Fatboy Slim Ignites Silo With an Unforgettable Set

Dallas has a new home-base for electronic music and it's a game-changer for the dance scene.

Silo, located in the Design District, opened in the fall and is fast becoming the destination for A-list DJs and epic dance parties. The venjue has already hosted Tiesto, Deadmaus and Diplo. On Friday, at the stroke of midnight, the "pioneer of big beat" himself, Fatboy Slim, took the stage and spun an absolute amazing set.  Born Norman Cook in 1963 in the U.K., Fatboy Slim had his first taste of musical success in the 1980s with the indie band the Housemartins. After that band broke up Cook followed his true passion of electronic dance music and in the early '90s, Fatboy Slim was born.

Under this stage name, Cook has achieved international commercial success as well as critical success in the form of a Grammy, two Brit Awards and nine MTV Awards. The Guinness Book of World Records bestowed Cook the record for most top-40 hits under different names. Cook has said the name Fatboy Slim has no real meaning other than he thought it sounded like the silly names old blues singers would dub themselves.

After taking a brief Fatboy Slim hiatus, Cook mixed in some other projects, the most well-known being the Brighton Port Authority which featured collaborations with David Byrne, Dizzee Rascal and Iggy Pop. Cook then returned as Fatboy Slim through the release of a string of albums, although he has said in interviews he is done putting out more records but will continue to do live sets as FBS.  As Fatboy Slim, Cook has played all the major music festivals where is always a fest favorite, so for fans in Dallas getting to see a set up close is especially rare. His only other FBS show in Dallas was back in 2003 at the Bronco Bowl.

A Fatboy Slim set is not just a show, it's a big party — a true celebration of sound and visuals that compel a massive crowd to move. Cook has the uncanny ability to mash up some truly iconic songs together which in turn widens his appeal and  his audience. As a veteran, it comes as no surprise how masterful Cook is at this, but experiencing it live was unreal and an easily an early contender for dance party of the year.  Friday night's show was no different. The energy was electric from the moment Cook took the stage. The crowd's joy was  heavenly. The show was a clinic in mashing some of the best Fatboy Slim themes with classic songs. One such moment was a blend of "The DJ Saved My Life" into "Bette Davis Eyes" back into electronic and around again.

Cook's visuals greatly enhanced the show. From the expected lasers to the Matrix trickling to a video with Napoleon Dynamite and Mick Jagger trading dance moves — there was even a segment with many famous movie stars in AI form singing along with the track. The show was already next level, but the video took it higher than that.  Silo as a venue and a dance space is fantastic. It's owned and operated by Donnie Disco Presents who already produces top-notch events such as Lights All Night and Ubbi Dubbi. The venue was an actual grain silo, hence the name. It holds a little over 3,000 people and boasts an absolutely insane, state-of-the-art 100,000-watt sound system.

The room also has impressive lighting and a large video wall that blends in perfect harmony with the sound system. This helps to fully immerse the concertgoer in the experience. Whatever Silo spent on this light and sound system, it was so  worth it. The music had all the punch you'd want but was not deafening and sounded just as fantastic no matter where you stood in the room. There was a definite warehouse feel that nods to original rave culture, but the venue feels brand-new and sparkly clean.

Even the floor is carpeted, which makes a more comfortable dance experience. The staff top to bottom were friendly and seem to get along. At once poin, one of the security guards in the pit ran over to another one so they could rock out during a moment in the song.  Those who braved Friday's icy roads and sub-freezing weather, got to see an EDM legend live and up close. Fatboy Slim played a set for the ages in Dallas and Silo, with its attention to detail, made the experience a great one for concertgoers. There is no doubt it will become a ground-zero for all things dance in Dallas, if it isn't already.