Call it the Stockholm Syndrome -I came and I raved and I loved the youth of America dancing like maniacs to the sound of electronica, and it seemed to me to be its own justification for a really really good time. It hit me as great rock music because on what they have announced as their last tour, three DJs considered among the greatest in the world, brought the party.
Some 30 years after its creation in Chicago, the only way to really enjoy House music is to dance with it, and I have never been prouder of Americas children, throwing off their inhibitions they banged to industrial strength beats and soaring, interrupting, ground shaking bass which had the kids jumping like pogo sticks, arms pumping in the air. This is what life is about: Free Hedonia. I loved it even though I was likely to read s watch the fans or watch the LCD screens or the DJs on a raised platform with lights flickering as they programmed their computers and occasionally danced themselves.
The opening act was Armand Van Helden, who you might know as half as Ducksauce (they had a hit a couple of years back with "Barbra Streisand", and though he is known for adding Reggae beats, the 42 year old Boston, Mass played it straight with an extended "Big Bad Wolf" getting the biggest response on the Dance Richter Scale, though a remix of Dizzy Rascals crazy "Bonkers" being a personal fave.
Just like a real show, there was a half hour wait and just like a real show, Swedish House Mafia, aka Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso, appeared on stage before climbing up to their perch and played records for hours on end while the fans went, well, yeah bonkers. Unlike a rock band though, SHM don't use their hits once. No, not at all Samples from their biggest moments were played throughout the evening. The sample on "Miami 2 Ibiza" appeared over and over again. You know how other DJs might throw down a tasty bass lick? Well, SHM do the same only for a couple of bars at a time. It is all one long song except it really isn't. Their are pauses,a commentary of sorts. Early on they brought out "We Come We Rave We Love" with the words flashing in black and white Screens above the platform, and throughout the night the synth hook to "One" appeared all over and constantly.
But as far as knowing what songs you are listening to, I can't say I did. Rather there was the little build up neats on "Greyhound" before a towering triple bass towered it over and besides owning a number of hits they weren't playing songs they were manipulating tracks. This was even heavier than the 2011 gig, where remixes of the likes of Coldplay were the call of the day. This was not what David Guetta and Will I Am had in mind when they rewrote the rules of dance in 2010. This was bass uber alles and man was it good.
I stayed around three hours and left in full rave. This will be Swedish House Mafia's last tour, mostly because there is no good reason for the three superstars to split the bread three ways. Still, it was a great show. It renews your faith in a USA who still come to rave and love.
Grade: B+