The red velvet curtains of the Joint stage were drawn shortly after 1 a.m., and partygoers erupted as Tiësto, in a long-sleeved gray shirt with black horizontal stripes, took over as Master of the Party Universe. His reign lasted for the next three and a half hours.
Tiësto in Concert debuted at the Joint on New Year’s Day, and the Dutch DJ and producer couldn’t have asked for a better premiere for his much-anticipated yearlong residency. Max Vangeli admirably warmed up the revelers on the floor, but audience members—who had paid more than $100 each for the privilege of being at Tiësto’s party—were clearly there for the world’s top DJ. His high-energy set, enhanced by a spectacular laser, light and sound system, included his latest, “Speed Rail,” Afrojack’s “Take Over Control,” Steve Aoki’s remix of “Pursuit of Happiness” and Miike Snow’s “Silvia.” Attendance was just a hair under the 4,000-person capacity.
The concert hall had been transformed into a nightclub, the space between the tiers on the floor becoming seating with bottle service and two large VIP areas flanking the stage along with two floor-level bars. The second level of normally high-top table seating also became comfortable VIP seating with bottle service, while the balcony looked as if it retained regular seats. Although the Joint nightclub (as opposed to the Joint concert venue) featured six go-go dancers dressed in white on platforms and an abundance of tracksuits, soccer jerseys, assorted glow stick products and Tiësto T-shirts, it also came with an unfortunate change—a relaxing of the no-smoking rule.
But a smoky haze and $16 Stoli cranberries weren’t enough to put a damper on the party. Tiësto, who has sold millions of records worldwide, collaborated with Nelly Furtado, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Goldfrapp and been crowned the world’s top DJ for three consecutive years by DJ Magazine, played until about 4:30. He of unlimited energy even attended his afterparty around 5 at the Hard Rock’s actual nightclub, Vanity, where Swedish DJ Avicii spun into the morning for a crowd that included electronic music heavyweights Afrojack, DJ Vice, Vangeli and Manufactured Superstars.
Tiësto in Concert, a pioneer in the world of DJ residencies in concert venues, returns February 5 and continues on a roughly monthly schedule through the rest of 2011. Whether fans will pay $40-$70 a pop for a night at the Joint nightclub remains to be seen, but Tiësto sure knows how to get the party started ... and keep it going and going and going.
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