Tiesto

DJ superstar Tiesto headed "The Largest Single-Headliner DJ Show in U.S. History."...
Tiësto : Live
Tiësto : Live

Tiësto“The Largest Single-Headliner DJ Show in U.S. History.”  When that subject line graced our inbox, all bets were off.

Like it or not, but as one watched in awe, as this claim would turn true, one was once again reminded: DJs really are the new rock stars – in every sense of the term.  Long-removed from years of being subjugated to the darkest of clubs and the most secret of shows (in the States, at least) that have long laid the foundation of the rave/dance/electric following in this country, the beats have now been freed – the events, sounds, crowds, and energy have finally (for many, thankfully) been fully released.  And, as this current upward trend continues to buck the haters and set precedents at each quarter-marker, it’s about time we all come clean and enjoy it.  Or better, it’s about time you admit it: if it’s too hard, crowdfast, or loud for you, the dance generation demands you face the facts.  Either: A) you think The Mountain Goats (QRO live review) sounded better when they only recorded live in front of a boom-box; or B) you really are just too god-damned old.

Disagree?  The modern DJ’s rise to superstardom (top DJs, like the iconic, almost-infallible Tiësto, can earn $200,000+ for a single appearance, and upwards of $20 million in profit over the course of a year) may have its detractors, but when the country’s largest EDM (Electronic Dance Music) festivals welcome over 250,000 fans to their grounds, and stadium, ‘U2-esque’ sell-outs become almost something of the mundane, it’s high time to take notice – and even more difficult to look/dance the other way.

crowd

On October 8th, the home of the MLS soccer team, LA Galaxy, was righteously taken over by scores and scores of this new 24-hour-party-people Diplogeneration, with estimates of 28,000 screaming, pulsating, vitamin-infused fans rushing the stage for supporting stars Porter Robinson, Dada Life, and Diplo; all leading up to the headliner himself, Tiësto.  The final stop on the months-long #COLLEGEINVASIONTOUR brought the Porter Robinsonaudile mayhem down hard at the Home Depot Center in Dada LifeCarson, CA (~20 minutes from downtown LA), providing an almost seven-hour gathering of lights, drops, and love (and well, a fair share of furry boots and glowsticks – let’s be honest, here) to the beat-addicted masses of Los Angeles, culminating with a stellar, memorable, “Holy shit, dude…  That was LIFE-changing…” two-and-a-half hour set from Tiësto.

crowd

TiëstoAll told, the show was incredible – the photos tell the tale.  The energy, the size, the sound; the event was almost ‘Super Bowl’, in its preparation.  But even more so, what must be noted is that these events are squarely formed by and in the moment, with the Facebook generation both at the helm of the ship, as well as making up the same rabid, energy-filled fanbase that’s consistently pushing their ears closer and closer to the lager-than-life speakers.  With the likes of Porter Robinson barely reaching 19 years of age, a focus on social participation over artist presentation when it comes to festivals and audience-experience (the perfected Twitter inclusion during College Invasion Tour should be nothing short of a positive case study for the world’s largest festival planners), and an always-present, unending love and connection shown between listener and DJ/Producer, the wall between stage and crowd has been shattered.  For some, this may be the seamless sharing of emotion and sound that they’ve been waiting for.  For others, maaaybe this isn’t the progress they would like.  For the latter, it’s perhaps that this sort of shared mentality goes too far in ‘humanizing’ the artist; bringing them ‘down’ to a level that mainstream musicians and music-lovers don’t appreciate.  But don’t tell the dance-generation this – they aren’t here to listen to you.  And for that matter, don’t bother telling the DJs, either.  They, above all, wouldn’t have it any other way.

Home Depot Center

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Concert Reviews
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