Afrojack spins Pacha NYC with Paris Hilton in tow, stops in NJ on the way
A few months ago, Pacha NYC extended its EDM domination to New Jersey when it teamed up with 4Sixty6 in West Orange to bring the New York dance music scene into the suburbs. This past week they brought Afrojack into Dirty Jersey to spin back-to-back sets at 4Sixty6 and Pacha. The question I kept asking myself — and still have yet to answer — is “Is New Jersey really ready for EDM?”
December 27th marked a momentous occasion, as it was the first time that Nick Van DeWall, would be playing in New Jersey. Numerous well-respected DJs have spun at 4Sixty6 since its recent revival, but Afrojack is on a level all his own, and it was an interesting dynamic, to say the least.
As a native New Jersey-an it would have been blasphemy not to attend, especially when this would surely be a menagerie of everything stereotypical about my home state. Statuses flooded my Facebook news feed about excitement for the show, and it was as if none of these people realized less than 15 minutes away, across the border of NY and NJ, Afrojack would be playing a proper show at the real Pacha NYC — not to mention taking over Roseland Ballroom less than 24 hours later.
4Sixty6 was everything I expected it to be: an upscale club with a state of the art sound system, gorgeous bartenders, and a swank VIP that overlooked the massive dancefloor —with a second floor DJ booth that puts Pacha’s to shame. Rather than position Afrojack upstairs, he was put in the back left corner, leaving those in the VIP no chance of seeing the world famous DJ.
With no regard for the maximum capacity of the club, this event was doomed from the beginning. Now, I don’t want to seem like an elitist, but if you enjoyed yourself that night, you simply don’t know any better. Those of you who frequent Pacha’s mainroom every weekend understand what the definition of “crowded” is; now close your eyes, imagine that, and double it. There was very little movement in the mass of tightly packed bodies as Afrojack spun, and certainly not the insane jumping and general madness that usually accompanies one of his sets.
Crowd control issues aside, 4Sixty6 is poised to become the premiere place in Northern New Jersey for electronic dance music. I consider this a mere hiccup in a bright and hopeful future for the nightlife of a state desperately trying to forget about Snooki and The Situation.
That night, Afrojack saved his best for Pacha NYC where he, accompanied by girlfriend Paris Hilton, shook the big room with just as much energy as he did 7 months prior. Playing a set composed of nearly all of his own originals and remixes, Nick brought me back with some old classics like “Polkadots,” while dropping tracks off the recently released Lost and Found II and some more obscure remixes like his pitch-bended version of “Kickstarts” by Example.
Larry Tee feat. Roxy Cottontail – Let’s Make Nasty (Bounce Little Kitty) (Afrojack Remix)
Is it possible to ever get tired of the vocals on “Let’s Make Nasty (Bounce Little Kitty)”? because I highly doubt it. Sometimes simplicity is key, and the way a club reacts when this track is dropped only proves my point. Not to mention its uncanny ability to turn a dancefloor into an orgy of gyrating bodies.
Afrojack – Polkadots (Original Mix)
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As charming as it is pointless, “Polkadots” stands the test of time as one of those tracks that you find yourself screaming the lyrics to, no matter how absolutely pointless they are.
Afrojack, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and NERVO – The Way We See the World (Tomorrowland Anthem Instrumental Mix)
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I shouldn’t need to explain this one — the names on the track speak for themselves. “The Way We See the World” features Afrojack’s squealing bass line, DV & LM’s gritty synths and big kicks, and NERVO’s gorgeous vocals. Like a girl with big tits, a nice ass, and a good personality, something this perfect doesn’t happen very often.
Example – Kickstarts (Afrojack Remix)
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Example’s breakout hit “Kickstarts” gets the Afrojack treatment, kickstarting this track into the stratosphere. It is one of the first — and still my favorite — remix of an Example song. The drop here has that old school dirty dutch, jungle vibe that was so popular in 2010.
Afrojack – Montreal (Original Mix)
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After exhausting the crowd by mashing “Pon De Floor,” “Hello,” and “How I Like It” together, Afrojack took the energy down a notch with one of his newest releases. “Montreal,” off of Lost and Found II, is a smooth tech house track. As we said before, this track is perfect for giving the dance floor some time to breath before you jump into another huge track like “Take Over Control” — which he did flawlessly before jumping into “Levels.”
Afrojack is one of those DJs that everyone should see live at least once. His energy is always out of control, and the genuine passion he has for the craft emanates from the DJ booth when he gets behind the decks. He dominated New York all through late last week, and we were lucky enough to see him in all his glory.
Is NJ ready for EDM? What kind of question is that…..we’re dressed and ready to rage. (p.s. this is not a “jersey shorer” or a dumbass guido)
As always, excellent review. I had friends who went to the Pacha show in NYC and one who did that and the Ballroom the next night – looks like a blast (i.e. jealous haha)
hey DA do you know who is doing the Alesso@pacha review i have some reboots of tracks the played :)
It’s a perfectly good one, I’m NJ born and raised and the scene here just feels like its not quite where it needs to be. It’s a step behind the NYC scene, and when you live as close as we do in Northern NJ there is very little reason to go to a NJ club when their are far superior ones less than 20 minutes away. It has definitely matured and with Pacha’s influence will continue to but as is stands now it’s just NYC’s confused little brother, trying to be cool but not quite getting it.
nj is stuck on the jersey shore still. the gigs here are meh, compared to the ones at pacha and any other place in nyc. but the youngings that go to pacha are terrible. especially when its a crowded night
There’s been big Dj’s mix at Deko Lounge in Sayreville, NJ. However the venue is way too small…they really need to expand and make it a bigger place. I’ve seen Dirty South, Laidback Luke, and Dirty South there. I really wish they would have well known Dj’s more often mix, but its usually once in a blue moon at Deko. NJ is definitely ready for EDM. I would love if any big DJ came to Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Hopefully that happens!
typo…Dirty South, Laidback Luke, Avicii
pacha is honestly garbage. the only good thing about it is the big name djs. they oversell every event.
pacha is honestly garbage. the only good thing about it is the big name djs. they oversell every event.
also you get stuck upstairs sometimes for over an hour
this happened to me at this afrojack event along with afrojack last summer
New Jersey is NOT ready for EDM at all. As a native New Jersey-ian myself, I must say there is no way this state can handle the scene that is house music. When Laidback Luke played at Deko Lounge in New Jersey, shut down by the fire marshall. 466…overpacked with douche bags pretending they’re at Pacha, which is actually a real night club, in a city that knows what EDM is.
People from New Jersey, especially those from ages 18-25 assume they belong at these house music events, because they are from NJ and they “obviously” listen to house music. They’re all posers, and think because they heard Take Over Control at Karma 100 times this summer they’re an Aforjack fan.
DancingAstronaut-New Jersey is 100% Not Ready for EDM.
When I visited NY in December I got lucky because Martin Solveig, Hardwell, R3hab and a couple more were playing at Pacha. I’m not from that area (from the Midwest), and honestly wherever I looked it seemed like everyone there came out of the Jersey Shore. Wasn’t really bothered by it but you can kinda sense their douchiness.
This is a little disappointing being that my party “wildlife wednesdays” at Deko has been the home of EDM for 4+ years now. While everyone and their mother was still on the deep tribal kick, I personally played nothing but electro trance vocals ect and we have built the most successful party in NJ doing 800+ people on a weekly basis. We have had Steve Angello, Dirty South, Laidback Luke (twice), Steve Aoki, Avicii among others. Yes, we got shut down on Luke’s night because when we had Aoki the week before we were insanely packed and the following week with Luke the town wanted to make an example of us.
Yes our venue is small, but the upside is that when we do get big names, you get to see them in a more intimate setting. In all respect to 466, no one ever went there before Pacha “powered” them up and honestly Deko had a shot at Afrojack but we were not going to pay 50,000 to have him come in and out for a 2 hour set. We have more parties in the works.
As for most nights, I play my style of EDM and people love it. The crowd chants to “Calling” and “Levels”, they love when I play new records including my own productions, and more and more EDM is a staple now at Deko, and as a whole in NJ as well.
Andrew, I’m opening up the show at Starland Ballroom on Feb 19th when Autoerotique, Datsik and Steve Aoki come to town and I personally want to invite you to come. Hit me up and Ill secure you a press pass, or even better, any time you’d like to come to Deko on a Wednesday, let me know-
Mike Bugout
pacha is the WORST if only rose land brought in the talent pacha does on a weekly basis place would be the fucking tits, it took me an hour to take a piss at pacha, if there was a fire in there every person would die because it is wayyyyyyy over capacity every time lines are stupid plus the dude to chick ratio is like 8 to 1 I’m good on rubbing up on sweaty guids for 5 hrs while being claustrophobic
WOW at least im not the only jersey person who agreed that 4sixty6 was a horrible experience for Afrojack. . . . I been to 4sixty6 a few times (including last night for latin parties) I love the club I think its very up scale exactly what i like BUT THAT WAS WHEN I WENT N IT WAS 21+!!!! WHEN I GO Y THE FUCK DID THEY MAKE 4sixty6 18+ leave that shit for the small clubs more south jersey that does not look upscale!! . . . . anything that had to do with EDM i go to 1 of 2 places NYC or Atlantic City for again a 21+ upscale club. I don’t do Pacha for the same reasons (y am i going to pay money to be in a sweat box even if i do vip i get a bad look to see the DJ i came to see) Afrojack music that night was great but 4sixty6 didnt do the night right and to its justice of calling itself the Las Vegas club of jersey!! INSTEAD of putting the DJ in the 2nd floor (which is what i pre thought would happen) he was on the main VIP stage on the 1st floor for hidden in the corner “”a more upclose view”" bullsh** if you book a high name DJ u showcase your High name DJ up in the DJ floor over looking the main stage n the 2nd floor vip that way everyone can see him n if u had VIP up there u can just about meet him. . . . . .the club was way to pack with underage kids running around everywhere sneakin drinks from the bar. . . and the exact words from me and everyone in my group was “never again a big name DJ here if they keep it like this” the point of having a upscale club is being selective of your crowd not packing it so much more then 80% people experiencing it hated it
As far as is NJ ready for EDM . . . . is anywhere really ready for EDM was MSG ready for SHM or LA ready for Kaskade on the streets?!? its how you operate your club and it was done wrong that night. They had the chance to showcase an upscale club in NJ as good as a upscale club in NYC, Miami, or Vegas as they keep sayin it is . . . . and they did it wrong. . . Im just glad the EDM DJs r coming to US in general n doing big things here
My friend, sound like you don’t know house.
Just registered to post here…you say ready to “rage.” That’s the exact reason NJ is NOT ready for EDM. You don’t black out to house music and dry hump girls whose beauty washes off with a washcloth and start fights because it feels good. It’s almost to the point where Pacha could be 19 plus on a given night, but should be 21 plus if your license says NJ. Every time i went to a big night at Pacha I almost got into a fight because NJ kids feel entitled to whatever glory they are hallucinating. And I live in Central NJ and outside my front door every weekend there’s a fight at 2AM. Not just the shore. I followed Afrojack religiously in 2009 and 2010, was at his debut at Santos Party House which was amazing and 20 bucks. Now he himself is setting a bad example for NJ EDM fans…ditch your pregnant gf for Paris/materialism>PLUR.
Not sure what everyone means by NJ is not ready, maybe the venues aren’t built for this Mass movement, but by the shear fact that you can play EDM and get the responses you can shows that NJ is ready…What places are ever ready? Festivals…OPEN AIR Venues…..Honestly unfortunately EDM is expensive at this point…AT LEAST BIG NAME EDM….So unless the price of rice in spain goes down….EVERY SINGLE CLUB will be packed beyond Believe…IT’s CALLED GET VIP….I had enough room to do as many activities as I wanted……
Waitwait, were you being sarcastic when you said Afrojack’s GIRLFRIEND is Paris Hilton?! I thought they were just working together, I’m pretty sure Nick’s already got a girlfriend. Either way, Paris is a disgrace to EDM.
Actually Nick dropped his pregnant wife Amanda. She is having their baby in a couple of weeks in Holland where they lived together for years.
“Like a girl with big tits, a nice ass, and a good personality, something this perfect doesn’t happen very often.” Seriously? Grow up DA.
IS NEW JERSEY READY FOR EDM????????? ITS BEEN HERE FOR AWHILE ALREADY. FUCKING IGNORANT PEOPLE.
NEW JERSEY IS SO FUCKIN READY FOR EDM, WHY WOULDN’T WE BE? WE NEED TO BRING IN MORE ARTISTS, SPREAD SOME BASS CULTURE. THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
well pacha is not jersey
I honestly think that this whole, are people ready for it is bullshit. EDM is spreading. Let people who enjoy the concert go, and the others will be left behind not knowing what they are missing.
Ok i am 16 years old, and the only thing that i am getting out of all of your posts saying that New Jersey isn’t ready for EDM is that EDM is not working at the club scene very well. This doesn’t mean there can’t be house at places like MSG or other arenas and non-clublike venues.
What’s good for me, and probably not for you is that Pacha is doing a 14-18 year old only concert at Pacha, and Alesso is playing. its gonna be sick