Saturday, November 8th at Red Rocks will live rent free in the minds of the 10,000 fans who attended the new era of deadmau5. Joel Zimmerman, better known by his electronic dance music moniker, deadmau5, delivered a five-hour sonic journey that reminded everyone why he’s one of electronic music’s most inventive minds. From blistering techno as Testpilot to high-energy drum & bass as DnB Mau5, every moment felt intentional, immersive, and alive.
Before the show, we stopped by the mau5shop pop-up just south of the Denver City Center. The line for the meet and greet was massive, so we skipped that part and waited in the merch line instead — and it was *so worth it.* Hidden behind what looked like a laundry room was a secret passageway leading into the merch area, where a giant Meowingtons blow-up greeted fans. The two “Day of the Dead” mau5 helmets were on display, and seeing them up close was unreal. There was no shortcuts taken in the fabrication of these helmets.
The merch itself was next-level. Compared to the Red Rocks booth, this pop-up had far better selections and exclusives. I grabbed the deadmau5 letterman jacket, while my friend picked up a hoodie and shirt. The designs were clean, bold, and collector-worthy — a reminder not to miss the next pop-up event.
Back at Red Rocks, the night kicked off right on schedule.
Testpilot wasted no time tearing up the decks from 6:00 to 7:30. Joel came out in a hat instead of the helmet, locked in from the first beat. The set was dark, mechanical, and full of drive. Figure humanoids appeared on stage throughout, adding to the otherworldly vibe as the sun dipped behind the rocks.
At 7:30, DEATHPIXIE took over — the first virtual artist ever signed to a major dance label. Her set was visually stunning and full of energy, especially with the addition of three live dancers. They gave the production a human element that helped bridge the digital and real worlds. It was unlike anything I’d seen at a mau5trap show before.
Then, from 8:00 to 10:20, it was time for the main event. Deadmau5 returned to the stage, transitioning seamlessly from Testpilot’s grit to his signature cinematic sound. He dropped a brand-new unreleased track — easily one of the best of the night — and while I was hoping for “Monophobia,” it’s hard to complain with a catalog this deep. “Strobe” was a crowd favorite as always, and his collab with Kaskade, “Escape,” sent the entire amphitheater into pure chaos.
Skylar Grey made a surprise appearance midway through, dressed in all red and completely owning the stage. Her live vocals on “My Heart Has Teeth” and “Let You Lie” with DEATHPIXIE gave the night a haunting, powerful touch.
By the time the DnB Mau5 set started around 10:20, the energy was off the charts. It didn’t lean into the muddy UK grime style — instead, it kept that clean, polished deadmau5 texture. The transitions were flawless, the basslines sharp. You could tell Joel was in complete flow state. Around an hour and a half into the main set, something shifted — he stopped performing *at* the music and started performing *through* it.
As the final track faded and lights dimmed, Joel grabbed the mic and said this was one of his top 10 sets ever. And I believe it. The crowd, the visuals, the sound — everything clicked in a way that felt timeless.
It was an honor to photograph this show and capture a night that was pure artistry in motion. Huge thanks to Alex Greenberg and the entire deadmau5 team for the hospitality. This one will be hard to top.
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