If you are a long time dance music fan, chances are friends and family have asked you what you find so special about seeing a DJ/producer in concert. The question is usually followed up with the phrase, “I mean, they are only pressing buttons…”. We laugh to ourselves because the truth it – EDM has the most incredible stage productions out of any musical genre. In 2018, we saw some of the most incredible live set and DJ set stage productions in the history of EDM. Below we compiled the most jaw-dropping concert productions we could find this year.
Keep in mind, we did not feature any stages from music festivals. While the stages of Lost Lands and EDC Las Vegas were beyond belief, we instead wanted to highlight touring acts that individual artists developed themselves.
Eric Prydz: HOLO
Eric Prydz developed his landmark live show, HOLO, a few years ago now. It seems that with each year that passes Prydz has added more sophisticated technology to the display. The 2018 HOLO sets were nothing short of awe-inspiring. Just take a look at one below…
ODESZA: A Moment Apart Tour
ODESZA has been steadily touring for well over a year now. Most recently the duo celebrated the release of the deluxe edition of their Grammy-nominated album – A Moment Apart.
ODESZA's live shows incorporate a full drumline, a horn section, fantastic lighting, and visual displays. Seeing ODESZA live is nothing short of a full sensory experience that everyone should indulge in at least once.
SNAILS: SHELL 2.0 TOUR
Eric Prydz isn't the only one having fun with Hologram technology in 2018. Kannibalen golden boy, SNAILS has developed a new stage production that has left fans shook but its incredible visuals and powerful bass. SNAILS has just announced a second round of tour dates for his SHELL 2.0 TOUR, and with glowing reviews coming from part one – tickets are expected to sell out fast.
Porter Robinson as Virtual Self
Over the last year, Porter Robinson has developed his new alias to be an entirely new world of characters, stories and more. With Virtual Self becoming its own entity entirely, it only seemed right that Porter would develop a stage production unique to the moniker. The Virtual Self live show is unbelievable, as the lighting and staging help tell the story which the music narrates. Check out Virtual Self in all its glory below.
Gareth Emery: LaserFace
In 2018, Gareth Emery reminded the world of EDM that lasers are still king even as sophisticated holographic technology becomes more available. Emery's touring LaserFace concept utilizes dozens of high powered lasers to create a performance tops most music festivals let alone club sets. Just like Prydz's HOLO sets, Emery only brings LaserFace to certain venues which can handle the size of the production, so if LaserFace hits a city near you…do not miss out on the opportunity to witness it live.
Excision: The Paradox
Would any list that breaks down the most incredible stage productions be complete without Excision? We certainly don't believe so. Even with the amount of time Excision has spent on Lost Lands and Bass Canyon over the last year, he still finds the time to create some of the most out of this world visuals and stage productions for his fans.
Seven Lions: Chronicles Tour
Seven Lions upped his stage production game big time in 2018. On his Chronicles Tour this year, Seven Lions has incorporated a wild array of lasers and stunning visuals to help narrate his set alongside his signature brand of genre-bending bass.
