Happy 2014 everyone. I hope you all look forward to writing bad checks for the next few months as your date will no longer end with a “3.” Hopefully you found an enjoyable way to spend your last few hours in the previous year. Drinks with friends, an elegant meal, or even mixing your way into 2014. There’s no wrong way to spend that time as long as you are relaxing or doing something you really enjoy. I was fortunate enough to spend it at Zedd’s 2013 New Years Eve at the Aragon in Chicago. This was my first time seeing Zedd, so it goes without saying that I was excited at the opportunity. I ended up going with a large group of first-timers and that alone was an experience. Overall I was happy to have knocked this off my list and on top of that, it was at a pretty spectacular venue.
Doors opened around 8PM which was pretty typical. I did not make it to the line until around 10, which involved over an hour wait in the freezing cold. Again, this was no surprise, but I was happy to have brought a coat. I think people always forget there is a coat check at any decent venue. I couldn’t help but feel bad for the raver girls wearing fishnets and a bikini top that were waiting alongside everyone else in the frigid December weather in Chicago. There isn’t enough booze in the world to keep you warm while wearing JUST a fur fox head in these temperatures. We eventually made it inside in between the warm-up sets and didn’t seem to miss much. Zedd came out around 11:30, which was plenty of time for even the latest of stragglers to make it. The concert itself was what I would consider a success. It was a massive crowd, and there weren’t any hangups.
To be completely honest, there was only one point in the concert that really disappointed me. There was a great countdown to midnight — the LED backdrop behind Zedd turned into a giant timer, but when the clock struck 0:00, it was very lackluster. The ceiling dropped a number of large balloons onto the awaiting audience, and that was it. The number of Balloons was probably in the low hundreds, and everyone could see them in the nets above beforehand. I know its difficult to plan a set down to the second, but it’s not terribly difficult for a DJ to loop a few seconds to time a perfect drop. Beyond that, where were the confetti cannons, the fog, the lasers? Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t expect New Years to take precedent over the performance itself, but I have to admit it was a little bit of a letdown. This was something that could have had a little more attention brought to it beforehand and could have really pushed this event over the top.
When all is said and done, you could tell Zedd loved every minute of his night in Chicago. That is something that can really make or break a concert. If the performer is happy to be there the energy level is so much higher and everything is so much better. There’s nothing more upsetting than a lazy star that you’ve paid to see. Zedd delivered well beyond expectations and I can’t wait see another performance!