Tiesto performing in front of 10,000 at the DC Armory (courtesy Metromix)
The armory was the perfect ambience for what was to be one of the biggest shows on Tiesto‘s tour with a sold out crowd of nearly 10,000 trance fans. While Tiesto is just a DJ, he is like no other DJ the world has ever seen. He’s played at the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Athens, was the first DJ to sell out back to back shows with 25,000 people and has been voted #1 DJ in the world year after year. He took the crowd on a musical journey like only he can. Huge breakdowns, driving anthems and melodic soundscapes all were perfectly put together one after another. Tiesto’s concert is part of Panorama Productions and Club Glow.
To give you an idea of what 10,000 people look like inside an armory, check out this video:
Lindsey and I arrived as Cedric Gervais was performing his set. We had media access since we were taking photos for Metromix, the entertainment and nightlife website I manage here in Washington. Right away, we took several group photos of the young crowd in their outrageous neon goodness, and others with pacifiers and bandanas. More photos courtesy: Metromix
 Tiesto fans dress for the performance |
 Some fans needed plenty of room to dance |
Tiesto’s stage as you would expect was very high tech with one of the widest big screens I’ve seen (time lapse video setting up his stage). There was plenty of room to walk around, be comfy, or to dance with your glowsticks. If you needed to cool down they opened huge doors in the back, bringing in a perfect draft of spring air.
It wasn’t all good news, though. The bathrooms and ATM lines were extremely long, obviously not set up to handle a crowd this size. There were several bars across the sides and in the back with very long lines too, until the bartenders cut off the alcohol at midnight, even though Tiesto still had 2 more hours to go in his set.
Handheld devices raised for Tiesto's entrance
As Tiesto was about to take the stage, Lindsey used her media badge to get access between the stage and front row, taking great crowd shots front and center. I never witnessed so many phones and cameras go up at the same time! I’d say 75% of the crowd raised a device to capture the grand entrance of the King of Trance. Once he threw down that first driving bass beat, the crowd jumped around, went insane, and drove the energy in the armory to its peak. From this point on, Tiesto delivered–or should I say DESTROYED.
Go-go dancers line the armory for the show
I never fought my way into the thick of the crowd, because I’m not into shoulder-to-shoulder craziness, so I walked around the back a lot, catching sweet spots of perfect bass. The fans kept up with the rising and falling to his beats,and when he threw in some Dubstep, the crowd roared with sheer excitement! During the Dubstep, I found it funny that everyone went from jumping and fist pumping to flat out slow motion grinding, as if no one really knew how to dance.
This concert didn’t disappoint. It was the best concert I’ve ever been to hands down. The greatest DJ of all time at one of the best venues you could ask for. The crowd was polite and courteous (as every trance crowd is), and the energy in the room was epic. Many sore feet and eardrums today, and all for a good cause. It was a show that will not soon be forgotten in Washington, DC. Tiesto!
Additional Links:
Metromix’s Photo Gallery ”Tiesto’s Club Life Tour at the DC Armory” <– Our photos!
Tiesto’s Official website, Twitter and Facebook
Tiesto’s Official Page
Club Glow website and Facebook
Follow me on Twitter @obrienmedia
