Concert Review: Keys N Krates @ The Hoxton

By: Mehek Seyid (@whatthemehek) –

There is no better way to let loose on a Friday night than by kicking back, listening to some good tunes, and getting a dance move or two in, even if it means having to withstand chilly winds, long lines, and a congested coat check crowd in order to do so. Those who were at The Hoxton in Toronto last night fared with such conditions, but were ultimately rewarded with a fun and energetic performance from Keys N Krates.

The electronic trio performed their unique blend of trap, hip-hop and top forty music for just over an hour in front of a sold-out audience. It was clear from the moment that Keys N Krates dropped a remix of Ludacris’ “How Low” that they knew exactly what their hometown needed to have a good time, and did not disappoint going forward. This was not solely because of their song choices, though. What separates Keys n Krates from many artists in the electronic community is how they elevate their sounds by using drums, keyboards and synths, which adds another dimension to the alreadyheavily-manipulated beats involved in creating trap music. When these elements come together in a live setting, the sounds are that much more encompassing than one may find at a typical electronic show. This differentiation has allowed Keys N Krates to develop a fairly significant following in the few years that they have been in operation, and likely what caught Steve Aoki’s attention prior to signing the trio to his record label, Dim Mak.

Keys N Krates enthusiasm for their live show is a clear match for Aoki’s, who is known to put on theatrical shows filled with wild moments and interactions with the audience. Though none of the boys went crowd surfing or held a cake toss, their wide smiles, bouncing to each other’s beats, and focus on delivering a set filled with exciting sonic moments indicated that they were very happy to be on the stage and back home once more. The audience was equally enthralled, as they cheered and swayed while turntablist Jr. Flo and drummer Adam Tune spliced the melody of The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony” with scratches and percussion kicks. When the boys served up a chopped and screwed version of Kanye West’s “Mercy” with a striking synth line by keyboardist David Matisse, the atmosphere suddenly became very club-like, the strobe lights on stage pulsed and the lights on the display behind Keys N Krates rotated as audience members threw their hands up in the air, more likely praising the trio than Yeezus.

The concluding moments demonstrated the extent of the relationship that Keys N Krates have developed with its fans, as they dropped their song “Dum Dee Dum” from their 2013 EP Solow. The song which relies on Tune’s percussion is much more infectious and permeating in a live setting, causing everyone to repeat “dum-dee-dum” continuously, which made for one of the best moments of the night. As a special treat, the boys teased one of their new releases, a trap-heavy track with a hip-hop influence, which, judged by the crowd’s reaction, will surely please most. Before exiting the stage, Matisse took a selfie with the crowd and encouraged fans to be in touch through social media. If they keep making music the way they do, they probably won’t be able to handle influx of friend requests that will come their way.