I would say that Diplo’s performance at EMPAC on Friday night inherently came with high expectations, but that would be an understatement. As the show sold out about a month prior, by eleven the excitement in the air was palpable. The number of people lined-up outside hoping snag no-shows’ tickets would have been easier to count by the dozen rather than one-by-one. Diplo at RPI on a Friday night? Huge deal.

Shortly after eleven, two-hundred plus bodies packed EMPAC’s Studio 1 to see Diplo (aka Wesley Pentz) light up the dance floor with one of the better sets we’ve seen him throw down this year. This set, which was part of the larger onedotzero festival taking place at EMPAC over the weekend, was packed full of 2007/8 throwbacks, some new tracks, and plenty of Major Lazer (though not enough to sound overplayed) essentially providing a who’s-who of today’s electro scene. The word, “flawless” aptly described not only the set itself, but also that of the multi-screened visuals (controlled by ipads, believe it or not), and the sound quality of the venue.

After the show ended (to the collective dismay of everyone in the room), I kept thinking of other artists who would absolutely shine (sonically and visually) in EMPAC’s Studio 1. With luck, events like Diplo’s onedotzero performance will dominate EMPAC’s nights in the very near future. If anything, Friday’s sold-out show last week gave the nod to the powers that be at RPI that the community loves good music, loves to dance, and would love to see more artists like Diplo in the future.

Photography by Derek Duoba