Pete Lights Up Ones and Twos
The hottest party of the night Friday, June 22, had to be at Axis/Radius nightclub in Old Town Scottsdale. That’s because Fall Out Boy’s undeclared spokesman and notorious ruckus-causer bassist, Pete Wentz, took care of the ones and twos for a DJ set at the club.
Wentz came to the venue after his band’s concert at Cricket Pavilion, where the pop-punk outfit headlined the Honda Civic Tour.
Wentz ditched his ever-present hoodie for a more hipster look while he DJed, wearing a gray vest over a black T-shirt and sporting a black baseball cap.
His Fall Out Boy set ended at about 10:45 p.m., and he arrived at the club looking spiffy a little after midnight. For an hour and a half, the music was under Wentz’s control, as he played a banging mix of oldies and new hits.
Wentz kept the music pretty pure, opting to play about one-and-a-half minute segments of songs without much alteration to the beats.
His talent lied in the sequence of the songs, as he transitioned between contemporary artists like Gwen Stefani and Nelly Furtado and older hits by Michael Jackson and Bon Jovi. The songs flowed well because beats matched up in unique ways, and Wentz’s selection was very impressive.
Axis/Radius is usually known for having more present-day hip-hop and pop hits, but the packed dance floor and just-as-congested upstairs embraced the older songs by Journey and even Nirvana.
Wentz brought an energy that just made everything work, and people sang along and threw their hands up throughout the set.
While there were a couple of emo-looking girls in the crowd showing off their tattoos and Hot Topic garb, and fans clamoring near the DJ booth snapping pictures, most of the clubgoers looked like typical Axis/Radius fare, dressed up trendily.
It seemed like most clubbers were unaware of who Wentz was - let alone that he was DJing there - possibly because many Fall Out Boy fans are underage.
Wentz didn’t talk to any of the fans; he just focused on his music, staring at his computer, listening in his earphones and singing along to the songs he chose.
His friend Gabe Saporta, lead singer of Fall Out Boy opener Cobra Starship, was another story, though. Saporta danced with and hugged plenty of fans, plus he posed for several pictures. He also hyped up the crowd by wildly throwing his hands up during every song and singing along.
Fall Out Boy drummer Andy Hurley was also spotted sitting down at a VIP table on the floor near the DJ booth. His table was left alone for the most part.
Axis/Radius was probably a great place for Wentz to DJ considering he wasn’t bothered and got to focus on his music, which the crowd seemed to eat up.
Fall Out Boy should be back on the road this fall, so Wentz may be back in a Valley booth soon.
Axis/Radius, Fall Out Boy, Pete Wentz, Honda Civic Tour, DJ, emo, fans, Gabe Saporta, Cobra Starship, Andy Hurley, VIP
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