s own ssaabbllee. A familiar face at The Fruit, she stepped out of her usual role behind the scenes and onto the stage to warm up the audience. She pumped a dark, tech-forward sound, focusing on the highs while keeping the bass controlled and leaving room for the night to grow.
Next, Zac Lor and his signature white claws (see coverage of his set at Lavern’s headline show) returned to the booth to grace another MC show with his groovy tech-house mixes. He expertly blends minimalist tech grooves with funky house to keep the dance floor moving. On this night, he chose to play a bit more “mellow,” in his words, reading the crowd to hone in on the perfect vibe. For those seeking more of this Durham artist, you’ll find him every third Thursday at Kingfisher, where he’s just started an exciting new residency.
In a hard and heavy B2B set, Lex Nell and thefacesblur brought the energy to new heights. They chose the path less mellow, blasting out clanging industrial through the space: fists pumping, heads banging, feet leaving the floor—matching and elevating the energy in the crowd at every point. As a room full of ravers enjoyed the sounds, there was one on a different journey, at least momentarily, around the corner from the action, very carefully inspecting a crack in the warehouse wall as if it contained life-changing esoteric knowledge. Though the mystery is still unsolved, the true beauty of the rave is in the connection of each individual experience into a collective one—whether it’s dancing all night, playing a sick B2B with a friend, or opening portals through cracked walls.
GRRL took control next and brought the bass to officially “wall-shaking” levels. The BPM rose and the sweat poured on the dance floor as GRRL crafted their blueprint for the night. An artist who approaches sound with skilled precision, GRRL knows the underground inside and out, and it shows. They draw from an immense wealth of knowledge, allowing them to delve into chaos without losing control. The raucous energy of the crowd juxtaposed with GRRL’s poised look behind the decks—they embodied their reputation as sonic architect, hands always adjusting knobs and faders, carving frequencies out like a knife through butter.
Finally, the time had come, and Chicago house heavyweight Hiroko Yamamura made her entrance. Juice with pulp—that’s how a Hiroko Yamamura set feels: raw and gritty, with a sweetness that brings you back for more. Under red and orange lights, the room transformed into the techno Wild West—a wild and carefree space that invited exultant release. Early signs of summer hung in the air as mosquitoes tried their best to weather the booming frequencies of “Dancing on My Own” (more accurately, a remix of the 2010 Robyn hit) for a little snack. At times, the room erupted in cheers as the elation of the night hit. Hiroko was an expert mood maker, crafting an experience with the crowd that left everyone on a high.
As the final notes played and attendees filed out, five years of anticipation came to a thrilling end. The night marked a triumphant celebration of the enduring underground. This was not the show it would’ve been five years ago, nor is it the show it might be another five years from now—it was a beautiful moment in time that both honored the legacy of the rave and the future of it. Hiroko Yamamura’s set was the cherry on top, a raw, emotive performance that brought everyone together in celebration of the now.
