On Easter weekend my fiancé and I took a one nighter road trip to Toronto to celebrate his besties birthday by going to see Armin Only - Intense.
To start with, I have to throw a shout out to the hotel that we stayed at - InterContinental Toronto Centre Hotel. What an amazing stay we had! I didn't get a picture of the room we stayed in but it was absolutely amazing, a King Junior Suite (Room 2002 - The 20th floor). The entire room was spotless, the bathroom was huge with tons of counter space to wreck while I got ready to go out, the shower was perfect and the living room that was decked out in natural wood furniture with tones of purple throughout was spacious enough to get our pre-dance on. Even though the fridge was stocked with literally every beverage imaginable from water to pop to liquors and beer it was a little pricey. One can of ginger that I purchased amounted to $5.50 so I don't even want to begin to consider how much the alcohol charge was. The bed was super comfortable and made out in the best duvet and pillows I have ever experienced - They were so white and so fluffy and warm, it was like a little piece of cloudy heaven. It really couldn't get any better but the InterContinental is directly connected with the Metro Toronto Convention Centre so walking to and from the Armin event was easy peasy. The staff, service and room price were all top notch, so much so that I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone; especially if you have an event to attend at the MTCC. Absolute perfection!
The doors for Armin Intense opened at 8pm and the show started at 9pm. The production was very well put together with live instrumentals, singers, acrobats and phenomenal lighting. The music was absolutely out of this world and I have to admit that this was one of the best shows I have ever been to. Music generally takes me over and although I'm not a huge Trance fan (even though I have listened to Armin for years) Armin's show made the feeling inside of the building so intense that I cried, I laughed, I sang and I didn't stop dancing - for 5 hours straight I might add.
I wasn't aware of this until the show but Armin's brother plays a mean guitar. I don't want to ruin anything for those of you who may be attending Intense but at one point during the beginning his brother destroyed the guitar so well that I couldn't contain my tears. It was beautiful.
Like my fiancé always says, there really is nothing better than the feeling of thousands of people focused so deeply on one person, one stage, one song. It's a unity like no other and Armin did a bang up job owning this. What a legend he is, I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it!
The photo below is compliments of my fiancé. I try not to take my phone to shows because I don't want to lose it so my fiancé is always my photographer. Just look at that skill ;)
On top of Armin's show I have to add that the venue was perfection. The workers at the MTCC kept the floors and bathrooms so clean (there were people on the floor and in the bathrooms cleaning at all times), the bars were set up well, the staff was over the top friendly and the entire production very well organized. Maybe I'm a drag for saying this but organization at events this large means a lot to me. It means that I don't have to kick garbage out of the way to dance, I'm not slipping on spilled drinks, I don't have to wait excessive amounts of time to get drinks and I'm not having to use a disgusting washroom because quite frankly, no girl wants to have to use a dirty loo. Great work, MTCC!
I wasn't aware of this until the show but Armin's brother plays a mean guitar. I don't want to ruin anything for those of you who may be attending Intense but at one point during the beginning his brother destroyed the guitar so well that I couldn't contain my tears. It was beautiful.
Like my fiancé always says, there really is nothing better than the feeling of thousands of people focused so deeply on one person, one stage, one song. It's a unity like no other and Armin did a bang up job owning this. What a legend he is, I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it!
The photo below is compliments of my fiancé. I try not to take my phone to shows because I don't want to lose it so my fiancé is always my photographer. Just look at that skill ;)
On top of Armin's show I have to add that the venue was perfection. The workers at the MTCC kept the floors and bathrooms so clean (there were people on the floor and in the bathrooms cleaning at all times), the bars were set up well, the staff was over the top friendly and the entire production very well organized. Maybe I'm a drag for saying this but organization at events this large means a lot to me. It means that I don't have to kick garbage out of the way to dance, I'm not slipping on spilled drinks, I don't have to wait excessive amounts of time to get drinks and I'm not having to use a disgusting washroom because quite frankly, no girl wants to have to use a dirty loo. Great work, MTCC!
This Saturday we attended a DNA show at the Ernst and Young Centre in Ottawa where Steve Aoki, Rebecca & Fiona, AutoErotique, Nause and Stefano Lasne were on stage.
Sadly I missed AutoErotique, Nause and Stefano Lasne because I forgot my ID (I'm ridiculously forgetful and usually count on my fiancé to ensure that I have everything in check) so I had to go back to my house to get it. By the time I made it back to the EY Centre, through the line-up outside, through the ID check, through the coat check and then through the pat down Rebecca & Fiona were on stage and killing it I might add! Female DJ's make me proud especially when they are as good as these two. I actually had to bring my phone back with me from home so that I could find my fiancé when I arrived (and I didn't even lose it!!) so I was able to take some of my own pictures - Yayyy!!
Steve Aoki headlined and did an amazing job. My fiancé had seen him before at the Veldt but it was my first time seeing him live and witnessing his cake throwing. I didn't want to get hit with a cake but the guy in the picture (to the right) with the Keep Calm and Get Caked shirt did hahaha. I think that Aoki threw six cakes into the audience. He had his infamous raft with him too but it didn't stay afloat on top of the crowd for very long. There were two girls on top of it riding the waves but within a few seconds some guy climbed on top and destroyed the rave rafting as quick as he got up...and they all went crashing down :( The lights were amazing and the sound was perfect! I went crazy when he played Boneless and Tommy Trash's remix of Ladi Dadi with Wynter Gordon. Ladi Dadi has held a very special place in my heart since my fiancé introduced it to me in 2012. I would post the video that my lovey took of Ladi Dadi but you can hear me screaming the lyrics at the top of my lungs and I totally destroyed the song - Sorry to all of the people around me that had to witness that :)
All in all these two shows were amazing and we had a great time at both. We even took my fiancés parents to the Steve Aoki show and they loved it too! His Dad was thoroughly impressed with AutoErotique's sound and his Mom of course loved everyone. It was amazing having them there with us - We had so much fun! I love that they were so open to go, especially when so many people have such negative opinions about EDM shows. I know that more people are going to start realizing that EDM is about the beauty of the music and the artists creating the music, it's about the feeling of unity that I discussed above and the positive energy that an entire venue of people can create when they focus. My fiancé swears up and down that we as people would be able to do amazing things if we always focused as positively and passionately as we do at music shows.I'm excited for summer and all of the upcoming shows that are in the making. One of which I will be seeing my favourite DJ of all time - Chuckie! Eeeeeeeeee! I get crazy excited when I think about it.
I would like everyone that reads this to fall in love with EDM as much as me. I will start you out with a few songs that my amazing fiancé has dedicated to me with love - Enjoy <3John Legend - All of Me (Tiesto Remix)
Avicii - Penguin (Club Mix)
Steve Aoki feat. Wynter Gordon (Tommy Trash Remix)
Tawns xoxo
Photos © Copyright, JustTawny, 2014
