Concert Report: The Crystal Method/Paul Oakenfold (Hard Rock Live)

This is Hard Rock Live located in CityWalk at the Universal Orlando Resort. The building's exterior design is now so iconic that we saw a replica of it when we visited Rome a few years ago.

After grabbing a drink from the bar, we entered the dance floor very close to the posted 8PM starting time and found very few people here. Sources say only about 1,000 tickets had been pre-sold and this is a 3,000 person venue. Ticket prices were reasonable but it could be that the $32 charge to park may have turned some people off.  Halloween Horror Nights is in progress so the parking garages do not become free at 6PM like they do the rest of the year.

We saw the set-time schedule and there was no opener. Instead, at 8:35PM one of the two headliners walked out from behind the curtain and unceremoniously took his place in the booth.

Scott Kirkland is The Crystal Method (USA).

The dance floor did begin to fill-in.

We were trying to identify what genres of music he played and early-on there was an 90's AAHZ feel to some of the songs and then a lot of Industrial.

 

We last saw The Crystal Method when he played at The Vanguard in July, 2023.

Prior to that, not since 2016 when he played at Gilt Nightclub.

TCM was pretty animated last night, coming out twice to interact with the audience. And his set got better and better as the night wore on. He played a lot of Classic Dance hits such as Lasgo (B) hit "Something", Rui da Silva (P) hit "Touch Me In The Morning" and ATB (D) hit "9PM Till I Come".

The Crystal Method was originally a DJ duo but Ken Jordan retired in 2017. Such a fun set and we were wondering if the next half of the show could top it.

We ran into a small number of peeps we know from the local scene. Spotted in the lobby.

Spotted on the ramp.

Spotted on the dance floor.

Spotted in VIP: Luis Evans from Vizion1, DJ Evolv3 (USA), Jennifer and DJ Jimmy Joslin (USA). Jimmy reminds us that there are still some Earlybird tickets remaining for this year's AAHZ Reunion Orlando All-Stars event taking place on Thanksgiving Eve at The Beacham downtown. Tickets here.

And then around 10PM, the second headliner stepped into the booth.

DJ Paul Oakenfold (GB)

The Crystal Method likes to wear his headphones over his eyes. Oakenfold likes to keep his over his mouth, lol.

The crowd did ultimately stretch to the rear of the dance floor but there were lots of gaps so it never got uncomfortable.

We last saw Paul Oakenfold last October when he played at Kali Ultra Lounge on International Drive.

Prior to that, he played outdoors at Ace Cafe downtown in November, 2020. This was one of the first post-pandemic DJ shows and everyone had to wear masks. We always give Oakenfold credit for beginning the DJ craze in Las Vegas. When he began a famous residency at Palms Casino Resort in 2008, it started such a boom that every major casino in town had to build a night club and have world-class DJ's playing. That continues to this day.

Oakenfold's set last night was a mix of EDM songs such as Reel 2 Reel (USA) hit "Move It Move It" and Trance such as Sarah McLachlan (CDN) classic "Silence". 

He ended the show with another classic, Darude (FIN) hit "Sandstorm". What a great show and a good time was had by all.

Re-themed for Halloween Horror Nights, the Red Coconut Club is now the Dead Coconut Club. As we were heading out of CityWalk, we dropped by to check it out. 

We walked into this!

Always great to see DJ Marg (USA) in the booth.  

The venue has been heavily rethemed for the spooky season.

Some pretty amazing decorations.

The music was mostly Top 40 during our visit.

Everywhere we went last night, a good time was had by all.