11.03
This review comes courtesy of our friend Kiran Palukuri. This review is well-written, and a good example of what we want to see from guest reviewers.
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The Line
We got to the Sports Arena slightly before 10:00. After walking through an initial checkpoint, we reached a semi-circular mass of about 3000 people, who were being let in one by one through a tiny slit in a gate. Due to the incessant pushing and shoving, this slit was soon completely CLOSED, leading to vociferous chants of “LET US IN! LET US IN!” Security eventually relented, opened the gate wide open, and everyone poured in… we’re almost there, I thought to myself.
I was wrong. The line led to a labyrinth of metal fences. People were jumping over them, falling over, and getting trampled on in a desperate attempt to get to the front. When we reached a stopping point, a group of at least 10,000 people were patiently waiting to get in. We didn’t move for half an hour, and at this point decided to get out of line, scalp our tickets, and buy VIP ones instead. By the time we did get in, it was 11:45, which was just in time to catch the beginning of Sasha’s set.
Sasha Click for video – Sasha Monster Massive 2009 – Calvin Harris ‘Flashback’ (Pryda Remix)
Sasha MM 09
One of the best sets I’ve heard at a rave. It was full of techy, funky, progressive house. Never a dull moment and the crowd was grooving throughout its entirety. The lighting and special effects were amazing — almost as good as the set up at EDC this year. This was the first time that the Monster Massive “main stage” was outdoors, and it was jaw-dropping to see how many people were packed into this area. I didn’t hear anything from Invol2ver or any of Sasha’s classics, but it was great to hear Pryda’s remix of Calvin Harris’ Flashback. It’s always funny seeing Sasha DJing straight off his laptop, but his mixing was phenomenal nonetheless.
(Attempt to see) Steve Lawler
Lawler’s set was in the Sports Arena. A few of my friends tried to sit down on the upper deck, but almost every single seat was taken. Negotiations to slip a $20 to security to let us on to the ridiculously jam packed dance floor also proved unsuccessful. Back to the main stage…
Armin van Buuren
Armin van Buuren MM 09
I was very surprised with the beginning of Armin’s set. He opened with his remix of BT’s Every Other Way, which is on a slightly harder tip than a “typical” Armin remix. He continued to play some proggier trance, but he eventually churned out the vocal and uplifting trance that we’re accustomed to hearing (On a Metropolis Day, Stardust at All, and Lost Vocal Connection come to mind). He closed with Find Yourself, and those of us who were expecting an extra hour of music (due to the extra hour of daylight saving time) had to leave
disappointed that the night ended at 3:00 and not the 4:00 that was advertised.
The Verdict
It obviously would have been better had I got in at a reasonable hour. The two sets that I did see were better than I expected. On a side note, VIP tickets are great! Short lines for getting in, stiff drinks, free water, VIP only bathrooms etc. If you plan on going next year, either go really early or go VIP. If EDC had 90k this year, I would have to guess that Monster Massive was pushing close to 100k. Insomniac Events is overselling all their events, making SoCal raves horribly overcrowded. All in all though, a great crowd, excellent
effects and enthusiastic DJs made this Halloween rave spectacular once more.
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