Photos and review by: Jason Robey
CHARLOTTE, NC — Walking into the Visulite on Wednesday, attendees were greeted by the EDM-like stage set made up of glowing LED geometric shapes, while early 1900s blues music played over the house system. This was just a sign of the juxtaposition that awaited for the evening, as Dirtwire brought their Polychrome tour to the Queen City.
The party got started with a 40 minute set by Arkansas duo The Spooklights. They brilliantly weaved electronic rhythm tracks with a host of live instruments, including a cigar box guitar and a homemade hammer dulcimer. The pair played took plenty of chances to engage with the crowd as they played through a handful of original tunes, including two that were getting their debut for the Charlotte audience.
Dirtwire took the stage like a storm that didn’t let up and only got stronger for 90 minutes. The two member band played more than a dozen different instruments during the show, with both men switching multiple times, often during songs. With a myriad of different genres seeping into what the band describes as “swamptronica,” Dirtwire’s music is unique, using world, folk, and blues influences with pumping rhythm tracks to keep the energy high and extremely danceable.
From the first notes of show-opening “GoGo,” the band rarely stopped to take a breath from the infectious musical journey happening. Sometimes droning and meditative, other times thumping and raucous, they ripped through songs from their latest release, Polychrome, as well as several songs spanning their career. Favorites like “The Whip” and “No More” had the audience particularly riled up, coming to a head at the end of the set with a drum performance featuring both members, which included moving the drums into the middle of the crowd and performing surrounded by the dancing fans. The band returned for a two-song encore to end the show and moving to the merch table to meet fans.
Check Dirtwire’s social media pages for upcoming tour dates.