Blood On The Dance Floor at The Marquis Theater

By Corey Blecha

Sparks! Glitter!! Confetti!!! Flood Lights!!!! All just another night at a Blood On The Dance Floor show, where screaming teenagers shake the stage, sing along to every song, and learn the dance moves that will later get them through college. I attended the show not knowing what to expect, as this scene is quite a bit different from my usual crowd. But always willing to expand my musical horizons, I ventured down early to get some words with the guys from BOTDF, Dahvie Vanity and Jayy Von Monroe, and better understand the hype around them.

Before I even made it to the venue, I could see a line down the block outside The Marquis Theater, at 5:30 and in the slowly drizzling rain no less. It was pretty clear that these guys have a rabid following around here, and I was interested in learning more about where this success came from, and find out a little more about the band’s background.

Stepping onto the tour bus over the fanatical screams outside, we were introduced to Dahvie, who was touching up some last minute make-up designs and shuffling around preparing for sound check. After Jayy arrived, we began talking about the history behind the band, and I was very pleased to hear that these guys really know their tech gear and aren’t just a product of the digital age and the shortcuts it can offer. Besides their firm knowledge of instruments, plug-ins, and digital/analog signal processing, it quickly became apparent that these guys know what they want, and they know how they want to do it. From their make-up to their song writing, to their on-stage production, it was cool to see close-up how a real DIY band does things.

I think a big reason BOTDF has risen to such popularity, besides their infectious, dance-infused punk rock, is their sensibility to their fans and to what their ideals are as artists. They control what happens, and they connect with their fans, something that big label bands just aren’t able to do. In addition to their down to earth, do-it-yourself mentality, they also embrace the new music model of giving out free tunes, in order to give something back to the fan and build a stronger connection with them. They’ve been putting out multiple singles for free over the past few years. Without talking to these guys, you would never know any of this was the case, with their insane stage antics and over-the-top production, but after speaking with them, I was really impressed with their attention to detail and their huge appreciation for their fans.

I was ready to check out the show and see some of the things they let me in on before the show. The live band is a really good way to keep the energy high, and it lets Dahvie and Jayy shine at the front of the stage, taking the crowd on a ride filled with confetti, glitter, and dance music. At times, their sound fuses punk and electronica, while other portions of their show move into darker Robert-Smith inspired cadences.

Even more intense parts come out with “scream-tronica” songs that fuse the builds and drops of electro music with the heavy intensity of hardcore music. The whole show takes a lot of turns, but there is a consistency of infectious beats and driving bass lines, courtesy of the on-point bass and keyboard players. At the end of the show, I was definitely worn out, and although the scene was way different than what I usually get down to, I could appreciate the dance-heavy beats and the raw energy soaring throughout the place (regardless of how old or young the crowd was). I was happy to be a part of it, and the experience definitely expanded my musical horizons and introduced me to a band that is making noise in a big way. Check them out on Facebook and pick up a copy of their latest album, All The Rage, on iTunes!

Category: Planet Buzz