Tiesto ‘Elements of Life’ @ Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (04/05/08)
On Sunday night, I rocked up to the Hordern Pavilion for one of the most anticipated events on the clubbing calendar. From the moment that the Future Music Festival crowd read the skywriting teaser above the skies of Melbourne, the hype for this concert had been colossal. For the first time in four years, arguably the biggest name in dance music was coming back to Sydney – none other than Tiesto and his ‘Elements of Life’ show. Arriving an hour after the doors opened, we joined the lengthy queue shuffling towards the warmth at a decent rate of knots. The excitement was tangible and the crowd extremely diverse, with thirty and forty-something’s clearly holding their own amongst the Generation Y-ers.
We made our way front and centre for the last hour of Robbie Lowe’s set, a warm progressive journey if at times a little flat chiefly due to the muted volume. The production crew were ramping up the crowd, shining airline floodlights and strobing the eager throng into a spasmodic mass that was baying for their idol. Tiesto was scheduled for 9pm to midnight, but came on shortly after 8pm to euphoric applause. The ‘Elements of Life’ spoken word intro came on as the volume swelled to a rumble, heightening the intensity. Following the stirring intro, Tiesto started off gently, sticking to Balearic progressive trance and demonstrating his house/electro tendencies. The visuals were spectacular, from a rotating Adonis to a simple pop-art heart-rate monitor and of course, the obligatory Tiesto press shots. The lasers and pyrotechnics were sound, if not a little low-key compared to the European shows.
The sound up the front was quite bassy at times, and exaggerated Tiesto’s aggressive mixing technique, causing a few clashing beats. Frustrated with the amount of shoving, we moved back towards the stands and enjoyed some much needed space and improved sound levels. Outside the exuberant moshpit, elbows and shoulders were substituted for hugs and grins all round and I began to appreciate the performance more. Interestingly, the first hour and a half of Tiesto’s set seemed like a warm-up in itself, and it wasn’t until the second half that he began to really flow coherently thanks to a hefty cluster of his own huge productions. Dance For Life flew into his exquisite mix of Delerium’s Silence before the roof came off with a mix of old and new with the likes of Suburban Train, Love Comes Again, In The Dark and Elements of Life eliciting sweat and cries of devotion throughout the room. The undisputed moment of the night came when the crew hit the lights, and the hero to so many came on the mic. Expressing much love for our wonderful city and thanking the crowd for almost four hours of sustained rapture, Tiesto dropped the track the crowd had been clamouring for, Adagio For Strings. Five thousand cameras and ten thousand arms were held aloft as the room erupted into synthesised ecstasy.
Having watched the DVD’s for the last few years in anticipation, I felt a little let down that the show did not reach the heights of his well documented European outings. I had genuinely expected a live PA or at least some dancers for this showcase and although the production level was excellent, it was nothing new. The Hordern Pavilion ranks among the best venues in Sydney, with vast space, superb sound and a handy foyer/courtyard for those moments of much-needed reflection. The crowd were clearly up for it, and after the final hour of harder-edged trance, it became clear that the room would not empty until their champion left. Personal highlights were the Richard Durand mix of Lethal Industry, Karen Overton’s Your Loving Arms and the Gareth Emery epic More Than Anything.
As a club set, ‘Elements Of Life’ was somewhat pedestrian, giving Sydney nothing it hadn’t heard before. However, the event was always billed as a concert, and appropriately the crowd were blessed with Tiesto’s back catalogue, all revealed with the Dutchman’s trademark charisma. A remarkable showman, the industrious superstar is indisputably a surefire crowd-pleaser, and as the final track wound down, the screen glowed as Tiesto walked fittingly into the sunset, glory intact.
Lithium211 says...
I agree, amazing DJ set but after watching Tiesto in Concert on DVD so many times it is falling apart would have loved to see some live vocalists, particulary Dinand Woesthoff of Kane singing "Rain down on me" that looked incredible...
Richierich5381 says...
I agree. I think the last couple of hours were his best after his "warm-up" so basically once he started playing his own stuff. I think as a producer, Tiesto kicks it however, I was a little disappointed with him as a DJ. I'm not saying I'm an expert but, even I picked up on some of the basic skills he was displaying. Having said that, I understand it was a concert but I'm with you
platinumgrit says...
Pretty much spot on. Tiesto's direction is changing from his past efforts as we can see with the Elements of Life direction. It's beautiful, and Tiesto seems to be focusing more on beauty and inner exploration rather than his high energy tracks of earlier times. I really enjoyed the Elements of Life intro, it was soothing and uplifting in a comforting way, and it's something showing his maturing taste and new direction. You can tell where his heart's taking him these days, and what can I say, his latest efforts are showing a beauty and depth only maturity can develop. I think I've had "In Search of Sunrise 6" on my CD player most of the time for at least the past 3 months. It's simply beautiful to come home to after the grind of work. I have to agree the lasers and pyrotechnics were a little tame; I was hoping for something with a bit more energy, a bit more... conviction; especially from the lasers. They could have done a lot more there. However, given that I went naturally aspirated (no alcohol or other enhancements) I was able to notice the smoke from the fireworks somewhat. I doubt health regulations would allow much more of a concentration, you know what with asthma and litigation and all that kinda crap. Still, that's absolutely no excuse for the laser show. This is Tiesto we're talking about here, not some mid-level DJ. The lasers should have been blowing minds. And it would have been good to see something long the lines of the European shows; dancers, some live vocalists, etc. However, musically, I left overwhelmingly satisfied. Tiesto's cemented his place in my heart and I can't see him losing his majik any time soon.
angy says...
This review was pretty much spot on - the night was great fun, but I don't think there was too much going on in terms of pacing, flow or clever programming.But Adagio for Strings at the end... PRETTY spectacular :)
Aphrodite552 says...
My bad...comment from Richierich5381 on May 7th, 2008 should be from Aphrodite552. Was logged onto same computer
Spank-E says...
i dunno if u guys were there on sat or sunday but i was there on saturday n it was the best thing i have ever been 2.. his song selection and mixing was perfect and the atmosphere of the crowd was unbelievable .. I agree in terms of the concert not being as good as the european shows on the dvd but u hav 2 understand that trance isnt very big in australia.. All i can say is if armin van buuren wants 2 retain his no.1 spot he's gonna hav 2 put on 1 CRAAAAAAZZZZZY show in june...
ianfinch4 says...
SORRY TO SAY RICHIERICH5381 BUT LOOKS LIKE YOU GUYS ON THE SUNDAY GOT THE SHORT STRAW... I WENT ON THE SATURDAY AND THE CROWD, ATMOSPHERE AND TIESTO WERE ELECTRIFYING.... I REALLY DO FEEL FOR YOU GUYS... CAUSE THAT WAS A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE....
godspd says...
Can't believe people felt that is was a let down, are you kidding me! I have been a fan of Tiesto since he released his firt ISOS and it was the first time I have seen him in concert and I was absoluty blown away!! The show from beginning to end was a MASTER PIECE and one of the best nigts of my life (Tiesto was god that night). I have also seen his other concerts of past, but I people should understand that this was a "Elements of Life". Sure if he played at Sensations White, life performers or vocals would of been appropriate but IMHO not for this show.
Stonkmaster says...
synthesised ecstasy - i like it...
idontrememberyou says...
Well written, but I must say im a bit disappointed to read this article/comments and realise that people felt 'let down' by Tiesto's performance. I went to both saturday and sunday shows and I can honestly say I felt they were different. THe song choice first and fore-most... the atmosphere, the the energy, the people...the love. But in saying that, I am so glad that Tiesto did change it up a bit on sunday. Unfortunately though, sundays show didn't capture all those emotions and feelings that saturday's night captured, which were just phenomenal!!! Mind blowing!! Saturday was the best night of my life. I'm so glad i didn't buy the dvd because i knew i would have expectations for the night and it proved to be a good decision based on the comments. But also, on sunday he made his speech which really made my night! and also ended with 'hide n seek'! So i guess im just saying both shows were great in their own way! :) Im sure next time he comes it will be bigger and better! (if thats even possible!!)
Jabberwocky says...
Which bit Stonk? ;)
Baby700 says...
I felt the track selection was rather mundane. Everything you would have expected, yet nothing new/innovative etc...and certainly no feeling of a 'journey'. Production was so so. Personally I felt the Adagio finale with the confetti was uber cliched. Would have been cool 5 yrs ago, but now... Meh. Very glad he played Flight643, Suburban Train
Stonkmaster says...
best night of your life? crikey!
Jords_16 says...
I flew over from Perth to see him perform on the Saturday night. The place 'exploded'!! I was sitting down on the back stand waiting for the 12am start and then everyone went to their phones to calls their friends back in as Tiesto decided to start an hour earlier then expected. A nice twist i see followed again on sunday night. I had goosebumps for most of the night, as i dance my ass off with my 2 mates who flew over with me. The only bummer about the night was the walk back to our hotel in the middle of Sydney CBD. Couldnt get a taxi!!! Oxford st = very interesting place to walk through at 330am. Great night Bring on AvB.
matthewmcsweeney says...
I was at that concert to the left of stage wearing a hi vis singlet, i tried to get up the front but got continuasly elbowed so i stayed back. that being said it was the best night of my life and i hope he comes back soon. The place went nuts as soon as Tiesto came out. The fact he came out an hour early is excellent. I guess he felt we were all there for him. The energy of that night was spectacular, so many people there to have fun and get lost in the music of the worlds best DJ.
Spank-E says...
At least some ppl agree with me... now just waitin 4 armin van buuren!!
sorzy says...
Adagio for Strings, More Than Asnythingm, Elements of lefe and mosh Pits, what more could someone ask for?
n7of9 says...
i went to both Saturday and Sunday events...Sunday night was SO MUCH BETTER - I loved both nights, but Sunday was IT...to the whingers, what do you expect from a 4 hours set? there's no enough time to play the favourites and be 'innovative' (is that what one of youse said?)...and to Richierich5381 - your expectations were not met yet you blame Tiesto for it? are you serious, or are you 12?