Gold Panda Live Review | July 10 2014 | The Social Orlando

by Hannah Fregger • July 30, 2014

Two weeks ago, a very lucky group of Orlando’s dance enthusiasts gathered at The Social for a night of musical transcendence. A man who goes by the name of Gold Panda provided the crowd such a vibrant, blow the roof-off-the-place set that it was simply impossible to stop moving. Really. The crowd was going so nuts that stillness was not achievable. And it was awesome.

I arrived at the Social slightly damp from the nightly Orlando showers and ready for a beer. We were a bit late, opener Spies On Bikes was just finishing his set, but already the floor was packed. If you haven’t had a chance to witness the bright exuberance that is Spies On Bikes, then I suggest you stop what you’re doing and head to his home base of Tampa, pound on his door and demand he play an impromptu set for you. Or you know, just go check out his soundcloud. He just so happens to be on the orlando based label Relief in Abstract, so you can also take a gander over there.

Beers in hand we headed, into the abyss of people who seemed to have multiplied as I payed my bar tab. Up next was Pensacola’s Kodak To Graph. The entire set was packed with the perfect balance of dance music and beat music, with lots of R&B influences that really get you moving. What I loved most about the set was that Kodak to Graph just looks like he has having an all out blast! Grooving to his own tunes and smiling like crazy. Its humbling to get to see someone who blatantly loves what they do so much.

Finally, it was Gold Pandas turn to hit the stage. The next hour was a blur of sweat, jumping, and elbowing my neighbor and having the time of my life doing it. The energy in The Social was something that I haven’t experienced there in a long time. It was one of those nights where you danced and laughed so much that you deserved a tall glass of water and a group hug.

And I did.