Event Reviews
Above & Beyond swept into Philadelphia this past Friday on their next-to-last stop in the Group Therapy 2012 tour, with a show that was sold out weeks in advance. The “Pride of Anjuna,” their well-worn Group Therapy tour bus, was parked on 3rd Street in downtown Philly next to the Theater of the Living Arts. TLA was a simple venue with a reasonably large main dance floor, and extra bars & VIP areas on a second level that overlooked the main stage, but every single square foot was crowded. It was absolutely no surprise that it sold out so far before the show, since TLA couldn’t possibly have fit everyone who wanted to attend. As Above & Beyond themselves—or, rather, Paavo and Jono, once again the 2/3 of the trio who toured here—later commented on their tour blog, the venue was incredibly hot with all of the body heat. Coat check was closed and full early on, tended by a couple of extremely bored-looking attendants with a remarkably small closet, given the number of people who were packed into the place—it was full from wall to wall, back to front, every inch occupied with screaming Anjunafans.
This second round of Group Therapy continues from the same album that Above & Beyond toured for in the spring of 2011, where they made stops across the country through March and April, but the set composition was slightly different. Through the night, it was studded with Anjunabeats releases from the latest compilation, Anjunabeats Volume 9, as well as remixes of Group Therapy album tracks. The epic orchestral album track “Filmic” filtered quickly into the Norin & Rad remix of “In and Out of Phase,” a triple-threat collab between American artists Andrew Bayer, Matt Lange, and Kerry Leva; meanwhile, the first A&B original to drop was the Maor Levi mashup called “Breaking 2Night,” with Oceanlab’s Justine Suissa-driven a cappella pitted against an Eric Prydz instrumental. Meanwhile, 2011’s ubiquitous Anjunabeats collab (I’m talking about “Rebound,” of course) was replaced by its equally-catchy successor from the same Mat Zo/Arty team that had everyone talking, “Mozart”—and the crowd was singing every note so faithfully that Paavo commented cheekily, on the display screen behind the decks, “Sounds like you guys know all the words!”
Soon enough, the Group Therapy tracks came out in full force, starting with the Club Mix of “On My Way To Heaven,” another heart wrenching performance by Richard Bedford that wasn’t featured in the last tour, and going to crowd favorite “Thing Called Love” in short order. Zoe Johnston’s appearance on “You Got To Go” played out in the Kyau & Albert remix, and another new-to-this-tour treat to hear was the Myon & Shane 54 remix of “Every Little Beat,” also with Richard Bedford. “Bloom” from rising favorites Norin & Rad was an unsurprising feature—A&B have commented that they’re supporting the track vigorously.
A high point of the set for the crowd was A&B’s own bootleg mashup of Kyau & Albert’s “Be There 4 U” against Daft Punk classic “One More Time,” which delighted longtime EDM fans and newcomers alike. The personal highlight of the entire set for me, though, was the spine-tingling, timelessly wonderful Cosmic Gate remix of Oceanlab’s “Sirens of the Sea”—I didn’t expect to hear that at all, and I was completely glad to be wrong. But the set wrapped up in short order with the Arty remix of Ferry Corsten’s “Punk,” which I must have heard at literally every single 2011 event I attended, and ever-present uplifter “On A Good Day vs. Metropolis”—still, the crowd was positively roaring by this point, and thus A&B accomplished what they set out to do.
The guys came back one more time to encore with “Tokyo,” their moving tribute to the Japanese earthquake & tsunami tragedy in early 2011, and—reminding the crowd once more via screen that “Life is made of small moments like these”—left a mark on their adoring fans as always. Was this the best A&B set that I’ve seen? Probably not. Their set composition has remained about 2/3 consistent since Trance Around The World 400 late last year. But is it always a total delight to experience the energy that Above & Beyond bring to every performance, and the way they can manage to interact with their fans and play to the crowd’s dynamic very effectively, proving that there doesn’t always have to be the stereotype of a distant DJ who merely plays tracks? Absolutely yes.
I’ve been a fan of Paul van Dyk for many years, and I haven’t been so excited to see a DJ perform like this for many years. I arrived at Pacha early because I wanted to avoid crowds and when I arrived it was surprisingly not as packed as I was expecting it to be, which was actually quite relieving. The vibe was absolutely perfect; Austin Leeds was opening for Paul getting the crowds ready with some great beats. I immediately began dancing and feeling this “family” vibe in the air because everyone was clearly anticipating PvD as much as I was. Looking over the ledge at the smiling faces below while grooving to the sounds of Austin Leeds got me ready to experience what was one of the best performances I have ever seen. What really made me feel great about this atmosphere was that everyone who was at Pacha was fan. PvD has been around so long now, so all of us who came out on a Thursday night have a tremendous respect for him and as 1 O’clock came around he definitely arrived just as expected.
Paul was very punctual, starting his set exactly at 1 am. Throughout the entire night PvD took all of us on a ride that we will never forget. I was astonished at his set up; he had two laptops hooked up, two keyboards and a mixer. I remember thinking to myself, wow this is going to be a hell of a set, and that it was. The fact that PvD played his entire set live, made my respect for him grow that much more. I have heard so many great stories about his sets in the past, and for me to first-hand experience and witness each step of his process makes me understand why he has been around for so long. The energy that man brings to his fans surpasses many of the great DJ’s I have seen before. He becomes completely alive with his music, it almost felt like all of us in the room were completely in sync with every song he played. He gave all of us fans a blast from the past playing his classic “For An Angel” and then fast forwarded to the present with “We Come Together”.
It was no surprise that he also played “New York City”, which was more than appropriate given where he was. One thing that caught a lot of us by surprise was a little taste of Dubstep, something that I was definitely not expecting. It was very clever though, due to the fact that Dubstep has become huge in the EDM scene, and in New York. Then he went back to Trance, and blowing all of our minds with the amazing talent he possesses as DJ and producer. I remember looking down at my phone and it being 4:15, and he was not finished. The high energy from PvD remained consistent throughout the night, and it made me not even realize how much time had really passed.
As 4:30 rolled around James Gill was getting ready to finish the night out. Once PvD ended his set, the entire room (including myself) was screaming “Paul Van Dyk” repeatedly, it was unreal. No one wanted him to finish, and he gave every one a run for our money giving us all he’s got. James Gill did a great job closing out the night with some classic Trance. The last song played happens to be one of my favorite songs of all time “Sound of Goodbye”, by Perpetuous Dreamer, an alias of the great Armin van Buuren. If you have not had the chance to see PvD perform live, you are missing out greatly. Musically and performance-wise he definitely proves his skills, and there is no doubt in my mind that Paul is going to remain a serious presence in the trance world for years to come.
What a night of mayhem! If there’s a night of pure warehouse style techno to experience it would have been at Pacha with Chris Liebing as the headliner this past Saturday night. First off I have to say, many club events nowadays are focused on tech-house or electro style house music and while this may be the norm, many true techno fans are missing out on what they love most…real raw in your face techno and Chris Liebing delivered it. The first time I heard Chris was at the 2011 Electric Zoo festival at Randall's Island Park and I have to say I became an instant fan because my feet wouldn't stop moving.
It was bit cold on this February 4th night in New York City. A little hard to adjust when most of this week’s weather was fairly warm, but that doesn't stop dedicated techno heads to party like animals! As I entered the booth floor the music carried a strong energy. Not what I expected at around 10:30 but Sleepy and Boo kept the techno vibe consistent which filled the dance floor. The light settings had this red tint to it expressing that tonight is more of a dark theme with smoke machine pumping more and more as the night progressed. The techno crowd was there to dance; they were paying attention more to the music and less to the dj's. One song that stuck in my head was the new released EP by Caytas & Patz called 'Are you Afraid' which features remix's from Nihad Tule and Joel Mull.
By 2 in the morning Chris Liebing steps into the booth and you can sense the anticipation is growing. Chris starts with this creepy ambient pad line and hits the echoed snare pad to prep the percussions. As the kick and bass dropped you could sense the entire room went into dance frenzy. Well into the hour of him beginning, you could tell how strong Chris's set was going to be. Full of atmospheric pads, strong sharp kicks, and bass line that makes your hair stand up; the crowd’s anticipation was satisfied to the fullest. Crowded circles could be seen from up top as the die-hard techno heads were taking in every beat and not missing one groove. By around 8 in Sunday morning, Chris Liebing's closing track was Alan Fitzpatricks 'Gridlock' which gave a great ending indeed as the track is filled with every known techno element there is. The great thing about artist like Chris is that they just don't play tracks, but really get experimental by combining the production side of things such as using Native Instruments Maschine with Ableton on one laptop and playing tracks and loops from traktor on another laptop. That to me shows much dedication to the art of electronic music. It shows that the artist is passionate to have full control of how he wants to express his sound and please the crowd. I’m sure to myself as well as others Chris Liebing falls into the category of one of EDM's innovators as he is on the edge and up to date with latest technology in music.
Arty had originally been set to return to NYC on his North American tour in mid-January, two weeks after opening for Avicii on New Year’s Eve at Pier 94, but due to passport complications his performance was rescheduled for February 3rd. His fans were very understanding and still flooded through Pacha’s doors Friday night ready to welcome the young Russian trouse producer/DJ.
I was a bit disappointed by the crowd when I first arrived. It was the typical Friday night NYC club crowd that you can find at any other spot, not many true fans were visible but by the time the young guy opening for Arty wrapped up the electro-house, the dance floor was filled with trance and house addicts. Unfortunately things got a bit sloppy during the switch, and it was obvious the fans weren’t going to have it. They started chanting “Arty! Party! Arty! Party!” Once “Trio”, collaboration with fellow Russian producers Matisse & Sadko started playing the crowd eased up and started to enjoy the melodic tune.
Arty carried on the night by mostly playing high-energy tracks such as Knife Party’s remix of “Save the World”, Tiesto’s “Maximal Crazy” and of course his very own “Around the World”. Arty played a lot of club anthems so all the crowd could really do was bounce in place with their hands moving to the beat. He cooled down the party with more chill tracks like Chris Lake’s “Sundown” and Above & Beyond’s “Thing Called Love”.
A good DJ always feeds off of the crowd’s energy, and Arty is great at doing that. He knows when he needs to play tracks with heavy drops to get people rowdy, and when to slow it down to give everyone a chance to rest. The fans were mesmerized when he played his brand new unreleased and unidentified track that was first revealed on New Year’s Eve. One of the highlights of his set was the wonderful mash-up of “Calling vs. Rebound” followed up by “She Gave Me Sun” & “Moon”. It was harmoniously epic! Arty surprised me towards the end of the night by playing music that wasn’t the expected electro, house or trance tracks that are on top on the Beatport charts. I attend clubs and concerts regularly and am very much up to date with new releases but Arty was playing amazing tunes that I couldn’t identify but am determined to find out what they were. He ended the night with a sweet gesture by autographing a fan’s shirt that read “No Party without Arty”.
Brad Miller closed with a phenomenal set that took the party to another level. Some clubbers left shortly after Arty said his goodbyes, but Brad has a solid local fan base, some of whom were just as, if not more excited about him closing as seeing Arty that night. Having seen Brad live a few times now, I can tell that when he plays he is setting a mood, telling a story. He truly performed a heavenly set filled with amazing trance and house tracks.
Saturday, January 28th felt like one of the coldest nights I had experienced this winter. Normally when it is below freezing I find an excuse to stay indoors, because it’s not the most comfortable experience going out. That thought did not even cross my mind last night. Sander van Doorn was performing and I had to be there. I had been anticipating this event all month, and I was beyond excited to experience the energy that Sander creates while he’s performing.
I arrived at Pacha around 1:00am, right when Jason Jollins finished his opening set and prepared the decks for Sander van Doorn to take over the night. I have to say I wasn’t expecting Pacha to be as crowded as it was, due to the fact that Cosmic Gate had performed the night before. Needless to say, all of us trance loving New Yorkers are a bunch of troopers, and you could feel the exciting energy bouncing off of every one. It was a high- energy atmosphere, with fans, friends and familiar faces surrounding me. First song I heard which set the mood for the entire night, was his new track “What Did I Do”. I absolutely love this song, so for me and everyone else the night was already a success before it had begun. He let Pacha know he had arrived and it was going to be a fantastic night.
Sander van Doorn always seems to exceed my expectations. I have to say that when he performed at Electric Zoo this past year, his set was one of my favorites. His following runs so deep and he creates this underground vibe that makes everyone experience special. The entire night was perfect; Sander blew all of our minds with intense beats he was projecting out of the speakers. The bass shook the room, and every single person loved it. I heard most of my favorite tracks last night, which made the night even better. Sander doesn’t normally play a lot of vocals, but when he does he chooses wisely and it always meshes perfectly with his set. When “The Wall (Arty Remode Remix) came on, everyone went wild, including myself. For the fans out there he played his smash hits “Koko” and “Love is Darkness” which were absolutely thrilling. You couldn’t even hear the vocals of Carol Lee, because everyone was singing along. Sander had nothing but a smile on his face all night, connecting with the crowd. He stays true to his style with beats that shake the room, and melodies that are magic to your ears. It’s no surprise to me why he has such a following, especially here in New York. He didn’t end his set until after 4:00am. I remember looking down at my watch and it was 4:10, and he wasn’t finished. Seeing Sander van Doorn work his magic is an experience. He truly is a great talent in the industry, and if you have not experienced Sander live, you are missing out.
What do you get when you take the biggest club franchise in the world and put one of the biggest trance artists in world together? You get a packed mad house!
That was definitely the outcome this past Friday night of January 27, 2012 at Pacha NYC. Pacha had a name all too familiar in the trance scene; Cosmic Gate. The windy night did not stand a chance for this massive night to go wrong. Doors were open and a line of die hard Cosmic Gate fans were waiting to get their feet in the door. The room was dark with dim lights at the corners of the wall and little smoke was in the air as to create that genuine club experience atmosphere. In the beginning of the night Zack Roth was the opener and a good opener indeed. Zack started out with some deep slow house grooves and eventually progressed to something more magical. There was a little bit of everything in his set; it had the deep, the emotional, the funky progressive techno house, all the things that any proper opening DJ should be armed with. These grooves kept the audience hungry for more and waiting for Cosmic Gate's arrival.
By 12 a.m. the once empty main floor was a packed wave of hard trance heads and it wasn't only the main floor, but all three rooms! The Pacha dancers were doing what they do best, the smoke machine was on full blast and bartenders were too busy to take in some time to breath. No matter where you went in the club pushing and shoving was bound to happen. Same goes for the DJ booth as it was filled with close friends of Cosmic Gate and a table full of drinks. The majority of the crowd looked to be in their early to mid 20's so you know they had tons of energy to give out for the night, but besides to the great DJ duo Cosmic Gate, there was also a live singer along for this night and she goes by the name of Emma Hewwit. Even though there was not much room for her to move around Emma ended up using and area available to reach out to the crowd and interact while singing with her angelic voice she climbed on top of the DJ booth table while pressing against the ceiling to keep her balance. She sang her four top charted songs; 'Be Your Sound', ‘Colours’, ‘Calm Down' , and 'Not Enough Time'.
After she sang her last song Cosmic Gate jumped back into their energetic set. They played classics such as 'Exploration of Space', and as a personal request by a long time fan they played 'Should have known' which goes to show you how dedicated Cosmic Gate is to their fans. In the end all the glowstick waving and hands in the air was worthwhile to see these two DJ's. Their high intensifying sound brought the room over the edge as even one diehard fan from the main floor attempted to climb the DJ booth or at least hang on the edge like a monkey.
Cosmic Gate encored with the track “Find Yourself” by John O’Callaghan and at that point Bissen took over the decks to close out the night. He did a great job of retaining the crowd’s attention well into the hours of the morning by keeping the energy going.
Saturday, January 21st, 2012 Electronic Dance Music label, Static System, presented an event about the Victory Casino Cruise line stationed at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Static System is headed by Dustin Hilton & Dustin Skiles. Both have been actively serving their scene in Florida for some time. I’ve never been on a casino cruise before so I did not know what to expect. Upon showing up I noticed the line out the door on a red carpet. It was more an older crowd well dressed likely to be locals who come regularly, but you can easily spot those craving the loud dance music.
After a breeze check in through security, I made way onto the ship where I was greeted by the crew & hostesses applauding that we have made it aboard it was obvious that this way not going to be a usual event. The Victory Cruise had 4 decks. 1st deck, the lower deck, was a dining hall which we received free buffet with admission. It was awesome food. 2nd &3rd decks were the casino floors with tons of slot machines, poker tables, roulette & blackjack. What you would expect from a casino. 4th deck was the “Club V” and outdoor dance areas that were bumping various genres of dance music all night from the minute we were on board. We set sail out into the open sea and the vibes were only more juiced up.
The DJ’s from Static System were tearing up the floors all night. On the outdoor back deck, there were lights to give visuals and there were plenty of tables and room to dance. The regulars and casino guests were coming up for air and for a smoke to be greeted with the fresh sounds of 2012 dubstep and house music. Club V was another world by itself. The club was stocked with slot machines and very professional sound & lighting equipment. Plenty of couches, tables and plenty of room to dance
It was a very extravagant evening. The crowd was mixed of locals, some tourists looking to gamble and a wild crowd of EDM listeners and friends of Static System. We set sail at 7:30pm and arrived back to port at around 1:30 am. The whole time the dance floors were pumping as DJ’s Faze, Dustin Hilton, Josh Money, Dustin Skiles kept the speakers spitting fire. AfroWhitey performed original lyrics with numerous DJ’s that evening. His stage presence served a warm welcome to the energy on the floor. All the DJ’s were hanging out drinking sharing stories of their experiences in the rapidly changing EDM scene.
After a really awesome party, one that I was not accustomed to I am left hoping that there are more parties out on the open waters like Rock the Boat. I never raged so hard in a room full of slot machines. You could hear the hostess announcing events happening at the casino decks on the loudspeaker. Some people won thousands of dollars and then they would come on deck with the excitement to dance. I am excited for the next Static System event aboard the Victory Casino Cruise in late February.
Calvin Harris, Nicky Romero, Burns Friday January 20th at Pacha NY
It’s no surprise that a show with such a highly anticipated lineup would sell out in advance and have a huge line going down the block before the opener even went on. Pacha kicked the night off with Burns who might not be as well-known as the rest of the boys, but I can assure you he won the crowd over this past Friday night with his “European Sex Music”. He started off with some chill house beats just to get the crowd moving and quickly pumped up the Electro dropping a remix of Original Don by Major Lazer that I hadn’t even heard before. Towards the end of his set he raised the heat by playing Nicky Romero’s Camorra who was to go on later in the night.
Calvin Harris received a warm welcome by the jam-packed NYC crowd as he opened with one of his first big hits, I’m Not Alone. Throughout the night he managed to please his mainstream fans that were there for his radio hits as well as the electro house addicts who came out for the hard beats. There was a balance between the pop singles like Bounce with Kelis and the anthems such as The Calling and Save the World that had everyone literally bouncing while joining in a massive group chant. Having seen him live at Electric Zoo this past summer and at Pacha last weekend I have to admit that as much as I love the free flowing space of an outdoor festival, there is something intimate about being in a dark, sweaty crammed room with hundreds of strangers who got their hands perpetually reaching for the ceiling and their feet stomping on the hard wood floors.
Following Calvin Harris was Nicky Romero, a young talent that has been blowing up for the past year, and for a very good reason. He produces heavy synths that he combines with beautiful melodies, creating his very own Dirty Dutch sound. He first gained recognition for his remix of Green Velvet’s Flash and has come out with banger after banger ever since. His most recent tracks are Toulouse, Generation 303 and his collaboration with Avicii called Fuck School, all of which were crowd pleasers at Pacha. Personally he was the DJ I had been most excited about seeing and he did not disappoint. His set was full of energy, even the folks sitting in VIP were up and dancing to his music. Nicky Romero is one of those DJs that can play his own tracks for half of the set and get away with it because there is so much variety.
The night came to a close with Pierce Fulton, an even younger producer/DJ who is only 19 years of age kept the party going until the early morning. Sure, there were folks who left, VIP was all cleared out. I knew of Pierce Fulton beforehand and decided to stay until I couldn’t stand anymore. He did a wonderful job, especially for a young newbie closing for a heavy hitter like Calvin Harris.
It was an amazing night spent dancing to quality EDM tunes. The crowd was lively and the overall energy was powerful. I wouldn’t mind seeing any of the four DJs again anytime soon, especially Nicky Romero.
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Screams of emotion, cries of laughter all drowned out by heart felt bass drops and synth leads engulfing a room of people of all ages. Miami Beach Florida’s night life scene patiently waited for the long awaited return of Nero. Crowds of people from all over Florida flooded the theatre doors at nine, ecstatic and enthusiastically ready to release their bottled up excitement.
Embracing the feelings produced through the speakers, not a single person stood still, all at once quite in sync with the music. Lights spastically glared across faces and walls all over the Fillmore, building the intensity of the full visual and audio experience. Banger after banger was dropped, from songs produced by Nero, Skrillex, to the unexpected System of a Down. Not a single dull face, nor single dull moment in the night.
Crowds and groups merging into bigger groups as the P.L.U.R. meaning really pulled it self together. Seemingly enough for one night everyone was there for the same reason and that reason was DUBSTEP. All judgments set aside. Music brought everyone together and helped new friendships arise.
My expectations for the event where high, and weren’t let down. Unfortunately the event didn’t go till 2 as scheduled, it was shut down earlier due to younger audience at the event. I wasn’t too thrilled about the fact that it was an all age’s event but thanks to the great security it still ran quite smoothly. The crowd was very responsive and friendly.
The venue itself was gorgeous, very fancy, classy, and had two floors. There was a very full dance floor and crowded pit. I enjoyed the fact that they had multiple means of access to enter the theatre from the lobby. Additionally they had many vending areas on all sides of the theatres outer lobby. Another great thing about the theatre is that it had plenty of seating in the back and upper floor for the tired ones that had been dancing their shoes off.
All in all it was my first time at the Fillmore in Florida and I enjoyed the venue very much. I will definitely return for other events.
Friday, January 6th had to have been one of the warmest January nights I have ever experienced. The anticipation to see BT was building all through out the day, and I couldn’t wait to get out of work and to get there. This was one of the top ten best nights of my life. I arrived at around 12:30, and the place was already bumping. I could hear certain elements building into this melodic vibe that are staple to BT alone. He had just begun his set. Perfect timing was the first thought that went into my mind.
It was a genuinely great atmosphere surrounded by some familiar faces, and BT was completely in the zone with the crowd. You could tell that everyone who was there was a fan, and it was a great vibe the entire night. I have to say that because I had seen BT before live, at Electric Zoo, which was by far the most classic BT performances ever. Especially because he had a surprise performance by JES, I was expecting classic BT at Pacha. Which unfortunately wasn’t the case, but he still managed to pull off a great performance anyway. He had his keyboard with him, so I was hoping for a Laptop Symphony type vibe, but I snapped out of it when I realized we are at Pacha. He is going to play what people go to Pacha for, beats. Immediately I was in the zone, watching the dance floor below me with every single person dancing together, everyone had great energy. It was almost like BT had put everyone in a trance, and controlled our every move. It was mind blowing watching the night unfold. Just because I wasn’t listening to the classic BT, doesn’t mean I wasn’t enjoying every single second of his set. It was still BT to the fullest, connecting with the crowd, and not stopping one second to even have a sip of water. My favorite tracks of the night had to be when he dropped “The Emergency” Markus Schossow Remix, and “Every Other Way” Armin Van Buuren Remix. It was the perfect two songs for the BT fans out there, all of us were singing the words to his songs along with him and dancing up a storm. It was no surprise to me that he dropped “Every Other Way” one of his many songs with the vocalist JES. It wouldn’t be in BT fashion to do it any other way.
After BT finished his mesmerizing set and had the great Rory James close the night out for him, I got to meet him. I have to say BT has to be one of the most humble DJ’s I have ever met. He had no problem stopping and taking pictures with everyone, and chatting for a few minutes. The only downside to the night was that his set could have been a bit longer, since he only spun for about an hour and a half. We stayed till about 5:00 am, and grooved to the amazing trance beats of Rory James. Who was absolutely phenomenal, I almost lost it when he played “No One On Earth” by Above and Beyond. He kept the crowd going after BT departed. He came on around 2:00am, and didn’t stop even until after we left at 5:00am. Don’t ever miss an opportunity to see BT live, you never know what to expect, he’s full of all sorts of surprises. The same goes for Rory James, he blew my mind. One word to describe the night, EPIC. If you weren’t there, you should have been.
What can we say about New Year’s Eve? It’s one of the biggest nights for people to enjoy a good night out. It is also one of the biggest nights for clubbers where we get many big headliners that bring out huge crowds and creating memorable nights. There are many out there that also bring the New Year in style with New Years Day parties. Apocalypse NYE 2012 was held at Pier 94 on New Years Day 2012 with Boris & Victor Calderone.
Pier 94 has been around for a long time but it’s the first time it has been used for electronic music events starting with Avicii for New Year’s Eve. It was a highly successful event that brought in over 10,000 people according to many people. This is definitely a good thing for New York City because there aren’t many outdoor venues out there; yet alone a place big as this. Pier 94 is a venue that offers 133,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit or event space. It’s open space, high ceilings, and column-free corridors create an amazing setting for parties. Let’s just hope that this is the beginning for future electronic events. There is so much demand in New York City for big events and this party surely proved that.
The party was titled “Apocalypse 2012” and it featured music by Boris and Victor Calderone. The party was all about breaking the dawn with Boris and closing the day Victor Calderone. Boris & Victor Calderone are some of the biggest local names in the area and they definitely made us proud at this big event. They are both successful music producers as well as DJ’s that have played many great shows around the area and held residencies at many New York City clubs.
As I got to the venue during the morning hours, there was already a huge crowd enjoying to the beats by Boris. Boris went on at 5am and really had the crowd going until noon. He is usually known for his tribal & house sets but this was one to remember. I spoke to many people at the venue that morning and everybody that I spoke with said that he played a great set. He had the crowd up and going strong until Victor Calderone went on. Victor Calderone played a New Years Eve party at Hollywood, Florida only few hours ago so he definitely came in to the venue on only a few hours sleep if any at all. When he came on he absolutely brought up the energy to a new level. The man is relentless and is well known for his 12-hour sets that he pulls off regularly here in our hometown. He is also known for his mixture of house, tribal, and techno music, and he combines the genres so well. He played a great mix of tracks including big room techno with a touch of tech house, house, and some classics throwbacks in between. He played a great range of old school tracks such as his own “Let Me Set You Free” and newer tracks such as “Asteroid Funk” by Maetrik.
If you were at Pier 94 that day you could easily tell that Victor Calderone was having the time of his life. It’s hard to say if he got any rest before getting on stage but he kept us his energy and did not look tired for even a second. I remember him getting on the microphone at 1:30 pm and he said “I hope everyone is ready, I’m just starting guys!” I have been to many outdoor events before such as Electric Zoo, Water Taxi Beach, and Governors Island parties and I can honestly say that I have never heard such a sound system like this before. The sound was so clear and you can really feel the bass but it was not overpowering. The sound was very crisp and it was tuned just right for this event. I’m not sure who was responsible for this setup but we have to thank them for doing such a great job. I am hoping that upcoming events at Pier 94 will sound just as good as that day if not better! There was a very mixed crow at the party but everyone was having a great time and really enjoying themselves. It was a nice to be at a party where there was no bad incidents or anything that really ruined the vibe. The only bad thing that we can say about the event was the bathroom situation but I am sure they came to a realization by end of the day and its something that could be fixed for future events. Another highlight of the day was when confetti was dropped right before the end of the show. It was a bit unexpected and the crowd really enjoyed it.
I have seen Victor Calderone perform many times before and this has to be one of my favorites. He really kept the energy going with good flow and transitions. He unfortunately got on microphone at 5:15 and apologized everyone and said he had to end the show. This was probably my only complaint because I know many out there like me that really wanted to keep it going all night. As I was leaving the venue I couldn’t believe what a great time my friends and I had. This was definitely the right party to bring 2012 in with style.
http://apocalypsenye.com/
On Thursday, December 29, 2011 Dance.Here.Now. brought Danny Howells back for his second New York event for this year. This event was definitely the way to celebrate the last Thursday of 2011. Brad Miller opened up for Danny and sadly by the time I t there he was no longer mixing. As I strolled in at 11:45 pm I was surprised to see Danny already playing. His beginning had me grooving and I was enjoying everything I was hearing. A few minutes after arriving, I was impressed to see how quickly his set evolved. He had everyone clapping and admiring his mixing with grins of anticipation.
He varied his tracks to eventually even playing some disco while mixing it back to dropping some hot tech house beats which he unexpectedly did very well and I REALLY loved. Around 2:45 when I finally took a look at my watch, he was taking his set to another level. At this point the dance floor was pretty busy, with the crowd moving their bodies and letting the music take control. I didn't really know many of the tunes that he was playing, but I felt every second of it and I'm sure the crowd did too. I couldn't help but to just keep smiling as I looked around and saw many familiar faces, including friends as well as new personalities having such a great time. This event was sheer happiness. Having my eardrums destroyed and my mind blown by the tracks being released from the speakers I was dancing next to took us on a musical journey for sure. If you've been to Cielo then you know that when I say, the vibes were awesome, I really mean it. The space is perfect for a groove-fest.
I’ll give Danny two thumbs up for definitely knowing how to work his crowd, creating a night of great music, great energy, and awesome people. I was fortunate enough to even meet a crowd of fans who drove down from Pennsylvania to hear Mr. Howells play. We ended the night with an early Happy New Year celebration by exchanging hugs as he played the Diana Ross song, Ain't No Mountain High. At the end of the day I truly feel that the only downside of this party was...YOU WEREN'T THERE! If you were there you can't deny it was an amazing party but if you weren’t, I seriously recommend you not miss him next time he comes to play in NYC. Until next time, Stay groovy.
Feed Me, Madeon, AfroWhitey, and Dustin Skiles delivered! Up first was Dustin Skiles of Static System Music who warmed up the decks blasting deep progressive house causing early arrivers to rush the floor. Glow sticks and LEDs were already cracked and twirling by 10:30PM; it was going to be one of those nights. AfroWhitey took over and raised fists with their unique style of hip-hop infused dubstep that recently landed them in Mixmag and a Ministry of Sound compilation. Featuring Dustin Hulton behind the decks and Dee Robes on the mic, AfroWhitey’s sound is both fun and a little cocky at the same time. Not the easiest thing to pull off, but they make it look that way.
The room was completely electric, full of energy, and a thousand smiling faces kept the mood happy and positive from beginning to end. Once AfroWhitey was done loosening up the crowd, Madeon was introduced to Orlando with thundering applause. He started playing and quickly made everyone in the crowd a little bit jealous. Madeon is already playing in front of big crowds at 17 years old, and doing it well. I was impressed with his track selections; he showed knowledge of older records that helped pave the way for today’s artists. If you have seen his video “Pop Culture”, that’s pretty much what you heard live. French House, Nu Wave, Electro, just straight up fun Electronic Dance Music. Everyone was bouncing; even the VIP was breaking it down. I’d be surprised if Madeon doesn’t make a few appearances during the upcoming festival season. He plays that feel-good stuff that makes you forget about life’s problems, the stuff that festivals always use for those super-cool promo videos.
Speaking of festival season… The last time Feed Me came to Orlando was for EDC, and there was so much going on that I wasn’t there for the full set. I’m sure I’m not alone on that one either; it’s hard to catch everyone at a festival like EDC. I was excited to get the full performance this time around. As expected, Feed Me brought the house down with the heaviest of heavy Bass selections. It’s hard not to like that signature green face full of teeth flashing on VJs screens, while the nastiest Electro House, Dubstep, and Drum and Bass is being laid down by a pro. The place went nuts when he dropped his own stuff. This was an awesome night with great music and beautiful people. Orlando represented, again, and gave Feed Me and Madeon a reason to come back. Good work!
Avicii at The DC Armory November 18th, 2011
Glow has been a well-established name in Washington DC-area events for some time now, but its two-day Superglow event at the DC Armory on November 18 & 19 was something like the area had never seen before. Day 1, headlined by meteorically rising house music star Avicii, was completely sold out. The DC Armory holds 10,000 people and some change—and yet non-VIP tickets were entirely sold out well in advance.
Though doors opened at 5 pm, Avicii’s set was 3 hours, running from 11 to 2 am—and by that point, there were already so many people that the cavernous Armory was full from wall to wall, and then some. Avicii’s seen completely unprecedented success in the past year, with tracks breaking into the
mainstream consciousness and gaining international support across the board. And the mainstream made itself known that night. In spite of the size of the event, the vibe that night felt miles away from a typical EDM festival stage-- the crowd was rowdy and pushy in a way that made the floor feel like a giant nightclub instead of a concert scene. But the lighting setup was fantastic, and Avicii started his set
with a bang—the very second track he played was his breakout hit “Bromance (The Love You Seek)” which turned the crowd into a frenzy of seething, screaming fans.
The set played out like a “who’s who” of Avicii hits, though: remixes, originals, and collaborations alike. Avicii hammered out all three of his biggest originals—Bromance, Levels, and Penguin (Fade Into Darkness) within the first half of his set. Every Avicii track that’s been heard at festivals all summer this year—his Sweet Dreams remake, My Feelings For You, and his surprisingly massive remix of Armin van Buuren’s “Drowning”—all made appearances. It was a standard crowd-pleasing set with an easy-to-please crowd, and though it didn’t make for a particularly memorable night—in spite of the giant, packed event—it went off without a problem.
Review and Photos by Lira Yin for ElectronicNightLife.com
http://www.clubglow.com/
http://www.avicii.com/
Paul Oakenfold at Pacha New York November 4th, 2011
New Yorkers, Jerseyites and Connecticuteers brave the blustery autumn night to venture out and see Paul Oakenfold at Pacha, an occasion worth noting. Liquid Todd opens with no joking around during his first set. A dark, sexy lounge feel due to the lighting – covers the club, and has everyone warming-up to these sultry sounds. There certainly is no shortage of partyers tonight. From the view above, I cannot even see the dance floor here; an ocean of bodies covers every inch of space.
While playing, Liquid Todd gets on the microphone to assure this crowd that Paul is coming, and then drops Arty’s “Around the World”. LT energetically jumps for joy. An abrupt transition does not interrupt his flow, and a quick recovery allows for redemption. Even during a less-exemplary track selection, the crowd digs him eclectically mixing house, techno and progressive pieces.
A hush falls-over the crowd as Oakenfold steps onto the stage. Keeping a vibe with the dark setting, Starkillers and Alex Kenji featuring Nadia Ali “Pressure (Alesso Remix)” plays as everyone claps along to the beat. Paul, a diligent and methodical DJ, concentrates heavily upon his work. He then breaks loose to have fun, and points to those fans raising their hands. I think he planned something extra special for this wonderful city of ours. Speaking of monumental, we hear PPK’s “Resurrection (Remy le Duc and EC Twins Remix)”, a classic with great memories; this version brings about new ones.
The video screens hanging above the dance floor play along to Mia Dahli’s “Need You Now (Kenneth Thomas Remix)” song. Dirty South’s “Coming Home (Club Mix)” follows, and this crowd loves every second, staring up in awe. Now Moguai’s “Optinuum (Mau5trap version)” definitely throws hands high into the air. Paul really tears the house down. A fantastic, unknown song plays after to compliment this dark, amazing, beautiful night. Really massive breakdowns resonate, as Oakey eggs-on the crowd. Everyone chants along to the “One Nation Army” White Stripes bootleg, as Pacha’s horn blares loudly.
The Eurhythmics’ “Sweet Dreams”, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Other Side” and “Mr. Brightside” remixes contribute to a bit popular of song selections. Pacha’s sound system still sounds great and pleases people. Oakenfold interacts with the masses clapping and cheering. At 3 in the morning, the tempo is still climbing. Beat Service featuring Emma Locke “Cut and Rub (Dub Mix)” resonates loudly and appropriate lasers start flying! Overpowering everyone with bass, the Markus Schulz and Justine Suissa version of Cass and Slide’s “Perception (New Vocal mix)” delights club-goers. As Paul shakes everyone’s hands good night, Tempur Trap’s “Sweet Deposition (Astrix Remix)” concludes an enjoyable evening.
Photos by Tom Beagan for ElectronicNightLife.com
http://pachanyc.com/
http://www.pauloakenfold.com/
Hallowfreaknween - Denver, CO October 29th, 2011
Hallofreakin’ween is an amusingly-named multi-headliner event that takes place the weekend before Halloween every year in Denver, Colorado; run and MC’d by resident event mavens Triad Dragon, it drew massive crowds to the Denver Merchandise Mart this year on October 29th. The most notable headliners were hardstyle crowd favorite Showtek, trance veterans Cosmic Gate, and Lisa Lashes, once hailed as the queen of hard dance, recently making a crossover to trance in the past year.
The venue was a massive open warehouse, with sections cordoned off for vendors and for a small side stage; along the back wall, the overhead lights were still on, and folding chairs were scattered about tables like confused remnants of a café. Partygoers stopped to sit more and more over the night, but the vast majority of people were in front of the main stage, where the usual party conditions were in effect—no lights, and possibly thousands of people crammed against the main stage.
Showtek was playing when I walked in a little after 10:30 pm, which seemed to be a slightly awkward scheduling choice to me. There was no denying that the crowd was a fairly “hard” crowd, and Showtek’s MC fed off of their energy gleefully, once managing to coax the entire swath of people into sitting down on the floor for about 30 seconds before getting them all to jump up on the beat drop—which was definitely a sight to see. But having a hardstyle DJ so early in the night made for a very strange musical vibe, especially since the DJ whose timeslot came directly after him, Dehasse, played pretty standard house music, at about 75% of Showtek’s BPM and 50% of the energy.
Dehasse’s set was a blur but allowed the vibe to reset for Cosmic Gate, who came next; the veteran duo has been known to change their style and adapt easily with the times over the 12+ years of their career. Early in their set they hammered “Be Your Sound,” the fast-rising single off their latest album, “Wake Your Mind” —as soon as Cosmic Gate’s gritty basslines and Emma Hewitt’s voice hit the crowd, they seemed to regain the energy that was lost between Showtek’s set and the beginning of this one. From that point on, it was bomb after bomb—a remix of Delerium and Sarah McLachlan’s timeless hit “Silence,” the club mix of 2011 festival staple “Thing Called Love” by Above & Beyond and Richard Bedford, and the legendary Armin van Buuren mashup “In & Out of Connection” with Jochen Miller’s track “Lost Connection” with Richard Durand’s remix of his own “In & Out of Love” with Sharon den Adel. The set was generously peppered with their own productions, including the new rework of Jurgen Vries’ “The Theme,” the recent 2010 and 2011 remixes of classics “Fire Wire,” “Exploration of Space,” and their remix of Ferry Corsten’s “Punk.” The set closed on an extreme high note with their remix of John O’Callaghan’s “Find Yourself,” a huge 2009 favorite.
Lisa Lashes was in the convenient closing slot, and while vibe-wise I tend to think having Showtek here would have made more sense, Lisa’s set was by far one of my favorite sets, period, that I’ve seen in recent months. She didn’t just play crowd pleasers, but she played dark and hard without having to crank up the BPM to hardstyle speed—and without only playing crowd-pleasing recent tracks. She’s clearly taken her recent commitment to trance very seriously, but being relatively new to the genre, she has the benefit of pulling out older tracks with impunity—she was straight out of the gate with Jochen Miller’s “Brace Yourself,” followed by Kyau & Albert classic “Megashira,” which even sounds like it’s grinding the floor to pieces. Orjan Nilsen’s dark, deliberate track “The Mule” shook the floor, and I’ve never heard it live before.
Hallofreakin’ween was a good show, and though I tend to dislike the use of MCs in sets, the Triad Dragon staff only showed up to rev up the crowd at the beginning and end of events. The venue was a good choice, security was friendly, and though the crowd was a dubious 16+ group on a Halloween night—costume choices were definitely…interesting—overall, the event vibe was good. Aside from the strange timeslot scheduling, which could justified by maneuvering to get Cosmic Gate the main headliner timeslot, I have no complaints.
Photos by Lira Yin
Wolfgang Gartner at Webster Hall October 14th, 2011
On October 14, Wolfgang Gartner’s tour hit New York City. The venue was none other than NYC’s historic Webster Hall. Arriving to the site just short of 11:30, we were greeted by a literal mob scene. The words “WOLFGANG GARTNER” proudly displayed on the show title screen as people formed lines down the block and trickled in towards the entrance. Signs with the words “SOLD OUT” were plastered haphazardly across all of the General Admission lines. Sold out? It definitely takes quite a bit to sell out Webster Hall. This was going to be good.
As it turned out, getting in was not exactly easy. Webster Hall seemed to have made changes to their crowd control structure, and with one bouncer telling crowds something and another bouncer something completely different, it took quite a while of being jostled around in the crowds to get anywhere. Once inside, however, the light jostling turned into full out being swept away by the party-hungry crowd. It was around 12am and the first floor of Webster was full to the brim. The second floor had not yet been opened due to cleanup from a previous show, and people were packing themselves like sardines as close to the stairs as possible, waiting with a communal sense of bated breath for the moment when security would give them the go-ahead to advance.
Ten minutes later, the scene was a human traffic jam as everyone miled up to the upper floors. As I reached the second floor stage, an opening DJ duo began spinning out the first few tracks of the night. People crawled to bars, claimed their front-stage standing room, and settled into their VIP tables while the pair began warming us up.
All in all, the crowd was remarkably mixed, even for Webster Hall. You had typical clubbers, suits, youngsters, hipsters, girls towering in high heels, dudes that were way too muscled, and packs of guys in button downs. There was no real rhyme or reason to the crowd. Dressed up, dressed down, some in costume, they all lined up just the same to wait for Wolfgang to show them a good time.
About an hour later, the DJ duo passes off the tables to Dallask, the DJ who would be playing directly before Wolfgang. The crowd screams their welcome as Dallask takes the stage, and the stage decorations kick in, flashing his name broadly on a back screen. Webster takes this opportunity to step up their lighting effects and shower the crowd with multi colored lasers.
By 1am, things are getting seriously heated up. Dallask is doing a fantastic job with his set, energizing the crowd into the night. For the most part he favored playing dirty, and busted out some darker tracks that seemed to really get everyone going. More than once he would start with a lighter vocal segment, only to turn it around with a heavy-hitting, driving track. Once in a while, he would throw a curveball by sticking a funky track in there before turning it back to deep and dirty. Around 1:15, he drops a sick electro remix of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.” Despite hearing this song everywhere at events, I can always appreciate a good and well placed Adele remix, so Dallask definitely gets my props for that one. People are going nuts and singing along. Girls near the front of the crowd are beginning to be lifted onto their boyfriend/date/random-guy-they-just-met’s shoulders for a better view and some air. As Dallask finishes up hard, the second floor of Webster is full to the brim, with people crowding even along the far wall and the entrances. The crowd becomes impossible to navigate, definitely ripe for Wolfgang.
And around 1:40, Wolfgang is up. The space is overtaken by cheers, screams, and a mass migration for a better view. Wolfgang starts out strong, albeit quite a bit slower than Dallask had left off for him previously. It was time to go upstairs to VIP for a breather, but even the upstairs, while having some legroom, was packed to the brim. People stood on seats and crammed along the balcony for a better view. Girls in funky shirts and sunglasses danced on the couches, and the bar area was pretty much impossible to cut through. This wasn’t much of a lounging party. It was more of a supercharged, dance or get out feel. Wolfgang spends a little time coaxing the crowd with slower tracks here, but the excitement of having him on stage is enough to carry the energy to a new high.
Then, suddenly, at 2AM, the bass and distortions fly as Wolfgang opens the flood gates and begins to let loose. Signaling this instant, he put out his first massive track, “Wolfgang’s 5th Symphony,” the remix of the all-too-famous classic track. At this point, the energy of the crowd was amazing. Powerful beats and distortions washed over the hall and the crowd simply ate it all up. Wolfgang followed this with a series of downright nuts drops, including a remix of Green Velvet’s La-la Land,” and his own monster tune “Spacejunk.” With every massive drop, Webster’s floor did its thing where the beams spring up and down with the tension of hundreds of people jumping to the beat. I always like to think that when this happens, the night can surely be deemed successful.
All in all, this was a solid night of music. If you can put up with things getting hot and heavy, don’t mind some chaos, and make sure to pregame before you get to the club, coming to Webster for a quality electro night is a pretty darn good time.
Photos by Diana Lectra
http://www.wolfganggartner.com/
Gabriel & Dresden at Vain, Orlando October 14th, 2011
After three long awaited years Gabriel & Dresden have come together and enlightened us with their electrifying presence once again. On Friday Oct. 14th Gabriel & Dresden lit up Club Vain in Orlando Florida with classic tracks such as “As The Rush Comes”, “Around You”, and new material from their upcoming album “Mixed for feet Vol. 1”. Experiencing this dynamic duo in an intimate nightclub setting was a treat within itself. The crowd was ecstatic, the speakers were bumping, and the energy was palpable no matter where you were.
Gabriel & Dresden are like oil and water when it comes to their styles, but when put together they just homogenize in such a harmonious fashion one must stop and admire the unity and spirit of their combined sound. The set they played at Club Vain was an ongoing flurry of sound lifting one through a spiritual journey. The crowd was completely enveloped in the hypnotic sound that defines Gabriel & Dresden; every person in attendance was caught in a trance moving to the beat; there was no such thing as stillness in the building.
As this magnificent night came to an end the energy never died down for one second. If the city of Orlando had permitted for the generous venue to stay open after hours we would have been more then happy to party with Gabriel & Dresden until the sun came up. All good things must come to an end so when the curtains closed and the lights turn on as they say “You don’t have the go home, but you can’t stay here”. Lucky for us Gabriel & Dresden gave us a mini encore performance as the crowd was leaving the premises. I am excited to see what this amazing pair has in store for us this upcoming year now that they have come back together with twice the energy and fervor.
Photos by Jordan Zamore
http://www.facebook.com/gabrielanddresden
http://www.myspace.com/gabrielanddresden
deadmau5 at Roseland Ballroom Thursday October 6th, 2011
Thursday, October 6th marked the second night of deadmau5's Six New York dates on his North American tour. The party took place at Roseland Ballroom, a tremendous landmark in the New York club Scene, and making for a memorable night for such an iconic artist in today's electro scene.
With the combination of deep soul surging bass, brilliant visuals, a spacious venue and a sea of 3000 wild fans, deadmau5 single-handedly changed lives once again for existing fans and new-comers over a string of six New York dates, (5 out of 6 which happened to be sold out prior to doors).
Sparking the night with his original track "Where My Keys”, deadmau5 broke into the evening with an even balance of Soft Synth Driven melodies, and hard hitting sub thumpers. Either way, the wild, good-natured mau5heads maintained their energy throughout the entire event.
A major focal point of the night was when deadmau5 dropped the beat for "Sofi Needs a Ladder", and sure enough featured Sofi herself live on stage to perform the track. She stayed on for the following song "One Trick Pony" rocking the show with her incredible range, flawless presence and gorgeous vocal melody.
Finally, the clock struck midnight, by this time I have made my way to the front of the crowd. I feel the heavy breathing, cheering and all sorts of dancing and fist pumping around me come to an abrupt halt, marking what seemed to be the end of the set. It was time for the mau5 to crawl back into his hole. But a desolate Roseland Ballroom would not stand for such an occurrence.
A faint chanting started slow but erupted into a lengthy encore rapidly sweeping across the venue. Like a panorama stretching across my head I had no choice but to join the cause.
The mau5 Returns, but this time with a mission: To end the first sold out night of his NY shows, with an explosion, something the size of a scud missile.
He sets the mood with a remix of his song "Strobe". The track starts out with a dim feel, growing into a progressive rhythm and memorable melody. He soon hits the crowd with an ill drop sparking Happy Mayhem. This made for an appropriate ending to an intense night.
Electronic shows are all about the feeling; that rumbling in your gut and natural head change due to the atmosphere and sound. dadmau5's show successfully evoked all of the above.
Written by Greg Dosttur
Photos by Erica Mengouchian for ElectronicNightLife.com
http://www.deadmau5.com/
http://www.roselandballroom.com/
