[EVENT REVIEW] Day of the deadmau5 Lights Up Radius Chicago

Ally Leomporra | October 10, 2024

On Friday, October 4, electronic music legend deadmau5 (Joel Zimmerman) brought his Day of the Deadmau5 show to Radius in Chicago, delivering an immersive concert experience that solidified his status as one of the most iconic figures in the EDM scene.

With a career spanning over two decades, deadmau5 has been instrumental in shaping electronic music, and his live shows continue to captivate audiences of all ages.

The crowd at Radius reflected this wide appeal – from 18-year-olds experiencing the magic of his performance for the first time to longtime devotees in their 50s who have followed his evolution since the early 2000s.

The audience was decked out in mau5heads, a nod to deadmau5’s signature look. deadmau5 had two mau5heads at the DJ booth and the crowd went crazy every time he put one on.

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His performance was incredibly impressive and spanned a variety of different genres. From the melodic highs of "Strobe" and "I Remember," to the heavy, floor-shaking beats of "Ghosts 'n' Stuff" and his more recent tracks, deadmau5 kept the crowd guessing with a blend of chill, angelic vibes and high-energy bangers.

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One of the standout moments of the night was a 20-minute extended transition that built anticipation toward "Escape," one of his most popular tracks. The creativity behind this transition was a testament to deadmau5's technical prowess.

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When the beat finally dropped, the venue exploded in color as light blue lasers shot across the room, and the screens were awash with vibrant pink, blue, and yellow hues. The deadmau5 head on screen pulsed to the beat, creating a synesthetic experience that was both mesmerizing and euphoric.

During "Quezacotl," the visuals morphed into a hot pink background with a trippy mau5head floating above ancient pyramids, transporting the audience into a digital dreamscape. deadmau5’s attention to detail in syncing these visuals with his music made me feel like I was in another world.

Parts of the set felt raw and edgy, like when he mixed a popular iPhone alarm sound into "In The City" by Basstripper, catching the crowd off guard.

Some, myself included, were momentarily annoyed by the all-too-familiar sound, but I have to admit—it fit the beat perfectly. The unpredictability of his set kept the energy fresh, ensuring there was never a dull moment.

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As the night wound down, deadmau5 delivered a high-octane encore with The Prodigy’s "Smack My Bitch Up." This iconic track, a nod to the rave culture that deadmau5 himself grew out of, was the perfect way to close out the show. The crowd erupted, dancing with renewed vigor, as the pounding basslines echoed through Radius.

Photos courtesy of Olivia Wolf and Radius Chicago