Boys Noize: Just Noize to Most

Sydney OZ 04.15.17 that was epic ? I love you !! pic.twitter.com/7TyDEVhxdw

— Boys Noize (@boysnoize) April 16, 2017

In an age where the dirtiest underground Berlin techno is disappearing, Boys Noize’s latest tour of Australia shows he still has what it takes to turns a crowd into a frothing frenzy of movement.

Uplifting, euphoric, enlightening; none of these words have ever been used to describe a show Boys Noize puts on. His crunchy, distorted synth riffs run over the top of inappropriate levels of driving bass creating a minimal yet full-on style with just enough melody to boogie down to.

Boys Noize is famous for his warehouse and underground raves in the darkest and dingiest venues, and his latest show in the Metro Theatre is no exception. Metro Theatre on George Street in Sydney may be in the heart of the city, but it’s small, dimly lit, and grungy aesthetic is perfectly suited for Boys Noize’s signature sounds.

In a show that harkens back to the golden days of techno, Boys Noize keeps the room encapsulated in darkness, with minimal flair or over the top production that is commonly seen in more mainstream electronic shows. Live performances in recent years have been trending towards incredible production values with artists pushing for bigger and brighter shows, but Boys Noize’s shift back to the dark is reminiscent of a time before techno hit the mainstream.

If you aren't at our @boysnoize Sydney show, you fucked up.. 3 hours of power coming up ?? pic.twitter.com/Fk13MksRYv

— BBE (@wearebbe) April 15, 2017

It’s not just nostalgia pushing the show along, with the number of young faces in the crowd it’s clear that this aesthetic is resonating with a new generation searching for something other than the more common arena style mainstream performances.

Is the age of the giant mega shows of ultra-popular artists coming to an end? Are we seeing a resurgence of the underground taking over? Probably not. Boys Noize has always existed in a sub-culture hidden from the mainstream, and it’s doubtful this will change anytime soon. However Boys Noize’s latest performance shows that the filthiest of tech house will keep bubbling along underneath the surface, and maybe it’s time will come again.