Datsik's Firepower Records Tour - Revolution Live, Fort Lauderdale - September 19

Ian Witlen

Datsik
With Delta Heavy, Bare Noize and AFK
Revolution Live, Fort Lauderdale
September 19, 2012

Better than: Any other bass system we've ever heard, ever.

Dubstep is all about that deep, heavy bass, but last night at Revolution Live, Datsik brought the intensity to a whole new level.

See also
>- Datsik on Korn's Jonathan Davis: "He Knows More About Hip-Hop Than I Do"
- Slideshow: Datsik's Firepower Records Show at Revolution

On his current Firepower Records tour, the Canadian hard-hitter is circling the continent with a new stage set-up like nothing he's ever experienced. He DJs from a massive, spiraling vortex of light and bolsters his selections with a 50,000-watt PA system. You might say that kind of sound is excessive, and maybe you're right, but it definitely kicks ass in person.

But you can't just start a night off with 50,000 watts right out of the bag. You have to warm a crowd up for that sort of bone-rattling insanity.

When we got there, AFK was working the decks toward that goal, but that doesn't mean he was taking it easy on them. The first thing we heard coming through the doors was the familiar trap beat of Flosstradamus' "Original Don" remix. That tinny drum machine trap style continued to make its way into everyone's set that night.

Ian Witlen

Even though it was earlier than 11 p.m., the place was crawling with raver kids dressed in their kandi best. The dance floor in the center of the venue was packed and pulsating to the beat. AFK played from a table on the left of the stage, most of which was consumed by Datsik's vortex booth. We couldn't see it yet. It was still hidden behind a gray tarp.

The young crowd chanted and woo'd for the man, who played until 10:40, when the U.K.'s dubstep duo Bare Noize took over. The two blokes were dressed in matching snapbacks and T-shirts, bobbing to the beat together. They looked like twins.

"Put your hands in the air for AF fucking K," they shouted. "Is y'all having a good time?"

The place roared to life as they got into it, starting their set off with some melodic tracks and working the crowd back up to the really heavy shit all over again. White and yellow lights flashed above the partiers' heads. All were either dancing, moshing, or just playing with lights in the hallways.