DECIBEL FESTIVAL 2011 | DAY 2
Thursday greeted everyone with clear skies on the day of the U.S. debut of the Amon Tobin ISAM audio/visual spectacle. Knowing well ahead of time that minimal energy would be dedicated attempting to document the actual spectacle on the night of, an attempt to weasel into the venue for some shots of the inital set up was on the days agenda. This attempt was a failure. An ISAM crew member made it clear that no cat would be let out of the bag at this stage in the game during our brief chat outside the venue.
At this point in the afternoon, just about everyone familiar with the Pacific Northwest's climate knew this was most likely the last day of Summer. The rest of the day was to be spent outside navigating the tourist traps, scarfing street food, and observing throwies and architecture.
The night had finally arrived. Personally, this was the most anticipated act of the festival. This was the Super Bowl crossbred with the X-Games for artists and nerds alike. Upon arrival it was clear that this showcase had a draw that extended far beyond just the Decibel Festival goers. Lines for beverages were lengthy; a problem solved with a simple walk up a flight of stairs to the second floor where you were treated to an empty bar with a generous pour. The Paramount's architecture itself was equally mesmerizing as the trailers for the ISAM show and reminiscent of something that would be featured on an Amon Tobin record sleeve.
TOKiMONSTA opened the night, really wish she went second. Her avatar alone is like star wars, voltron, lord of the rings, star trek, twilight zone, all rolled into one. The above summary is all that really needs to be said. It should also be noted that the ISAM crew were no slouches when it came to sound, as the Pure Filth system proved weighty. If for some reason you slept on this past round of tour dates, you're in luck. You can catch the show again this New Years Eve in San Francisco.
