Memorial Day brings house-heads and headliners

By Las Vegas Weekly Staff (contact)

Thursday, May 22, 2008 | 6 a.m.

Barbecues, boating trips and a bank holiday. But what would Memorial Day weekend be without a steady stream of the world’s top-ranking DJs filing through our clubs and lounges? It probably doesn’t lend much to the whole “Memorial” aspect of Memorial Day, but in party cities like NY, Miami, Chicago and LA, an annual May trip to Vegas to see those headliners has become a modern tradition. And therefore should be honored—memorialized. (It’s a stretch, we know.) In all, Vegas will play host to nine Top 100 DJs (as defined by DJ Magazine, DJMag.com), with 11 in the Top 200 as well as many more industry notables.

Friday, May 23, Empire Ballroom will receive a visit from DJ duo Scooter & Lavelle as well as from heavyweight Swedish Egil, broadcasting live for Groove Radio. Off-Strip at Puff Hookah Lounge, Lee Burridge (No. 85) spins with resident DJ Oscar Molina. Think of it as a warm-up night.

Saturday afternoon, Wet Republic ultra-pool welcomes New York’s Danny Tenaglia (43) and Victor Calderone (89). That night, Club Rubber’s Summer of Love kicks off property-wide at the Palms with The Crystal Method, George Acosta and The Scumfrog spinning inside Rain. Tenaglia returns later to Empire Ballroom to celebrate his new single, “The Space Dance” and new album, Futurism.

Sunday, Wet Republic hits its stride with Sharam (of Deep Dish, No. 11) and Cedric Gervais while Bad Boy Bill (38) spins at Tao Beach’s Sunset Sessions. Later that night, Tao follows that up with Erick Morillo (24), while Sharam’s partner, Deep Dish’s Dubfire, takes on Puff. At Moon, Felix da Housecat creeps in for a set, and then, from the outer limits, Serge Devant (179) teams up with Roger Sanchez (25) for afterhours at Drai’s, and the highest-ranking officer, Tiesto (2), stops by Jet for the first of his two Vegas appearances this weekend.

Memorial Day Monday will be celebrated at Wet Republic with Roger Sanchez and DJ Jazzy Jeff (also at Tabu that night), plus a return of Scooter & Lavelle, this time to Relax at the Hard Rock Pool. Tiesto rules supreme that night, making his second appearance, this one at The Bank. And just to make sure you were listening, Body English slips in Dirty South (98) on Godskitchen Wednesday, May 28, just for good measure.

Three and a half questions with DJ George Acosta

Once a little boy living with his family in Fidel Castro’s Cuba, DJ George Acosta came to the States in the late ’70s via a speedboat in the middle of the night. As he grew up in Miami, Acosta’s musical interests blossomed in junior high school and were solidified as a teen. Beginning his DJ career on a pair of Technics SL-B1s someone had discarded in the trash, he rose to promote and spin in the growing Miami dance scene. Originally DJing hip-hop, reggae and house, Acosta grew in popularity at the ripe age of 16 with his own radio mix show and a multitude of parties he organized himself that resulted in legions of followers. These days, Acosta juggles touring, producing and expanding his musical knowledge by studying at the School of Audio Engineering (SAE) Institute. Vegas club-goers can expect a performance packed with “high energy and melodic trance” during his appearance at Rain on Saturday, May 24.

How has your career changed since winning the second annual DJ Times Magazine “America’s Best DJ” title?

It’s been great. I’ve been playing even more gigs than my already busy schedule, so it’s been very busy for me. I’ve had the opportunity to meet many new people in the industry that I am currently working with as well.

What prompted the transition from house, drum-n-bass, breaks and hip-hop to trance?

I’ve always liked the hard electronic sound and more industrial vibe that techno has to offer.

You’ve said it is very important for a DJ to read the crowd, and it seems you try to emulate this during your sets. What differences have you noticed in a 21-and-up nightclub crowd in the U.S., versus the warehouse raves you used to throw and DJ at, or massive gigs overseas, like Love Parade in Germany?

The 21-plus people are usually more into who is who and who is hanging out at that party. They’re usually the well-dressed and conservative look, while the under-21 crowd is really there for the DJ and the music. Hardcore ravers is where it all comes from.

How do you feel the experiences of your childhood have affected your music and your drive?

A lot. It was a base for what I have and keep doing in my career. Without those experiences, who knows where I’d be today.