Guitars and Trumpets: San Holo and DROELOE Ignite The Agora
San Holo at The Agora (2023) Christian Reilly/Taro
San Holo, the Dutch maestro known as Sander van Dijck, or simply “San”, brought his "Existential Dance Music" tour to life this past Thursday in Cleveland at The Agora. The night featured an electrifying mix of electronic beats and live guitar.
San’s set was nothing short of a master showcase of live performance. His blending of beats in real-time while layering them with live guitar riffs produced a sound that was somehow raw yet polished at the same time. At certain points, one might not have even be able to distinguish whether they were at a punk rock show or a rave. His fusion of post-rock, punk, and electronic music painted a vivid picture of life's ups and downs. The dynamic visuals and lighting showcased this narrative, augmenting for the showgoer his popular brand of “vibrance”.
San Holo at The Agora (2023) Christian Reilly/Taro
San Holo performed several tracks from his new album, "Existential Dance Music," including hits like "DON'T LOOK DOWN" and "...BRING BACK THE COLOR." He also played "ALL THE HIGHS" and "LIGHT ONLY," an emotional house track featuring England’s own Bipolar Sunshine on vocals. He topped off the night with fan favorites like "Light" and "We Rise," which had the crowd singing loud enough in unison that you would think they were part of the performance.
The evening opened with OddKidOut and DROELOE, another talented act from the Netherlands. Vincet Rooijers, the mastermind behind DROELOE, even brought out his trumpet, a nostalgic nod to his marching band roots, which added a unique touch to the performance. Vincent, fresh off the release of his introspective album "The Art Of Change," played both old favorites like "Only Be Me" and "Sunburn," along with new tracks like "Mundane Av." This album marks his first solo project since parting ways with former collaborator Hein Hamers, showcasing a blend of past reflection and forward-thinking creativity.
DROELOE at The Agora (2023) Christian Reilly/Taro
We had a chance to talk to Vincent Rooijers after the show, where he shared some insights about the journey of being an artist. "Sometimes you don't realize a song is cool until you see a bunch of people dancing to it," he remarked. At Taro, we affectionately call this the "Droeloe Effect". Vincent also highlighted the importance of enjoying the process and having fun on stage, noting "It's okay to be goofy sometimes." We couldn’t agree more, Vincent.
Northeast Ohio's EDM scene is clearly on the rise, and nights like this underscore its growing popularity. If you're looking to dive into more electronic music, mark your calendars for the next big event at The Agora. LSDream and Superfuture will be lighting up the stage on December 3, 2023. Don’t forget to grab your tickets and get ready for another unforgettable night.