There was a moment last night at the Bohemian Dub Ball where art and expression appeared to be bursting through the basket-woven ceiling of the Hult Center.
The stage was shared between an aerial silk dancer scaling up and down, a sole B-boy break dancing, Medium Troy’s dub hip-hop beats, the Bohemian Dub Orchestra modern spin on classical music and on the far right side of the platform, artists alternating contributions to a single painting — and this was just what was going on up in the front. The whole auditorium was buzzing and swirling with vibrant lights and dynamic dancers. Even if you were en route to a bathroom break, you were participating in this artistic eruption.
2014 marks the first year for the Bohemian Dub Ball but organizers are striving to make it an annual event. Due to its smashing debut, there’s no reason why a yearly celebration that strings together music, dance and visual art wouldn’t solidify itself as a Eugene standard.
There were over ten unique performers scheduled during the 4-hour event with multiple dancing acts serving as interludes between sets. Broadway Revue Burlesque, which will soon celebrate its 11th year anniversary making it one of the oldest burlesque troupes on the west coast, provided an arousing display and the Red Mood Rising belly dance troupe shimmied the stage.
Hip-hop artist Devin the Dude came on around 9:30 p.m. with a helicopter camera drone that soared around the Hult. With a hit like “Doobie Ashtray,” Devin the Dude is no stranger to the righteous bush and twice during his set he took up a fan’s offer for a mid-song toke. One admirer sporting a camouflaged hat hectically tried to get his t-shirt signed by the Houston rapper only to be kindly declined because he only had a ballpoint pen. On the last song of his set, Devin the Dude was joined by the Bohemian Dub Orchestra and brought this old Simpsons scene into a reality.
Medium Troy, one of the top organizers for the event, took the stage dressed in solid-colored Sgt. Pepper-esq uniforms and commanded the groove. Part of their set was backed with the Bohemian Dub Orchestra and the juxtaposition of electronic hip-hop and symphony was delightful. Joining them for a few songs was Bettreena Jaeger of the local folk group Betty and the Boy and her sweet vocals functioned swimmingly with Medium Troy. Towards the end of their set, Medium Troy’s bassist J Say Say looked out to the heavily spirited crowd where few seats were being occupied and said, “Some people said motherfuckers couldn’t get down in the Hult Center!”
Slightly after 11 pm, a mysterious man appeared dressed in a dark sparkling jumpsuit and donned a stark black wielder’s mask. Attached to his lower abdomen was an electronic mixer and it only took a few seconds of his skillful playing of the machine for us to realize who just took the stage. RJD2, a master of mixing and scratching, brought an electrifying set with a heavy beat and moved around his consoles like a nuclear physicist frantically trying to prevent a meltdown. RJD2’s craft is unmatched and his performance was a marvel.
As the show came to an end and attendees gradually exited the Hult Center, it became apparent that due to the vivacious atmosphere you couldn’t feel out of place or unwelcomed at the Bohemian Dub Ball.