Hot Since 82: Bringing Heat to Salt Lake City

A key ingredient to any killer show is the element of surprise. I had little knowledge of the special sauce that British DJ, Hot Since 82 would bring to Utah’s nightlife territory, but it blew my expectations far out of the water.

The energy inside The Commonwealth Room was bubbling with excitement as opening act, Rafi took the stage. The crowd came alive as a sea of bright-eyed dancers, jumping with sensible joy. Rafi’s transitions were collectively loved, blending hit classics with deep bass which rippled into the venue. Nearing the end of his set, I began to hear passionate chatter in the crowd. A woman to my left leaned in to tell me I was in for a treat and that Hot Since 82’s Coachella set changed her life. With his global influence, Hot Since 82 is a hard catch. Bringing his impact to Salt Lake City is a rare sighting and not an easy feat.

The Commonwealth Room was seemingly the ultimate venue for this experience. Located in South Salt Lake in a huge garage space, the sound carried well, GA space was substantial and they offered a full bar! (My Utah people know – this isn’t easy to come by). 

Hot Since 82 opened his set with a build up which captivated the crowd before he dropped the beat along with an epic laser and light show production. Here was our secret ingredient: tantalizing lasers spanning across the dance floor that hypnotized the crowd like kids in a candy store. It was the type of DJ set that felt entrancing. Fans grinned from ear to ear at the delight of his effortless style of blending energetic house rhythms. I personally enjoy a show with a high-energy crowd, and found that Hot Since 82’s fanbase was beyond devoted. 

In a nutshell, the show impressed me with its vibrant production, but above all, the feel-good vibe from fans on the dance floor gifted me a newfound appreciation for Hot Since 82.

Dive in some more and check out an exclusive set, “Live From A Pirate Ship in Ibiza” here: