Sometimes, all you need is good house music, and Dom Dolla delivered during his set at Frost Amphitheater in the Bay Area.
“I owe a big part of my career to the Bay Area,” Dom Dolla said right before the iconic bassline for “San Frandisco” kicked in. The crowd let out a massive roar. In giant block letters, “San Francisco, where’s your disco?” flashed on the floor-to-ceiling display panels that flanked the DJ. Sat atop a raised platform, he sang along to the words with a huge smile plastered across his face.
Ironically, the first time I heard that song was in Amsterdam at ADE in 2019, the same year it came out. I didn’t know much about Dom Dolla, but I was hooked. a fun house song that shouted out SF? Incredible. Then, I finally got to see it in the Bay Area on June 22 at Frost Amphitheater. The vocal sample tells a story about when Justin Martin moved to San Francisco in 1999 and never left.
I was supposed to go out there for like a semester of college, and I ended up never leaving. It’s that energy on the dance floor that I think has, you know, helped house music completely thrive from there. There’s definitely like the leftover hippie vibes from the ’60s and ’70s I think. It’s just a great place to go out, there’s something going on every night of the week. The people there are fun and just, yeah, I love it.
Justin Martin sampled for “San Frandisco” by Dom Dolla
I resonate with this so much. I was never supposed to move to California, and then when I did, I was never supposed to stay that much longer after graduation. Now, 13 years later, it’s become a second home. The dance music community is flourishing here, and there really is something going on every night. Hearing “San Francisco” and seeing Dom Dolla in the Bay was this beautiful full-circle moment.
Dom Dolla transformed Frost Amphitheater into a proper rave with his rousing set for two hours.
We heard all the hits, including his latest, highly anticipated single, “girl$,” during which he shouted out the guys who were screaming the lyrics at the top of their lungs. Everywhere you looked, people were also singing along to “Rhyme Dust,” “Miracle Maker,” and “Saving Up.” I was most excited to hear his unreleased track, “Cave,” with Tove Lo. During non-vocal house heaters, the floor of the amphitheater vibrated from the crowd’s jumping.
It wouldn’t have been complete without some tracks from Dom’s bestie. He played John Summit’s “Shiver” and remix of “Sweet Disposition,” much to the crowd’s delight. Also thrown into the set were selections from Chase & Status, MK, Fisher, Fred again.., and more. With mainly black and white visuals, it truly felt like a rave. The energy from both the crowd and Dom Dolla was incredible throughout the extended set.
I can’t remember when I last saw Dom Dolla, but it’s clear why he’s become one of the most in-demand artists. His fresh take on house music is just so good. He even found a fan in my non-raver boyfriend. If you’re in or around the Los Angeles area, he announced another massive show at the LA State Historic Park on October 18. The show is sold out, but you can sign up for the waitlist on the event website.
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