Just before 9:30pm we pull up to the infamous parking lot beside The Guv and start to walk towards the end of the line, like the many thousands before us have done. Wrapping around the building onto Lower Jarvis, it was just another day for the diehards huddling in line bopping their heads to the bass thumps shaking the building.
Photo Courtesy of VisualBass
Doors opened at 10:00pm like always, but this night was unlike any other night since The Guvernment Complex opened their doors, 18 years ago. The music was thumping and I could feel the bass vibrating down to my feet. As I walked out of the hallway into the main room, I could feel an energy and vibe that I had never felt before. It was something so special to see everyone gathering for one last time to pay respects to Toronto’s legendary night club.
Resident DJs and ambassadors of the long running Saturday night residency Manzone and Strong (alongside local veteran and longest running employee other than Charles himself, Mr. Mark Oliver) definitely delivered a proper opening set, building up the crowd for what we were all waiting for. The duo, for many years, once again came correct and had the crowd amped up and going wild for every beat that dropped. By midnight, it was on – the atmosphere was electric, people were dancing like the night was never going to end. The anticipation was building for the pinnacle for this night, Toronto native Joel Zimmerman, the guy in the mouse head.
At around 1:00am, Deadmau5, alongside Charles Khabouth (Owner) came on stage to give tribute to Mark Oliver by presenting him with a gift from The Toronto Rave Community faithfuls. It was definitely a special moment for him and everybody associated with the complex over the past decade.
Enter the robots, Deadmau5 started to perform and wasted no time giving us one last show we would never forget, by laying down a 20 minute special live version of Strobe. From his famous Mau5head, the robotics that were flown in from Vegas and the light show that nearly burnt the roof off the building, it was in true fashion a Deadmau5 show. He even poked fun at his appearance from the Ultra Music Festival in Miami by playing a few seconds of ‘Levels’ by Avicii. then quickly stopping it, yelling out “fuck that!”. Onward he went taking everyone on a journey through his music new and old. The crowd was now in ‘that’ moment.
Photo Courtesy of VisualBass
Around 4:00am, Deadmau5 unhooked his wires and thanked us all for being a part of the final Guv night and turned it over to none other than Mark Oliver to take us into the sunrise as he’s done for so many years. The transition was smooth and he kept everyone moving by laying down some proper beats. Playing a bit of everything, he ended the finale with some familiar old school trance songs which was a nice homage to the early days of this over saturated scene we all love.
Photo Courtesy of BestofToronto.net
Overall the entire night was amazing, everyone was there for the same thing, the music, to be part of history and to dance until the sun came up at the legendary Guvernment Nightclub one last time. I’m sure everyone will agree it was a night for the books and one we will never, ever forget.
Charles dropping the very last record at the Guv! – Courtesy of VisualBass Photography
Written by: Keneisha Marie (Elektric Entertainment)
Edited by: Ryan Aremcee and Julia Corrente
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