See the full 44-photo Amnesia Grand Opening With Bob Sinclar slideshow.
Bob Sinclar
With Philippe B.
Amnesia Miami
Friday, October 21, 2011
Better Than: A foam party, which the old Amnesia Miami was known for.
It was the same charming faces in a new and unexplored domain. Well, at least new for those partygoers who frequent South Beach's bottle-service club circuit in 2011.
It's been 15 years since the original club Amnesia Miami set new standards for SoBe nightlife in the mid '90s. Though most of the ladies and gents swarming the place for its grand opening this weekend were just kiddies then.
Returning to its original location, Amnesia boasts 29,000 square feet and a capacity of about 1,700. The Spanish tile, sporadic palm trees, and garden fencing give it an easygoing feel with the big-money club vibe. Beachy, yet somewhat posh. The lights, lasers, and LED screens were damn impressive too.
And gigantic is an understatement. A gladiator arena comes to mind when checking out the place -- a sizable and unobstructed dance floor surrounded by elevated seating for spectators. The VIP peep out from their tables on the balconies on the second floor.
The club flaunted standard gimmicks for a high-stature nightclub on the Beach: Amnesia-branded Wayfarer sunglasses, multicolored light-up batons, confetti, and -- of course -- sparkler-lit bottles of champagne. Nothing screams South Beach like sparkling magnums of bubbly.
Bob Sinclar, the French DJ, producer, and co-owner of this new SoBe spot, played standard commercial house classics like Eurythmics' "Sweet Deams" and Swedish House Mafia's "One." He was quite David Guetta-esque, but whipped out some unexpected gems like Luciano's "Lady Luck" and his own "Far l'Amore" at just the right moments. On several occasions, he grabbed the mic to ask the crowd, "How you doin' Miami?" To which it responded with a roar, of course.
So the opening night of the new Amnesia Miami was a success, judged by the smiles from the drunken staggering crowd at the end of night. But can the Amnesia of today live up to the legend of the '90s? Or its counterparts elsewhere in the world, like in Ibiza? With Bob Sinclar as a resident and an upcoming lineup featuring Felix Da Housecat, Manuel de la Mare, and TV Rock, it's definitely a possibility.
But the buzz around town is mixed. Are sequels or comebacks ever as epic as the originals?
Critic's Notebook
The Crowd: Button-ups and bottle rats.
Random Detail: People were getting freaky on the stairs.
Overheard in the Crowd: "This club is going to be the Space of South Beach."
Setlist
-Bob Sinclar's "Far l'Amore"
-Cee Lo Green's "Fuck You"
-Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams"
-The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army"
-Swedish House Mafia's "One"
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