Calvin Harris Greater Than tour - Hydro Glasgow,

�What Happened in Las Vegas started in Dumfries�

The Greater Than tour rolled into Glasgow tonight after satirical internet articles saying it had cancelled. (http://www.wunderground.ie/calvin-harris-pulls-out-of-greater-than-tour-due-to-illness/) Cue a Social Media frenzy to let everyone know it was cancelled (mainly from folk who weren’t going)

EDM has been the term used over the last while to describe this house sound which seems to come from the Las Vegas Pool parties and the Balearic Clubs. The music his big build ups, massive drops, searing vocals and a 128bpm throughout. What has crept in now are pyrotechnics, lasers and the showmanship, leading many critics and internet commentators to criticise the lack of the DJ skill.

I was intrigued about the production of a show of this scale. I had been in the Hydro before and knew how good the sound system was. Tonight we would not be disappointed in the clarity of the music.

Arriving when Pete Tong was playing his last song, an excitement was building for Calvin Harris, the Dumfries born superstar is on tour with Tiesto as part of their Greater Than tour. One thing about Harris is that he is very good at what he does. Many of tonights crowd have probably never heard his first album of accessible 80s inspired pop tunes, tonights set could not have been further away from this sound. His decision to give up live shows and move into full time production was always what he wanted to do and allowed him to grow as a chart topping producer! Turn on the radio now and he wont be far away.

The set started with a build up of smoke, lasers and Spectrum (Say My Name.) The vocals of Florence Welsh creating an instant hands in the air moment. The set featured his latest remix of Fatboy Slims Eat Sleep Rave Repeat more Florence in the shape of Youve Got The Love, Rhianna We Found Love other chart toppers including Well be Coming Back and Drinking From the Bottle had the Glaswegian crowd in a frenzy. There was even a wee tease of the intro of Awooga.

The highlight for me was was a slight move away from his own stuff, Wheres Your Head At? was a nice surprise. When LRAD by Knife Party was played, an aural assault of your senses, just like the sonic weapon it is named after hitting you with pounding beats and inducing the crowd with some strange dance moves. If that didnt have you going mental, then Showteks Booyah most certainly did, in my eyes the best hook of 2013! The lyrics “Yes all we care about is dem party
Keeping them good vibes good vibes in the air now” couldnt have been more apt for this moment.

The show followed a build up, sustain, drop sort of pattern all the way through. Complimented with an excellent light show. An hour and a half this can be quite tiring to a dancefloor. It felt at times a little contrived as you could work out when the effects were about to come into play. This certainly did not take away from the enjoyment of the majority of the crowd
For the first half it was quite funny listening to a drop about to come in as you could see a camera man on stage with Calvin jump up at around the same time a special effect was about to be used whether that be Pyrotechnics, smoke or confetti cannons.

The Las Vegas influence has certainly left its mark on Calvin Harris.
“What Happened in Las Vegas started in Dumfries” Certainly doesnt have the same ring to it as Graceland however the times are changing and this year showmen are the Producers and DJs, not the singers.

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