Day for Night delivered massively as its second year launched an unparalleled festival experience in Houston, Texas. Organizers’ goals of making Day for Night an entire weekend of immersive digital art and sound was met. The line up boasted 70+ artists spanning from hip hop and experimental electronic music to jazz fusion and rock, while numerous visual artists from around the world displayed their latest light installations. Patrons were able to visually feast upon the notable works of Nonotak, Michael Fullman of VTpro, and the most sought after, Bjork Digital. Touting an oversized warehouse and an outdoor area with four stages, Day for Night created a unique, cohesive layout, emphasizing a balance of audio and visual acts.
First up on the Main Stage was the most appropriately named act, Welcome to Houston. Comprised of legendary Houston rap artists such as Z-Ro, Lil Flip, Paul Wall and DJ Michael Watts, the group unloaded a arsenal of hip hop songs to which the crowd echoed each and every lyric. Welcome to Houston concluded their set with fellow member Bun B taking the stage, hinting that they would be taking the show on tour.
While the weather was very Houston, the crowd did not hesitate to stand as huddled masses in the humidity all day to see their favorite artists. There were countless smashing sets on the main stage including Thundercat, Banks, Nick Murphy and Odesza. Even the smaller stage acts commanded the energy inside, like great maestro John Carpenter who treated the crowd to his life long works of horror film scores. Tycho ruled the warehouse with their synth driven chill wave set. There was a moment in the night when the festival mood shifted and the crowd exploded, coming to life: the advent of Aphex Twin.
After hours in the sticky warmth and miles of trekking the venue from stage to stage, Richard James aka Aphex Twin took the stage. There was electricity in the air and the moment that people came across the world for was upon them. James began his two hour set with a lullaby of sounds and a slowed down sample of what sounded like a boy’s laughter. The sounds and oscillations were hair raising and suddenly, it happened. The temperature began to drop a drastic 35 degrees in what seemed like minutes.
The music began to pick up and sound more carnal. Intensity rose to a fever pitch. It was as if James was summoning the elements with his glitchy computer frequencies, and with the strike of what seemed like the most commanding laser display, it began to pour. The rain was freezing, the wind was unforgiving and blasting away was Aphex Twin, giving us what we all so desperately came for: sensory overload.
The ones that were there will never forget the experience. Primal. Religious. Fulfilling. And that was just Day 1 of Day for Night.
Chris Zane is a DOD contributor and DJ, who has held club residencies at Rich's, Fbar and renowned techno club, Gravity . Zane also hosts the house & Techno Podcast "The Zephyr Lounge" which you can catch on The Department of Dance Radio, Friday's at 2pm.
