Elektro Exclusive Video: Swedish House ‘saves the world’ (or at least New York) at Madison Square Garden

Swedish House Mafia made history Friday night when they (Steve Angello, Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso) became the first electronic act to headline Madison Square Garden. And in case you’ve been stuck under a large object over the past few months and didn’t hear…the DJ trio performed to the 20,000-seat arena, which sold out in just nine minutes.

The set was as copious and walloping as the audience, which is to say: energy levels were on high. All the Swedish House Mafia classics were rolled out like a red carpet including (but not limited to!), “One,” “Miami 2 Ibiza” (with the onstage accompaniment of rapper Tinie Tempah) and “Save the World,” with singer John Martin, who joined the boys for some live lyrical love.

I spent a great deal of the show with one of the most important "members" of SHM-- their loyal NYC driver, Abdul. As Steve Angello's father-in-law passed by us, Abdul was greeted with bear hugs. He was also greeted by every notable in attendance with the exact  same enthusiasm and affection. To put it plainly, Abdul is the sort of man who knows everyone and can get you in everywhere. Hence, why in spite of the late hour, I joined him at Roseland Ballroom for the after party (more on that another day).

In true SHM tradition (one that started at the Britain’s Creamfields festival a year ago), Sebastian Ingrosso cut out the music at one point in the show. The whole crowd was instructed to sit down. We did what we were told and waited heatedly since most of us knew what was coming. After an interminable two minutes sitting, the bass finally dropped and all of MSG jumped back to their feet, glow sticks flying and cameras flashing in all directions. Ever since, there have been thousands upon thousands of videos circulating the Net all weekend, which document people’s snap shots and video clips from Friday's epic evening.

That said it makes me ponder if anyone lives in the moment these days? Not to be a ninny or a philosophizer, but I’m just sayin’! The only way to be at a show and experience it fully is to put down that damn iPhone, flip cam and digital camera so you can dance and take it all in. Swedish House Mafia's historical evening was my chance to do this. After all, I had a professional shutterbug backstage and onstage, which you'll find in hard-copy (yes, I said "hard-copy" and no, it is not a dirty word) Elektro Magazine in 2012.

OK OK! I had to bring you, ElektroDaily.com readers, a little something. So, admittedly I took out the iPhone- just a COUPLE of times. This particular video is special because it showcases the usually hard-partying, sarcasm-infused Swedish House Mafia taking to the mic, which they did various times througout the night to give an honest and excited thanks to New Yorkers and the Garden.

Below, Steve Angello says, "New York! Madison Square Garden! My name is Steve Angello, this is Sebastian Ingrosso...Axwell. We're the Swedish House Mafia! New York-- make some noise!"

And 'noise' is precisely what New York made.

Also check out the complete Tracklist from MSG:

Tracklist

01. Axwell & Sebastian Ingrosso feat. Michael Feiner – Together (The Attic Intro Edit) w/ Alesso – Nillionaire [Refune]
02. ID
03. Michael Calfan – Resurrection (Axwell’s Recut Club Version) [Axtone] w/ Axwell feat. Steve Edwards – Watch The Sunrise (Acappella) [Axtone]
04. Nari & Milani – Atom [Size]
05. David Guetta & Afrojack – Lunar [EMI]
06. Deniz Koyu – Hydra [Joia] w/ Adele – Set Fire To The Rain (Thomas Gold Remix) [XL]
07. Sebastian Ingrosso & Alesso – Calling (Instrumental Mix) [Refune]
08. Feenixpawl & Ivan Gough feat. Georgi Kay – In My Mind [Axtone]
09. Deniz Koyu – Tung! [Flamingo] w/ Calvin Harris – Feel So Close [Sony] 
10. Niki & The Dove – Mother Protect (Alex Metric Remix) [EMI] w/ Afrojack – Replica [Wall]
11. Axwell – Heart Is King [Axtone] w/ R.E.M – Losing My Religion (Acappella) [Sony] w/ Ferry Corsten – Punk (Arty ‘Rock-N-Rolla’ Remix) [Flashover]
12. James Blunt – Dangerous (Deniz Koyu & Johan Wedel Remix) [Atlantic] (Axwell Edit)
13. Deniz Koyu – Hertz [Flamingo] w/ Cassius – I Love U So
14. Michael Woods – Bullet [Diffused] w/ Nero – Promises (Calvin Harris Remix) [MTA]
15. Pendulum – The Island (Steve Angello, AN21 & Max Vangeli Remix) [Size / One More Tune] w/ R3hab & Swanky Tunes feat. Max C – Sending My Love [Wall] 16. Arty, Matisse & Sadko – Trio [Axtone]
17. Dirty South & Those Usual Suspects feat. Erik Hecht – Walking Alone [Phazing] w/ Swedish House Mafia vs. Tinie Tempah – Miami 2 Ibiza [Virgin] (Live Vocals) w/ Dirty South & Those Usual Suspects feat. Erik Hecht – Walking Alone (Acappella) [Phazing]
18. Swedish House Mafia vs. Knife Party – Antidote (Vocal Mix) [EMI]
19. Tommy Trash – The End [Downright] w/ Florence and The Machine – You’ve Got The Love (Mark Knight Remix) [Toolroom] w/ Swedish House Mafia – One [Virgin]
20. Axwell feat. Errol Reid – Nothing But Love (Remode Mix) [Axtone] w/ Arty – Around The World [Anjunabeats]
21. Steve Angello – Yeah [Size]
22. John Dahlback feat. Erik Hassle – One Last Ride (Tommy Trash Remix) [Mutants / Big Beat]
23. Diddy, Dirty Money feat. Skylar Grey – Coming Home (Dirty South Remix) [Interscope] w/ Daft Punk – Aerodynamic [Virgin] w/ Hard Rock Sofa – Quasar [Axtone]
24. Nadia Ali, Alex Kenji & Starkillers – Pressure (Alesso Remix) [Spinnin] w/ Coldplay – Fix You [EMI]
25. Coldplay vs. Swedish House Mafia – Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall [Parlophone]
26. Swedish House Mafia feat. John Martin – Save The World [EMI] (Live Vocals)
27. The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition (Axwell & Dirty South Remix) [Infectious] w/ Adrian Lux – Teenage Crime (Axwell & Henrik B Remode) [Axtone]
28. Steve Angello, Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso & Laidback Luke feat. Deborah Cox – Leave The World Behind [Axtone] w/ DEVolution feat. Amy Pearson – Good Love (Alesso Remix) w/ Green Velvet – Flash (Nicky Romero Remix) [Relief]
29. Steve Angello & Laidback Luke vs. Robin S – Show Me Love [Ministry Of Sound] w/ Axwell feat. Max C – I Found U [Axtone] w/ Steve Angello – Knas [Size]