P(R)eview: Booka Shade @ Metro Chicago

No words can possibly describe the energy that pulsated with every beat thrown down by the German electronica wunderband, Booka Shade at the Metro on Thursday night. In an effort to remain completely irrelevant, I only discovered them three weeks ago when I was combing through the Metro's amazing-as-always spring lineup. Once I gave the Mp3 a listen, I was transported to a world that Moby only wish he could create.

It was a strange night. I had just come from the fashion mixer at Bonnie and Clyde. Dressed in my standard Ben Sherman/ H&M hybrid hippie suit, I reckon I must have looked like a clockwork Victorian rockstar with all those cameras hanging off my dapper vest driven ensemble. Upon my emergence on to the venue floor, just past the sign warning "Tonight's Performance will contain Intense Strobe Lights", people looked at me like I was Darth Vader boarding their trip. Its been a long time since I was at a rave, and I soon realized that I had become the old man/ police officer/ voyage destroyer I so desperately tried to avoid back in my dumber days. Fuck it. At least I had a Kamera! My shoot probably would have gone smoother had Booka begun on time and not 40 minutes late. By the time they went on, I was surrounded by the sweet smell of exxed-out peaking frat boys and a few unruly Germans. I actually became concerned for my recently reconstructed elbow and fled to the balcony like a little girl with a scraped knee after getting thrashed by some douches with light hoops around their necks. Luckily, the kind gentleman Aaron and his buddies gave me a prime spot at the balcony where I got the best of the photos for the night. Cheers to them!

Granted that an act like this attracts a "water drinking "crowd, but the fact is that the sinister dance party that ensued rivaled those found at a Tiesto, Chemical Brothers or Crystal Method show. And with a siezure inducing light show, I sincerely thought the roof was going to blow off the Metro during "Charolette." Electronica groups can be hit or miss, especially if the performers lose themselves behind keyboards, Macbooks, and mixing boards. Fortunately, Booka Shade is not that group. The incoroporation of psychadelic video mixing, strobes, and rockstar energy reminded me how great those kids on the floor must have felt. Next time at a show like this, I might have to leave my battle scars and Sith outfit at the door.

Nah...Fuck it. I have a Kamera.
I need to give thanks to the anonymous tatooed bar maven upstairs for keeping me stocked with ice for my elbow. It was my port in the storm.