Noise

Hi-Fi Reactor brings cinematic audio-video to Adrenaline

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Hi-Fi Reactor filled Adrenaline Sports Bar with a prismatic spray of lights and a wash of resonating sound.
Photo: Greg Thilmont
Greg Thilmont

Adrenaline Sports Bar & Grill might have appeared dim and quiet from the outside Sunday night, but inside it was filled with a prismatic spray of lights and a wash of resonating sound. Hi-Fi Reactor, a Las Vegas multimedia collective, set up for the fourth installment of its Second Sundays residency in the former Cheyenne Saloon, set off the corner of West Cheyenne and North Rancho.

For 45 minutes or so, three musicians and a computer “geek” played behind a semi-transparent screen, unleashing a nearly seamless stream of music and projected imagery. They’ve asked not to be named personally, as they are aiming for what they call an “ego-less” experience. For description’s sake, then, Hi-Fi Reactor comprises a guy playing crunchy electric guitar punctuated with some flamenco-like flourishes; a lady pounding on a traditional trap drum kit; a second dude rhythmically hand-slamming a bodiless conga-bongo travel rig; and the aforementioned geek—their term!—a guy running a couple of laptops. On some evenings, a fourth man adds spoken-word lyricism, but not during this particular show.

Does this sound a bit obscure and mysterious? Well, the music dwells in a realm not far from Trent Reznor’s soundtrack and vocal-less oeuvre. Tool is a good comparison point, too. Hi-Fi Reactor has a ’90s alterna-metal tinge with a dubstep undercurrent, yet still comes off as contemporary. It would be completely apropos at any Burning Man-influenced event.

The video work is custom-made by Hi-Fi Reactor, which films some segments live, especially the nature scenes. Other parts are pure digital tableaux. The music is synced to the light show in the manner of an orchestral score. Cheesy fractal screensaver imagery is nowhere to be seen, in case you might be worried.

Sunday was my first time seeing the ensemble, and I thought it was engaging and cinematic. It was serious music without being tedious. It is certainly not EDM, just to be clear.

Hi-Fi Reactor Next shows: October 11 & November 8, 8 p.m., Adrenaline Sports Bar & Grill, 702-645-4139, facebook.com/hifi.reactor.

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