Everything is bigger in Texas- even a Black Tiger Sex Machine show! Last week, the Canadian dubstep trio took its biggest tour ever to the Lonestar state as part of its on-going 12-week voyage across America. Having missed their Pacific Northwest stops in January, we relished the opportunity to see BTSM’s highly acclaimed cinematic concert experience with our own eyes during our recent visit to Dallas. Joining a near sell-out crowd on a coolThursday night, there are not enough words to describe what we witnessed. Minds. Blown.
The Supporting Cast
Running from 8 PM to 1 AM, BTSM’s Dallas stop featured one of the biggest supporting lineups of the tour. Helping kick things off was VAMPA. We’ve heard of the emerging 21-year-old DJ/producer previously, but didn’t know too much about her. We quickly became well-acquainted as she set the tone for the night with a set that was dark, sultry, and, often times, hard-hitting. She told the crowd that she was under the weather, when she was done, but we never would have guessed because her energy was dialed to 100 from start to finish. If you are unfamiliar with VAMPA, and are a fan of BTSM, you will be by the end of the year. Promise.
Photo: Stanley Sutton/DMNW
An emerging star in his own right, Blanke took the stage next to deliver a set filled with all the Illenium you could handle. Fitting, because there were so many Illenium jerseys worn that it made us question if we were really at a Black Tiger Sex Machine show! The most emotional set of the night, the crowd sung in unison to tracks like First Time and Crawl Outta Love.
Kai Wachi and Apashe follow with an energetic back-to-back set, blending headbanging bass and funky electro house. At this point in the night, everyone’s strapped in and ready for that ride that was to come next.
It’s Time for Church
BTSM’s Futuristic Thriller Tour takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a pink-haired hero, Naomi, fights off an infection. Her story is displayed through the use of live action cyberpunk, futuristic visuals, and, of course music. We can’t recall seeing a set use so much cinematography. At times, it felt like we were really a part of the action- joining Naomi in her battle against evil.
Photo: Stanley Sutton/DMNW
BTSM’s set opens with a roughly two-minute live action intro. Live action Naomi is dons her BTSM armor with a sense of urgency. PK sound amplifies the effects and shakes our bones. She puts on her BTSM helmet and embarks on the fight of her life.
No genre is off-limits as the masked trio play a mix of their signature electro, riddim, house- even techno! Fans are treated to BTSM hits, old and new- to include the just-released collab with ATLiens. During the set, live-action cutscenes appear showing Naomi getting ready to battle a terrifying opponent.
The musics stops during these clips- BTSM turning around to watch the action unfold on the massive screen behind them. These cutscenes lead to a huge drop and an explosion of lasers and smoke blasts as the trio continue the set. Speaking of lasers, there are A LOT of them- specifically choreographed to each track. We really enjoyed seeing them “dance” to an edit of Fisher’s Losing It.
You Have To See It To Believe It
Whether you’re a fan of Black Tiger Sex Machine or not, the Futuristic Thriller Tour is a wonder to behold. We’ve been to many shows over the years and have never seen anything like this one. BTSM have always been innovative with their visuals but adding live action, choreographed lasers, and punishing PK Sound make for an interactive experience like none other. You will feel like you are right there helping Naomi fight off the baddies in this post-apocalyptic world.
Photo: Stanley Sutton/DMNW
The soundtrack will please dedicated fans, but with this tour- it’s all about the visual element. We don’t know how Black Tiger Sex Machine will top this, but we are excited to see what they come up with next!
For video highlights, be sure to check out our BTSM Tour highlight on our Instagram feed!
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