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-- Armin Van Buuren - San Diego - Belo - Friday March 9th
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Holy crap, Armin went off!!! Especially the first two hours. The room was jam-packed, seriously tight, and about 20 degrees warmer than the rest of the place. Lots of room over in the hip hop room - hehe. It got to the point the bouncers started to block the doorways to prevent more people from pushing in!

Boris warmed up the crowd until just after midnight, and when Armin stepped up, the very first track was all Armin. It just got better and better and around the end of the second hour, he built it and dropped "This World is Watching Me (Armin van Buuren vs Rank 1 featuring Kush" and the the roof friggin blew right off. Front to back, even the posers were bouncing! It was seriously AWESOME. Armin looked like he was really having a great time, too.

After that he got a little more progressive and deep, which fell kind of flat. Partly because it seemed right about here the sound system was really acting up. The bass was coming and going and someone kept running up to the decks to talk to Armin (presumably about the sound), and for a bit everything got turned way down, and between the distractions and everything, he lost the crowd. But after about 15 mins he started to get back to more of that typical Armin synthed/euphoric sound and build it up again. It was back to going pretty strong when we cut out of there around 3 AM. It was tough to leave but my friend and I both have little kids so we knew there'd be no real sleeping in.

Last night Armin's set was 10X better than when he was at On Broadway last year. He really played the club, not just doing a live version of ASOT or something. I'm soooo glad I went. Woooooo!!

i've never seen belo that packed in my entire life.

also talk about a comment that bit me in the ass last night, i know i said 'come early to go get staped and then just come back'

i walk in last night, 'no re-entry until midnight!!!' so lame my cousin and i were starvvvvvving

we did eat at belo though, cool menu i recommend you check it out

Sounds like a great time for all.

Wish I could have been there . . . will be back post April 15th.

someone should let the word out on what tracks were played.
I wonder how much the set changed since wednesday in Russia...

quote:

Originally posted by Zombie0729 i've never seen belo that packed in my entire life. also talk about a comment that bit me in the ass last night, i know i said 'come early to go get staped and then just come back' i walk in last night, 'no re-entry until midnight!!!'

Heh, yeah, no biggie though. We already did shots in the car to get a little cheap buzz going before paying for the $8.50 well drinks.

As far as it being super-packed, that was going to be a question from me. I liked the club and would like going back on a "normal" night with my wife sometime (sadly, she doesn't like trance.) But I know she'd also freak if it's always that packed. The 30-man line for the bathroom kind of sucked, too. Felt like I was at a Chargers game..!

As far as tracks go, I'm bad at that, especially lately. I don't have the listening opportunities I used to so I'm not up to date. One track I was tripping on right before we left started out sounding like a difficult to identify remix of Cream, but then the more I listened I think it was a difficult to identify remix of Zocalo, but nothing I'd heard before.

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Originally posted by Aleez Sounds good buddy! So how was the line-up in utrecht lol love that even even if the 06 was not thaaat good but those before AWESOME !

My two favorites, Rank 1 and Sander van Doorn, played there so I couldn't have been happier TE was definitely the best & craziest event I've ever been to!

Anyway, about last night....one word: interesting....

Several names were missing from the guestlist, a bouncer's comment about the line: "the line normally doesn't move this slow but they have a retard working there (at guestlist)," a friend could never go smoke a cigarette because every bouncer told him differently where/how/if he could do that, bouncers basically calling each other incompetent, the main room was hot as a sauna, I spent more money on booze than ever at a club and still couldn't get a buzz going, the line to the guys' bathroom was three times as long as the girls' every time my friend went there because of "stupid drunk guys who were peeing on the floor etc."

The venue just couldn't handle somebody big like Armin Some people left at the beginning of his set already because it got too crazy in the main room. And I hate to say this but the SD party crowd is different from the LA crowd, and not in such a good way....It seemed like half of LA was at Belo last night tho so it made the night much more fun Armin's set was too fluffy for me as expected but then again I wasn't there for the music. I just came to say hi to a couple of Dutch guys Armin did play a few cool songs tho, including Joop's Future which brought back nice memories from Trance Energy *daydreaming* Groupie girls were in full force again trying to get to Armin and/or his booking agent, which was entertaining to watch while I was bored with the music I was quite amused with some of the guys too who yelled things like "I love you, Armin!" and "I want you to be the father of my babies!" and they were dead serious!

Great to see all the TAs and it was very nice meeting LAGrooveJunkie, Andrieux and Bossanova! (I hope I didn't forget anyone...)

The Robert Miles - Children (remix) was AWESOME

Fun times!!! Wish it was in a bigger venue or even better outdoor (like Tiesto in TJ).

I know he played a Cosmic Gate - Should have known remix. Boris MD played the Wippenberg remix but Armin's was a little different.

My friends and I had the Megashira song in our heads before the night started so it was nice to hear him drop that track.

Gotta check out of my hotel room now. Thanks for a great night SD!

quote:

Originally posted by Andrieux The Robert Miles - Children (remix) was AWESOME

YEEEEEEEEESSS!!! I had that song as my ringtone back in '98! Boris played Faithless - Insomnia (remix) which was one of the highlights for me too. I used to dance to that song at a club in Finland in '94....gosh, I feel old....

Hey technofriik, were you dressed in sort of a black coat black pants, slim build, on the short side?

Curious, because when we were in line at the main entrance, the guy described above was standing immediately in front of us talking to someone saying he just got back from Trance Energy. I have to think, seriously, how many people were there that night that just got back from Trance Energy? I had black jeans and a maroon faux-seude button down shirt, wearing glasses, if that was indeed yo.

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Originally posted by PoundPuppy Hey technofriik, were you dressed in sort of a black coat black pants, slim build, on the short side? Curious, because when we were in line at the main entrance, the guy described above was standing immediately in front of us talking to someone saying he just got back from Trance Energy. I have to think, seriously, how many people were there that night that just got back from Trance Energy? I had black jeans and a maroon faux-seude button down shirt, wearing glasses, if that was indeed yo.

lol no shes tall! shes close to the same height as me and im 6'

Hot night

Armin pretty much killed it, having mad groupies there didn't hurt.
Especially the crowd afterwards trying to mob him for pictures after his set.

I thought it was pretty dope when the lights came on and he blasted those two extra tracks. IDs anyone?

I know he played a bunch of killers remixes, the world is watching me, children, joop- the future, zocalo, communication part three, and 4 strings, and adagio for strings.

That place was incredibly moist and humid, i had to take like a 30 min sit down breather cause i was sweating too much.

Funniest part of the night was when i saw this dude grab the gogo dancers but as she was walking through the crowd, and she caught him so she pushed him and proceeded to grab his hair off.

Overall, i know its always a good time when my legs are sore the next day.

I thought this was of Armin's better sets. I enjoyed it.. but could not really get in to it since it was to hot and too packed to Move! I heard they over sold the tickets online by 500!!!

I felt the crowd in SD was really rude! Really rude. One girl took our spot and pretty much stayed there the whole time. She was that *daydream* groupie and seeing her friend trying to swoop in on the action !
Also I thought there where going to be a few fights that night one b/w 2 girls and a guy!
Everyone was so pushy! No excuses me's or nothing!!!

The last half hour of Armin's set was that "cheesy" trance I do not like. So I left.

The highlight in Armin's set for me is when He played Markus Schulz- I am.. And Robert Milles- Children

I had such a great time hanging out with all the TA's that where there

I will post picts and vids soon

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Originally posted by gehzumteufel lol no shes tall! shes close to the same height as me and im 6'

Yep, about 6' with my heels on. I was wearing my black and orange Holland sweater jacket last night. I saw three other people outside of Belo who had gone to TE. One of them stood next to me at the Future Stage at one point and asked me if I was from LA because he had seen me at Spundae. What a small world!

Michelle, you missed some of the best groupie action after you left. I'll tell you about it tonight

Hmm, don't recall the sweater jacket, and there weren't that many tall women in there, so you'd think I'd of noticed. Then again, we didn't get around much due to the difficulty of getting around.

As far as the pushy rude people, I don't think you can avoid it when you stuff that many people into such a small spot. I experienced the same thing in the past under similar circumstances.. Of course, keep in mind that with it being a Friday night event at a popular club, you had a lot of people who were there that aren't there for the reasons we were. I mean, just think of all the people that were over in the Hip Hop room probably wondering who the heck Armin van Buuren is and why they have to wait in line forever to use the bathroom because of him.

First off I want to thank Jenna for helping me get my friends in after the list was closed because they showed up late...I owe ya!!!

I have to say except for the opportunity to hang out with the TA's Matt & Aaron and the girls, michelle and the others I met (sorry bad with names) I really didnt enjoy the night all too much.
Boris set was good getting everyone warmed up. But when I saw that the room was as full as it was for Markus @ 10:30 I knew it was going to be INSANELY packed.

Also the no re-entry policy was a serious pain considering I was in the club by 9:20 and wasnt told until after we got inside.

I like Belo as a venue and have always had a great time there. Though after this weekend I wont ever see Armin @ Belo again the venue is just to small to handle a crowd of that size comfortably or ill have to get a booth with some TA's. The crowd last night was really rude, pushing and shoving and jumping around (when there was NO room too!), got elbowed in the head 3 times and once in the mouth. It was an uneducated edm crowd mostly SD people showing up cause Armin is a big name not because they love the music. It was great too see the real fans rocking AvB and Armin Only shirts...Cant wait to see the pix.

Armins set was ok, but I couldnt really get into it because of the crowd. Heard atleast 6 tracks that markus played a few weeks ago...and several from recent episodes of ASOT. Left Belo around 2:15ish was just too fustrated with the crowd and wasnt having much fun. I didnt leave until after Armin signed my AvB shirt though.....woooo hooooo!

Thank god they dialed in the sound system it was SO MUCH better then Markus 2 weeks ago!

Im glad so many of you had great nights, sorry to rain on your parade.

quote:

Originally posted by technofriik Yep, about 6' with my heels on. I was wearing my black and orange Holland sweater jacket last night. I saw three other people outside of Belo who had gone to TE.

So my friend says he saw you when we were waiting in the guest list line. He remembers you and someone else trying to walk up to the guest list lady and getting intercepted by a bouncer.

I was a little surprised to not hear a Shivers mix of some kind, unless he played it when I was waiting for the bathroom or after we left.. Or maybe he's just all played out on it.

I kinda knew how crowded it would be @ belo, and the gf is a big armin fan, so we got a table.. Boris was a good as a warmup, didn't play anything too hard. As mentioned earlier, armin killed it in the first half, especially when he threw on joop and super8/djtab.

It became way crowded in the main area, and I even had to elbow, shove some freeloaders out of our area, but overall it was great!

You all may remember the big guy in the blue shirt about 3 rows back rocking it during Boris' set on the left side of the stage. That was my buddy JoshthebeaR, me, my g/f, & Sharky and his buddies. Josh is the guy that yells like none other too and we kept starting the claps off almost everytime.. lol.

Anyways, I enjoyed Boris' set for warm-up, although it was almost the exact same playlist as the Markus Schulz night which kind of annoyed me, though I enjoyed my well prepped Martini for sure. I love how he set the place off with the couple old school track remixes, then Without You Near, Proper Education.... and then I felt like he dropped the ball and Armin needed to get up their quickly.

Around 11:45pm it really started getting packed and the rudeness of the commercial crowd at SD set in. I've been a tad bit offended reading all the review that bash SD kids seeing as I'm one of them. Unfortunately, SD is yet to be as "amazing" as LA's scene seeing as the trance scene down here died before it really got the chance to start off right. Now we are stuck trying to fix that. I met a few TAs there and enjoyed the night for the most part. To be honest, last time Armin was here (4th & B St Patrick's day last year) was much more enjoyable for me, mostly due to the heat not being nearly as noticable and the crowd being dumbfounded at who was there. Last year, we staied up front the whole time. This year, after about 2 tracks, I ditched to the back so I could dance if I felt like it, or just watch the show.

Armin smashed it up nicely, and really his set was enjoible minus the club's atmosphere. Word to Belo if they want to throw it right next time, please for the love of God turn the AC all the way up so we aren't dehydrating. It took like 3 waters for me to rehydrate when I left. The heat really killed it for me. It was way worse than Monster Massive ever felt (I know, air space difference is huge).

Basically I got fed up with dealing with the crowd of commercial idiots who have no clue really who Armin is and how prolific he has become. I bounced with Josh & the gf around 1:30-2:00 because I couldn't get into it with the dumbs*#t crowd pushing and cutting all of us back. I didn't go to feel like a sardine, I went to listen to the music. Unfortunately I got the vibe most of the people were their to see the iconic figure, and not for the music.

Props to the Giant crew for making it as good as they can, and props to Belo for having water on tap (even if they ran out of glasses... ). I don't expect to go back to Belo to see Armin because unfortunatly it wasn't handled well imo. However, I probably will go see him regardless because he is the best in my eyes at being there for the crowd.

If any of you remember the "ARMIN!" chant as he walked on to the booth platform, that was JoshthebeaR & I that started the huge chant to focus us all, TAs & true trance heads. I got the feeling he was majorly suprised at how responsively we all were and he looked very humbled and happy to see how much San Diego's scene and appreciation have grown. Once we did though... the commercial crowd came and smashed us in. I did enjoy seeing quite a few of us to the back later in the night lol!

If I get the pics from my gf this week, I'll post them up.

hahahahaha, looks like more fun at tentation tonight!!!

i am busy watching the paint on my walls dry.

quote:

Originally posted by darthseph You all may remember the big guy in the blue shirt about 3 rows back rocking it during Boris' set on the left side of the stage. That was my buddy JoshthebeaR, me, my g/f, & Sharky and his buddies. Josh is the guy that yells like none other too and we kept starting the claps off almost everytime.. lol.

haha I met Josh at Heat for Victor Dinaire and saw him at Belo again for Markus and AvB. I love that guy!! He always gets the crowd pumped up (not that the crowd needed any more energy on Friday haha). I may have met you, if you have been with him before, but I'm not sure. When I saw him on Friday I was standing over by the bar and he said he was leaving with his friends. But yeah, josh is so cool!

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Originally posted by PoundPuppy So my friend says he saw you when we were waiting in the guest list line. He remembers you and someone else trying to walk up to the guest list lady and getting intercepted by a bouncer.

I don't think that was me because we weren't intercepted by any bouncer when we were waiting in line (you can see my pic if you click on my website link at the bottom. It doesn't really matter anymore who I am but next time come say hi! ) When Armin came on it got too crazy in the room so we left for some drinks and air. We didn't go back to the main room until around 2am and stayed 'til the end because I managed to find a good spot right by the stage, next to Michelle, where I could lean on some short wall.

Darthseph: I used to live in SD so I was one of those "SD kids" too but after starting to work and party in the LA clubs, I noticed how different the crowds were. I would love to move back to SD but the party scene in SD is a big factor why I won't do it anytime soon....

I was there too. I have to honestly say this has had to be the worst clubbing experience I have ever had...!! Rude ass people in a over packed place, and the place felt like a sauna. It got to the point where I actually had a really hard time breathing. I had to leave Armins set for a while to get a breather in the hip hop room. For the first time, I wanted to leave cause it was too packed and too hot. I wish it could have been at 4th and B, if I knew Belo was this bad.

Other than that, Armins set was killer, just tune after tune. I was expecting a two or three hour set, but wasn't expecting a four hour set; but I'm not complaining. Of course it was really hard trying to get into the music with people bumping into me all the time. I just hope other people had a better time than I did.

Megashira

Armin Van Buuren San Diego

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quote:

Originally posted by welcum2myworld Other than that, Armins set was killer, just tune after tune. I was expecting a two or three hour set, but wasn't expecting a four hour set; but I'm not complaining. Of course it was really hard trying to get into the music with people bumping into me all the time. I just hope other people had a better time than I did.

Maybe I'm too used to that. Ever try to see Flogging Molly for St. Patrick's Day? Ugh. The density was almost 2x what Belo was. Actual pressure on all sides, where a push from 50 feet away would move you. People peeing where they stood (was outside in the gaslamp). It was a nightmare.

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