PANTyRAiD | 12.12.08 | Denver

Words & Images by: Tk Kayembe

PANTyRAiD :: 12.12.08 :: The Gothic Theater :: Denver, CO

PANTyRAiD :: 12.12 :: Colorado

Some products are so appropriately labeled the consumer knows at a glance what’s being sold. This is the case for L.A. duo PANTyRAiD. Their live show is known to be a eurhythmic riot where people swarm the floor with eyes closed and hands in the air, immersed in a high energy dance party comparable to a red light district cotillion. Comprised of Marty “Party” Folb and Josh “OOAH” Mayer, PANTyRAiD exploded on the scene in 2008, instantly turning heads with their self-proclaimed “pretty hip-hop.”

Opening for Folb and Mayer was Eliot Lipp. Lipp started the mood off right, connecting smooth glitch beats with powerful synth lead hooks so fuzzy at times it sounded like bees playing Moog synthesizers. There were some true Lipp fans in the audience sporting related accessories, ranging from lip-shaped glasses to multicolored t-shirts speckled with kissy lips.

The moment the crowd caught a glimpse of two glowing white apples beaming from sticker-covered MacBooks onstage, they erupted. Quickly transitioning between setting up equipment and starting the show, PANTyRAiD stole the stage like thieves, then nearly shook the speakers off the walls with their first notes. Their sonance is so distinct it could easily be picked out of any lineup. One moment you’re slowly paddling through a gloomy thicket in a dense whomp swamp, then the tempo switches and is so amped up it feels as though your heart will rupture.

PANTyRAiD :: 12.12 :: Colorado

It’s truly a sight to see PANTyRAiD communicate. They don’t pre-record their sets, so while building their shows live, they whisper back and forth onstage like schoolboys sharing secrets before revealing them to the crowd. This was my third time seeing the duo, and it was as brilliant and wild as the first, the floor littered with beautiful people, beautiful music, and of course, endless amounts of panties being tossed about like confetti. Decadent lasers and kaleidoscopic lights shadowed the two throughout the night as the enraptured audience wobbled back and forth to the beat, resembling bowling pins on the cusp of toppling. I definitely saw some funky moves; at times it felt like I had been dosed at the Huxtable’s during one of Cliff’s impromptu living room dance parties. Neon winged sunglasses from the Look Who’s Talking era, and fresh, colorful custom shoes seemed to be the dress code, as around three quarters of the audience were decked out in dark shades and ornate candy striped kicks.

Keeping the crowd entertained is one thing the two beatmakers excel at, mixing up their own tracks with choice remixes. Included in their set was a crowd-pleasing rendition of Lil’ Wayne‘s headbanger “A Mili,” a very seductive “BeBa,” blingworthy “Crunkalicious,” and my personal favorite, “Our Second Chance.”

Separate they are great, but together they are heavy – the Josh Mayer, Marty Folb collaboration is unquestionably a special one. Effortlessly, they throw down some of the heaviest, sexiest party beats for the masses while remaining kind and humble. Still working on wrapping up their debut album, The Sauce, one has nothing but the highest of expectations for their first record together. But, if the tracks on their MySpace page are any indication of how the final product will turn out, the world is in for some filthy, grimy, slo-bass planted over ingeniously chopped, tweaked and diced drums. So, next time you see the name PANTyRAiD remember: little ‘y,’ little ‘i,’ enormous sound.

PANTyRAiD :: 12.12 :: Colorado

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