On Black Friday, FDRMX debuted its very first performance for its new music series, FDRMX Live Sessions. The concert took place in a well-known venue called the Trash Bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The first FDRMX Live Sessions welcomed a high-tech EDM project called the Conscious Collective. This experimental music group is comprised of Argentine pianist Dario Boente, bassist Luis Guzman, and drummer Josh Werner. Here are the top five highlights of the night.
Number Five: Seat belts. The Trash Bar is a punk rock venue that lives up to its name (in a good way, of course). The seats were made of recycled bus seats with the seat belts still attached. Other vehicle seats were propped against walls in random places. The walls were covered with recycled license plates and stickers. Almost everything was completely covered in stickers. The venue had a warm atmosphere; Brooklynites and friends gathered together over cheap booze, billiards, and small talk that didn’t involve Black Friday sales. With classic and punk rock playing in the background, you can’t go wrong.
Number Four: Ear plugs. Apparently, you can order your gin and tonic with ear plugs on the side. The bar provides ear plugs for the sensitive (and smart). Drinks were on the affordable side and the bartenders were extremely tolerant to those who drank a little too much. The stage was hidden in the back with soundproof curtains.
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Number Three: Digital guitar. When Conscious Collective came on stage, they took out their expensive equipment and instruments. The EDM project created by Boente awed the crowd with their technology. Laptops were essential, of course, but what was striking was Guzman’s use of a Misa Digital Tri-Bass MIDI controller. The trio performed a live drum and bass set that consists of jazzy piano melodies. The soulful music coming from these digital equipment brought viewers to their feet as they bobbed their heads and gyrated their hips in slow motion. Boente’s hands were magical as each finger pressed down on the keys, creating synth and 80s-like sounds, as if Michael Jackson was about to come out and perform. Boente, Guzman, and Werner are very talented, and with the added bonus of this technology, they did not disappoint and will not in the future.
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Number Two: Handstand. Boente called on up a special guest, FK. FK brought down the house with his rap skills. He incorporated jazz and hip-hop vocals to his rendition of “Around the World,” “Give it Away,” and “Tell Me Baby” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Singing along with Conscious Collective, it looked like a welcoming jam session. Indeed, it was, as the audience began singing along to the words. FK encouraged the electronic trio to do solos as he jumped up and down to get the audience pumped and going. FK did almost a ten-second handstand and by the looks of Conscious Collective’s faces, they were very impressed. And so was the crowd.
Number One: Beatboxing. FK invited a well-known beatboxer, Spencer Polanco, to the stage. Polanco’s beatboxing skills were jaw-dropping. For a minute or two, Polanco grabbed the microphone and out came sounds that one would never imagine came from a human’s mouth.
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