Having most recently been signed on to Skrillex’s OWSLA label, British DJ and producer Rusko gained his fame with a much darker dubstep sound that is reminiscent of trance and more psychedelic drum-and-bass beats. He may be known for his affiliation with Caspa, a more dominant figure in the dubstep scene, or even his profanity-ridden and face-melting track, “Cockney Thug.”
Presented by Jay Goldberg Events and Entertainment and Pygmalion, Rusko is performing at The Canopy Club on Thursday night at 9 p.m.
Having started off with a much more ominous sound, Rusko moved on from the label Dub Police, where he made his debut in 2006, and transferred to a full-throttle upbeat type of music. He quickly moved through labels, including Sub Soldiers and Mad Decent, gaining fame with every track and gathering a loyal fan base with every EP. Working with artists such as Damian Marley, Cypress Hill and Jay-Z, Rusko has come a long way since his entrance into the dubstep scene.
The Canopy Club hosted Rusko once before in February 2012, said Michael Armintrout, director of marketing and operations for Jay Goldberg Events.
“It was a sold out show,” Armintrout said. “Rusko is definitely a big name in the dubstep medium, and he puts on a really energetic show.”
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Armintrout expects that the show will be sold out this time around as well.
2012 University alumnus Brendan Hsu saw Rusko two years ago at Canopy and is attending Thursday’s performance as well.
“I saw him two years ago at Canopy,” Hsu said. “It was one of my first shows, and it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life.”
The Canopy Club is well known for bringing popular artists to campus, and is a small venue when compared to the State Farm Center or Foellinger Auditorium. However, this adds to the “smaller club atmosphere” that allows “the crowd to share the energy with each other,” Armintrout said.
“Personally, I love seeing my favorite artist in a small, more intimate club setting,” he said.
Rusko’s music has evolved from slower, bass-heavy tracks into a more buoyant and swift electronic sound.
“I honestly prefer his new songs because it is more of my style of music,” said Collin Walther, freshman in LAS. “I believe his more current songs are more creative.”
Tickets to the concert are $26 in advance and $30 at the door, and can be purchased at www.canopyclub.com.
Alex can be reached at [email protected].