Different Venue, Same Madness For Roger Sanchez In Toronto
Photo: Tobias Wang
Words By: Sean Moffatt
What a night. Last weekend for the first installment of March’s Spin Saturdays inside The Guvernment Nightclub, Toronto welcomed back a classy, established veteran in DJ/producer Roger Sanchez. Much like his visit to Uniun in December, Sanchez flipped the venue upside down for an overwhelming Miami-like club experience. As a pioneer of house, Sanchez’ global influence was made visible with the presence of fans spanning multiple generations, all there to take part in the evening’s festivities. Sanchez’ appearance was the first inside Guvernment in a couple years and the long overdue return was nothing short of an intense house heaven for fans looking for a real, raw, house music experience.
Sanchez had Mark Oliver and Manzone & Strong as support, and as usual the trio of residents lit up the venue with some really spectacular beats. With and artist like Sanchez in the house, the residents always drop some real, gritty, house music records.
Photo: Tobias Wang
The atmosphere on the dance floor was insanely good and Sanchez must have felt it too because he took to the stage earlier then scheduled. What I most admire about the house music legend is his “music first” attitude and his extensive use of the technology at his disposal. His looping, use of effects, and sampling really defined his time on stage, and the exploitation of more than two CDJs opened up a lot of opportunity to blend the music. Fans were at his mercy while he dropped numerous cuts that embodied the persona of his Stealth Records label. There was a lot of great music that had a New York to Miami identity and moments of wonder like a sampling of Summertime Sadness from breakout star Lana Del Rey. Building on the energy of the dedicated fans in front of him, Sanchez made sure to remind us just how good he sounds in the legendary venue.
Absolutely SICK nite at Guvernment last nite! Thank u Toronto! #CanandianHouseNation - Roger Sanchez via Twitter
It was great to see Sanchez play at The Guvernment because I feel that’s where a man of his experience should play. Don’t get me wrong, he ripped Uniun apart in December and the industrial environment helped set the tone of that night. With that being said however, there’s no denying that certain venues hold a deeper meaning to artists and fans alike and Guvernment is absolutely one of them.
Tim Mason Debuts With Energetic Set Inside Uniun Nightclub
Words By: Sean Moffatt
There is no question in anyone’s mind that last weekend was a big one for house music fans in Toronto. Leading the way were two hugely successful One Last Tour concerts from the Swedish House Mafia and Otto Knows, but other great performances from James Zabiela and Tim Mason truly rounded out an amazing two nights. Inside Uniun Nightclub Friday night, Mason proved to be the perfect fit for a crowd that had either just seen or was planning to see Swedish House Mafia the following night. Factory Friday’s ended the month of February on a high note courtesy of Mason’s sharp melodies and tenacious drops that ultimately built perfect raving environment. His association with Size Records and Steve Angello meant his set was catered to the progressive house fanatics that could be found buzzing around the city all weekend long.
While the Swedish House Mafia garnered a lot of attention both Friday and Saturday night, you would have never guessed they were in town based on the crowd who filtered through Uniun on Friday. Manzone & Strong had a resilient crowd to work with as they built the club energy ahead of Mason’s arrival. You could tell there was enthusiasm all around the venue and I’m sure it had a lot to do with SHM being in town. Once Mason stepped into the booth however, everyone’s focus shifted to the British producer thanks to a bold and powerfully melodic set.
Mason wasted no time at all once he took over, looking to Don’t You Worry Child as his second track to build off the SHM energy that was so prominent in the room. He understood the crowd in front of him and knew exactly what they wanted to hear. The set included of some of the best records put out by the Size Records label including Head Up from Arno Cost and the latest release Hit It from GTA, Henrix, and Digital Lab, not to mention new collaborative effort out on Phazing Records titled Halo from Dirty South & Deniz Koyu. At times his set diverted from the strong melodic feel to some amazingly deep club records like Matador from Tesla, and those drops are what really stood out to me. My thinking is that we may become more acquainted with these records by the Winter Music Conference. They definitely fit the Size Records profile and around this time artists are testing their new material ahead of the conference. Mason’s latest single Swoon, which has received a lot of positive attention around the dance music scene, was also a highlight in the mix. In the end, Mason saved the best for last, looking to his Size Records debut The Moment to close out his 2-hour set on the perfect high.
Toronto Bids Farewell To Swedish House Mafia In Emotional One Last Tour Stops
Photo: Tobias Wang
Words By: Sean Moffatt
It was back in June of last year that the dance music world was shook quite heavily by the surprise announcement that the illustrious Swedish House Mafia would be breaking up. While the announcement was met with mixed reactions from fans, it was the only logical decision for a threesome that had seemingly accomplished everything that they had set out to do. The sad news launched an emotional 9-month journey for the trio that has included one final single and more importantly, a highly anticipated worldwide One Last Tour. With the majority of tour dates behind them, Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso, and Axwell landed in Toronto last weekend to play their first and final 2 shows in our city inside our largest venue, the Rogers Centre.
For some, a show of this magnitude in Toronto was unexplored territory. Aside from Deadmau5’ Rogers Centre show in 2011, DJ events of this scale are rare and don’t happen too often outside of The Guvernment complex. The arena setup had an obvious concert feel to it, but as someone used to the confines of a rave the extra room on the floor was more than welcomed.
Photo: Tobias Wang
The music began at 8:30 P.M. with rising Swedish star and Refune Records product Otto Knows. In the past year Otto has achieved his fair share of successes, blossoming into one of the most exciting young talents in dance music. Tapped as the lone opener, the young Swede used the hour flawlessly looking to his own productions like Lies (Otto Knows Remix) and Million Voices to set the tone and energize the crowd. It’s worth pointing out that although the Swedish House Mafia were not expected until 10:00 P.M., many people made sure they arrived early to take in at least part of the talented producer’s set.
After a brief intermission to allow for the final production tweaks, the giant white drape covering the majority of the stage lit up. In what has become a staple in Swedish House Mafia sets, a video montage featuring stunning graphics kicked off what had ultimately brought us all together. Sounds from the video began to build in unison with a protruding bass line before climaxing into the drop of a new Ingrosso/Axwell collaboration We Came, We Raved, We Loved right as the curtain was released. Standing behind the curtain were the 3 Mafia members with their arms in the air, acknowledging the crowd before taking their places on stage and really getting things started.
Video: Stilez
As far as music goes, the set was a collection of records and samples from the trio, each member’s solo productions, and their independent labels. Swedish House Mafia singles Greyhound and Antidote were featured early, and solo singles like Calling, In My Mind (Axwell Remix), and Knas
The amount of work that was put into the overall production translated into a visual spectacle. The show was made up of inspiring light displays, pyrotechnics, and lasers, all of which enhanced the musical journey of the dedicated collective gathered to take it in. The second and final show in Toronto would be my third time seeing the Swedes together and ultimately my favourite experience. On this night it didn’t matter if you were a house music veteran or attending your first rave, everyone came together with one purpose in mind, to bid farewell to the Swedish collective that has inspired a generation through their undeniable propensity for making great dance music.
James Zabiela Dazzles Toronto Crowd At Moskito + Bite
Words By: Mateo Abascal
This past Saturday exactly 5 years after his last visit to Toronto, long haired British talent James Zabiela made a valiant return to our city with a mind blowing sold out show at new hot spot Moskito + Bite. Since the start of the new-year Moskito + Bite has turned into one of my favorite spots in Toronto. The sound system is unreal, the people are always friendly and the DJs they bring are underground talents known only to the dedicated fans. If you like techno or tech-house and a chilled environment, you should definitely check this place out.
I arrived at the venue around 1:00 AM. Coat checked, grabbed a drink and started soaking in the night. Contrasted with the high level production I had just experienced at the Roger Centre, it seemed like it would be hard for my night to get any better. That is until the 34 year old Brit took control of the music and pulled off the unimaginable, blowing us all away.
Zabiela is no newbie behind the decks. Although he has recently made a name for himself as a tech house DJ, his roots lie in breakbeat music, a quality that was showcased on Saturday night. He began setting up his equipment (he brings a lot of it) – a Nano pad for live editing and production, an iPad which he used as a controller, and an M-audio recording device, all of which he uses on top of the CDJs he uses to mix. It was soon after that opening DJ Addy handed over control to Zabiela and the incredible journey begun. Like other tech DJs, Zabiela understands the importance of progression in his sets. Opening with a nice deep track, he brought the energy level down just enough to build some anticipation. It didn’t however last long and before we knew it Zabiela had drifted into a hard hitting minimal techno song he edited on the fly using his iPad and Ableton live.
The other part was his track selection. The way he jumps from one genre to another is unbelievable. I never knew what to expect next and that alone created a great deal of anticipation for every drop. At around 2:30 Zabiela graced us with Duke Dumont – The Giver (Locked Groove Remix). This track is very deep but equally suited for the party scene. What followed was by far one of the most far-fetched moves I’ve ever witnessed, and it was flawless. Playing the Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch classic Good Vibrations, Zabiela’s surprise took the crowd out of the darkness and into the light. Everyone inside Moskito literally went nuts. Approaching the end of his set the man from Southampton, England played The Curb – Spectrasoul, a drum & bass track starts off with a soothing vocal melody before an incredibly hard drop.
Eric Prydz, Sander van Doorn & The Stafford Brothers Make Family Day The Most Memorable Yet
Photo: Tobias Wang
Words By: Sean Moffatt
The great thing about a family is that you don’t need to be connected by blood to feel like one. We often refer to our relationships and friendships as family, a way to identify their depth and meaning to each of us. Since the introduction of the Family Day holiday in Ontario back in 2007, we’ve had one day each year to celebrate those relationships in whatever way we choose. For the dance music community in Toronto, Family Day has become a much anticipated day to share with our family, our beloved Guvernment family.
This year’s event had a special twist to it because it featured the long anticipated return of progressive house legend Eric Prydz. Considering it had been over 5 years since his last visit to the venue it was a really big deal to a lot of people. While Prydz was on the forefront of most of our minds, I couldn’t forget that another powerhouse producer Sander van Doorn was also back for his first gig of 2013. Supporting both headliners were Australians duo the Stafford Brothers in their Guvernment debut, as well as residents Manzone, Strong, & Mark Oliver.
Unique to this year’s event was the line-up in neighboring Chroma that featured Manzone & Strong, Deko-Ze, Joee Cons, and Ovi M. Considering the line-up next door I’m not sure anyone would’ve thought that Chroma would be as rammed as it was, but then again it was hard to pull myself away from the room’s techno bliss.
Photo: Tobias Wang
The night inside the Main Room kicked off with Mark Oliver before the arrival of the Stafford Brothers. One thing I have to say off the bat, these two were bursting with energy. They partied toe to toe with the hoard of fans in front of them while dropping tracks like Clobber from Dannic, his remix to their record with Lil’ Wayne & Christina Milian Hello, and a huge new ID record that is set to be their next release. The brotherly duo did an incredible job hyping the crowd for Eric Prydz while staying true to their approach, making for a memorable and exciting debut inside The Guvernment.
Photo: Tobias Wang
The tone of the night changed instantly the second Eric Prydz took over. The music shifted from high energy to deep and melodic as quickly as you could snap your finger, but the transition kicked off the best introduction to a DJ set I have ever seen. Those who are familiar with Prydz’ podcast or recorded sets know that he is all about the journey. There is no such thing as a quick transition when he plays because his sets are driven by the evolutions of different sounds. The intro of his set featuring Welcome to My House was the only way he could have returned to The Guvernment, an extended build that manufactured a strong anticipation for the inevitable drop. His set was a ride through highs and lows that only Prydz is capable of producing and it sticks out in my memory like a sore thumb.
Photo: Tobias Wang
Up next was another Toronto favourite Sander van Doorn who upped the intensity right from the start with some high energy progressive records. Sander has evolved his sound in recent years and while his trance records will never get old, he has evolved into much more progressive sounds. His last album Eleve11 was solid from front to back and a real indication of his intended direction. His set for Family Day was no different. The Dutch veteran played everything from Summertime Sadness (Cedric Gervais Remix) to Nothing Inside, to his classic Reach Out, and his brand new collaboration with Mark Knight Ten. Sander is always a pleasure to watch in the booth because of his constant smile and enthusiasm for what he does. His set at The Guvernment was the final one of his current tour, and I don’t think he would have wanted to end it any other way.
The Family Day DJ sets were top notch, but there is no question that the people who came to dance helped make the night one for the ages. The floor was packed early and stayed like that the whole night. Social media erupted with excitement and awe as it outlined one consistent thing; Family Day 2013 at the Guvernment was nothing short of epic and a night that will go down as one of the venues best.
Mini Tour Comes Full Circle For Porter Robinson In Toronto
Words By: Sean Moffatt
This past weekend in Toronto proved to be one of the best dance music fans have experienced in recent memory. In the span of 3 days, our city housed shows featuring Porter Robinson, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Eric Prydz, Sander van Doorn & more and essentially made Family Day weekend downtown nothing less than a music lover’s dream.
Kicking things off on Friday, Porter Robinson and his Circle Assembly Tour arrived to play their make-up date for the cancelled show and quite simply ruined the Kool Haus. To see a young producer have crafted such a jaw dropping production that was supported by great music was inspiring, something I wish everyone could have seen. Supporting acts Seven Lions and The Sour DJ’s brought the show full circle with their equally impressive mixes, helping the tour’s final show be a memorable experience for fans and performers alike.
Niagara production duo The Sour DJ’s were the first to take the stage for an intense 2-hour set that helped establish the club’s early vibe. The two young producers are no strangers to The Guvernment or its dedicated patrons, and they used that knowledge to their full advantage. Having seen them play primarily in Chroma with electro driven sets, it was refreshing to see them dive into the progressive and tech world with some aggressive drops like Are You Nervous? from John Dahlback.
Following The Sour DJ’s opening set was at least for me, the surprise of the night. While I am familiar with Seven Lions and some of his remixes, I wasn’t prepared to be mesmerized by the melodic dubstep set in the way that I was. Rocking a long haired look reminiscent of Tommy Trash, Seven Lions properly introduced me to his world and I loved it. The dubstep sound is one that I admittedly have tried to embrace but it hasn’t really panned out for me. A melody is the most attractive element of a record in my opinion so the heavy drops just don’t do it. Much like Adventure Club however, Seven Lions takes that melodic element and combines it with luring drops to make for some really great music. His remixes to Florence & the Machine’s Cosmic Love and Tritonal’s Still With Me were stand outs to me, and as a whole I think it’s safe to say that California native left Toronto with a collective of new fans.
When 20 year old Porter Robinson stepped onto the stage the anticipation that had been building ahead of the show seemed to peak thanks to the cheers and chants of his name. With a big smile on his face Porter wasted little time diving into a set that was accentuated by brilliant production. The set began with a melodic orchestral introduction that built slowly before exploding into Robinson’s The Seconds off of his Spitfire EP. From there no genre, artist or record was off limits and amazing drops like Arguru from Deadmau5, Blood Pressure from Helvetic Nerds, Last Mohican from Dario Nunez, and Bipolar from Mat Zo had the crowd in a complete frenzy. The set was highlighted by some of Porter’s own records like Unison and his latest with Mat Zo Easy, but what I took notice to the most was actually his unsuspecting transitions. For those who don’t know, Robinson uses a Traktor controller along with Traktor software to DJ. The combination of tools allows him to think outside the box from the traditional CDJ’s and make his set unique and different.
@porterrobinson: Toronto: absolutely insane. reaffirming once again why you’re one of my favorite cities on earth.
By the end of the show, the ceiling was sweating and there was a room of grateful, happy fans. The final Circle Assembly show ended almost as soon as it began, but not before leaving a huge mark on the Kool Haus, Toronto, and the dance music fans that came to be a part of it.