Heavy Hitters
The video above is MSTRKRFT performing live at the 2007 Cutting Edge Music Festival in Grand Bend, Ontario. What you are hearing is a song by Proxy called “Ready to Watching” mixed into the Chemical Brothers “Salmon Dance” similar to the stylistic blends of Mix Master Mike as depicted at WEMF 2007 when he mixed . Now although that may not classify as an original tune but it’s a perfect depiction of the style found on their first album released in 2006 called “The Looks“
The crowd that night was psychedelic and completely trashed. From the sex-like dance moves I would gather that most of these dancers enjoying the heavy grind of MSTRKRFT were popping colourful pills. As a sober cameraman I still enjoyed their set a lot. Although I must admit, seeing the crowd do their thing in sync to their music was quite the sight too… funny to say the least. These boys put on a good show and have paid their dues. Both members have been performing artists for years before MSTRKRFT was ever born.
Jesse F. Keller was the bassist of “Death from Above 1979″ (a very note worthy Canadian 2 piece band from Toronto) before he transitioned into MSTRKRFT. Likewise, Alex Puodziukas a.k.a. AI-P was formerly part of an electro pop band from Mississauga (just outside of Toronto) called Girlsareshort. Their musical backgrounds give them such diversity which in turn translates to the sound of MSTRKRFT; Electro/Punk/Rap (as listed on their myspace). It’s thanks to their cross-platform diversity that they were booked not only to CEMF but WEMF as well.
What impresses me the most is their world wide recognition from playing festivals and gaining press from the U.K., Paris, Canada and Australia all in the span of a year. They have recently released a new record called “Fist of God
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[...] everyone. The festival featured four stages; the Four-Four Stage, featuring Toronto electro act, MSTRKRFT; the World of DnB Stage, which played host to Mix Master Mike; the Hardsound Stage – which made me [...]
[...] stage, the massive outdoor venue also featured drag racing, and a dance tent, which played host to MSTRKRFT, Mark Oliver and more DJs that kept the party going long after the main stage called it a [...]