Review: Tiesto at Pacha, an EDM Fanatic’s Inaugural Ibiza Experience

12:20 Arrive at the club.
12:30 The club is STILL closed and the will call line is massive.
12:40 The club is open! Finally. Just shy of a hour late.
12:41 Burst through doors in excitement, it’s Pacha baby.
12:42 Holy hell this place is cool.
12:42 Wait, wtf, it’s empty. Bah.
12:50 Rum and Coke = 15 Euros. F*ck Blarg.
12:51 Well, I am on the legendary White Isle–at Tiesto–let’s do this shit!

The club is a diverse mountain range of white plush leather VIP couches and sprawling bars. A giant palm tree perpetuates the mythical party island vibe, and countless glowing orbs create an other-worldly fairy tale atmosphere. As the night wares on the club beats with its own rhythmic heartbeat and the temperature becomes stifling. Pacha Ibiza is the spiritual sweat lodge of House Music nirvana. The globally diverse crowd, all expecting to have the time of their lives, drink themselves silly as they wait for the man, the legend, Tiesto.

For years, Tiesto has been changing his style and evolving away from Trance. As his Elements of Life era came to a close and tracks from his upcoming studio album Kaleidoscope began to seep into his live sets he entered a phase he called Trouse (trance, house). Last night the story of EDM’s biggest superstar continued. Last night, in the open arms of loyal fans, in the experimental atmosphere of Ibiza – Tiesto went full House. Ripping through tracks from his latest compilation album, Club Life Volume Two Miami, the crowd basked in familiarity and danced like no one was watching.

Cabaret inspired dancers added to the decadence as they danced, climbed polls and swung around the club. It was a sight to remember. As an impressive blast of CO2 blanketed the crowd and near hysteria erupted over Pacha Tiesto dropped Lethal Industry and I was elated. An EDM classic void of words, yet brilliant enough a crowd can still sing along–then the bass hit me. Tiesto had updated the classic, effectively erasing his heritage and modernizing his image. Something didn’t sit right with me. Escaping to Pacha’s brilliant rooftop terrace, (open air, multiple bars, low key beats, and tons of seats: the perfect reprieve) I needed a moment.

This is what Ibiza was all about, I reassured myself. Experimentation and introducing change to the EDM scene in a safe haven of openness. At the forefront, it is Ibiza’s job to preview what is to come. With an open mind, I descended back into the bowels of change. Benny Benassi’s iconic Satisfaction pulsed as Tiesto transitioned tacks. It was as if Tiesto was paying tribute to the musical sub-genre he was entering. Tiesto’s set left you with the feeling that this was the beginning of a new chapter in the perpetually changing voyage that is his career. He may not be quiet sure of the direction he is headed but one thing is for sure, I am eager to find out.

Article by: Ryan Hayes