You have to go in to any electronic show with the most basic of expectations. Most rock bands go something like this: lead singer, guitarist, drummer, bassist, maybe a +1. That’s what you expect to see when you go to a rock show. Most electronic acts are a person, a synth and some computer equipment. That’s what you should expect at an electronic show—it’s about the sound, and anything beyond that is a bonus. Friday night at Johnny Brenda’s was full of bonuses.

Heathered Pearls brought the basics to his set, but ambient music doesn’t get the chance to tour much, so he was welcomed with arms wide open arms by the few in attendance at that time. Warm drone synth sounds permeated every corner of the bar, while hypnotic patterns pulsed behind his silhouette on two giant screens.

Beacon came out to a slightly larger crowd, and growing enthusiasm. My date for the night assured me that they were very attractive, and her sentiments were echoed by the cries of “take your shirt off!” from the back of the room. The attitude is well deserved because Beacon specializes in bringing the sexy back. 808 drum hits and hip hop bass lines shook the floor while Thomas Mullarney’s vocals gently swayed the crowd. Hitting most of the hits from their full-length debut, The Ways We Separate, songs like “Drive,” “Bring You Back”, and “Nobody” (which contains a delicious sample of the Keith Sweat song of the same name) got everyone in the mood, even if the duo still doesn’t look completely comfortable onstage.

If the first two acts were quiet and contemplative, Shigeto jolted everyone back to life. A pretty awesome hybrid of organic and synthetic, he glides effortlessly between his Akai pad and computer, twisting knobs furiously and juggling sounds, and his drum set (which is beautiful), where he is really a sight to behold. By song 3 the crowd was bouncing up and down as pulsing synth sounds washed over frantic beats. By the last song, Shigeto’s energy level was off the charts, his hands and feet going so fast there was no way to keep up. We were all worked up as well, ready to start the night. Too bad, then, that it marked the end.