This past weekend, Stereo Live hosted a duo of legendary proportions in the dance music scene. Gabriel and Dresden, a staple in the world of trance music, brought an energetic show that was crowd-pleasing and true to their sound which has been heard around the world for decades.
Gabriel and Dresden began their set with what a couple of true bass-heads described to me as a “chill” sound. The use of deep beats that started off the show produced an old-school trance vibe that their dedicated fans know and love from this duo. The beats were, as always, dance-friendly and kept the crowd moving as their set progressed. However, after the first half-hour of their set, the real work began.
The duo brought in old and new music that was high-energy that the crowd’s reactions began to match. As the tempo and volume increased, so did the energy. One of the major highlights of their set was the combination of mashups and tunes from across their career that brought memories back for long-time fans. They also reintroduced those well-loved tunes to new listeners. One of these instances was the drop of their mashup from 2012, “Language of Promises.” Seamlessly piecing together music by Porter Robinson and Andain, this mashup is a beautiful example of their command of sound in trance music.
The blend of their classic tunes as well as the integration of Gabriel and Dresden’s new album Remedy made for a fantastic show that showed their talent in production as well as their ability to throw an amazing set.
The integration of their Remedy album into their set was flawless, and each song from the set flowed right into the next without a hitch in transitions. When a personal favorite dropped, the good feelings were nearly tangible throughout the venue. “Will I Change,” with its superb vocals and feel-good melody, brought a wonderful vibe to the middle of their set. We’d like to thank Gabriel and Dresden so much for throwing a spectacular show here in Houston!
Pros: Great selection and energy, everyone focused on the music
Cons: Visuals were fairly repetitive. Also, a pro because you focused on the music instead.
Overall: A for music, B for production
