FOTOBOM!: TOGETHER 2012: GRAMATIK + FALTYDL + STARKEY

This photo captures the whirlwind that was Thursday night at Together fest. At the Ninjatune Showcase at Great Scott, Starkey was moving his arms so fast, jumping back from his turntables to thrust them in the air and get down with the crowd, drawing us even more into his “street bass” beat … before lunging back to the nobs and needles, hunching over in concentration.

The forward-thinking Philly-based producer fell in love with garage while living in London, and even likes to throw in mainstream rap samples over deep bass, the overall effect being a set that takes you on an unexpected, powerful sonic trip (even your boring uncle would be forced to dance to it). Starkey told the Dig the next day that he usually jumps around even more during his sets, but didn’t want the needle to jump too much with him. And he loved the energy of the Boston crowd that night.

My photog Sydney and I jumped around almost as much--catching Nooka Jones (Percussion Lab) at Great Scott first, then heading to see a bit of the insanity at the packed Paradise Rock Club for Street Bangerz-creator Gramatik (such crazy dancing that you couldn’t move in the crowd, and not one, but TWO girls tried to grab me and dance with me…), and then back for FaltyDL’s pulsing basslines and finally Starkey.

It was certainly a night of freshly-baked beats and exploration of new sounds. Wait for it … wait for it …