MSTRKRFT brings the noise to Ampersand for Samedi Gras
NEW ORLEANS | As a professed electronic music fanatic, I'll always jump at the chance to take in a mixed set from an established DJ crew, and this Mardi Gras weekend is no exception. The CBD's Ampersand nightclub hosted an over-the-top Mardi Gras kickoff bash Saturday night, with Canadian electro duo MSTRKRFT headlining.
While my previous experiences at Ampersand were often a bit claustrophobic, the recently remodeled club was the perfect place for a dance party on this particular night. A throng of partygoers danced in Ampersand's outdoor area, which featured live video and (more importantly) audio feed from the party's main stage. The club's front dancefloor was filled to capacity, with Louisiana-based acts like SKYHI and Beverly Skillz warming up the crowd before the night's main event.
Popular needle drops of the night included dancehall supergroup Major Lazer, Portugal's Buraka Som Sistema and of course the legendary Daft Punk, but when MSTRKRFT took to the decks, all bets were off.
Perhaps to repay fans upset when the pair failed to play a Voodoo Fest party, the men of MSTRKRFT threw down an incendiary set, starting with Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now." The duo of Jesse F. Keeler (better known as JFK) and Alex Puodziukas (Al-P) stormed through a massive selection of dancefloor fillers, from their own "Bounce" to AC/DC's "Thunderstruck."
The energetic crowd was as varied as the DJs' track selections, with hipsters, ravers, frat boys, and two notable young men in penguin costumes blending together as they danced and mingled. The city's shared joy over the Saints' Super Bowl victory even carried over into the night's wild party, with excited fans chanting "Who Dat?" and clapping along to the beats and breaks.
After MSTRKRFT left the crowd breathless and dizzy, local boys Force Feed Radio took over behind the wheels to bring the night on home. With a full Mardi Gras ahead and big acts like The Crystal Method on the bill, there's no question that Ampersand's backyard dance parties will become the place to be for any fan of electronic music.
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