As a classic rock enthusiast turned edm junkie, electronic music produced live is absolutely golden; but, I find myself listening to primarily digital versions of my favorite tunes. Are stereo systems even reallyyyy still a thing? Between online streaming and endless downloads at our fingertips... Cell phone music makes me want to choke on a grape. (I could elaborate on the depth and importance of sound quality but that is an entirely different article.) If you live with other people you know, understandably, we all have different tastes. So when at home relaxing, Pants always optional, maybe getting ready for a night on the town or maybe doing chores tuned in and blasting Pandora, your roomates come home, "mind if I change the station?" With a tolerant yet reluctant, and occasionally fully agreeable, "yes" my living room dance parties are drawn short. More often than not, when the Israeli electronic duo 'Infected Mushroom' comes on, it is game over.
Last week,
I am balls deep in Burning Man when a Goddess and dear friend of old, Harmony, informs me that Infected Mushroom is playing at the Oppulent Temple around 2 AM. I screamed,The idea I could finally once again listen to the Shawarma I had grown so familiar LIVE, an evolutionary sound much like the mushroom spore they honestly and artistically represent... It was absolutely intoxicating even at face value. I spent the day mentally and physically preparing myself for the evening. There was no fast forward, no skip, no thumbs down, and no 'MUTE' button at hand to stop me from getting down and dirty to some gnarly psychedelic music.
Between the Diplo sets of 90s music, between all the art cars and Mayan Warrior antics, between all namesakes and lustrous gimmicks aside, actual live music was more few and far between than anticipated. Romanticizing Podunk bluegrass and late night Jazz sessions among strangers was the real beauty in my burn; UNTIL planting in the heart of the crowd of Infected Mushrooms set. They mesh a full live production and their instrumental craft with a pounding alluring electronic sound. An impromptu fire circle on either side of the stage, my friends new and old within arms reach, and hundreds, thousands? of others dancing, singing, stomping, and fire spinning their hearts out having the time of our lives. No mute, no thumbs down, no skip button. Hits me right in the feels.
Let the song finish, turn the volume up, get the concert tickets you think you can't afford, stumble into a hole in the wall echoing the chords of a struggling artist out the front door. Going to a big fest? Experience a group you have not heard before or would not typically listen to. Even if you sip a different cup of tea, STAY THERE. LISTEN TO THE MUSIC. FEEL IT. Maybe you think Infected Mushroom sucks; but, you know, that's just, like, your opinion man. Revel in the glory of any collaboration for it is a magnificent magnificent thing. Give all the music a chance!
Stay in the know on all things mushy to get your psy-trance dance party on.
