Looks like everyone had a blast

that's always solid.

melly, lookin hot as usual.

Renzo- sucks man

and Santana, happy belated birfday, brotha

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I pretty much agree with most reviews; The guy with the mic sucked, it was almost criminal on part of the club management to have kept DJ Santana out of the show until 1:15 am and there was some mediocre music played for a brief while (somewhere between 12:00 to almost 1:15).

And also that you guys are cool - i should've met you all instead of only Colleen. Amphitheatre is my home turf (With only occassional exception being Club Space and Crobar in Miami) and if you are here again next time around and see an Indian guy at the centre-stage "Say Hello" .

The night was a blast. DJ Santana was awesome and truly deserves all all the accolades. But before we drown DJ Mondo in all the trashing, i think he was good, if not awesome, pre-12:00. He did play some groovy tracks - As the rush comes (Gabriel and Dresden Mix or was it Armin's Universal Religion Mix) maybe a tad too old but still ranks among favs.

He indeed he did play some mediocre stuff for a while. That said, i must add here that he is one of the better DJs out there. I say this because i have followed his mixes for almost 3 years and know what he's capable of with the Vinyl and the Turntables. I have also seen better days when he would really hunt out cool trance stuff out of nowhere and play it at the Amps. Why is he playing all that mediocre stuff (he's been doing that consistently for past 4-5 months) is beyond my understanding and i am sure we'll have some answers soon - but it's evident that he is under some kind of management pressure to play a particular brand of music. I have noticed it over past 5-6 months that he gets on, plays some cool stuff and then suddenly slips into oblivion and doesn't seem his normal self. To that effect, i must quote Brian Fink (The Saturday Night House Party host for 93.3 FLZ here) from a message exchange i had with him a few weeks back :

quote:

I know its hard to hear, but the mainstream electronica/dance scene is hurting. And, like i said, yes Amp has been built up to be the pinnacle club, but it is still just a club. A club that survives on people coming out, paying to get in, paying to drink, and partying. And i hate to break it to you, but the hardcore dance fans are NOT the ones that come out in droves to keep a club alive. So the Amp has to cater to everyone; the lamen club-goer who wants to get drunk and hear all the cheesy trax they know and love, and the hardcore electronica fan who wants to hear the stuff they don't necessarily know but grow to love. This also goes for the on-air broadcast...with 200,000 people listening every 15 minutes (disclaimer: numbers may vary ), the music has to keep EVERYONE happy and tuned in.

................

quote:

NOW, i'm not completely taking the blame away from Mondo, because music does have a major effect on how long the crowd stays. And frankly, i do agree with you to a point; Mondo has definitely changed his style some, and has leaned more breaks for some reason. I don't know if its a personal thing, i don't know if its a response thing, i don't know if its a management thing (with John telling him to do this, which has happened quite a lot in the past).

This happened sometime ago but applies equally to lot of current complaints. Brian fink has summed it up quite well on what's influencing Amps these days.

I am not taking Mondo's side - It's just that i am more puzzled than disappointed. I remember a few weeks back when the club just emptied out between 1:15 and 2:00 and we were all but 5 people left on the floor and then suddenly he was playing some of the coolest track (Include a retro-mix of "Another Chance" by Roger Sanchez, which i haven't been able to lay my hands on yet). For the next 45 minutes, he played some of the best mixes i have heard in a while, yet - to the empty galleries.

There is no doubt that no. of people visiting Ybor city and more importantly, spending money there, has really declined, blame it one whatever. I see this "periodic crap" music as a fallout of that decline. Obviously someone in the Amps management is convinced that it needs to open up more to the section of crowd that qualifies as "mainstream". I hear more hip-hop tracks thrown out of nowhere, and more of breakbeats (and even in the breakbeat, hardly the high energy breakbeat stuff).

All said and done, i agree with you all on some mediocre stuff played out for a while - I would still reserve trashing DJ Mondo for atleast till i am convinced he's lost it.

Lets write to the club management on whatever our views are but i would still ask to be a little considerate before trashing Mondo outright . He, in my opinion, is a good DJ who's probably paying the price of being the resident DJ too.

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Dance like no one is watching

I am not one to be negative on other site's message boards... but that club's attendance is declining for several reasons. Everyone knows that the AMP has always been the big dawg in Tampa.. and it's a shame because their ego has caught up with them. That place was packed because of one reason.. and that was because of DJ Santana.

Considering that it was a hurricane weekend... I was pretty impressed with the size of the crowd.. and the majority of the people there went to see Santana... The majority of the people there wanted to hear quality trance... and after all the havoc Katrina caused in South FL.. a lot of people, including myself still made it to the party from South FL. WE ALL HEARD QUALITY TRANCE

I am in the radio business.. and I do understand the importance of catering to the mainstream crowd, and I dont think that 100% of the pressure is coming from AMP management.. I think it is coming from 933 FLZ. I am sure their numbers have been in a steady decline for Saturday night, so they have to make changes... but for a guy to sit on a microphone during build ups of songs is down right disrespectful to whomever is on the decks... it totally takes the vibe out of the night. One thing they need to do is schedule their sweepers and promos, and loud mouth jock sessions at times during song transitions.. and not build ups of songs. There were so many times when I felt Santana was going to blow the roof off the building... but instead, it was disrupted by some dip shit radio guy chewing on the microphone. That's total Bullshit.

As for the AMP.. seriously, who wants to party in a club where the service sucks, the bouncers have chips on their sholders, the VIP host is a total asshole, and they add shit to credit cards that you know you didnt spend?

I can understand if its a one time thing.. but for the past 5-6 times I have attended that club.. it has always been the same bullshit. For those that use your credit card at that club for tabs.. make sure you check your bank statement... because at the end of the night, they do tend to add a few extra drinks to your tab (that you dont know about or wanted on there)... It's almost like the club is stealing from you.

I signed off for $XXX amount.. and today... they decided to add on another $600 to my tab. I even have the reciept that I signed off on for $XXX.

I dont want to sound like some kid bitching and moaning about the AMP.. just want to make sure to let everyone know to always check your statements if you run up a tab at that place. This has happened to me 3 seperate times.. and a few others I know a few times.

Anyways.. I had a blast.. Paul you really did a great job on the decks... As always, your transitions were flawless and you were up there doing the thing you love to do, while having the best time on stage. You dropped a lot of new records that I know Tampa has never heard.. and you keep bringing everytime you spin trance up there.

I'm not going to talk trash about a DJ.. but I will say that I have seen Mondo in a much better zone than Saturday night... if a DJ was a superstar every single night... then every DJ on this planet would be a superstar and making millions.... but I dont think the poor song selections came from Mondo's decision.. I think the song selection was based on FLZ and the AMP decisions.

It was so great to see Amber, Mr. Bones, Colleen, Toni, Ali... you people are all great and a blast!! I'll get something lined up for AvB at Space.. and all of you are welcome to attend!

Happy Birthday Paul & Amber!!... It really went down as a top night in my long winded nightlife life



I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S MORE TACKY.. The chick's pink outfit or the big ugly curtain in the background.

Last edited by rhaney on Aug-30-2005 at 04:41

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Indus Creed and if you are here again next time around and see an Indian guy at the centre-stage "Say Hello" . .

i believe i saw you raving near the stage .. was this you ??

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"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter"

Dr.Seuss

The weekend can be summed up in one word.....CRAZY!

From the hurricane, to the actual party at the Amp, and the events afterwards, it was just CRAZY!

When we first got there, the music was alright. I wasn't expecting anything out of this world. It was just okay. As time passed, you figured the music would get better, but never did. Dunno what was the problem, but it just wasn't good. Anyway, the other big problem was the guy talking ove the music. That was VERY annoying. I understand they are doing a live broadcast on the radio, which is fine, but does it have to come out on the main system inside the club too? There is a way of talking so the radio listeners can hear it but not the people in the club as well. It was really getting annoying after a while. I give Santana props for sticking up with that crap. I wouldn't stand up for that for too long; maybe once or twice, but that's it!

For being Santana's b-day bash, you figure Santana would be spinning for a good part of the night. Guess I was wrong. He got on at 1:15am. Played some good stuff, new and old. Nothing wrong with it, it's great to hear those classics once in a while Overall a good show from the b-day boy!

I really had a good laugh with the glow stick figures on stage dancing and then with the getting it on.... I think DA recorded it on video....must see!!!

Overall had a nice time. Too bad other unfortunate events took place after we got out of there, but overall it was a decent trip and time to get away from the craziness of Miami with the hurricane nonsense. It was nice hanging out with all the Tampa TA's and or course the Miami TA's who made the drive up there as well. Hopefully see you guys this Friday at Blue.


ERIC

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Upcoming parties/events/gigs to attend:

On Vacation!

I survived Trance Energy Jaarbeurs Utrecht, Holland Amsterdam 2006
2004 GDJB Bedroom DJ Contest Finalist
& Vitamin Water DJ!

Well I think from thos point, less peeps here and from around the state are gonna stop going there, since of these problems, shitty DJ's, morons on the PA system every five minutes, only makes u wonder what others think who were there that nite and why possible the attendance are the amp is not like it used to be, just a thought for some of the management, cause after sat nite, I rather drive 3 hrs to go home and see DJ's spin for hrs and have no clown come over the mic

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"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate
the mind on the present moment"

quote:

Originally posted by mdamon7278 Well I think from thos point, less peeps here and from around the state are gonna stop going there, since of these problems, shitty DJ's, morons on the PA system every five minutes, only makes u wonder what others think who were there that nite and why possible the attendance are the amp is not like it used to be, just a thought for some of the management, cause after sat nite, I rather drive 3 hrs to go home and see DJ's spin for hrs and have no clown come over the mic

its funny how you forgot to mention the asshole pigs that fucked up everyone from miamis night .. figures you bacon filled snitch bitch !!

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"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter"

Dr.Seuss

quote:

Originally posted by koky69 its funny how you forgot to mention the asshole pigs that fucked up everyone from miamis night .. figures you bacon filled snitch bitch !!

Yup forgot to mention that, hey what can ya do, lucky they didnt shoot him in the streets cause he was from Miami

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"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate
the mind on the present moment"

quote:

i believe i saw you raving near the stage .. was this you ??

Koky69,

You got me! However that pic of mine is a little too old. I have stopped putting that thing on the forehead ever since people started misunderstanding it as a target practise board for darts.

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Dance like no one is watching

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Indus Creed Koky69, You got me! However that pic of mine is a little too old. I have stopped putting that thing on the forehead ever since people started misunderstanding it as a target practise board for darts.

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"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter"

Dr.Seuss

The video from DJ Santana's birthday bash is FINALLY available! Sorry for the delay.


Click here to download!


1 hour 38 minutes, 380MB or so.


Enjoy!