The yellow construction tape and orange barrels that have pitched a tent at the Wexner Center for the Arts have ironically allowed for interesting and creative ideas to manifest. One of which being concerts.

While the lower level performance space, which usually houses smaller concerts and events at the Wexner Center, is closed to the public because of renovations, smaller performances have been moved to inside and onto the stage in the Mershon Auditorium.

The images are surreal, almost as if the curtain ropes and stage lights were exposed on purpose to attract a more “intimate” atmosphere. It almost seemed too fitting at the M83 concert Tuesday.

Ulrich Schnauss opened the show. His music is ambient, cold and beautiful. Alone on stage, he fiddled with his computer and keyboards to compose what seemed to be stream of consciousness – a dreamscape through endless clouds of thought. The dreamscape ends with powerfully delayed keyboard swirls and feedback time and time again till one finally has to ask “Do I actually want this to end?”

It’s a tough question but eventually, the urge to see M83 live becomes more powerful than anything else.

The momentum swiftly changed between both acts. Fans of M83’s slow sound were given a pleasant surprise Tuesday when the rock, not electronic, band M83 performed. Anthony Gonzalez, along with his traveling band members, performed classics from their – or, more appropriately, his – latest critically acclaimed “Before the Dawn Heals Us” as well as songs from previous releases.

“We try to make something different from the record,” Gonzalez said. “It’s more like a rock band than an electronic band. It’s not just me with a computer on stage.”

M83’s live set gave his music a completely new and refreshing element that could not be thought possible. From start to finish, Gonzalez created a completely different mood with his music. Slower songs from the record are given energy, rock songs are louder and have more pulse, and overall the music is alive and animated.

“I think it’s more interesting to give people something else live,” Gonzalez said.

Interesting is an understatement. Gonzalez and Co. turned an incredibly electronic and ambient sound into an energetic and exciting piece of work ranging from solid and bold rock a la Gonzalez’s influences King Crimson to psychedelic jams that broke out on occasion. The shear noise alone could have been enough to impress even the orneriest hipster. It was a solid attempt to break the mold of electronic music and make concerts interesting again. In such a setting, music like this is easy to listen to and appreciate.

Even if choosing to have shows on the Mershon is an accident, it definitely proved to be a good one. For once, a sold-out crowd did not seem too crowded, and M83’s music had great support.