LAX MVP, PVD!
The Las Vegas nightlife industry is in for a treat as Paul van Dyk returns to Vegas, spinning at LAX on Wednesday, February 6. Marc Jay of One Global Events is the man responsible for bringing Sin City’s electronic-music fans the likes of Fatboy Slim, Tiesto and Armin van Buuren. By bringing the world-renowned van Dyk to the local party crowd, Jay returns to his Wednesday-night roots, having produced Pleasuredome at RA (LAX’s predecessor). “Having the chance to bring Paul back to the first spot he ever played in Vegas was an exciting opportunity for me to be involved with, and given the renovations that LAX have implemented to RA’s former space, this will be an incredible night for electronic-music fans,” says Jay.
While van Dyk’s fans had the chance to check him out last September at Empire Ballroom, LAX’s industry night seems to be an unconventional choice for the DJ, who primarily spins for afterhours events and packed arenas. According to Jay, “Paul will go on at 12:30 a.m., and if previous events are anything to go by, we could well see him spinning until the sun comes up!” Currently ranked No. 4 on DJ Magazine’s Top 100 (down from No. 1 in 2005 and 2006), van Dyk is still traveling around the world on his In Between album tour, and club-goers will get the chance to catch his new tracks and mixes live when he takes the stage Wednesday night.
Three and a half questions with DJ Paul Mendez
Bust out those glow sticks and get ready to dance because the U.K.’s No. 1 trance/hard DJ is coming to ... the Fort Cheyenne Events Center? On Saturday, February 2, Paul Mendez will arrive from “GlasVegas” Scotland to DJ for New Galaxy Music and Entertainment’s Sounds of the Underground party. Mendez will spin a “mash-up of dirty tech house with trance” for this departure from the nightlife norm at this all-ages event (a full bar is available for the 21-plus crowd).
With all of the big-name nightclubs in Las Vegas, what made you decide to play at an off-Strip venue for this smaller, all-ages event?
I liked the vision and passion that the New Galaxy team showed me, first and foremost. I have played a lot of the big-name clubs on the Vegas Strip, and I intend to play more, but for this occasion, this event seemed to be the best choice, and it gives me a chance to play to a younger crowd than normal.
Some within the Vegas nightlife industry view the Sounds of the Underground event as just another “rave” and look down on such parties. Do you feel these events can be just as enjoyable without the fancy décor and exclusive VIP services of major nightclubs?
The word “rave” in the U.K. tends to be used more at young hardcore music events, so it’s similar to the term used in the States. I hand-pick the events I play, and smaller events can be just as enjoyable for me as a DJ. It all depends on the crowd at the event I play.
You’ve been highly praised by Tiesto and Armin van Buuren and described as “the DJ’s DJ.” What does that mean to you?
It of course means a lot to me, as I helped these DJs out at the start of their careers by booking them in the U.K. at the club I was director of music at, and it’s great to see they think highly of me. I must admit, though, I much prefer the clubber on the dance floor and my fans praising me more.
What is the most bizarre experience you’ve ever encountered while spinning?
I spilled a drink into the mixer, and it went on fire while I was spinning. The club had to be evacuated.
For more information, visit www.newgalaxybeats.com or
www.myspace.com/djpaulmendez.
All Mixed up
Mix Lounge has been gearing up for its return to the music scene for some time now, month after month booking interesting and unconventional DJs to grace the decks on Fridays and Saturdays. So it comes as no surprise that its new Mixed Industry Night, Turntables on the Strip, will have an interesting and unconventional twist: It rotates! Not wanting to be pigeonholed into one particular night, Turntables kicks off Wednesday, February 6, with Nickodemus, Nappy G and Mariano; continues Sunday, February 11, with DJ Cottrell; then bounces to Thursdays with Lady Kier of Deee-Lite on Valentine’s Day and Douglas Gibbs on February 21, before landing on Tuesday, February 26, with DJ Shoe. That’ll keep you on your toes!