Colorado-based duo returns to Columbia with instrumental beats, colored light show
Instrumental jam band Big Gigantic will bring its act to The House 5 Points Saturday, playing alongside electronic hip-hop group Archnemisis.
Big Gigantic, which consists of saxophonist and keyboardist Dominic Lalli and drummer Jeremy Salken, played The House in the fall of 2009.
With roots in Boulder, Colo., the two began playing small gigs locally in 2009 and began to get noticed, opening for Sound Tribe Sector 9 soon after.
Big G, as the two are also known, has a number of festivals and concerts under its belt, having performed at venues across the country. The duo started its current countrywide tour Wednesday in Nashville and will continue through July 29. As its notoriety has increased, Big G has played with more well-known groups including the electronic dubstep sensation Bassnectar.
Big Gigantic doesn’t just settle for the “electronic” music label.
The band draws influences from many other electronic dance acts like Pretty Lights, but Lalli also listens to Herbie Hancock and other jazz musicians. With a solid foundation of quality music and a driving urge to party, this unstoppable duo creates an incredible atmosphere and impressive grooves.
Big G also tries to make its band and performances something more than the music. The band places just as much focus on the entertainment value of each of its shows as the music itself.
Anyone who has seen Big Gigantic knows that its extensive light show adds to the whole experience. During a typical show, colored lights and lasers are coordinated with the beats, creating a musical and visual experience. This tactic is used by many electronic acts such as deadmau5, and has become one of the major focuses of concerts in this genre.
Another impressive aspect of seeing Big Gigantic live is the level of improvisation that is incorporated into each song. Big G harnesses the jam band feel and extends three-and-a-half-minute long songs, like “High Life” and “Wide Awake,” into six- to 10-minute long jams.
Although Big Gigantic is predominantly an electronic dance band, it also remixes some popular tracks. One of the most well-known remixes is Aloe Blaac’s “I Need a Dollar,” available as a free download online at biggigantic.net/dollarremix. Other free downloads are available on Big Gigantic’s website.
This duo, which is still relatively young, is blowing up the music scene across the country and is sure to bring a solid show Saturday. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 the day of the show. The show will start at 9:30 p.m.