November 12th was one of those Atlanta nights where the air feels charged before the music even hits. State Farm Arena wasn’t just hosting a show — it was preparing for a takeover.
Kaytranada’s entrance was the first sign this night was going to be different.
A platform began lowering from the ceiling, slow and dramatic, like the venue itself was revealing a secret. The crowd froze — not cheering yet, not fully understanding — just locked in that perfect mix of curiosity and anticipation, waiting to see what was coming.
Then, from a corner of the underground entrance tunnel, Kay walked out.
Calm. Smooth. Effortless.
And the arena snapped awake.
I was given the opportunity to shoot the first three songs from in front of the sound booth, with Kay posted up about 30 feet ahead on his 360° island in the middle of the floor. Being that close for the opening felt like plugging directly into the energy grid. Whatever he started with — it hit like a cold plunge. Immediate. Electrifying.
Kay continued to seamlessly lay the ground work for what was an unbelievable charged evening. After wrapping the first three songs, we made our way to our seats.
Then came the moment.
From our seats on the first level, we caught the full scope of the production during “What You Need.” That was peak Kaytranada. The lights blasted from what felt like 35 locations. This free-form geometric structure made the stage roar and the his poise led the crowd to scream in a roar.
From that distance, we weren’t just watching him perform. We were witnessing him command. Later in the set, he grabbed the mic a few times. Every call was met with a unified response from the arena — like he was conducting the crowd rather than talking to it. No chaos, no noise, just tens of thousands of people answering him in one voice.
We had a 15 minute break to adjust our palettes before the French duo was set to take the stage of light.
And before we knew it, it was time for Justice.
We dropped into the pit for the first 30 minutes — close enough to feel the low-end roaring through the floor. They opened with “Genesis” and then hit “Phantom” back-to-back, sending the arena into full ignition mode. Justice don’t ease you in; they summon you.
The lighting formed a massive cross onstage — crystalline, sharp, glowing — and it’s the kind of image that stays with you long after the show ends. That cross wasn’t just a symbol; it felt like the axis the whole night revolved around.
The crowd danced the entire time.
No rest. No lull. No dip.
Just bodies moving in full surrender.
From the pit to the seats, from the diehard fans to the people seeing them for the first time — everyone was locked into the same frequency.
By the time the night wrapped, it didn’t feel like a headliner and support act.
It felt like two different worlds colliding into one long, perfect, climactic ascent.
Kaytranada made the night move.
Justice made it monumental.
And Atlanta, for a few hours, became the center of the electronic universe.
Thank you to Justice, Kaytranada, the fans, the fellow press peers, and the hospitality of the State Farm Arena staff. You were a delight and made the evening monumental.
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