OFFICIAL Tranceaddict Review of the Electric Zoo Festival
When you think of a zoo you think of a place showcasing a wide variety of animals, some exotic, most from far away lands, stuck in a cage and being admired by onlookers. Well, for two days last weekend, Made Event turned Randall's Island Park in New York City into a makeshift zoo -- an Electric Zoo to be exact. Thankfully, there were no animals... instead there were 67 artists from 13 countries performing for the 25,000+ strong crowd at the launch of this two-day Electronic Music Festival.
Getting to the party was a relatively easy task - you had the option of getting there by subway/express bus, taking a taxi, taking the ferry or driving over to the island -- I opted for the ferry at 35th street pier and I'm glad I did. Enjoying the Manhattan scenery along the East River (Video Link) while sitting comfy in the air-conditioned cabin, sipping on a drink from the full-service bar and for part of the ride listening to music being broadcast live from the party on Sirius/XM radio. (Listen for the re-broadcast Sep 18-20) The trip lasted a mere 15 minutes and it was nice to be around like-minded partiers excited for the day's event.
Once we docked, getting into the event was straight-forward - a quick media check-in - multiple lines for searches/21+ wristbands meant we didn't have to wait long at all to get started.
The vibe was palatable as thousands of people were already enjoying the ambience and also made sure to check their attitude at the door as Tranceaddicts, Houseaddicts, and Technoaddicts (or any of the myriad of sub-genres within) came together as fans of Electronic Dance Music. (Video Link)
In terms of talent, I think everyone in attendance was spoiled by what they heard. The time slots were logically laid out and that made it possible for even those with the pickiest of tastes to dance away to a sound they were into.
The venue itself is beautiful. A massive, open grassy field with trees, and shade tents for when you needed a break from the sun. There were plenty of washroom facilities and beer, wine and champagne were readily available if you were thirsty - an expensive $9 thirst mind you -- but there is a benefit to that ....at least you're less likely to have someone spill their beer over your back while you're dancing to your favourite DJ. In terms of food, while the burgers we ate on both days were delicious please have more choices for next year! Yes, please feed the (party) animals.
The tent setups were well done -- spacious and high. At times some of the tents weren't big enough for the talent they held (Sunday School especially) but you could dance away just outside and hear (almost) just as well. This also gave you the option of taking a break and just chilling/sitting on the grass with your friends while still being 'in the party'.
The main stage was more than adequate and really came to life during Armin van Buuren, Ferry Corsten, Markus Schulz and David Guetta's sets. I find some of David's music on the cheesy side however I will give him credit for getting the crowd really going(& singing) and bringing along with him a set of zoo themed visuals that was total entertainment. (Video Link)
The organization and logistics behind the festival were top notch! Considering this was the first time Made put something like this together it didn't show at all: proper signage, adequate staffing/security, an event guide with time slots/info, ropes/fences to separate areas/lines for drinks, DJ sets that actually started on schedule, and quick entry/exit are all things that shouldn't be taken for granted.
We really hope the Electric Zoo festival returns next year ...not only because we already want to go back, but more so for all of you reading this who missed a good party.
Thanks to:
Made Event (for making it happen)
PlexiPR (for getting the word out)
all the NYTAs (for organizing the forum meetup/roll call)
Armin van Buuren (for playing "Thomas Bronzwaer - Look Ahead")
Video Credit: (fotoaddict)
Posted by LilyTech on Sep-15-2009 18:04:
OFFICIAL Tranceaddict Review of the Electric Zoo Festival (a Technoaddict's View)
Made Event's Electric Zoo lineup made you feel like a kid in a candy store. Combine that with the obvious lure of Manhattan, only an hour's flight away, and who could resist?
Audion - Audion's style is essentially minimal but distinctly unique. This DJ is not afraid to let a track ride - his music resonates & would be repetitious if not for his perfect use of nuance. At times it's just 'sustained noise' - at one point he had us vibrating from head to toe - but the overall effect is a sensual and dreamy sound that makes you just want to close your eyes and move. (Video Link)
Richie Hawtin - Techno Legend - Started THUMPING! and rose to PUMPING! This was the most exciting set of the festival for me with the most excited crowd I saw at the Sunday School tent. Fists were in the air, hands were clapping, feet were stomping, and the tent was rammed. This was techno at its finest.
Marco Carola - This is the sort of Techno that could even win over Eminem - it's just that danceable. Think of tech-house, take out the house, pump it way up and you'll get the idea. His set had a fullness that suggests constant mixing, and was seamlessly programmed - it was thumping and totally energizing. A perfect way to kick off the festival.
Guy Gerber - Tightly layered, full-bodied & galloping. Rave-style techno best suited to dark cavernous spaces, but still absolutely stunning on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Luciano - Super sexy tech with a vague ethnic/organic feel. Lots of horns. Really danceable.
Danny Tenaglia - There really is no need to describe DJ legend Danny T. Even so, he summed it up perfectly himself at the start of his set: "15 hours in 1.5"... gems, flashlights, and all. (Video Link)
Steve Bug - Very groovy. You would be happy sitting or dancing through this set. The kind of sound that keeps your head nodding to the beat, no matter how tired you might be.
Thank you Desyn Masiello (for a stunning remix of "How Soon Is Now")
Suggestions for next year:
BIGGER Techno Tent, perhaps with VIP area
Mixed drinks in all areas
Cheaper beer
Carl Cox?
After party:
We checked out the after party on Sunday night at Pacha, New York - featuring Ferry Corsten, Josh Gabriel, Audion, and Seth Troxler. It was a really great time. The main room was packed with dancers but I especially enjoyed Audion and Seth Troxler playing back-to-back upstairs in Pachita. That's where I found what I was hoping to find on a night out in Manhattan - some nice and chill techno, with BPMs starting in the neighborhood of a pleasantly stimulated heartbeat and gaining over the course of the night.
A perfect way to end a weekend of exceptional beats.
Posted by yankeeBaby on Sep-15-2009 18:19:
Re: OFFICIAL Tranceaddict Review of the Electric Zoo Festival (a Technoaddict's View)
quote:
Originally posted by LilyTech
We checked out the after party on Sunday night at Pacha, New York - featuring Ferry Corsten, Josh Gabriel, Audion, and Seth Troxler. It was a really great time. The main room was packed with dancers but I especially enjoyed Audion and Seth Troxler playing back-to-back upstairs in Pachita. That's where I found what I was hoping to find on that night out in Manhattan - some nice and chill techno, with BPMs starting in the neighborhood of a pleasantly stimulated heartbeat and gaining over the course of the night.
A perfect way to end a weekend of exceptional beats.
^^agreed! If I had just a *little* more energy, this party would have been one of the better moments of the weekend!
thanks for the review, swampmonsta, and I hope I did I good job being the Toronto-New York embassador (as requested by the NYTA's: "please intorduce me to swamper and the TOTA's, kellyyyyyy!!!" )
Posted by AY STAR on Sep-16-2009 01:56:
great review
as i said before in another thread...
every review has been nothing but positive and iam sooo glad to hear it from everyone
i hope this is the start of something to only grow bigger and bigger
Posted by yumpop on Sep-16-2009 04:25:
Great review of EZ and Pacha. I really hope we have another EZ next year. +1000000000000 for Carl Cox
Posted by Bobby Fist Pump on Sep-16-2009 14:09:
quote:
Originally posted by AY STAR
great review
as i said before in another thread...
every review has been nothing but positive and iam sooo glad to hear it from everyone
i hope this is the start of something to only grow bigger and bigger
Nothing gets better. In five years we're all gonna be saying "you remember how good the first one was! Why can't it be like that again?" Especially TA! We're all whiners!
Except me of course Posted by AY STAR on Sep-16-2009 16:32:
quote:
Originally posted by Bobby Fist Pump
Nothing gets better. In five years we're all gonna be saying "you remember how good the first one was! Why can't it be like that again?" Especially TA! We're all whiners!
Except me of course
lol yea i guess you do kind of have a point
if the lineup gets more crappy and more commercial then yea i will deff be saying that
Posted by euphoria on Sep-16-2009 19:48:
* Some of you guys are in our gallery along with the review
Check it out!
Posted by edubbz on Sep-17-2009 00:31:
my only suggestion for the following annuals to come is...serve warm, thoroughly cooked food. those half ass burgers and fries, that cold pizza yuckkk
but def keep the pita spot!!
Posted by TranceNation1 on Sep-17-2009 14:04:
quote:
Originally posted by edubbz
my only suggestion for the following annuals to come is...serve warm, thoroughly cooked food. those half ass burgers and fries, that cold pizza yuckkk
but def keep the pita spot!!
Were u waving the Colombian flag in the crowd main stage day 2 ?
Posted by edubbz on Sep-17-2009 16:39:
quote:
Originally posted by TranceNation1
Were u waving the Colombian flag in the crowd main stage day 2 ?
no that wasnt me nor anyone i know...those guys sure were repping hard tho lol pretty much saw them in all the tents n in lots of pics
Posted by AY STAR on Sep-23-2009 22:53:
just saw these before
a few interviews with several artists from the festival
really good ones actually
and they all say its about time ny gets something like this
i wanna go back
Posted by coolestrl on Sep-24-2009 03:11:
^^great interview of jason, chus and chabalos are def my new fav's
lol u can hear david guetta play love is gone shit while Victors interview
Posted by AY STAR on Sep-24-2009 12:12:
quote:
Originally posted by coolestrl
^^great interview of jason, chus and chabalos are def my new fav's
lol u can hear david guetta play love is gone shit while Victors interview
ha ha ha yea i noticed that also if i were him i would have wanted to get threw that interview was quick as possible
Posted by TranceNation1 on Sep-25-2009 19:13:
How well did Electric Zoo music do against 1st time Festivals ?
Posted by euphoria on Sep-28-2009 15:43:
quote:
Originally posted by TranceNation1
How well did Electric Zoo music do against 1st time Festivals ?
It really didn't seem like it was their first time, next year will likely be even better.
Posted by TranceNation1 on Sep-29-2009 17:15:
quote:
Originally posted by euphoria
It really didn't seem like it was their first time, next year will likely be even better.
i was talking about Electric zoo Festival not if made threw festival in the past in Ny !
Posted by euphoria on Sep-29-2009 17:45:
quote:
Originally posted by TranceNation1
i was talking about Electric zoo Festival not if made threw festival in the past in Ny !
Yea thats what I am talking about too. ELECTRIC ZOO did not seem put together like a first time festival.
OFFICIAL Tranceaddict Review of the Electric Zoo Festival
OFFICIAL Tranceaddict Review of the Electric Zoo Festival (a Technoaddict's View)
