Two sold out shows within 3 days in Seattle’s largest venue, WaMu Theater. Need I say more? Being able to attend this show was more than a privilege. This was by far the most people I’d seen pack this theatre with a 7,200 person capacity. I’d seen Illenium once before at the same venue about a year ago, and he’s only grown into larger and larger as a powerhouse in the EDM scene.

Most people who’ve heard Illenium know that he tends to be an in-your-feels type of artist. Many of Illenium’s songs like Beautiful Creatures, Fractures and Feel Good are ethereal in nature, bringing you to a euphoric state of mind that makes you wanna hug your friends. I would say that that was the gist of my experience the first time I saw him. Little did I know, he has the capacity to absolutely throw down in his live shows. So many moments within the set made me question if this was Illenium or a hard style artist with the amount of wild momentum he carried from one song to the next.

Seeing EDM artists is usually unpredictable for me because as DJs, they give homage and cameo to a lot of peers in the scene, mixing together more than their own songs to their set. It was a pleasure to experience the energy packed into this crowded ball of excitement that was the WaMu that night as we saw an array of pyrotechnics, streamers, confetti and lasers galore. Expect to see shoulder rides, headbangers and hardcore house steppers at an Illenium show. This is a performance that allowed the crowd to vibe, love and be themselves, expressing talents and joy just as vibrantly as Illenium himself. Illenium proves to be a high-tier act, and he’s only climbing higher. A MUST see in my opinion, even if EDM isn’t your thing.

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By: Jonathan Pendleton | Exclusively for @Music, Why Not!

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