I've seen Gramatik at other venues, and I cannot stress enough how much better the OTHER performances were. I love Gramatik, and the music itself was great, albeit lacking a couple popular songs. I cannot ever complain about Gramatik and that is the ONLY reason this review is getting 4 out of 5 for me. If Gramatik and Herobust did not put on such a great show I would have given it a 2.
The Ritz Ybor is really disappointing. Their rules are arbitrary and way too strict, and they do not use their space well at all. They do not allow re entry, and also ban water backpacks and lightshow gloves from the venue. The crowd that fills the Ritz is strange, many of them not familiar or even interested with the music. I give Gramatik a 6 out of 5. I give the Ritz Ybor a 2.
All in all, this show had the potential to be so much better. Herobust and Gramatik were amazing, one of the other openers was awful. He kept playing songs that the crowd clearly was not itno, and had many breaks between songs.
I am going back next week for Rusko, to give the Ritz another chance. Hopefully they will change their act soon.