If you had the most basic knowledge of electronic music and were to go into one of its show blindfolded, you would probably be able to recognize ODESZA from the moment its percussion-led, EDM opera sprang to life..
Of course, you wouldn’t bother blinking for risk of missing a moment of Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight — the Washington-born duo that makes up ODESZA — and their well-crafted, electrifying set.
Just ask anyone in attendance at CFE Arena Thursday night when the duo stopped in Orlando to deliver one of the most galvanizing sets the state has seen in years. I can state this confidently because it's been just that: years since ODESZA has headlined a show in the Sunshine State — four to be exact.
Warming up sets were served up by Foreign Family Collective signee Kasbo and rising British star Troyboi. With the arena dimly lit, only Troyboi occasionally added strobes to induce the crowd into a sweaty club vibe with his indie-trap hits (see: “What You Know.”)
The pairing of Troyboi and ODESZA may seem odd on paper, but the two acts have been friends for years — a friendship touched on by Harrison Miles himself in his interview with CL last month.
HOW DID HE GET HERE
Before Orlando show, ODESZA's Harrison Mills details new live production, more
ODESZA’s set didn’t immediately open to the drum-centric sound that has made the group so captivating since springing out of the Northwest in 2012 with Summer’s Gone — its critically revered debut album. Instead it opened with “Intro” — the leading track off the duo’s latest record, the Grammy-nominated A Moment Apart. While the drumline made an appearance to signal a theatrical arrival for Harrison and Clayton, they would interestingly return backstage to and give way to an early DJ set from Odesza. The DJ platform, sporting drum kits in addition to mixing equipment for the two, was elevated before an expanse of space reserved for the drum line. With this space bare, Mills and Knight seemed to hover above the GA floor crowd, backed by a consistently mind-blowing florescent visual show on the large LED backing.
This opening stretch featured fan favorites “A Moment Apart” and “Bloom,” with the guys adding, again, a cinematic touch with their drum playing.
ODESZA continually pumped in the hits early, following up “All We Need” with “Say My Name” — its first Grammy-nominated mix.
The drumline — comprised of a half a dozen snare players — would finally file back out on stage for “Line of Sight,” another track off the new album. Together with Harrison and Clayton the orchestra sized group would dive into choreographed drum sequences that transformed already spectacular electronic compositions into opera house worthy spectacles reminiscent of a full orchestra.
On a night that would feature less of than your fill of the drumline — the group was used more more sparingly than you would assume — its recurring appearance would consistently create sparks of spellbinding production.
This is what separates ODESZA from the rest of the pack in regards to other high profile electronic touring acts, and why they are perhaps the missing link between the electronic music crowd and the older generations of music fans that require instruments on stage to appreciate the music.
ODESZA keeps you fully captivated with its movie-like production, exhilarates with live percussion and vocalists, and still make it loose and fun with its boyish energy on stage. When closing songs — points that often induced standing Os Thursday night — the duo looked as if they were just as excited as the crazed attendees.
The Seattle duo, for several years, has been billed as a rare and fabled live experience, and after Thursday night it’s hard to argue that point. Well worth the wait, ODESZA delivered on its promise to bring Orlando one of the best EDM shows in recent memory.
Here’s to hoping we see them on a in state festival bill song.
*Fingers crossed for Okeechobee*
