Few acts can generate a true frenzy among EDM fans the way Swedish House Mafia does. The progressive house music trio—Steve Angello, Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso—came together 11 years ago, took the global dance music world by storm, split up in 2013 and continued performing and producing music individually (and occasionally in combination) until it was time to rejoin and create another frenzy.
In March of last year, the German edition of DJ Mag confirmed (just 24 hours in advance) that Swedish House Mafia would play the final day of Miami’s Ultra Music Festival. The set was a monster, culminating in an audience sing-along to the influential supergroup’s megahits “Save the World” and “Don’t You Worry Child,” and the crowd-pleasing reunion was just the beginning. Slowly, 2019 tour dates trickled out, beginning with last month’s three-show homecoming at Stockholm’s Tele2Arena that attracted 115,000 fans. With a 177-by-56-foot video screen and the three stars spinning from a suspended stage, the shows played like the group’s own private dance music festival, and Swedish House Mafia did it again May 18 at the open-air Foro Sol in Mexico City.
After Angello and Ingrosso perform together this weekend at XS, they’ll hook up with Axwell for Ultra Korea on June 9 in Seoul, South Korea. SHM’s upcoming tour dates include Tinderbox in Denmark on June 29, Ultra Europe in Croatia in July, a headlining finale slot at Tomorrowland and an August trip to the U.K.’s Creamfields festival.
When Wynn Nightlife began announcing its 2019 residency roster in January, the first two names were Steve Angello—who has already played XS twice this year and takes the decks at Encore Beach Club on Friday—and Sebastian Ingrosso, sparking instant expectations that Axwell would snare his own residency and set the table for a Swedish House Mafia show in Las Vegas.
That hasn’t happened, but all the buzz and fanfare surrounding the residencies and the group’s summer festival run has created even more excitement around these rare Strip gigs, especially Friday night’s uncommon team-up between Angello and Ingrosso. Axwell and Ingrosso have performed and recorded as a pair for five years but are on official hiatus for the SHM reunion; this different duo should provide a unique sonic party. Last year, Angello released his second studio album, Human—a record that showed his style sliding between upbeat dance tracks and more dramatic, emotional rhythms and melodies. Angello and Ingrosso released several singles together under various monikers between 2001 and 2005.
Further amping up Friday’s show is the fact that it’s the fourth of 10 events at XS this year celebrating the megaclub’s 10th anniversary. DJ Snake, Kygo and David Guetta have performed at these special engagements so far this year, and they’ve all added their own memorable moments to the long list of classic shows at XS. And who knows? Maybe the third member of the Mafia will pop in. Anything can happen in Vegas.
STEVE ANGELLO & SEBASTIAN INGROSSO June 7, 10 p.m., $30-$50. XS, 702-770-7300.
