This past weekend, ILLENIUM took the big stage to perform to a sold-out Madison Square Garden crowd. Playing without a doubt the biggest show of his life alongside his close friends, Dabin, Said the Sky, and Adventure Club, ILLENIUM put on a show like no other at the world’s most famous arena.
The show began at 8 PM with Dabin opening up the stage. People were still filing in but Dabin put on an insane show with some of his classics to wow the crowd. He played for about 40 minutes before Said the Sky took the stage. It just so happened that Said the Sky encountered some technical difficulties with his computer but Dabin came to the rescue with his computer and the 2 played a spontaneous B2B set. The two played melodic songs that pleased the Garden crowd. Soon enough, the special guest of the evening, Adventure Club, stepped on the stage to perform a dubstep filled set with melodic vocals which seemed to be the perfect direct support for ILLENIUM.
When 10:15 came around, Adventure Club stepped off the stage and we stood still for a small intermission for stage change for the main event of the evening. As soon as the clock hit 10:30, the lights went out and suddenly above the stage stood the man of the hour, ILLENIUM, playing a guitar with the spotlight lit on him. It was a scene out of a movie as the crowd roared in excitement. By this time, the entire Madison Square Garden was now filled and all eyes were on the headlining act. After a few songs in, Dabin, Said the Sky and Day all took the stage in different areas to perform their own instruments. Dabin was on bass, Said the Sky on the guitar and Day on the drums. Throughout the set, ILLENIUM would grab the guitar a handful of times himself to perform instrumentally as well. They played all the crowd favorites. From songs on his new Ascend album to songs from his previous albums Awake, it seemed like he played it all. You could tell the fans in the arena were passionate about his music as the entire arena sang along to every one of his songs. There were a lot of pyrotechnics and lasers incorporated into his set which only made the experience more captivating. When the time closed in out midnight, ILLENIUM brought out his good friend, Annika Wells to perform ‘Sad Songs’ and ended the night with ‘Good Things Fall Apart’.
Madison Square Garden is undoubtedly a special place to perform but to sell out the Garden is simply historic. He now joins the ranks of legends of music as one of the few artists who were able to accomplish this astounding achievement. This is just the beginning of his ongoing Ascend Album Tour so make sure you go and check out his show when he visits a city near you as this was definitely one of the best acts of the year.
Photo credit: Carly Boyle/MSG Photos