March 3, 2010 (Issue #4) – This is El Paso 2010!
Sander Kleinenberg gets the Sun City New Year started off right at Club Malibu
By Mia Asam and Henry Jones
SMG Events started off the 2010 New Year with what seemed to be the perfect cocktail: Start by filling a new venue, Club Malibu, and pack it with party people. Toss in a little Gabriel I, a shot of Zellar and Cromeens, a dash of two visual laden big screens, add the flavor of Sander Kleinenberg, and top with good beats, and you’ve got a yummy new year’s cocktail that came just a little short by missing one main ingredient; a quality sound system. Anyone with good taste and a decent pair of ears can tell you the sound system left much to be desired. Although there is room for improvement at this specific venue, the DJ’s brought their best and more than made up for the less than desirable sound system.
Sander has been making tidal waves throughout the dance music world ever since the late 90s with the release of his Four Seasons E.P., featuring now classic tracks such as “My Lexicon,” “Sacred,” and “Work To Do.” In the early 2000s, Sander broke new ground with his “Renaissance: Everybody” mix compilation that changed the way we think of progressive house. The CD was glittery and funky in a time where dark and tribal were dominating the progressive scene. Sander also launched his own record label, Little Mountain Recordings, in 2003. The label has featured artists like Steve Porter and Fine Taste, to name a few. A little track of his own that he released on the label called “The Fruit” became a club anthem. And if you hadn’t heard of him by then, you sure as hell heard of him afterwards. Sander, currently ranked as a top 100 DJ, placing at 70 according to DJ Mag’s “Top 100 DJs of 2009,” has made appearances in Juarez, Mexico, but this was the DJ’s first appearance here in El Paso.
This event christened a new venue for the EDM scene; Club Malibu. The large west side venue has a capacity of two thousand, and it has the potential to have that bouncy big room sound that we’ve come to associate and expect live electronic music to have. Eager clubbers, candy kids and beat junkies braved the cold, waiting in line to get a taste of Sander’s first EP performance. SMG resident DJ Gabriel I started the party with 2 hours of deep throbbing tech house, techno and progressive, effortlessly transitioning through tracks like Siopis’ “Really Love Ya,” the Stimming remix of Alexander Kowalsi’s “Puesta Del Sol,” and Namtrak’s “Uprising.” Zeller and Cromeens followed with a set of progressive house that built momentum as they moved through Sasha’s remix of Damian Lazarus’ “ Spinning,” and Zodiac Cartel’s “Vudu,” ultimately culminating in Henry Saiz’s remix of Bedrock’s “Emerald.” Then came the man of the hour; Sander Kleinenberg. The DJ was late and almost didn’t make it to El Paso, save for a private jet which had to be chartered to make sure he would make it after his connection in Dallas was missed. Sander wasn’t about to pass up his El Paso debut after hearing such good things about it from several other name DJs. He stepped off his plane at 11:50 and by 12:15 he was on the decks, chugging champagne and burning up the dance floor, layering acapellas of Daft Punk’s “Harder Faster Stronger” over jumping and pumping progressive, techno and break beats, tossing in sleazy vocals along the way with a visual show coordinated to his set. The “Superstar DJ” was only able to play until 2:00 a.m., as he had to be back on a plane by 3:00 a.m. to jet set off to his next gig, but Sander got the New Year in EP started right.
SMG has been receiving more recognition for throwing good events and bringing such headlining DJ’s as Tiesto, Steve Lawler, Lazaro Casanova, Above and Beyond, and Felix Cartal. We’re sure that this is just the beginning and that this year will be bigger than last. The EDM scene in El Paso continues to grow, and the events and names get bigger and better. What better way to start off 2010 with none other than Sander Kleinenberg. Go Back…
