Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

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Big Gigantic gets saxy for sold-out Orpheum

Big+Gigantic+gets+saxy+for+sold-out+Orpheum

People get hyped when Big Gigantic comes to town. To no one’s surprise, the electronic duo’s Thursday night show at the Orpheum Theater sold out the same day. Swarms of fans filled the venue fairly early, ready to get down to the signature sax and groovy beats that Big Gigantic is so well known for. When Big G finally took the stage around 11 p.m., saxophonist/producer Dom Lalli grabbed the microphone, shouted, “Madison, let’s go!” and kicked off the energized set with their party-starting single, “Let’s Go!”

For nearly two hours, Lalli and drummer Jeremy Salken rocked the Orpheum stage, performing many songs from their new album, The Night Is Young and a selection of others. Early in the set they covered Knife Party’s “Bonfire,” much to the delight of the crowd. Things got a bit crazy at that point. I may or may not have gotten kicked in the head by someone crowd-surfing. The crowd seemed sufficiently pumped up, and Big G went on to play “Rise and Shine” from their NOCTURNAL album, another crowd favorite.

Big Gigantic always does a tremendous job of bringing top-notch production with them on tour. Elaborate light displays set the mood for the songs being played. Behind the duo, LED screens displayed hilarious visuals — sharks, chomping mouths and a whole lot of cats shooting laser beams out of their eyes. It all contributed to the wild and fun atmosphere you’re bound to experience at a Big Gigantic show.

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The set came to a close a little before 1 a.m. with their remix of Macklemore’s “Can’t Hold Us.” Lalli and Salken hurried off the stage after thanking the crowd, but the sold-out Orpheum wasn’t ready to call it quits. Almost immediately, the crowd began chants for an encore, and I can only assume Big G was expecting it, because they were back on the stage probably a minute after they’d left. They played their “I Need a Dollar” remix, one of their first songs that skyrocketed in popularity. Lalli rocked a wild solo on his saxophone then closed the set with their drowsy yet groovy new track, “Shooting Stars.”

Big Gigantic has now played in Madison three times in the last two years and their fan base only continues to grow. If you didn’t get the chance to see them this time around, fear not — it’s only a matter of time before they’re back in town to rock the joint even bigger and better than before.

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