Though I have been to plenty of shows in Denver, not once have I ventured to the The Church, despite its iconic nature. In the spirit of music, Andrew Bayer peaked my interest and Ruby and I decided it would be a wonderful way to spend a Friday night.
After getting inside, I noticed that you could feel all of the history weighing down. The Church is formerly an actual church from 1865, renovated to serve the dance music community. Keeping with the aesthetic of the church, the stained glass windows and wood floors allow for the music to take on a much more earthly feel. The dj booth sits where the alter would be, and there are even raised platforms above and opposite the dj booth for viewing as well as light and sound engineers. I instantly loved the place, then the music happened.
I’m not certain of the dj who performed before Andrew Bayer, although I will say that we stood next to him in line to get in, and he played a variety of deep house/techno selections that brought the crowd to a vibrant pitch, preparing them for the sounds of Andrew Bayer. On top of that, it was his birthday, and he received a warm welcome from the growing crowd. By the time his set was finishing, the dance floor was crowded.
Andrew Bayer came on and I noticed a shift in the music. From the previous selections, the music became slightly more progressive house sounding, though there were still elements of trance and techno dispersed throughout. What I will say though, the crowd was much older and more mature, and the set Andrew played seemed to cater to that. There were no cheesy vocal gimmicks or top 40 hits you might find in a well-traveled club. The music was down to earth and it was heartfelt.
You could easily feel the bass rattle the wooden floor and the sound was magnificent inside the church. I love people watching during shows and the variety I saw astounded me.
From a Pokémon shirt and his wingtip shoes, to the Matrix jacket wearing guy, to those breakdancing in a circle in the middle of the dance floor, there was something for everyone. Andrew Bayer put on a spectacular display of music that was both mature and emotional for everyone in the room. Anjunabeats rising star is definitely someone to keep an eye out for and despite this being only my first time seeing him, I would highly recommend seeing him. I know I will any chance I get at a festival or if he happens to pass through Denver again.
The mix of deep house, techno, trance, progressive house, and more showed versatility and maturity from an artist who is quickly becoming a fan favorite in both the clubs and at festivals. The success of his last EP, “Do Androids Dream”, and the success of his tour have only made Andrew Bayer a better dj and producer. Check him out if you have the chance!
