Hardwell at Starlight Ballroom Philadelphia: 5 Tracks You Need To Know

by: Jacob Schulman Dec 4, 2011

Robert Hardwell took Philadelphia by storm this past Thursday, where he delivered a set to a room full of college students with an insatiable appetite for electronic music. This was the DJ’s first time in the city, but it was certainly well worth the wait. While his mentor Tiesto catered to New York socialites at Lavo, Hardwell had the task of tailoring a set to a distinctly different type of crowd. The CO2 guns were out in full force, however, cooling down the audience every so often as a reprieve from Hardwell’s hard-hitting tunes. We were surprised by the number of unrecognizable tracks we heard throughout the night, but managed to pull together a list of the five you simply need to know. Read all about them below.

Hardwell – Cobra (Original Mix)

Yes this track still sounds like Peacetreaty’s remix of “Heard of Us” but it’s also a pump-up tune with a hypnotic loop and inviting build. This track feels distinctly Hardwell, but you can also hear the Tiesto influence in its progression and composition. If you haven’t heard it yet, make sure to add it to your iTunes library ASAP. Hardwell dropped it with the “Walking on a Dream” acapella, but it’s just as good on its own.

Quintino vs Example – Epic The Way You Kissed Me (Hardwell Mashup)

Quintino’s “Epic” is an underrated club banger but pairs magically with Example’s vocal from “The Way You Kissed Me.” This track perfectly describes the feel of Hardwell’s set this Thursday evening, and it’s another one you shouldn’t miss.

Zedd – Shave It (Original Mix)

Zedd’s electro stylings felt right at home in this uncharacteristically-electro set from Hardwell. It blended nicely with the more recently electrified productions that Hardwell’s been outing himself, but also served as a great way to break things up. It sounds something like a blend of Mord Fustang, Wolfgang Gartner, and Steve Aoki, but there’s something about this particular track that will entice even the pickiest house enthusiasts.

Tiesto featuring Hardwell vs The Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero 76 vs Heads Will Roll (Del Pello Reboot)

Sure these are two oldies but goodies, but they also sound even more epic when you splice them for back-to-back-to-back drops. The “Heads Will Roll” drops serve as great breaks in the Tiesto synths, and everyone always freaks out whenever they show up in a set.

Tiesto – Maximal Crazy (Original Mix)

Hardwell played “Maximal Crazy” as his last track of the night, and the only words to describe it besides maximal crazy are absolute mayhem. The entire stage was flooded with fans dancing, uh, crazily, and the look on Hardwell’s face was priceless. It was a fitting end to a night of great music and a sure-fire way to end on a high note.