Scott Kirkland by Sam Hodges
If you were raving in South Florida in the 1990s, you might have spent a few nights in a state of bass-heavy, synth-drenched vibration at The Edge in Fort Lauderdale, with an act such as The Crystal Method at the decks. The Edge flies under a different name today, Revolution Live, and the rave fare known back then as “big beat” has been chopped up and reprogrammed by newer electronic acts, and fully absorbed into pop culture. (See Taron Egerton psycho-dancing to “Go” by The Chemical Brothers in the wilderness thriller Apex.)
But thirty-odd years later, The Crystal Method is still finding new rooms to blow up — though reconfigured as a party of one. Founding duo Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland honed their DJing in Las Vegas, spreading big beat in parallel with UK peers such as The Chemical Brothers, Propellerheads, Fatboy Slim and The Prodigy.
Their 1997 debut album, Vegas, reflected a grittier view of their hometown, not the glitzy casino and showgirl culture of Sin City’s marketing arm. Working with hard rockers such as Tom Morello and Scott Weiland, the duo combined rock and metal aggression with techno and house, creating a punchy, punk-adjacent sound that swept dance floors and, almost as quickly, TV, film and video games. The theme track to the syndicated science-nerd crime drama Bones has introduced The Crystal Method to countless viewers. A more laid-back 2001 sophomore album, Tweekend, added tracks such as “Name of the Game” and “Roll It Up” to the turn-of-the-century zeitgeist.
Since Jordan retired from music in 2017, Kirkland has carried on solo, of late touring with fellow ’90s EDM icon Paul Oakenfold on their United Champions Tour. Together for the first time in 20 years, their distinct energies complement each other, Kirkland bringing big beat grit and Oakenfold offering trance and progressive house immersion. Back at the renamed venue where rave kids gathered long ago, United Champions is a revival and a resurgence because every generation needs space to throw down and bliss out.
The Crystal Method and Paul Oakenfold with special guest Liquid Todd perform 8pm Wednesday, June 24 at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale. thecrystalmethod.com ~ Olivia Feldman
