On most fall Saturdays in Eugene, Alton Baker Park is filled with masses of Ducks football fans flocking to Autzen Stadium. Many fans attend just to see Heisman hopeful quarterback Justin Herbert.
But with Herbert’s Ducks resting on Saturday, Oct. 6, the park was void of football fanatics — the perfect opportunity for a different kind of fandom to takeover.
That night, electronic music duo Zeds Dead brought its second-ever Deadbeats tour to the Cuthbert amphitheater. 12th Planet, Ganja White Night and other acts from Zeds Dead’s Deadbeats label also performed.
Los Angeles-based dubstep DJ 12th Planet took the stage around 6:30 p.m., just as the sun began to make its descent. His set incorporated a good mix of both traditional dubstep along with drum and bass breakdowns. The blend was best heard on his most popular track, “Send It,” and his remix of Riot Ten’s “Rail Breaker.”
The DJ paid tribute to Oregon’s own Matt Groening, the creator of “The Simpsons,” with visuals of Bart Simpson displayed on the Cuthbert’s tall LED screens. It’s unclear if the reference was an intentional nod to the nearby city of Springfield, which shares the same name as the fictional cartoon town where the Simpson’s live.
Once 12th Planet’s hour-long set was finished, Belgian bass duo Ganja White Night took the stage. Throughout the set, the duo mixed in a variety of genres, including hip-hop, reggae and heavy bass.
Ganja White Night’s visuals complemented the duo’s array of sounds, too. The Cuthbert’s expansive bag of stage tricks and toys, such as a host of rotating lights and CO2 cannons, allows flexibility for artists to be creative when it comes to visuals. From comic book-esque graphics to video game animations in a similar style to 1980s film Tron, there was a variety of stage productions.
Crowd members sport a variety of style and attire as they fill in the amphitheater pit. The Deadbeats Tour Eugene brings big bass to the Cuthbert Amphitheater on Oct. 6, 2018. (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)
After the duo put on a solid opening set, it was time for the main act to take the stage.
Toronto-natives DC and Hooks, who together are Zeds Dead, began their set just after 8:45 p.m. with the song “Lights Out,” which received an energetic applause from the crowd.
“Eugene, what the fuck is up?” said Hooks, who was sporting a black Herbert jersey with green numbers.
The DJs would go on to perform a solid 25-minute, bass-heavy portion of their set, hitting “Kill Em” and their famous “Eleanor Rigby” remix along the way. This portion of the set was accompanied by sharp visuals of contrasting colors and multi-dimensional lines.
After the bass section, Zeds Dead moved into more fan favorites such as “Lost You,” “Frontlines” and “Collapse.” Diehard fans held their hands in a “Z” shape as they heard the duo’s greatest hits blast over the PA speakers.
In the buildup to the performance’s final stretch of songs, the duo performed remixes of Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.”
Hooks then announced that they only had time for a few more songs. Zeds Dead went on to perform “We Could Be Kings” and “Where The Wild Things Are” in front of the packed Cuthbert audience.
“I say this every fucking night, but I mean this shit: You guys brought the energy tonight,” Hooks said. “You guys are always so great to us. Thank you. Goodnight.”
Crowd members form a circle in order to head-bang together as the bass drops. The Deadbeats Tour Eugene brings big bass to the Cuthbert Amphitheater on Oct. 6, 2018. (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)
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