Fired-Up Deep Dish Keeps the Party Going

Deep Dish’s five-hour set at Giant on Saturday was billed as a toast to the Washington, D.C., duo’s Grammy nomination for remixer of the year, a nod that Sharam Tayebi and Ali Shirazina earned for their work on Madonna’s “Music.” In spite of that, the pair made no concessions to the mainstream as it led the packed crowd in a joyous celebration of rave culture.

Against a backdrop that included video screens looping images of the Oompaloopas (of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” fame), women dancing while hoisted on shoulders above the crowd and a dizzying array of green laser lights, Shirazina and Tayebi, who didn’t win their Grammy, concocted a magic elixir consisting of percussive beats, thumping bass, disco-style house tunes and ambient grooves.

As DJs, each has his own style, both of which were effective in igniting the crowd. The two alternated sets, with Shirazina up first. He shone with his unique transitions, which involved unusually slow builds before exploding into techno beats.

Tayebi, on the other hand, made his mark with fist-pumping showmanship from the school of arena rock. Combined, the contrasting styles resulted in a completely enjoyable show that left no doubt why Deep Dish have been heroes of the dance world since the mid-’90s and why they can be counted on to continue to carry that torch.