Photo: WENN.com
Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you have to say goodbye to millions of fans across the world built up over a four year career. This is precisely what the three man collective known as Swedish House Mafia had to do this past Saturday.
With the 60,000 capacity Milton Keynes Bowl playing host to their send off party, Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso definitely put on a show that those not in attendance will be sorry they missed. With the likes of Example, Calvin Harris, Pete Tong, Alesso, and Madeon all supporting throughout the day long event, fans were kept busy until the super group took to the stage.
Well organized, and with no reported trouble or issues, the only apparent downside was the copious amounts of mud transformed in to slush throughout the day. Then again that’s what’s to be expected from an outdoor festival atmosphere. However, unlike Wireless, and a few other recent festivals, rain did not strike this time around.
With the night in full swing, darkness descended upon the stage and the mood was set for an event of epic proportions to commence. The three music maestros could be seen making their way behind the length extended DJ booth, and while this took place everyone in the Bowl let it be known through an array of screams that they knew it was time for the superstar DJ’s to go to work.
Running through hits from their album Until One, tracks such as ‘Miami To Ibiza’, ‘In The Air’, and of course the smash ‘One (Your Name)’, hyped the audience to the point of extremity. Hands were in the air, people were diving in mud, kissing strangers seemed the norm, and new dance moves were being created every second. No event has ever had the type of energy or love that this one did... period.
With remixing being a specialty of Swedish House Mafia, a few unexpected cuts made appearances. New versions of Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used To Know‘ and Coldplay’s ‘Paradise‘ sent the crowd in to a crazy stupor, and it didn’t stop there. More Coldplay remixes came in the form of their smash ‘Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall’, and the dance collective’s famed remix of The Source’s ‘You Got The Love‘ brought hysteria to the masses.
While words like epic, hysteria, and energy are easily thrown around, especially when it comes to music, none of these would be used as a way to describe Saturday’s events if it weren’t for the lighting and special effects. With everything from firing confetti strings that actually reached beyond the middle of the mammoth crowd, smoke projectors, laser lighting that a hundred Quasar games couldn’t even get close to, and an incredible electric backdrop for the DJ’s to throw down in front of, there’s no other day in dance music history that can even compare.
The perfect end to a perfect career. The show that Milton Keynes Bowl concert goers witnessed was somewhat of a marvel. Which begs the question, “Why would you quit your day job when you’re that good at it?” Whatever the reason, the shoes worn by Axwell , Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso will be tough to fill. Stadium dance music was perfected by them, and on this occasion they quite literally took their A game to the next level.
