Pete Tong’s DJ diary: L.A. 10/25/08

L.A., 10/25/08

“California dreaming!

A very late night, no sleep in Brooklyn and straight off on an early flight to Los Angeles to make Monster Massive at the L.A. Sports Arena, an event in its 11th year and predicted to attract around 60,000 people.

Our arrival at the show was a real trip.

We were dropped off at the gates and no one really knew where we were supposed to go or how to get there.

After about 15 minutes Derek, one of the people trying to sort things out, decided the safest way to get us to the stage was for him to do it himself.

So we attempted to make our way through the huge crowd across various arenas, rooms and outside stages - it was like a scene from Mad Max!

Unfortunately, he bumped into the chief fire marshall in his haste, who didn’t take kindly to the encounter....resulting in us being effectively arrested and surrounded by very pumped up fire and security staff for about 20 minutes whilst we pleaded our release to get to the stage.

Eventually, I was separated from the group and given a good talking to but finally released.

We completed our journey to the front of my stage only for another security guard to not let me up onto the stage! Mad times.

Pete and buddy Felix da Housecat

Antoine Clarman was fortunately running late and I was eventually rescued by the sound crew. When I left I found out there was a road at the back of my stage, this is where I should have been dropped off - doh!

Despite all that it was an amazing show and a fantastic atmosphere and I was playing to around 20,000 on an outdoor stage with great sound and light. Felix da Housecat followed me and we had a lot of fun on the handover.

Paul Van Dyk, Judge Jules (who I bumped into in the lift at my hotel with his son), Steve Lawler and Swedes Angello & Ingrosso were all on form. The event certainly had an Ibiza feel to it music wise…

A crowd of that size can become mildly apocalyptic at times, and I would like to see more of the European festival experience in action here in terms of organisation, but you have to acknowledge that this is a formidable event and that California is now hosting some of the biggest electronic events in the world thanks to Massive, Electric Daisy Carnival, Nocturnal and Coachella to name a few…

Sasha, UK boxer Amir Kahn and Pete at Vanguard

On top of that, it’s club scene is very healthy too, as after my gig I made my way up to Vanguard to see a sold out Sasha gig with Carl Cox hosting a full house at Avalon round the corner! L.A. is rocking....

A few days to chill now, catch up the Tong Factor demos and take in the amazing sunshine.

I have already been star spotting, bumping into Cameron Diaz , Huw Laurie and Russell Simmons at various pit stops.

Next gig: Vegas, baby!

Big Tunes at MONSTER MASSIVE

‘Ghosts n Stuff’ - Deadmau5

Made for Halloween, so someone had to play it at Monster Massive, huge reaction.

Diva - Sebo K

Still large and riding high on Beatport top 10.

You can buy this one!

‘Gas Face’ - Dave Spoon & Pete Tong

Monster reaction when the bassline kicked in!

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