About two months ago, I was making my travel arrangements for a close friend’s wedding. To get the cheapest tickets, I had to travel at the most inopportune times and endure the dreaded 12-hour layover. So I did the only thing I could think of. Maximize my overnight layover with a Hardwell show in NYC and keep the party going the next day by seeing him again in D.C. The result was an experience that made me a Hardwell fan for life.
Prior to this adventure, I had only seen Hardwell once at the old Brooklyn Mirage. I remember the show being fun, but incredibly humid, and a bathroom line that caused me to miss some of the best parts of the night. Needless to say, my goal this time around was to avoid all that. Luckily, the world was on my side, as both venues were indoors and had more bathrooms than the old Mirage.
Night 1 – New York City
The NYC show was my first stop and coincidentally, also Hardwell’s. The show took place at the iconic Marquee New York, an intimate indoor venue known for its strict dress code. Luckily, when there’s a show, they’re a bit more lax, especially when that show attracts pashima’s, sprouts, and bucket hats. From the moment Hardwell stepped on stage, the room was electrified. It felt like he was mainlining the synths, drops, and basslines straight into your body, giving you no choice but to become immersed in the experience.
Hardwell’s performance and overall sound typically lend themselves best to a festival-like atmosphere. He’s a mainstay at all the big fest’s around the world, EDC LV, Ultra, Tomorrowland, and more. As a result, he’s learned to create a show that makes you feel like you’re riding the rail, even if you’re all the way in the back with the flow artists. Having his show at a venue that can host at most 1,000 allows him to take things to another level. Every spot you stood in felt like you were riding the rail. The sound, the people, and the energy were never out of reach. You were truly swimming in an ocean of Hardwell, only coming up for air after the night was over.
After the amazing show in NYC, I was excited, but skeptical about the D.C. show. How would it be different? The crowd in NYC was so amazing – would the crowd in D.C. somehow ruin it? Would he look into the crowd, recognize me, and think I was a stalker?!
I packed up my bags, got on the 45-minute flight to D.C., and readied myself for another night of drops and solid electro house. This time, I was back at Echostage, my home turf, if you will. I’ve seen everything from the British drum and bass of Chase and Status to the dance-pop darling Zedd. The venue is consistently voted one of the best in the country, so every time I go to a show there, I know I’ll at least get a good sound system, a cool staff, and a clean bathroom.
Night 2 – Washington, D.C.
Walking into Echostage, I felt a bit like a groupie, or at least one of those people who follow jam bands like Phish and Dave Matthews Band. Once again, the show was incredible. Like Marquee, Echostage is on the smaller side. Even if you’re standing up against the tech box, you’re close enough to see the facial expressions of whoever is on stage.
The most interesting part of the show was how Hardwell adapted his sound to the crowd. NYC is known for being a house-centric city. Acts like John Summit, Honey Dijon, and Anyma are the sounds that the city loves. D.C., on the other hand, is a bit more diverse. As the capital of the U.S., the city sees an outpouring of cultures from all corners of the globe that bleed into the music scene. South American beats mix with German techno and Caribbean drums back American hip-hop. Hardwell leaned into the city’s diversity, giving us a sound that matched its energy.
I spent the whole night getting in another 20,000 (dance) steps and feeling my cup runneth over.
Night 3 – Reflection
When my two-night adventure came to an end, I hit the bed harder than I probably ever have. While I’ve done festivals lasting almost a week, I’ve never done a Deadhead-style tour where I travel with the artist. When I finally awoke, I had a newfound respect for these DJs. I can’t imagine traveling from city to city, coast to coast, and doing a show each night. The fact that Hardwell delivered an incredible performance on both nights made me admire his work ethic, craft, and love for the scene. Each night felt fresh and new, like he had cooked up something special just for that crowd specifically.
This adventure unlocked a new way to experience live music that had previously seemed unattainable. I’m looking into more opportunities to do what I’ve dubbed the fan’s B2B. Back-to-back shows from the same DJ, but in different cities. It’s an entirely new way to experience artists I know and an even better way to immerse myself in someone I’m not as familiar with. I can’t wait to see another artist in this format, and to be the first person in line for tickets the next time Hardwell comes to town.
