Giant Village 2005 review

Miami

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home > nightlife&clubs > Giant Village 2005 review

January 7, 2005 8:44 PM
by

Yes, it lived up to the hype. It was the biggest party of the year. One could even call it giant after its namesake, the promotion group known for bringing LA the best the world has to offer in underground dance music every Saturday night at Avalon.

To be honest, this writer was a little surprised at just how giant it really was. Sure, three stages and four city blocks in downtown LA is going to be big, but the GIANT Village was so much more. The positive energy was simply amazing, and the fact that the event was to benefit Chrysalis, a charity providing jobs and training for the homeless and otherwise economically disadvantaged, made this party all the more special.

With the Asian tsunami disaster looming large in everyone’s minds and LA slopping through its own long, slow (but decidedly less catastrophic) aquatic downpour, it was a wonder we all weren’t dancing in our rubbers. Now, before some of you guys start shouting about your safe sex and early preparedness, I meant the British version – rain boots.

It was somewhat fitting, though, that the weather cleared on the day of New Year’s Eve and allowed us all to celebrate in style. Nearly 12,000 came out to show the world how to really party. What struck me further was just how great everyone looked and behaved. Ladies were all dressed to the nines and the guys followed suit, with people’s attitudes just as beautiful. I lost count of the smiling “Happy New Year"s I got and gave after the countdown at the witching hour. The continental US left it to us to finish off the celebrations, and we saved the best for last.

Now, of course, no CoolJunkie review would be even half done without some elaboration on the music, which was, as always, the centerpiece of the party. The moment I walked in by the Flower Stage, I was hooked by Mr. KISS FM himself, John Digweed. Perhaps it was the perfectly placed mirrorball above his head or all the gorgeous women around, but I could hardly drag myself away. No, it was indeed the mastery of Digweed that kept me mesmerized. His six hour set flowed effortlessly from electronic genre to genre, no badass track left unturned.

I tore myself away briefly a couple of times to catch the beginning and end of Oakenfold’s (typically stingy) two hour set, catching a few beats of Mark Farina on the way each time. Of course, I told myself before the night started that I’d try to hear everyone, even The Killers, for a bit. However, I soon came to realize why all my DJ friends rave about Digweed. He was one of the few top DJs I hadn’t heard live, and it was well worth the wait.



Happy New Year!

What I heard of Oakey was entertaining, especially the appropriate remix of U2’s “New Year’s Day”, and Farina had the house heads jumping every time I passed by. Just judging by everyone’s excitement all night long, I have no doubt that The Killers and The Crystal Method laid down some "booms" with perfection. My hat’s off to JD, though, for making it the best New Year’s Eve party I, and presumably many other Los Angeles clubbers, can remember. After all, they’re always more fun when you can remember them.

Rounding out the spectacular event were some nice fireworks, a quadra-screen jumbo-tron (big four-sided TV), and a huge (dare I say giant?) Ferris Wheel, none of which I paid much attention to because of my aforementioned Digweed-induced stupor. However, all was befitting of a fabulous NYE 2005, a microcosm of this giant village we call Los Angeles.

headline image courtesy of Terence Patrick

all other images courtesy of Michael Tullberg