by Eddy Leon, Staff Writer
The month of February continued in full swing as the EDM Maniac team ventured out to one of the most sought-after venues in Los Angeles: Exchange LA. Headlining the night in all its glory was the one and only Ferry Corsten with guest opener Brian Matrix.
As the team arrived on Friday night to the venue, we were greeted by the welcoming staff and a very well organized front entrance with literally no waiting in line. I noticed that some changes had occurred over the past few months to help control the far too often long lines, which can be a hassle at times when trying to enter the club.Walking inside however was packed! As I explored Exchange LA I noticed that the Gallery Room (located right near the entrance on the first floor) had been converted into a viewing room with a live stream of a camera located next to the DJ deck. I assumed the reason behind this change was that at times the dance floor gets beyond crowded that the night can’t be enjoyed to its fullest extent, so in order to keep people from pushing into each other, the Gallery Room broadcasted the stream so everyone could get a glimpse of the artists playing on stage.
Brian Matrix was up first opening the night and getting the crowd warmed up for a night that would not disappoint. Incorporating a mix of progressive and electro house, Brian fused together hits such as Dada Life’s remix of “Llove”, Deadmau5’s hit “Ghosts and Stuff”, and Calvin Harris’s “You Used To Hold Me” which from the unison hollering from the crowd, settled very well. For the first time hearing about Brian Martix I could see why he was the perfect fit as the energy that his opening set brought was enough to get everyone up and dancing but not overpowering where you forgot that Ferry Corsten was coming on right after.
Check out Ferry’s upcoming tour dates here
At around 12:30am the headliner of the night Ferry Corsten made his presence known. Starting off the night with an electro house ballad, a burst of cold CO2 mixed with confetti shot into the air as the celebration night started. Transitioning into power anthems, Ferry moved the crowd in a way that I had not seen before at Exchange LA. At times I was completely caught off guard as his transitions transformed the mood of the room from an amiable section, to an explosion of ebullience from club-goers located all around the venue. The floor to ceiling LED paneled screens and multi-colored lasers illuminating the crowd just added a hint of intimacy to a night full of liveliness.
I must say I was expecting a typical one and a half hour set but I was beyond mistaken as Ferry continued the night all the way till close at 3AM set. Mash-ups like “Live Forever” and “Mammoth” took many of us to fond memories from when we watched him play a similar mash-up at TomorrowWorld back in September of last year; very few artists can say they can take that title. Closing off his set was the angelic vocals of Jenny Wahlstrom in “Many Ways”. As the crowd sung the lyrics in tandem, “…there are many ways to, there are many ways to change a life…” it touched me how Ferry Corsten for a couple hours took us to another level I had not experienced from a set before. As my feet began hurting from literally not stopping from dancing, a sense of unison (even surrounded by strangers) came together as his set ended even with the CO2 cannons shooting into the crowd to cool them off.
A “Thank You Los Angeles” shined upon the LED panels as Ferry Corsten signed a few things from the fans and waved a simple yet meaningful goodbye to the crowd. Even walking out of the venue I heard remarks such as “that was an amazing night!” or a “Ferry killed it!” as the music lovers eyes held a glaze that can only be described as a feeling that any music enthusiast has experienced when they see that one artist that fills their heart’s desires.
As always a huge thank you to Ferry Corsten, his team, and the magnificent staff at Exchange LA for treating us to a night full of confetti, electrifying beats, lasers, and a sense of unity to come together and enjoy the music we love. Uncle Ferry, we look forward to having you back here in Los Angeles for many more nights to come.
