London trance disc jockeys Above & Beyond returned to Los Angeles to continue their Group Therapy Tour on May 17 at the Shrine Auditorium.
Last year, Above & Beyond DJs Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness and Paavo Siljamki performed at the Hollywood Palladium for a sold out two-day concert. This year, with their 2011 second album release called “Group Therapy,” they returned to the Shrine Auditorium for a three-day performance from May 17 to 19.
Hosted by Insomniac, known for producing the electronic dance music festival Electric Daisy Carnival, the three-day Insomniac Enhanced Concert Series event was originally a two-day performance. The company decided to add a third day due to sold out ticket sales on May 18 and 19, estimating a three-day total crowd of 15,000 people. With Insomniac sales, Above & Beyond broke record time as tickets sold out in less than a few hours after the ticket release.
Above & Beyond is known for its Trance Around the World radio show. In December 2010, the group performed its 350th episode in the Hollywood Palladium that broadcast live all around the world. They created the record label called Ajunabeats signing DJs such as Mat Zo, Andrew Bayer and Arty. Around the world, Above & Beyond performed at sold out shows, capturing the hearts of fans with their unique sound and lyrics. In 2011, fans voted for Above & Beyond as they ranked number five DJ on the Top 100 DJs list on djmag.com, keeping their place as one of the top 10 DJs since 2007.
The 18 and over event was held in the Shrine’s two-story building. The second floor and an outside area were restricted for people 21 and up. Above & Beyond merchandise were sold outside, including shirts, sweaters and Insomniac lanyards.
The show started at 9 p.m. with trance DJ, Andrew Bayer as the opening act. At 11 p.m. Above & Beyond came on stage entertaining an estimated crowd of 5,000 attendees with their first album song, “Stealing Time.”
McGuinness and Grant were two out of three Above & Beyond members who performed on May 17. With absent member Siljamki, McGuinness and Grant still wowed the crowd with hits like DJs Super8 & Tab’s “Helsinki Scorchin’”, their chart-topping “Sun and Moon” and “Thing Called Love,” DJ Eric Prydz’s “2Night” and DJ Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus” (Eric Prydz remix).
During the concert, McGuinness and Grant typed messages on the projector screen. Messages like “Hello LA!” and “You look amazing!” made the crowd cheer. Neon lasers and fog machines were the main effects used during the performance. The crowd cheered loudest when Above & Beyond said their favorite place to perform is in Los Angeles.
Toward the end of the performance, white confetti filled the air, covering the dance floor with people’s hands raised up in awe. Above & Beyond closed off the show at 2 a.m. with a slow version of their hit single “On a Good Day.”
With good music and performing to a hyped up audience, there is no wonder why fans love Above & Beyond. They capture their fans by inviting them to understand the feeling they’re portraying in their lyrics and beats. Night number one was packed with an entertaining vibe above and beyond anyone could expect.
