Hometown shows at any concert venue tend to bring a higher level of anticipation and hype for artists, and Antonio Cuna, better known as Sweater Beats, was no exception. His March 4 performance at U Street Music Hall reminded the packed crowd that Cuna calls the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area home.
The performance lifted the bodies and dancing spirits of every audience member with consecutive drops, remixes and heavy-bass filled beats that had the bathroom stalls shaking. D.C. natives Manila Killa and Kastle prepared the crowd with electronic grooves before Sweater Beats took over.
The small-bodied DJ wore glasses and an oversize backpack and hyped up the crowd so much that there were about five different dance circles of strangers. Sweat dripped from their faces, and their mouths were wide open in disbelief at the incredible way Cuna transitioned from trap to heavy bass to electronic.
Cuna, began his set with “Young in Love,” a rework of Beyonce’s “Party,” which begins by echoing the words “I may be young but I’m ready.” These lyrics could not have spoken more truth about his audience, which was mainly composed of 20-somethings braced for whatever Cuna threw their way.
Cuna remixed Britney Spears’ “Toxic” and incorporated Sophie’s K Pop infused “Lemonade,” which is a typical DJ choice, but mixed it up by transitioning to Hayley Williams’ part in Zedd’s “Stay the Night.” His set heavily featured Flume’s work, which was expected given his recent remix of Flume and Chet Faker’s “Drop the Game” that has garnered over a million plays on his Soundcloud since its release five months ago.
Other set highlights included Big Sean’s “Marvin Gaye and Chardonnay” and RL Grime’s “Tell Me.” Cuna’s incorporation of various genres throughout his set pleased the ears of fans hungry for a taste of it all.
