Ian Asher’s college tour makes a stop at Kegs near Syracuse

By: Luke Roy

When boarding the first shuttle to Ian Asher’s venue in Jordan, New York, on Thursday night, something caught my eye: how few people were on the bus. Nine people were riding in a shuttle that looked like it could have held around 70. The shuttles were already an unexpected surprise for partygoers that night.

“The main thing we did struggle with was distance,” said Zane Harwin, one of the main organizers of the event and of the ticketing app MyPlots and Paradise Entertainment. “Every time we discover a new college market . . . we prioritize finding the most unique venues, but also the most compatible to go to.”

The venue, revealed as Kegs Canalside, was what they settled on. The mixed indoor outdoor venue often serves country acts, but that night, Ian Asher took stage.

Walking into the indoor area at Kegs, the duo Nutzo opened the night. Both are Emerson students, and they seemed to have a great understanding of what the crowd wanted. They played classic EDM hits from “Clarity” to “We Found Love,” along with well-received pop remixes such as “Since U Been Gone.” Right before they left the stage, you could hear Asher’s distinct DJ tag, and as Nutzo walked off, he took the spotlight.

Asher has been on a  college tour with MyPlots. They’ve been to Indiana University, the University of Wisconsin and Brown University, and they have upcoming shows at both Ohio State and Penn State. Getting big names for these tours isn’t easy, but the company has relied on its consistency and its ability to make the shows a success.

“We’ve been able to show him . . . this is what we can do. We can sell out these events, we can get you the best venues in every city we go to. And every time it has been pretty smooth,” Harwin said.

Asher’s trust in this group seemed well earned. As the crowd roared, he started his set with his remix of “Jenny (I Wanna Ruin Our Friendship).” The 25-year-old DJ from Southern California had his first big hit in 2023, partnering with Jain to remix her song “Makeba.” 

He has continued to follow this formula, remixing songs that have grabbed onto internet culture, including “Self Aware” by Temper City, “Boston” by Stella Lefty and more. Listening to his catalog at home can sometimes make this formula feel repetitive, but live, he does a great job mixing in other songs and making his catalog seem fresh. 

Throughout the show, there were a couple problems with audio. During both the opener and Asher’s set, the audio cut out for an extended period of time, dampening the crowd’s mood both times.

To end his show, he played his biggest song, “Desire,” in both its original form and a dubstep version. He seemed fond of the genre throughout the show, often mixing his music that way.

When talking to people at the event, whether locals of the area or the team behind the night, everyone agreed that Syracuse’s market was untapped for these types of shows.

“Everyone here is super nice. We like the area, location. We think that doing an event here soon is a good idea.” Zane said, “We want Syracuse to know a few things. That we are looking to come back, and that Syracuse needs to be ready when we do”