MDW recap

[greenie]

All told a really incredible set of days. Although I couldn't quite party quite as hard as I did the last two MDWs, it was really great running into so many people from this board, some for the first time... sorry if I'm not shouting out to everyone, but you all know who you are.

Most importantly, nice to see that most people here walk the walk and know how to party properly.

Thursnight: Tao

Was on my way to rock solo at OPM, but got paged by some friends that had snagged a table at Tao. Great time, great crowd, more women then men, everyone was dancing on top of everything. Brilliantly good time. Only downside was the same that can be said about most clubs, the mix was predictable and and fairly middle of the road. Otherwise, everyone having anything to do with our table, excellent service. Full credit for Tao for (slightly) limiting the crowd on this night, it was the perfect crowd size: packed, but not to the point where you had to shove your way past people, with more than enough space to dance. Outside they started turning general admissions away at 12:30; they let people into the lounge for free, but told folks that if they weren't on a list, they wouldn't be getting in before 3 (or later). Closed down the upstairs right before/after 5, the lounge about a half hour later.

Friday: Flamingo cabana

Included in the cabana rental for MDW was a top-shelf bottle of vodka plus full mixers. Throw in the basket of munchies and full fridge of juice and water and great pool surroundings, a steal at $400 when others in town were charging a $1K or more on the same day (and not including a bottle). The pool party itself was nothing spectacular, but a good time overall. A DJ started out early with some nice mellow house beats but once noon hit, the spring break approach came on hard and music went pretty much the route of MTV (or what I assume MTV plays these days). Just my personal taste, I don't need to hear an MC shouting "chug, chug, chug." Fortunately some enterprising soul (cough) found a way to deal with the speakers just outside our cabana (ahem), and the pool staff didn't seem to care or notice that this little corner of the pool was rocking its own mix (maybe next time I'll pack up my Serato).

All that said... Flamingo is putting on a very good pool party, one that's sure to please a lot of the Havasu crowd. Both upper and main pools were packed well past 6pm, and the party itself went right until 8pm. Should be interesting to see if non-holiday Fri/Sat parties at the Flamingo will keep pace (I'm not counting on it), but considering that they don't prohibit non-guests from using the pool and aren't charging cover, there is definitely a market for this type of party on a weekly basis.

Frinight: Mix

Thanks to some idiot scheduling the largest coed soccer tournament in the country for MDW in Vegas, and my team and I being willing to participate nonetheless, it a mellow evening for us, especially with an 8am game. So out for a nice dinner at Mandalay followed by cocktails at Mix until midnight. Gorgeous view and a gorgeous crowd to match. Very busy but not slammed. Mellow, funky house beats and a great overall vibe, and of course always nice to grab a few tables in Vegas for a few hours without having a bottle requirement.

Satnight: Empire for Rubber

For some reason I thought that Rubber was opening its doors at 10pm, and since I needed to be in bed early I headed to Empire much earlier than normal. Got in with my wanttickets pass no problem, but whaddyaknow, the Prince concert was still going on. People were saying something about Prince having a really, really bad sound check, so he didn't start playing until after 10 or something. Anyway, seemed like a lot of folks way in the back of the ballroom were like me, getting in to see the end of the Prince concert with their Rubber tickets. I'm not a big fan of his music but wow, he is an unebelievable performer. Not sure what time exactly but there was point when a good number of the house lights were turned on pretty quick at the end of a song. Security began ushering people out, I showed my wanttickets printout to a few of them, they shrugged and let me stay (along with others who I assume did the same thing).

Stage was broken down and booth-thing set up pretty damn quick, and before you could blink it was a full-on Rubber event, with a ton of bleach, a ton of silicone and a ton of skin on display. No complaints here. Music was pumping early, crowd got into it fast and it was a great time... I had to leave before Boris went on (that damn soccer again) but the other DJs (Scooter/Lavelle and that Rubber resident dude) put on solid sets. Ballroom was pretty packed when I left, and when I saw how many people were lined up outside... well, let's just say I'm surprised there wasn't a small riot.

Sunday: Rehab... almost

Was in the parking lot about to head in around 3pm, got some text messages from people inside. My friends inside on general admission said it was a great crowd but too packed to even move, grabbing a drink took forever and a day and there had already been a number of fights. My cabana friends said they were having a great time, but when they told me what it would cost to join them, I opted to head back to the car and move on. Later in the evening I heard a lot of mixed opinions from people on Rehab that day... but everyone agreed that Tiesto was a massive letdown, played a very short set and just never found the right groove for the crowd.

Sunnight: Body English

Holy shit, and here I thought NYE and Halloween were epic nights at BE. The crowd at the door was impenetrable, if not for Bill there's no way we would have gotten in, let alone maintained our table reservation. Chalk this one up as another kickass evening. Significantly more women than men, and a vibe about as crazy as you've ever seen. The dance floor was a writhing, sweaty mass, with Vice and Dig Dug (I think) putting out a truly diverse mix with a lot of unexpected tracks and some live mash-ups I hadn't heard anyone put out there before, everything from rap to rock to house to reggae to salsa.

Had a bigger table area reserved for my team, but got a call in the evening telling me we had been bumped to a smaller area -- but that the club would make it right for us in the end. Not only did we get taken care of in a big way on the bill, but we were moved to the railing of the balcony, just above the bar, and I don't think there's a better location at BE. Turns out we were bumped because Lil' John wanted our tables, and he and his crew partied just behind us (inviting some of our gals in to his area) and didn't leave until closing. Someone took a great photo of me walking up the stairs on the way out, right next to Lil' John, mohawk alongside dreds. Only downside of the night is the way it ended: rapidly. The club was massively packed at 4am, and suddenly the music took a confusing turn... I can't remember exactly what, only that it was suddenly less danceable, some outright bad tunes, and within minutes the crowd on the floor was cut in half, by 4:30 the lights came on and we were ushered out. I've seen this happen at BE before, but I'm surprised they wanted to close down so early on MDW.

Sunlate: Empire for Tiesto/Faarsheed

Got over to Empire around 5:30 or so and joined ukjay and epope at a table upstairs (thanks guys!). Ballroom was packed solid on the floor itself, but along the bar areas and in the balcony there was space to move and groove. Tiesto was on and in his element with his ideal crowd, and he was throwing down a solid, solid set. Balcony table was an ideal position to watch Tiesto work his magic, and he put on a flawless set. The mix was tight and the sound quality outstanding, everyone was grooving... and then Faarsheed took over.

And blew the fucking roof off the place.

Within a few tracks he had the crowd eating up every single beat, everyone in the balcony bouncing and jamming to some damn hard, damn heavy tracks. Everyone had the same look on their face: "holy shit, Faarsheed is upstaging Tiesto." Say whatever you want about different musical styles, the bottom line here is that Faarsheed got the crowd responding in a way that Tiesto didn't. The floor was packed with people past 9am, and was still halfway full when Faarsheed wrapped things up at 10.

Monday: Relax

Slept most of the day away so I didn't get over until very late afternoon, but there was still a good crowd going. Reminded me a lot of what Rehab was like when it first started -- little bit more relaxed atmosphere, just the right balance between chilling out and getting your swerve going. And definitely a more diverse, colorful crowd. Nice thing about showing up late, at least this day: no cover, no problem. Looking forward to future Relax days.

Monnight: Jet

Joined up with some local friends for a table at Jet. Arrived at 11 and the lines were as long as I've ever seen them there, extending well out past registration, and the table-check-in area was nuts. Inside the place was already slamming well before midnight, a good-looking crowd throwing it down in every room. Can't speak for the main room, but the house and rock rooms certainly seemed to have more women than men. Was also nice that at no point was Jet so crowded that you couldn't move -- like Tao on Thursday, the perfect amount of people. No problems moving throughout the club.

Set up shop at a table in the "rock" room (they need a better name for that one, it's primarily hip-hop with only the occasional rock track), music resembled Tao on Thursday, the current popular hip-hop tracks mixed in with the crowd-pleasing classics. Can't complain with the result though, the room was absolutely hopping, enough so that a certain member of our table busted his share of moves... and I don't think I've ever seen him dance before. Spent half the night there and the other half in the house room, where Eddie and Chris were throwing out a really solid night -- tribal and slower DNB early, progressive in the middle and house at the end. Great to see a bunch of locals and regulars out this night, nice to catch up with Sien in the house room as well as others in the rock room. Left around 5am and the house room was still going strong with no slowing down.

[ukjay43]

I really don't have much to add..

Greenie is the man when it comes to writing narratives and full fledged yarns about the Vegas scene.....He is so poignant and succinct with his delivery.

I will chime in a bit about Rehab. That place was insane. Absolutely off the hook. I have never---ever...i repeat ever...never ....have seen so many beautiful people scantily clad....And I've been there now 5 times or so in the last couple of years...

Celebrities--Pro and Amateur Athletes--Porn Stars---Strippers--Call Girls--Pro and Amateur Bodybuilders----Absurdity was the order of the day.

Reggie Bush came in with some dudes from Def Jam and partied in our cabana...Very cool cat and humble as hell....I hope he doesn't get injured and becomes the MJ of football....Houston will rue the day they didn't draft him #1....

Tiesto was absolutely positively "AVERAGE at BEST"....he didn't know if he should embrace his sound and style due to the "variation" among the crowd....so he chose to play some mellow house/trance songs with vocals...He was actually playing Gabriel and Dresden remixes of Jewel and Andain songs.....

Listen...if people are there to listen to Tiesto and pay "huge coin" to do so---he damn well better play his music so they can vibe his sound....not some mickey mouse half baked---microwaved rendition of "uplifting" house/trance---for lack of a more apt description....

Jack came on later for a bit and of course dropped some science when he played P.A.T.T and a couple of other hits...I was hoping he'd drop Dreams the Tocadisco Remix...maybe he did...but I don't recall hearing it.

All in All the only negative for Rehab was that it was too crowded and bathroom lines were very difficult to navigate...Cabana service was much improved over opening day. They were staffed, prepared and delivered...

Props to Jack L, Chad and the rest of his "crew" for truly delivering one of the most amazing pool parties on this here planet.

Jay C

[kaydup]

Nice reviews.. nice deal at the flamingo

[jerrycxtacy]

Thursday night i went to Tryst.... Walked in with 28 people, cut the line, got all comps for me and my friends, had a great time... Then to Empire for afterhours for Farsheed & Exacta... Great time once again! Friday ngiht went to Pure with 43 people... 31 girls and the dick at the door said he'd only let the girls in so we left and went to Mix.. Saturday night went to Tao... asian invasion... Left with a bunch of girls went to ghost bar. Sunday went to Rehab. Luckily my boys were the 1st ones on line so we got in right away... Had the best time of my life, then went to Empire for deep dish & Drais after. Sick sick sick time!!! Monday relaxed and had dinner at 9. Tuesday relaxed..... All in all i had the best time of my life...