The student disk jockey duo Practical Tactical will be performing “electro-dance” beats from the same stage as third headliner Guster on Dillo Day, Mayfest’s co-chairs announced Friday.
The pair, consisting of McCormick senior Yann Manibog and McCormick junior Josh Lau, beat out four other student acts at the Battle of the DJs contest Friday night at Buffalo Wild Wings, 1741 Maple Ave.
It took less than five minutes after Practical Tactical completed their set for the judges to make a decision.
“The response of the crowd was awesome,” Mayfest co-Chair and Weinberg junior Michael Gebhardt said. “(Practical Tactical’s) transitions were really good, they were keeping the beat, people could dance to them. I like their attitude on stage. They were both really into it, really high energy.”
Judges Zach Robinson, a Bienen sophomore, Brendon DiVincenzo, a McCormick senior, and Mayfest’s co-chairs based their decision on mix quality, crowd interaction, fluidity of track arrangement and originality.
Mayfest co-Chair and Weinberg senior Katie Halpern said Mayfest asked Robinson and DiVincenzo to judge because of Robinson’s experience as part of Mayfest’s concerts committee and DiVincenzo’s familiarity with the disk jockey scene as WNUR Street Beat’s music director.
Lau said Manibog taught him how to DJ at WNUR, where both are DJs.
“He’s the father of my mixing beats,” Lau added.
Friday’s performance was the first the pair collaborated on, though it seemed like the duo had worked as a group for much longer. After the winner was announced, Lau declined an interview without Manibog, whose friends were giving him congratulatory hugs.
“We won this together,” Lau said.
Gebhardt said Mayfest will announce two additional Dillo Day acts early this week.
