Major Lazer’s unstoppable party act comes to town November 9. But first, a clarification: Major Lazer doesn’t exist as such. He’s a cartoon—but with an all-too-real pedigree.
The brainchild of American DJ/producer Diplo and British house DJ Switch (best known for his work with M.I.A.), Major Lazer makes electronic dancehall bangers—songs like 2009‘s ragga-hit Pon de Floor and this summer’s wistful anthem Get Free.
And he comes with a hell of a backstory. Apparently, ‘Major Lazer is a Jamaican commando who lost his arm in the secret Zombie War of 1984.’ Rescued by the US military, his arm was fitted with ‘repurposed experimental lazers’. Since then, he’s been subduing the forces of evil (i.e., ‘vampires and various monsters’) with his futuristic dancehall tunes.
The Major is evidently a busy guy, and his shows are just as frenzied. Technically, they’re extended DJ sets. You can expect Diplo, joined by producers Jillionaire and Walshy Fire (Switch left in 2011 due to ‘creative differences’), to be hunched over his laptop for at least some of the time. The Major’s most recent album, the grandiosely named Free the Universe, featured an impressive array of supporting artists (from Ezra Koenig, of indie mavens Vampire Weekend, to XXX-rated singer Peaches to Wyclef Jean, the Haitian-American rapper who somewhat risibly ran for the Hatitian presidency in 2010). Unfortunately, reproducing that diverse line-up for live shows proves nearly impossible.
But so what if a lot of the music is pre-recorded? To dwell on that misses the point. Major Lazer shows are all about partying. We can guarantee that the 5,000-person capacity venue, the Brixton Academy, will feel only just large enough to contain the brouhaha. If past concerts are anything to go by, spectacle will be the order of the day. Diplo will crowd-surf in a massive hamster ball. Major Lazer will be beamed down from Jamaica by way of a video link. He’ll be greeted by a serious sound system, booty-shaking dancers, hundreds of vuvuzelas, confetti, oh and maybe a couple of lasers.
Tickets are currently sold out, but check the link below for returns.
What | Major Lazer, Brixton Academy |
Where | Brixton Academy, 211 Stockwell Rd , SW9 9SL | MAP |
When |
On 09 Nov 13, 7pm |
Price | |
Website | Currently sold out, but check seetickets.com for returns. |