By: Carissa Aguirre
After nearly two decades in the dubstep scene, Excision has built a reputation for delivering some of the most extravagant live productions in electronic music, and somehow he keeps finding a way to make them bigger and better. While best known for his dubstep music, Jeffery Abel is also the founder of Lost Lands Music Festival, a festival built entirely around the genre. But his venue tours are just as impressive, offering a smaller yet still powerful taste of the massive production fans can expect in a festival setting.
Excision first announced his Winter Tour stop at 713 Music Hall in November 2025, revealing a two-night run scheduled for February 27 and 28. At first, I wasn't planning on attending. Even though Excision is one of my favorite artists, part of me felt like I had been to enough of his shows to know what to expect. I haven’t been to Lost Lands though, so really I can't say I’ve seen it all. My plan was to skip it unless the opportunity presented itself. Eventually a friend asked if I wanted to go the first night, and I decided I would shoot the show on the second night. It ended up working out perfectly, giving me the chance to experience both nights from two completely different perspectives. One night was on the GA floor, and the second night was from around the venue and on the balcony.
Upon getting to the venue, I expected long lines, but 713 staff were amazing at moving people inside quickly. Both nights were completely packed but not sold out, which was surprising considering the number of people on the GA floor. As soon as Smokeland’s set ended, the room turned dark blue, and Excision’s logo appeared on the full-length screen on stage. We waited in anticipation as the stage crew reset the pyrotechnics that covered the entire front half of the stage. Then, the lights dimmed, the crowd grew louder with cheers and screaming, and we were met with an intro that felt like it came straight out of a thriller dinosaur movie.
Excision opened his sets differently both nights. Night one featured an intro that was similar to one of his 2025 Lost Lands sets that was later identified as “Battlefield.” Night two started with a darker, more ominous intro before mixing into “Bass Cannon (Crankdat Remix)," which, in my opinion, was one of the most insane drops of the weekend. I’m still thinking about it. At this point the lasers flooded the room to the point where you couldn't even see the crowd below. The production is what makes an Excision show so incredible, especially at a venue like 713 Music Hall. There truly is no “bad” seat in the place; there are only different experiences. On the floor the energy is unmatched. You’re right in the middle of the crowd, headbanging with other people and watching the moshpits from right in front of you. But from the seats, you can truly appreciate the full production. The lasers stretch across the entire venue in perfectly balanced patterns that make it feel like you're looking into a kaleidoscope, and the floor below becomes this sea of smoke and color where you could barely even see the crowd.
Personally, the seats might be the best way to experience the show. You can see the visuals straight on, see every laser, and even avoid the heat from the pyrotechnics. But if feeling the bass is what you're worried about, don't worry. Dubstep is known for being loud, and this show was no exception. The bass was so intense that you could feel it from the highest seat in the venue. On the floor, it’s like it vibrated through your entire body. Let this be a warning to anyone attending this show without earplugs… just wear them. Your ears will thank you later.
One of my favorite moments from the show came towards the end during a remix of “Innerbloom” by Rüfüs Du Sol. It’s very popular in every EDM genre, and when played at a show, it always creates this calm moment within the crowd where people slow down and appreciate the friends and people around them. I saw people holding up their hands, putting their arms around each other and singing together. Even at a dubstep show, we're still getting emo over this song.
Other standout moments included “Zombie,” a mix with Illenium that samples the original song by The Cranberries, and “Titans” with Wooli. These were just some of the songs where the lasers were the craziest. At the end of the night, Excision closed out with one of his most famous songs, “Name Drop," with Wooli, even throwing in the viral “My names Jeff” sample from 21 Jump Street. Get it? Because his name is Jeff. I love it when DJs throw in jokes like this.
By the end of the night, everyone was walking out of the venue noticeably exhausted. Everyone's voices were so loud as they talked about how insane the show was. As I followed the crowd to the exit, I looked down at all my little trinkets and wondered why I let myself debate not coming. I’m so glad I went. If you’re a dubstep fan like me, don't convince yourself that you’ve seen it all. Excision shows are an experience that you’ll never get tired of.
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