Even with advance warning, we were still unprepared for the whole face-ripping thing.
Back in January, when EDM superstar Illenium was putting the finishing touches on his new “Odyssey” residency at Sphere, he told the RJ to expect something “mental” when he played dubstep tonsil-shredder “Slave to the Rithm” on stage for the first time.
Now, if there’s one thing you don’t associate with Illenium — who’s fond of big moments, big budgets, big everything — it’s understatement. But this was the rare instance in which his words would qualify as just that.
To wit: About 30 minutes into the opening night of “Odyssey” on Thursday, “Slave” begins with animated, sci-fi-worthy visuals of a cyborglike female DJ outfitted with devil horn headphones. As the beat goes from bubbling to bulldozing, the bass drop hits — thwack! — and off goes her flesh in a burst of green goo, revealing a skeleton with glowing eyes who continues manning the decks, setting a new bar for gnarliness in Sphere’s 2½-year history. “Mental”? Yeah.
Duel of Darkness and Light
“Keep on dancin’ ’round like nothing really matters,” Bring Me the Horizon frontman Oli Sykes enjoins on the song’s chorus, before offering listeners a little reassurance: “You are not alone.” Those two sentiments underscore pretty much everything that Illenium does — including this wild-eyed 90-minute production, for which descriptors like “over-the-top” and “retina-scorching” feel almost quaint.
The storytelling in “Odyssey” chronicles the journey of two female warriors in search of each other — one clad in black, the other in white, representing darkness and light, a frequent motif in Illenium’s catalog. After a sword fight or two, the pair eventually become one, symbolizing the yin and yang of benevolence and malevolence within humankind. This narrative depth is something Illenium has woven into his work over the years, making his performances not just concerts, but enthralling visual and emotional experiences.
The “Odyssey” storyline inspired Illenium’s new album of the same name, which was written after he booked his Sphere residency and created the storyboards for the production. He mined that record heavily Thursday, from exultant opener “In My Arms,” featuring his trademark phoenix imagery, to the nü metal-tinged banger “War” and the EDM mood-enhancer “Ur Alive.”
An EDM Populist
What makes Illenium stand out in the crowded EDM landscape is his populist approach. He’s not just a DJ; he’s a voice for the people. Throughout the night, he was joined by a female string quartet and pianist/vocalist Mako (Alexander Seaver), who doubles as the show’s music director. This ensemble adds a rich, layered texture to Illenium’s already emotive sound.
“If you’re out there all on your own, when all of the lights start slowly fading,” Mako sang on a dusky, mesmeric “Into the Dark.” “That’s when I carry you home.” These lyrics encapsulate what Illenium is all about: ecstatic, anthemic EDM with emotions spelled out in all caps. It’s big-tent electronic dance music, the kind meant to be played in stadiums, and Illenium certainly has the chops to deliver it.
Above all, Illenium is a DJ-producer of the people, and you could see this in the crowd — a sizable portion clad in his signature baseball jersey, rooting hard for the home team. The atmosphere created during these performances feels inclusive, with a sense of community among attendees who are united by the powerful musical experience.
Toward the end of the night, Illenium aired “All That Really Matters,” his monster hit with Teddy Swims. This song felt like an encapsulation of both the show and the musician himself, embodying the essence of connection he strives for. “Find someone who’ll be there for you,” Swims urges at the beginning. “’Cause that’s all that really matters in the end.” By this point, Illenium had made his message clear: for those still looking for that someone, just turn to the dude in the DJ booth.
Odyssey continues on Friday and Saturday, with more shows March 12-14 and April 2-4.
Contact Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476. Follow @jasonbracelin76 on Instagram.
