Night 1 — Warm, Wecomingwith one personal hiccup

My friend TayTay and I showed up to our hotel around 4:30pm. We had a little bit of time to relax before getting ready for the first nights events. And even with getting settled in, we still missed the first two opening artists.

• Vibe: The room felt happy and open—opening‑night excitement without the shove‑fest. People were dancing, giving space, and the flow around the floor was easy.
• Set flow: A cinematic intro into crunchy, elastic bass. He moved through tearout, riddim, and those glitchy, stop‑start fake‑outs he loves, with little tempo flips that kept it fresh. Mid‑set felt like a confident run of fan‑favorite sounds, and there was a quick DnB palate cleanser before ramping back up.
• Production: Lasers were tight and synchronized; the cyclops‑themed visuals had that “hyper‑digital graffiti” look; strobes were punchy but controlled. You could tell the show design was dialed for a long residency—nothing felt thrown together.
• Crowd behavior: Mostly kind. Enough space to breathe, minimal shoving, lots of smiles. That opening‑night sparkle was real.
• Personal moment: I lost my cockapoo Fuggler plush during Night 1, which definitely yanked me out of the vibe for a while. Even with that chaos, the overall energy stayed positive. I was able to refine it again, and lesson learned, not to bring anything to a show that I’d be upset enough to lose.

Night 2 — Tough crowd energy, late arrival

• Vibe: Not very PLUR in all honesty. Lots of heavy drinking, scattered fights, and too many folks there mostly filming. It gave the floor a tense, distracted feeling—like parts of the crowd were performing for their phones instead of engaging with the music.they didn’t want people moving around them, girls were there honestly more to gawk at the DJ than vibe with the crowd. I suppose there is always going to be those few but people were very territorial over their “spots” in the crowd this day, which made it very awkward. Shame on the people within the crowd trying to block movement from other grown ass adults.
• Timing: I missed all the opening acts except the end of Grabbitz, who I really actually wanted to see. The tail end I caught was polished and melodic, but I didn’t see the build from the earlier sets, which I admit also set the mood for the night. As simple as it, that just means that I need to simply stick to my own practiced timing if I want to make sets on time. Follow my own timeline.

• Set flow: Subtronics leaned harder and darker—fewer playful detours, more sustained heaviness. Plenty of whiplash drops, some clever fake‑outs, and a run of VIP‑ish edits that felt intentionally more aggressive to cut through the chaos.
• Production: Lasers and visuals were consistent, but the room’s mood overshadowed the show design. When pockets of the crowd were arguing or shoving, those moments broke immersion.
• Crowd behavior: Security seemed busier; walkway traffic was choppy. Even sober, it was hard to stay zoned‑in with that much tension rippling through the floor.

Night 3 — VIP pre‑show, barricade perspective, mild acid

• VIP: The album listening session was a treat—you could hear the arrangement choices clearly without crowd noise. It truly is something special to listen to this man talk and in his words “ramble” about his special interest. As someone is who Neurodivergent, it was very humbling to hear this man talk as I do when my anxiety hits. And I realized so much more about my other traits and symptoms by seeing them in my favorite DJ, off record. The Q&A felt candid: production stories, inspirations behind some themes, and how he builds the live show around tension and release. Nice community vibe; people asked smart questions. And our Subby didn’t disappoint in giving the most neurodivergent answers….. bouncing from subject to subject, to hyperfocus on his music, friends, and handling burn out.

• Barricade: Being up front changed the experience—subweight felt ultra‑physical, and the timing of lasers/visuals was immaculate from that angle. Transitions read more clearly when you can watch the stage cues.

• Set flow: Night 3 felt like a narrative: memorable intro, a mid‑section that showcased new material from the album, and then a victory‑lap final third mixing staples, flips, and quick genre detours. The pacing breathed more than Night 2—confident, not frantic.

• Mild acid: It hit gently—colors/lasers bloomed a bit and the music felt wider, but not overwhelming. That said, it blurred some details I would’ve loved to remember more cleanly, especially transitions and IDs. But overall, the food I ate before hand (yes, my safe meal of chicken tenders) really helped keep my personality while enjoying a small trip.

Setlist shape across the three nights (noting what stood out sonically)

• Intros: Cinematic builds into elastic, stop‑start bass—signature tension then release.
• Core sections: Tearout and riddim anchors, peppered with fake‑outs, double‑drop moments, and occasional halftime grooves.
• Tempo play: Short DnB sprints (I WAS IN LOVE! I felt personally spoiled) or quick BPM flips to reset energy mid‑set.
• Variations night‑to‑night:
• Night 1: Balanced and playful, strong opening‑night pacing.
• Night 2: Heavier, more relentless—like he was cutting through the noise.
• Night 3: Most “story‑like,” with new album cuts woven in and a satisfying final run. Since the new album dropped on the 5th, while he was playing his show, we got invited ultimately to an album release party.

Special guests and openers I actually experienced

• Grabbitz: I only caught the end of his set on Night 2—clean vocals and big, emotive drops; a nice contrast before the heavier headliner energy. It was nice to see Subby call him back out to do another song together.
• Cameos/guests: Across runs like this, quick on‑stage shoutouts and brief appearances happen, and Night 3’s VIP made Subtronics himself feel accessible and present before the show. I didn’t clock every guest by name during the sets, but the energy pops from those moments were there. It was nice to see his wife there supporting him for his album release! It was cool seeing Illenium there to support Jesse with their song on the new album as well.

Crowd, sound, and production notes

• Sound: Low‑end felt tight most of the time; occasional hot spots depending on where you stood. Up front on Night 3, the subs translated beautifully—impactful but not muddy.
• Visuals: Laser choreography was consistent across all three nights, and was insane to see some lights even created a spiral effect. This absolutely threaded the 6 day residency together.
• Crowd dynamic:
• Night 1: Open and friendly.
• Night 2: Disconnected and tense—too much filming, not enough listening. “Concert” vibes vs rave vibes.
• Night 3: More focused; VIP set a respectful tone, and barricade had better etiquette.

Why I’m choosing sober shows from here on out

• Presence and memory: Sober nights (1 & 2) made the music clearer and the set structure easier to track. Night 3’s mild acid was novel, but it softened details I wanted to remember precisely.
• Safety and comfort: Navigating crowds—especially on nights like Night 2—is simpler and safer sober. I could recognize people were being unpleasant this day and could move away from that energy. And in fact did, multiple times.
• Connection: I feel more tuned into the artist and the community when I’m clear‑headed. PLUR lands better when I’m fully present. While driving wasn’t a concern due to hotel being right down the street from the venue, I like being able to get in my car and leave without having to feel like I need to stay behind.
• Practicality: Easier logistics, better decision‑making, and less post‑show fog. I also remember times in my past where I was so messed up that I couldn’t realize how unsexy that was for my partner at the time, sloppily trying to fool around in the back of a Waymo. So all in all, after that situation and our breakup that followed later down the line, I knew that I no longer wanted to be that person. Learn my lesson and do better. So really, I’ve found I like me better without smoking, and without taking any drugs. Confirmed.

Final thoughts

• Three nights in, Subtronics showed range: playful and welcoming, then crushingly heavy under pressure, then polished and story‑driven with album material.
• The residency scale mattered—production felt custom‑fit to The Shrine, and the shows read like chapters, not repeats.
• Crowd energy can change everything. Night 1 and Night 3 reminded me why these nights are special; Night 2 reminded me why etiquette and PLUR aren’t just slogans.
• I’m locking in the sober path for future shows—more clarity, more connection, and more respect for the experience.