Keys N Krates, Branchez, & KRNE: A Bass Dream [Reviewed]

Headlining for the second time this year at Showbox SoDo, Keys N Krates delivered a solid performance for Seattle bass heads. Good vibes flowed throughout the venue last Thursday as we were rocked by three solid sets. Opening acts KRNE (pronounced kreɪn) and Branchez complimented KNK extremely well as they filled the night with trappy bass, hip-hop beats, and smooth mixing. Here are some of our highlights from the show.

KRNE was laying it down when we rolled in. The trap-centric artist, originally from Oakland, dished out a phenomenal set, with a clean 808 sub bass and creative sampling. Formerly a graphic designer, KRNE decided to go full time earlier this year, and we’re very glad he did. He was definitely a breath of fresh air. Featuring some of his popular tracks, such as Movin’ and Fall Apart, KRNE really showed us the meaning of BASS. This guy knows his stuff, and is well worth seeing if you can make it to one of his shows!

Branchez stepped up next, giving one of KRNE’s filter knobs a cheeky twist to let him know it was time to wrap things up. The New York DJ is a Seattle favorite, and we love to get our regular dose of his beats. His love of hip-hop, and excellent taste in drums made it easy to keep the crowd satisfied that night. His set included several tracks, including Dreamer, from his 2016 EP 222, as well as his always popular remix of High You Are by What So Not. Branchez looked like he was having just as much fun as anyone else there. He’s a must-see anytime he’s in town.

Finally, it was time for some Keys N Krates. But not before a suspenseful intermission to set the stage and let the crowd rest.

Keys N Krates dominated the stage. The trio from Toronto consists of drummer Adam Tune, keyboardist David Matisse, and DJ Jr. Flo. They had a unique set up for their show with a hybrid drum kit on one side, a synthesizer on the other, and a fully stocked DJ table right in the middle. The group made excellent spacing of their breaks and drops, working the fans with ease. They dedicated a significant portion of their set to an extended mix of Dum Dee Dum (which was a huge reason many of us were there). Their set also included samples from Keep It 100, I Just Can’t Deny, and several tracks from their EP Midnite Mass such as U Already Know.

All in all this was a pretty fantastic show. Our only complaint was that the lights left something to be desired. It was cool to see the performers in action, but the visuals were a little underwhelming. That said, Keys N Krates didn’t really need lights to augment their show. We enjoyed watching them bust it out, and even got a sweet encore where they gave us a taste of a new collab with KRNE!

We know Keys N Krates will be back in Seattle soon, so don’t miss them next time they’re around! Check out our thoughts on other bass-heavy artists in this FreakNight 2016 recap.