We saw Louis the Child live: venue, lineup, more EDM concerts

There are some things you’ll never get out of your head.

For my 16-year-old self, it was whatever Louis the Child and Icona Pop had slipped into their punchy radio track, titled “Weekend.”

That song cost me my aux-cord privileges during carpool. But, I didn’t care that I overplayed it. Like much of their dance music, it had all the elements of a saucy teen hit; a cheeky cadence, heavy cuts, and of course, aggressively angsty lyrics.

I’m only a little ashamed that I still have to bite my tongue to stop myself from singing it aloud as I write this.

“Last night, too turnt/ No water, ripped shirt/ iPhone screen cracked/ Did I pay the bar tab?”

I digress… the year was also 2016, and I fell in love with almost anything that rang in my ear. This song was no exception. My taste in music has hardened since my slightly more melodramatic teenage years — especially with my recent and somewhat unexpected turn towards deeper house and EDM. Yet, I’ve never lost my soft spot for Louis the Child.

Over the last decade, Robby Hauldren and Frederic J. Kennett have taken most of the biggest stages in the country — Lollapalooza, Electric Forest, Coachella — and have maintained their contagious, synthy sound. I’ve kept tabs on the pair since Kennet was in High School, Haulderon was a USC frat boy, and Taylor Swift added the group’s single “It’s Strange” to her “Songs That Will Make Life Awesome’ playlist.

But, I’d never had a chance to see them live. That is, until last weekend, when I found out the duo was playing two sets at the multi-stage “Alter-Ego” festival at the spacious Brooklyn Mirage.

I had to find out — do old flames ever die?

Alter-Ego at the Brooklyn Mirage: venue, artists, comedy, and more

“Are we going to be late?” I asked as we slipped into line just after 11 p.m.

“Not a chance,” my friend assured.

Festivals at Avant Gardener almost always leave time for you to finish a full dinner, or a ‘walking taco’ from a nearby food truck, if that’s more your style (the one next to Jefferson Street Station. is pretty dang tasty.)

If you’re worried about crowds, don’t be. The 80,000-square-foot warehouse venue spans an entire block of East Williamsburg, providing ample space for partygoers to spread out as they pour in during the wee hours of the night.

It didn’t take long to get our bearings. Tsu Nami was rocking a DJ set in The Great Hall and Diego Torrado was cracking jokes in King’s Hall (apparently, the Brooklyn raves now offer comedy too). But, most patrons were making a beeline to the Mirage to catch Brooklyn-based vocalist Evan Giia perform a back-to-back set alongside Ishaan Chaudhary and Will Curry.

If you thought watching a single DJ mix music was enough, just wait until you watch three artists share their decks. My friend dubbed this setup “hipster paradise.”

Between the boys’ pulsating, high-octane rhythm, and Giarrusso’s effortless range, the trio found immediate synergy. She took the clappy, high notes just as gracefully as the melodic, low ones, and skipped around in her short skirt and be-jeweled boots while doing so.

Just when we thought the show couldn’t get any more sultry, the DJs twisted the beat into Tinashe’s seductive “Is someone gonna match my freak?” single — a TikTok viral sound is almost always a sure way to electrify a fresh-faced crowd. Not that anyone needed waking up.

It was giving brat, as someone next to us pointed out.

The main act: Louis the Child and Jai Wolf

If there was anyone who could match that off-the-wall energy, it was Louis the Child — and their entrance couldn’t have been timed better. Lights came down, smoke evaporated, and the crowd fell close to silent as the stage echoed with the faint whisper of “Love is Alive.”

All eyes turned as Hauldren and Kennet were joined by Bangladeshi producer, Jai Wolf.

This type of B2B pairing is a match made in heaven. Wolf has an ear for mixing unfamiliar beats, and the electro-pop duo has found undisputable success with more highly produced tracks. The Mirage is a perfect playhouse for artists breaking out of their genres, and at shows like this, crowds are doing backstrokes, swimming in a melting pot of music.

Influences sprung from both sides of the stage; think Daft Punk’s “Technologic” and Cloonee’s “Sippin” Yak, along with hip Rae Sremmund and Ty Dolla $ign cuts. And, yes, of course, all of Louis the Childs’ hardest-hitting tracks were also tossed in the hat.

PSA: Louis the Child is not a behind-the-booth bunch. The duo missed no chance to jump atop the platform to swing and shimmy, especially when their original music came on. Their fans aren’t shy either. Mosh-pits fill fast, so expect to make a friend, or two.

Back to the music — nothing was off limits.

Especially, throwbacks. A tear or two may have even rolled down my cheek as my teen dream got an immediate glow-up; Chance the Rapper’s sleepless number “All Night” rolled into “Weekend,” and the resulting beat was more intoxicating than ever. Faster. Jammier. Cathartic-ier.

And, to think that I loved it then.

We guessed the show might be winding down as gyrating orange beams began cutting through the sky, and an extended play of Jai Wolf’s “Indian Summer” came on.

But, before settling on a rhythm, the tempo started dropping into something familiar — Louis the Child and Wafia’s “Better Not” off their uplifting 2021 “HEADLINERS” album. It was the perfect marriage of two beats, and nobody could stop themselves from belting out the lyrics.

“It’s true love, don’t fake it/ You better not, you better not/It’s right here, don’t waste it/ You better not, you better not.”

All the ingredients were there. A little nostalgic twang, some youthful defiance, a steady dose of surprises, all juxtaposed with one of the city’s most iconic, look-at-me venues. It felt like Louis the Child had found a new voice, maybe their alter ego — something edgier, a little more unpredictable.

My verdict was in: the love was still very much alive. This old flame had officially been re-lit.

Louis The Child tour schedule 2024

A complete calendar including all tour dates, venues, and links to buy tickets can be found below.

Louis The Child tour dates
Zouk Nightclub in Las Vegas, NV Friday, Sept. 6
Lumen Field in Seattle, WA Saturday, Sept. 7
Granary Live in Salt Lake City, UT Friday, Sept. 20
Red Rocks Theatre in Morrison, CO Saturday, Sept. 21
Jacob’s Park in San Diego, CA Saturday, Oct. 5
Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA Saturday, Nov 2

More about the Brooklyn Mirage and upcoming events

Upon entering the venue, the walls are lined with kiosks to connect your credit card to a QR code on your wristband, for a completely cashless experience. No need to rummage through your bag and risk losing valuable possessions. 

There are three different rooms with stages, multiple bars, a food area, an upstairs viewing space, and a VIP section with tables and bottle service.

Sound like the place to be?

Check out the upcoming events at the Brooklyn Mirage to find the show for you.