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Written by VANESSA MIRABILE / Photos by BARRY BRECHEISEN
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Monday, 10 April 2006 |
As with most lifelong rock and roll fans, it is sometimes a challenge to let go of the melodic lyrics, guitar riffs and powerful drum sets to appreciate other styles of music.
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Paul Oakenfold
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 Entertainment
 Art
WET Dance Club
Chicago, Ill.
April 10, 2006
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New in the clubbing scene and in the DJ world, I knew very little of what progressive beats and rave clubs were all about. That is until a recent Monday night, when I first experienced Paul Oakenfold spin live at Chicago’s WET dance club.
Oakenfold, known for importing house music out of Ibiza and being the first to introduce it in UK over twenty years ago, has developed a reputation for producing and remixing everything from U2 to Snoop Dogg to Simply Red as well as Massive Attack.
Thankfully for both me and his eclectic audience, the most notorious DJ in the world included Chicago in his current tour schedule. He squeezed in Chicago between a North American stints at the Ultra Music Festival in Florida and the upcoming 2-day Coachella mega show in Indio, CA.; from there he will continue his round-the-world 2006 tour.
Due to its limited capacity and layout, the aquatic-looking dance club allowed for an intimate setting where the crowd can dance up close and personal to the DJ. The energy level is surprisingly high early in the night, and the anxious crowd explodes when Oakenfold finally enters the stage. The fact that the show was on a Monday night at 1am did not discourage the legend’s energetic loyal fans. In fact, with the band-wagon fans home fast asleep, Oakenfold’s hard-core fan base had more room to express their passion and show off their moves for his deep tracks as they let it all out on the dance floor.
The “school night + small venue” formula seems to have worked out really well. After an hour of spinning, every member of his hypnotized crowd moved their bodies as if synchronized in perfect harmony – didn’t matter if you were dancing ten feet away from Oakenfold or one of the many adventurous dancers on the top of bar tables. There was no need for verbal contact as the pounding of Oakenfold’s in-your-face bass provided ample direction to his entranced fans as he spun the night away No. 1 DJ style.
Paul Oakenfold does not play rock and roll it’s true. But he did rock the world of the few privileged ones in the wee hours of the morning. The result however may have turned the following morning into a personal day in order to recover from this beginning of the week experience. But isn’t that what life’s all about? So what’s your excuse? Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
