Archnemesis and Invisible Allies at Cervantes Ballroom and Otherside, 2/4/11

Photo Britt Chester

INVISIBLE ALLIES and ARCHNEMISIS
The Malah • Bluetech • Kilowatts • Archnemesis • Frequent-C • David Seied
02.04.11 | Cervantes' and The Otherside

The never-ceases-to-amaze Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom packed in the crowd last night for a special collaborative show with Bluetech and KiloWatts coming together as Invisible Allies. The Malah, a South Carolina based electro-jam band, played the Otherside before ArchNemesis brought the hype of hip-hop highs and dubbed-down lows. Both sides complemented each other, and based on the expressions of fans, all artists can claim the night a success.

With the line for the box office still reaching out to the cold at 10:30 p.m., it was a good bet that both sides of the split venue would be cramped. And, with one ticket allowing access to both sides, it was pretty easy to get your fix of electronica from the Ballroom or, get it on with The Malah, whose energy didn't get put on hold until the last track.

Photo Britt Chester

The Malah.

​Blake Mobley, whose name you may recognize from the Boulder-based Eminence Ensemble was afforded the opportunity to sit-in on the Malah's set and play along on the keys. Word has it, there was little rehearsal time, but by the time his fingers started dancing, you would've thought he'd been touring with them. Perfect timing on the drops and runs had Mobley grooving through with ease and precision.

Photo Britt Chester

Serious determination and precise movements. Fire is dangerous.

​It was hard, and a few people commented, to hear the drums over everything. You could plainly see him wailing away, but the crashes didn't crash and the beat-keeper, in my opinion, was not getting the sound recognition his energy was outputting.