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Review: Paul van Dyk at Commodore Ballroom

April 30, 2012

I was a raver. I’m not ashamed to admit it. I grew up loving electronic music because my mom was a fitness instructor and was playing C&C Music factory albums in the house all the time. As soon as I discovered the underground rave scene in Vancouver I was hooked. I don’t tell you this because it’s an easy venue for a confessional, but to preface an event with some background.

I saw a huge amount of artists before they were superstars. Carl Cox and John Digweed may have been selling out stadiums in Europe, but over in Vancouver they were playing little private warehouses that teetered on their legality. Which brings me to our old friend Paul van Dyk. The last time I had seen him live was at a club in Vancouver formally known as ‘The Cave’, now reborn as Gossip.  Pardon the cell phone pics.

Speaking from first hand experience, I can tell you that touring can be a tricky thing. When you’re playing six or seven shows in a row, odds are the audience catching you on your seventh performance won’t have the same glowing reviews as those who saw you on your first. The first time I saw Paul Van Dyk was a huge disappointment. The set was uninspired, he looked like he was on valium, and the show ended at 12:30.

I tell you all this gentle reader so it can juxtapose the experience that Blueprint threw on 4/20 in Vancouver. Every city has their production giants, and Blueprint is clearly the leader in Van. They consistently bring in the biggest names in dance music, and back up the shows with the production values they deserve.

Taking place at the Commodore Ballroom, Paul van Dyk’s Evolution tour was not a show to be missed. While connoisseurs of his music were happy to hear a few choice anthems peppered into the mix, the experience was mostly new. Despite my best efforts to try and track down the majority of the tracks, I was constantly bombarded with a ‘Shazam does not recognize this song’. And it shouldn’t.

PVD has brought an entire new arsenal to the table. Playing roughly at about 130-138 bpm all night, he played a very universal set. One that people who were possibly adversed to pure trance would be able to appreciate.

The biggest highlight of the event was the man himself. His crowd interaction were the best I had ever seen from him. Timing his rises and crescendos perfectly with unique moves that varied from getting the crowd into a jumping frenzy, to looking almost like a cartoon.

Those lucky enough to have his tour passing through their city should not miss the experience. It appeals to trance lovers and fearers alike.

Check out our pics from PvD’s Ottawa stop here.  Let me know your favourite tracks from Paul’s set in the comments below, and please spread the love by liking, and sending to facebook and twitter using the buttons below!

Lance Lasheras