I have gripes about electronic music being sold as a ‘live’ show, finding the idea of a guy fiddling with his laptop for forty minutes described as performing live as somewhat misleading. But tonight's show promises something a little different, before Shigeto even touched any production tools he was a traditionally trained jazz drummer, and the incorporation of that into his live show leaves me hopeful for something more dynamic.

A DJ set from Heathered Pearls eases the crowd in with his raw analogue house music. It’s the kind of music that feels more suited to 3am on a Saturday night rather than 9pm on a Wednesday evening. The one and a half pints I’ve consumed up to this point don’t put me quite in the desired head-space to fully lose myself in the music, and after fifteen minutes of thoughtful head nodding I find myself pining for the more relaxed upstairs bar.

When Shigeto finally emerges he quickly takes shelter behind his laptop screen and sample gear, omitting pleasant waves of ambient synth pads and wind chime melodies. But it’s only when Shigeto gets behind the drum kit that the live show really kicks into life.

On a purely technical level alone, Shigeto is a thrill to watch. Balancing complex syncopated rhythms with a loose and improvisational feel makes the show feel dynamic and fluid where other electronic music live shows can feel the exact opposite: rigid and without any room for deviation. He’s not a show off though, and knows when to hold back and dig deep into the pocket of a groove and just ride it out, where it’s a pulsing four-to-the-floor drum beat or the boom bap of hip-hop.

He spends much of the set hopping between the kit and his hardware, even occasionally reaching over from behind his stool to trigger a sample without missing a beat in his drumming. I spend much of the set trying to mentally will him back behind the kit, as it's much more interesting to watch. Especially when you consider the fact the track he’s playing along with progresses fine without his assistance, which leaves you wondering how much his contribution is even necessary.

But his restlessness on-stage and reluctance to stay in one spot almost becomes a visual aid for where the music is going. When you notice him getting ready to move back behind the drums, it creates a feeling of anticipation that the music is about to drop again. Just like in a DJ set, the moments of quiet are necessary so that you can build back up to the moments of release and euphoria.

He doesn’t impress just for his drumming skills, his production also shines through, made up of delicate arpeggios and bubbling melodies. The smoothed out square waves of ‘Need Nobody’ are particularly pretty and reminiscent of the textures of groups such as Boards of Canada. They also feel uncluttered, with enough space in them to allow Shigeto freedom to move through them as a musician.

He plays for a whole hour and then comes back for an encore on top, but manages to remain a captivating focus for the entire duration. Anyone who believes any of those old jokes that drummers aren’t real musicians should probably get down to see Shigeto live.
Louis Ormesher