By Ashley Penuelas & Angelyz Montenegro
Angelyz’s Experience:
This past Thursday, I had the fortunate opportunity of seeing Madeon live at the Van Buren with support from MGNA Crrrta as part of KAMP Press with my #BFF Ashleyyyy
I only became a fan of MGNA Crrrta in recent months, but was immediately invested as soon as I learned that their friendship started online through a Minecraft Hunger Games server and then listened to the New Jersey album front to back. What I appreciate about them the most is that they know how to have fun. You can hear it in the music, and I most definitely saw it in their performances. They came on the stage with so much energy I was lowkey stunned in the media section for a good few minutes. This was also my second time ever doing press for a show and my first time actually being in a dedicated media section, so I was extra overstimulated (but like in a good way…). I quickly eased into it, though, and very much enjoyed the rest of the set. My favorite performance of theirs was easily Girl Party, already such a good song elevated live with fun visuals and bubbles!! The crowd during this was so lively too; I literally had FOMO from the media section. Other standouts were BFF, because duh, and the closer Pur Love, where Ginger and Farheen danced out the rest of their set. Overall, just a super fun performance. If they ever decide to come back to Arizona, trust me and my girls will be there!!! I was also very lucky to meet them afterwards and talk a bit. Ashley and I were lowkey having a BFF-off with them, but it’s okay…
Madeon came out shortly after with an entirely new vibe. His songs were loud and his visuals were bright; I might’ve lost a tad bit of hearing in my right ear but honestly worth it. My experience in the media section lasted about 3 songs before they had us move, but I couldn’t even be upset because I was so excited to join the crowd dancing. This was also when we were able to catch MGNA Crrrta for pics at the merch table!! Madeon’s set was such a contrast from MGNA Crrrta’s, but in a much-needed way. Admittedly, I was less familiar with his discography than theirs, really only having heard his Victory album once and his top songs outside of it.
But the beauty of his music, and I think just EDM in general, is that I didn’t have to know much to still dance and enjoy myself. Throughout the entire set he was using his visuals to sort of tell a story along with the music which was incredibly cool. Its evident how passionate and creatively invested he is in this album/tour! Highlights of his set were definitely Car Crash Baby -I love the Daft Punk sound he leans into in the second half of this song sooooo much-, You’re On, and Shelter, which was played before the encore. Watching the crowd during Shelter was a highlight in itself because it was such a unique mix of audience behavior. Some people were jumping around and others just swaying to the music.
Ashley’s experience:
I had the amazing experience of being able to photograph MGNA Crrrta and Madeon for their 10/15 Phoenix show! These artists go very deep in my music listening history, especially Madeon. Growing up my oldest brother listened to a lot of Porter Robbinson and specifically the song Shelter, which is his song with Madeon, so seeing him live was like a #healing. Taking pictures in front of the barricade felt like that one picture of all the photographers at a concert and it says “we need more doctors”. Even though I felt silly taking pictures and posting on the official KAMP Instagram, the experience is definitely one I’ll remember forever. This genuinely was like a concert of my dreams, everything about it was perfect. MGNA Crrrta opened up, which I have been listening to since high school, so it’s been really cool seeing them grow as artists and gain more love and recognition. They’re such a special duo and seeing them in action was amazing. They were so high energy and being able to capture them in that essence was something so special
My favorite part of their set was during Girl Party when they brought out their bubble machines and bubbles took over the whole stage, it was so fun and gorgeous. Angelyz and I got to meet them after their set and they are so sweet, though I can’t really recall what we talked about because I felt very high off of the adrenaline rush from their set; we got sick pictures with them though. I also really liked that you could tell who was there for MGNA Crrrta, because it was just teenagers dressed very cutely, dancing while yelling the lyrics to their songs vs. (and I mean this in a nice way) 30 year olds wearing t-shirts with the menu of a restaurant on it, and I’m being so for real.
Though the 30 year olds know what’s up, because they were so hyped once Madeon came on. His visuals were so unique and really put together his whole set. I always appreciate visuals for an electronic concert because they’re always something so weird, but fitting, Madeon was no exception. Madeon’s set was so much fun to dance to and it felt so refreshing being amongst a crowd who’s dancing twice as hard. If you looked around the crowd you could tell that people were enjoying themselves and were joyful, it really impacted the experience because being able to be around people who were feeling the same things as me.
Overall this was such an exciting experience, we’re so glad we had the opportunity to do this through KAMP and with each other because we’re #twinsisters4real.