Gryffin: Live at the Warfield, San Francisco 

Nov. 12, 2017 

Dan Griffith, the Los Angeles-based producer and multi-talented musical artist better known as Gryffin, brought his Castle in the Sky tour to San Francisco for a stop at The Warfield on Friday, Nov. 11. 

Critics of EDM artists are quick to judge those who use live performances as a chance to share their pre-recorded work but often fail to mention those who can integrate their backgrounds in traditional musical styles with their love for synth and bass beats. Griffith does just that, rapidly jumping between his mixer, drum pads, keyboard, piano, and guitars, leaving fans in awe of his ability to seamlessly transition between instruments with endless enthusiasm and complete control of the sonic vibe throughout his unique performance.

Griffith was classically trained as a pianist at a young age and learned to play guitar in various "jam bands" during his middle-school years. His sound's mellow yet upbeat timbre started to blossom while developing his music production skills at the University of Southern California. The Palo Alto native developed a strong understanding of how he could use all of the tools and influences he developed throughout those different periods, translating them into a vibrant spectacle.

Mixing popular remixes from the likes of Years and Years, Blink 182, and Chance the Rapper with original singles from his early career in the first half of the show, the crowd went wild when it came time for the latest hits most had been waiting all night to hear.

Gryffin continued to flood the Warfield with a brilliant mix of anticipation and energy in steady unison all night. He managed to blend a wide variety of tracks gracefully, including a groovier version of Portugal. The Man’s hit Feel It Still, his original single featuring Josef Salvat Heading Home, and the smash single with Illenium, Feel Good, featuring Daya. Guest performances from a drummer named “Nick” and vocalist Katie Pearlman for her part in Griffith’s latest single, Nobody Compares to You, only added excitement.

The Castle in the Sky tour continues with five more stops across California and one each in Salt Lake City, Denver, and Honolulu in November, before picking up again with international stops in Northern Europe and Canada in 2018.