Flosstradamus, a Chicago-based DJ duo, is performing at Whitman on December 9, after support from bands Strength and Dude York. Composed of DJs “2K” (Josh Young) and “Autobot” (Curt Cameruci), the duo has been gaining popularity since the mid-2000s and is known for their bombastic presence at music festivals.
“[Flosstradamus] has performed at some of the biggest music festivals in the country. They are frequently associated with acts such as Kid Sister, The Cool Kids and A-Trak,” said Whitman Events Board member junior Kelsey Houghton.
Their style of music is a mix of mashups of popular hip-hop songs and dance beats.
“They are known for doing incredible remixes of familiar hip-hop and pop music, and there is a strong beat throughout the entire show, making it virtually impossible to stand still,” said Houghton. “Some of their stuff has a sort of electronic feel to it, too.”
WEB decided to bring Flosstradamus after overwhelming support in favor of the duo. Every semester WEB members gather and review potential acts that fit within the budget, and then take a vote to decide which act will come to campus.
“Each [WEB] member is given a list of about ten bands that meet the requirements and we all discuss the possibilities and vote on our favorite,” said Houghton. “Flosstradamus was the overall favorite this semester.”
Flosstradamus’s turntables will be contrasted by the opening acts, who are more traditional bands insofar as instrumentation.
“We’re going to have a Portland band called Strength, which is kind of the opposite of Flosstradamus because they are a four person band with instruments and vocals, and also we have Dude York which is a couple of Whitman students who graduated last year,” said WEB music coordinator Carissa Wagner.
WEB prioritized talent and quality of the bands when it came time to narrow down the openers.
“We felt it was very important to book openers who offer both quality music and a great, upbeat live show,” said Houghton. “Strength is an electronica-infused rock band from Portland that definitely lives up to all these expectations.”
The incorporation of Dude York, a band made up entirely of Whitman alumni, was also an important factor when choosing groups to open.
“They were a campus favorite last year, and I think people will be really excited to see how far this band has come,” said Houghton.
“It’s just going to be a fantastic show, everyone I’ve talked to who has seen them live has said it’s been an amazing experience, and it’s before finals and everyone is stressed out. It is an amazing opportunity to come and dance your heart out,” said Wagner.
Students are encouraged to attend this free event, which is closed to the public. It will take place in Reid Ballroom from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. The last call for tickets will be today, Thursday, Dec. 9 in Reid.
