Summer is finally steaming in Toronto, and so was Guvernment on Friday May 23rd, 2014. Lyme Productions and Electronic Nation Canada present Paul Van Dyk from 1:00 – 3:00 a.m., with Shelley Johannson from 11:30 p.m. – 1 a.m., and Party Favors from 10:00 – 11:30 p.m., for an unforgettable night in Toronto.
I arrived at the Guvernment at about 11:45 p.m., unable to see the opening act from Party Favors, but began to head into the main room and immediately the amazing vibe from the crowd hit me. I knew this wasn’t just another night at Guvernment.
The club was full of people, but not congested. There was breathing and dance space, so much so that people were already moving their feet to the rhythm of Shelley. As she played her set with mainly electro-house, I noticed she has dropped quite a few old deadmau5 tracks throughout. I continuously kept my eyes on her, and imagined what a nerve racking and exciting experience it must have been for Shelley – opening DJ for a legendary artist and not knowing what to expect, but she killed it. Every time Shelley plays, she proves that not only is she beautiful, but she is brains too, with her diverse knowledge in house music, and her dynamic to please a crowd.
Closing off her set at about 12:45 a.m, excitement began to lingering throughout the crowd and ravers were swaying back and forth ready to hear Paul Van Dyk. The moment was going to happen and everyone could feel it. Typical chants of “Paul Van Dyk! Paul Van Dyk!” lingered around the crowd, with whistles and “whooh’s” being howled from all angles of Guv. This was a night we were all going to remember, and we all expected to.
The lights were black and music lightly started playing through the speakers. This is it, this was the moment we were waiting for. At 1 a.m, Paul Van Dyk threw his first intro song with a AWD’s remix of Say Another What by Genix & Las Salinas. Enthusiasm sparked from everywhere. The crowd was going wild. Lights flickered all over Paul Van Dyk and the crowd, people were dancing everywhere and hands were being waved all around. All I could see was infinite smiles, and it also felt like home to be there.
As the night continued, Paul Van Dyk, the obviously humble and sophisticated DJ, continued to lure the crowd into his set as he went from hard uplifting trance to tech trance. Lights shines on him, and the background drop swirled around with the trademark triangle of Paul Van Dyk. I managed to swing right into the front of the crowd to see his face. Dedicated, professional and mannered, Paul Van Dyk seems like the DJ you could have a dinner with and no bad blood or discussion would be shared. You can tell Paul Van Dyk has not been hit with celebrity stardom and keeps a humble aspect about himself, which I completely respect.
Dropping many well-known and new Paul Van Dyk songs such as Home, Parranda, and Time of Our Lives, and others from himself and members of VANDIT records. The crowd was wild, and the feeling of music was alive. Paul Van Dyk created a night of trance, memories and inventiveness.
Paul Van Dyk
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Christina Turner – EDM TOR
