- It takes a lot to haul my behind out on a Sunday night during Summer let alone on a cool Autumn night. So much so that I’m actually cursing my hasty decision to “don” the role as reviewer once more. But, it’s for PvD I repeat to myself as I brace the icy wind that blasts at my face as I walk out the door. OK so I’m melodramatic. So maybe it wasn’t that cold. Just think of those poor kids in Siberia, I tell myself. I reckon they wouldn’t want to leave the house in winter.
So, Paul van Dyk or PvD to those hard-core fans. The last time Home was graced with the big man himself was back in May of 2002. How time flies eh? And now hot on the heels of his Politics of Dancing Vol 2 tour, he kindly decides to visit the big brown land again to show us how to party - German style! PvD released his latest 2 CD set back in September of 2005. Odd considering his tour started in May of 2005. Call me old fashioned but I thought you’re meant to release a CD then tour? Well, one thing is for sure, our PvD sure likes to do things his own “special” way.
I strolled up to Home at around 10’ish or so and judging by the line outside, I had a feeling it was going to be a bit busy on the dance floor. And rightly so in my opinion. Voted best DJ 2005-2006, hailed as the God of Trance by his fans and often referred to with respect and admiration by his peers, it’s without a doubt that in any main event, PvD always packs an audience. Ah Home Nightclub on a Sunday night. Already I’m imagining 19 year olds in trainers, jeans to as low as their knees, shirts with “Security” emblazoned on the front and majority of them clutching at glow sticks to dear life. But, in fact the first thing I noticed when I walk around the club is exactly how diverse the crowd is. From fresh, young clubbers, to the more mature 20 something’s (mostly stuck in the dance-sit-dance-sit cycle) to your extreme fans at around 35+ or so. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s actually more my style. I figure, if I’m going to take some time to rest my feet in between tracks, it’s comforting to know there’s going to be at least 20-30 people like me doing the same. Home that night had all three levels open with Paul set to take action in the main room at 10pm. I checked my watch. Plenty of time.
Jumping Jack was up before PvD and the way I look at it is, you’re better off going before him than after. Because, and I know I’m not the only one thinking this is, any other DJ who is up directly after is going to pale in comparison. Harsh but true. Jumping Jack did a great job of getting the revelers ready and in a party mood as they waited in anticipation for PvD. From the fantastic vibe being filtered through the crowd to the incredible lighting to the music being spun on the dex, it was already warming up to be one hell of a night.
At around 10:20pm (not that I’m counting) there was no sign of the man himself. Then just when my impatience started to kick in, the always catchy track Overdrive by Clockz fills my ears. It was the build up to PvD’s set, I just knew it. The first time I heard this was back in 2003 when PvD played @ GAS. It rocked then and it most definitely caused an impact on Sunday night. Sure enough, PvD finally took to the dex and the crowd went absolutely insane. People were hanging out over the balcony on the second floor desperate to catch a glimpse of the man himself. Most of them held up cameras or phones hoping to capture some footage to show their friends or work mates. Others chose to let the music fuel their bodies and set about moving at automated speed. I had given up foolish ideas to try and walk through the mosh pit that ensued below and decided to join the masses jiving happily around the balcony instead. Sade’s This is no ordinary love pumped it’s way around the dance floor and immediately I began to move, enraptured by Sade’s words. PvD’s energy from the DJ booth filtered through to the crowd as he jumped up and down throughout his set. The crowd, feeling his electricity, swayed and turned never missing a beat.
It was around 1:30am when I realised that his 3 hour set was clearly not over. A group of eager fans ran from the couches and parked themselves beside the balcony. This is always a good sign. Paul van Dyk vs. Second Sun - Crush (I Know You Want Me) filled my ears and I knew then that I was home. No pun intended! One of Paul’s more popular tracks from his “Reflections” CD, it is a 100% crowd pleaser and a dead set favourite of mine. I turned to a friend of mine and sang the chorus whilst attempting to jump and punch the air at the same time. These series of events often play differently in one’s mind but once re-enacted in real life, they could be quite disastrous. Next up was Paul van Dyk Feat. Wayne Jackson - The Other Side. This track is absolutely magical. Track 1, CD 2 of his Politics of Dancing Vol 2. My friend leaned over and motioned to me that there was no way I was leaving here anytime soon. I think he was right.
It was probably about that point when reality sunk in and I faced the fact that I had to work the next day, well that morning if you want to get technical and in around 6 hours time. Ouch. My inability to think ahead of time really astounds me. One of these days I’m actually going to scare the heck out of myself and organise to take the day off from work after a Sunday night event. One day.
But I was suddenly distracted from my thoughts and slowly a smile crept over my face. I glanced at my watch. 2am. Surely he’s not? Paul van Dyk - Nothing But You blasted across the room. Flash backs of Love Parade 2003 entered my head. Myself and a million of my closest friends all dancing in the streets to his, then, latest single. “Jeg har ingenting men jeg har alt nar jeg har deg”. [I have nothing but I have everything when I have you]. I laughed, I cried, well maybe not but the crowd went absolutely mental (there is no other way to describe it) and I decided that I was in it for the long haul. Finally, when it seemed that it could get no better, the ever so popular Paul van Dyk - For An Angel hit the dex and I was just mesmerised. It’s been a good couple of years since I’ve heard him play this track in a set. Which is quite surprising considering it’s enormous popularity. At exactly, 2:20am, Paul van Dyk ft. Vega 4 - Time Of Our Lives booms out through the speakers and I reckon at that point I could have sat back one very happy girl. The track played for what seemed like an eternity with the whole crowd singing and clapping to the beat. What was supposed to be a three hour set turned into four with PvD leaving the dex shortly thereafter.
Even though PvD played quite a harder trance set than what I would have liked, I was still awestruck by his ability to perform and deliver to the crowd. I know that in the past, PvD has often spoken out about his “trance God” status as he prefers to call his music electronic dance. In the Politics of Dancing Vol 1 CD, he tries to equate dance music with youth culture and in doing so points out the social ramifications of this music on today’s society hence the politics involved. I think that if he is going to continue with this analogy, he should continue with the dance theme. Of course one could argue that in order to please a crowd, you need to play tracks to accommodate. And with Australia being a harder trance nation, it’s a no brainer what types of tracks he was going to play.
But, regardless of the tunes, I still left Home that night one happy and very tired fan….!