Playing live ideas?

Ok I have been in the studio too long and its time to play out. Problem is the last time I ever played out was 35 years ago at a party in a large bedroom with a full band. The next problem is I am an old dog so I want to play out in baby steps and none of my friends like techno music anymore, sure they might listen to every once in awhile but they are not like us.

So my idea was to play a few friends backyard get together just to get my feet wet. Now for these I won't play my normal hard edge stuff, but more mellow tracks, like a 5 song set with me playing leads. I am dusting off the Roland sp808 and bring my laptop with flstudio acting as the lead synth(with keyboard controller) and the 808 will have all the parts on it.

Now when I am ready to go beyond this with my harder edge club music . I wanted to do a lil similar except I need something that can play one hour or more sets. I am currently thinking just the laptop and my keyboard controller. Basically it would be all pre recorded with a few tracks that I feel comfortable playing leads on.

Now I have looked at dj controllers and such but I kinda don't want to come across as a DJ but rather an electronic artist if that makes sense.

I would really like to find out what you guys use to play backing tracks rather its a laptop or something else?