Evening Events around Amsterdam Dance Event (Part 3)
(corrections, additions, if you can help me fill in the blanks - please email me)
This is Little Mountain @ Melkweg
As a visualist/VJ/DJ, I knew the final night that I would be at Sander Kleinenberg's "This Is" party. Sander is on the cutting edge, using the Pioneer DVJ decks to mix visuals along with the music he is playing. Rather than a gimmick, the visuals are seemlessly intergrated into his performance - and his DJ booth is quite odd. It was great to hear US artists like Murk and Lula get played in the set as well. What was odd to me was even though it was his party, it seemed like the majority of the crowd were "mouseheads," fans of Deadmau5 - with mouse-ears, cheese-hats and t-shirts omnipresent. Taking a break from the main room I caught a really funky set by Muzikjunki, definitely a dj to watch. I also ran into Josh Gabriel and we chatted about him giving away his new artist album in the new DJ Times magazine, quite an interesting decision. As much as I would have loved to stay the night, an early flight home the next day forced me to leave way too early in the evening.
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Sander Kleinenberg |
Sander Kleinenberg |
Sander Kleinenberg |
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awesome stage |
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Mouseheads |
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Muzikjunki |
Muzikjunki |
Muzikjunki |
Stonebridge & Friends @ Rain
After several nights of electro and techno, it was time to enjoy some vocal house. Stonebridge, the masterful producer and remixer, was the host for the perfect party. Vocals in dance music - what a concept. He had me on the dancefloor most of the night with a fun mix of updated classics and brand new productions. I could totally see this "Stonebridge and Friends" concept as a travelling party. Opening DJ Joey and closer Reza both gave strong sets as well. Hanging out with Stonebridge is always a good time as well, he has a quick sense of humor and is good for an honest/pithy quote. Even though Rain is a smaller venue, the intimate party and the energy of a big room - it was as if you invited all of your friends over to the house for a dance party. I wonder if we will ever get a "Stonebridge and Friends" tour in the US?
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Stonebridge |
Stonebridge |
Stonebridge |
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Reza |
Reza |
Lil Joey |
Michel de Hey @ Studio 80
Michel de Hey packed the floor with minimalist techno and funky electro for the Agent Audio showcase. Not really my cup of tea, but with a few Red Bulls in me, I had energy to burn. I soon came to realize that its not just the music that makes the party - the crowd does as well. The place was overstuffed with partygoers and looking up at the booth - it was clear Michel was having a good time! (Note to self: Figure out how to take pictures when the club is full of haze.)
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1 Night Only @ Panama
Great lineup and a fun party, but I mis-timed this one. I came way too early and the party.. well .. wasn't happening yet. I hung out for like an hour and there were three highlights worth mentioning. First, the DJ booth - its absolutely amazing. Imagine a double LCD frame and you've got the idea. The pictures don't do it justice. Second, I met Prok & Fitch and Belocca & Soneec, two duos (one Britsh and one Hungarian) that have been on the radar for a while. Have you noticed that Nervous really is signing the coolest records for the US lately. And the final highlight, were the.. erm .. fetish dancers that were working the room. Two well endowed females in police uniforms targeted me and proceeded to frisk me and call me a "naughty boy." Although I didn't get a picture of them, I can honestly say that my dad was proud and my friends back home were jealous.
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Insane |
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Booth |
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Prok &
Fitch, |
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Nighttime Events (Flamingo, Addictive TV, Fuga/Armada/Ultra)
Nighttime Events (Don Diablo, Klinch: Superrauw, lamingo)
Nighttime Events (This is Little Mountain, Stonebridge & Friends, Michel de Hey, One Night Only)