Refune Records prodigy and Swedish national Alesso has been a recognized legal adult in most countries around the world for a few years now, but now a legal adult in the US, he decided to have his big bash in the Big Apple. Bringing fellow youngsters like Arty and Otto Knows, Alesso and friends certainly brought the house down with his big room sound and big room showmanship.

After arriving early enough to catch Otto Knows set, the crowd was clearly ready for more and more. Having attended previous events at the Governor’s Beach Club, this one was very different. Completely sold out and packed like sardines, the beach club was rolling. Unlike the club’s event from the previous weekend, Dash Berlin + Tritonal, the crowd had a remarkably mainstream feel to it, and as such the night went differently than you might have expected.

Although Arty has cut his teeth with a distinctive trance sound, his trend towards “trouse” was in full-effect dropping hits like his Rock N Rolla remix of Ferry Corsten, or Dirty South’s “Walking Alone” Say what you will about his “non-pure” sound, Arty knows how to party. Mixing in tracks and mashups from Sander Van Doorn, OneRepublic/Hardwell, and the oft-played Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Otherside”. For all the bluster and big tunes though, it would be a special site when the birthday boy would take the stage.

With #alesso21 trending on NYC twitter feeds, the crowd was ready to –excuse the bad pun- lose their mind. With fog machines and confetti galore, the birthday bash was truly a sight to see.

Full well basking in the birthday lights, Alesso dropped the over-played Gotye “Somebody I Used To Know” which the crowd still loved; and I guess that’s all that matters sometimes. Alesso though still put on quite a set unleashing hits like Knife Party and Swedish House Mafia gem “Antidote”, Size Records release “Atom”, and his own releases like “Calling (Lose My Mind)” Not to be outdone by Arty, Alesso brought his own mashups and bootlegs with Raise Your Head vs Seven Nation Army, a tune that just sent goosebumps down my spine. Alesso ran the full gauntlet of tunes with multiple Tiesto hits and Avicii, Swedish House Mafia, Tommy Trash, and even one of my personal all-time favorites in Pendulum’s “The Island”

At one point Alesso grabbed the mic and exclaimed how he wouldn’t choose any other place in the world to celebrate his birthday; a move that many fans celebrated to and basked in the glory.  New Yorkers are nothing if not proud, and the moment was a testament to Alesso’s showmanship.

The night was special and it was great to be a part of it.  Something I took away from the evening was just how mainstream EDM had become.  Surely, as part of it all this isn’t news to me.  Not at all.  That said, it sunk in a new way seeing just how different the crowd was and how many people were there for the party than say the music.  It’s not a bad thing, but I know for some diehard ravers it’s a tough pill to swallow.  Overall, I think we can only benefit from it and the music will only continue to evolve.  Alesso’s birthday was a successful night, and reminded me why the GBC is one of my favorite venues.