With students’ heads banging to scratched-out beats, a rave took Schine Underground by storm.

Vying to be top opener for DJ Steve Aoki, the first performer lined up in the Bandersnatch Music Series, three student disc jockeys had the crowd ready to party as their electronic dance beats pulsated with the flashing maroon and orange stage lights. Members of the sold-out audience packed in as close to the stage as possible, jumping and fist pumping. Even audience members who were stuck in the back of crowd were dancing.

‘It’s all about giving and taking from the audience,’ said Devon Stewart, who is half of the DJ duo Chemicals of Creation. ‘We want everyone to have a good time, get people to dance a lot, sweat a lot.’

And dance and sweat a lot, people did.

Chemicals of Creation, which consists of Stewart, a senior film major, and John Kunz, a junior computer art major, beat out DJ Drew Taggart and DJ ‘Lo Biz’ Barnett Lobel to win the student DJ competition held by University Union. The crowd determined the winner, creating more noise for Chemicals of Creation than for the other two DJs.

Chemicals of Creation has professional experience, which may have helped them edge out the other DJs. Stewart said he has collaborated with artists from Rochester and Buffalo and will be working with artists from Brooklyn this weekend.

‘I usually play three to four times a week, doing all different stuff,’ Stewart said. He said he does everything from house parties to sorority events.

‘Hopefully this show will open up the scene for electronic music at SU,’ Stewart said. ‘There’s an electronic music wave that’s going to get bigger in Syracuse. I’m excited to see what happens after this.’

While there could only be one winner, all three of the performances featured beats that impressed the crowd.

‘I had no idea people did this,’ said Emma Przybyszewski, a sophomore art history major. ‘I knew kids DJed, and I actually have some stuff by Lo Biz. But I had no idea it was to this extent.’

The opportunity to open for Aoki was one that none of the DJs could pass up. Lo Biz, who worked full time as a DJ in New York City over the summer, has seen Aoki three times.

‘Each time, it was unreal,’ said Lobel, a junior information science and technology major. ‘I’m excited that Syracuse is finally getting some electronic music on the scene.’

Although each of the three opening acts could play only a 20-minute set, the energy level in the room consistently held through each set.

Even when they weren’t turning tables, the DJs had some fun with the crowd. Lo Biz peeled off his neon green sweatband at the end of his set and tossed it into the crowd, amid screams and cheers. Taggart, a junior music business major, danced on stage in almost perfect sync with the crowd. Chemicals of Creation got the crowd going by shouting for audience members to put their hands in the air as they blended Fort Minor’s ‘Remember The Name’ with Cali Swag District’s ‘Teach Me How To Dougie.’

‘We don’t plan exactly when to play a certain song or what we’re going to do every second of the set,’ Stewart said. ‘We base a lot on the crowd’s reaction to what we’re doing, and we try to play a lot of different genres to gauge the effect on the audience.’

Each DJ showcased his individual style, from Lo Biz’s electrified versions of MGMT and Lil Wayne to Taggart’s remix of House of Pain’s ‘Jump Around.’

‘I really just want to warm up the crowd and make people see and hear me and remember me,’ Barnett said.

The DJs all said they hoped the opportunity would help them gain more exposure among Syracuse University students. ‘I’ve never been in a situation where 300 people are there solely to hear me and two other DJs play,’ said Taggart, who has been DJing and producing for four years. ‘Hopefully it will give me more opportunities in terms of playing and producing.’

As every student thrashed to the individual rhythms, it seemed electronic music had found its niche at SU.

‘I had a lot of fun,’ said Hillary Geffner, an undeclared freshman. She said she was not surprised by how well she thought the DJs performed. But students were also excited to hear the headliner, DJ Steve Aoki.

‘I’m having a great time,’ said Julie Gibli, an undeclared freshman. ‘But it’s not over yet. The night is still young.’

ertocci@syr.edu

Published on October 11, 2010 at 12:00 pm