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On Friday, October 21, I attended the Amon Tobi concert at the Congress Theater located in Logan Square.  I heard about this concert through Band Mate, which is an iPhone  application that serves as a personalized music events calendar.  The app, which costs $1,99, suggests live music events in your area based on the music you listen to. I thought this was a little pricey, but as an avid concert attendee it has been totally worth it.

On May 24, Amon Tobin, electronic producer, released his latest album, ISAM.  In exchange for your e-mail address, you can check out the track “Lost and Found” through a free download offered on Tobin’s Web Site.  Ninja Tune, a London based record label, has helped Tobin release seven albums since 1996.

To hype the album and tour, Tobin worked with V Squared Labs and Leviathan to build an onstage set that would be used to enhance the concert experience.  The lead directors heading this project were Vello Virkhaus and Matt Daly.  As a team, they designed a massive city-scape stage with an epicenter that houses Tobin where he unleashes his beats.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/23939037[/vimeo]

The show features this massive multi-dimensional 3D mini-city/dwelling structure that is 25 feet x 14 feet x 8 feet.  There is a trippy mesmerizing visual effect that plays across the large cubic structure.  Like the Wizard of Oz, Amon runs his city from a secret location.

Still from the Wizard of Oz (photo credit: pixipui.blogspot.com)

By combining music and visual mediums, Amon Tobin is revolutionizing the concert experience.  Comparisons to Daft Punk and Deadmau5 have been made, however Tobin’s beats don’t inspire one to break out in dance.  His sound is more of a cross between Sigur Ros and Girl Talk.  His show offers a visually stimulating cinematic experience.

Amon Tobin – Behind The Scenes Of ISAM (photo credit: funkyhousemusic.com)

The convergence of these two mediums truly makes for a unique concert experience.  I think that as concert attendees, we can look forward to enjoying more events like this one.  When done right, combining different mediums can enhance the storyline and meaning of one’s art.