Spice Girls Night Phoenix - DJ Jeffrey - Photo Credit: Katherine Amy Vega

REVIEW: Spice Girls Night at The Van Buren Reminds Us We Will Forever Be Generation Next 5-26-18

PHOENIX — Anyone with nostalgia for the 90s would have been in seventh heaven Saturday night at The Van Buren as they hosted Club 90’s “Spice Girls Night”. Everywhere you looked, clubbers were decked out in their favorite Spice Girls attire. Girls rocking the signature Baby Spice pigtails could be seen laughing over cocktails, with their less formally dressed Sporty Spice counterparts, while a six foot tall male Scary Spice walked the event with his elegantly dressed Posh Spice girlfriend at his side. The air buzzed with the excitement of everyone ready to get inside and party like it was once again 1999.

Spice Girls Night dance crowd
A huge, colorful crowd on the dancefloor at Spice Girls Night Phoenix
Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © Kataklizmic Design. All Rights Reserved.

If you were lucky enough to be one of the first 400 attendees, you got your choice of a pin featuring one of the fabulous five from the “Say You’ll Be There” music video, and this was just the first of many opportunities to show love for your favorite girl. A photo booth sat just outside the auditorium, giving hyped fans the chance to pose with different props and cutouts. There were “Team” signs for each girl, and fun accessories that jazzed up the photos, which printed out on a free photo strip  a unique gift for the partiers to take with them.

5 Spice Girls fans - Photo credit: Katherine Amy Vega
Group of 5 Spice Girls fans repping each member.
Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © Kataklizmic Design. All Rights Reserved.

There was even a Spice Girls costume contest that commenced throughout the night, giving everyone the chance to vote for their favorite look alike. The competition was tough however, as there were so many groups that made a valiant effort to look just like them. Some even took on their personalities as well, talking in accents to one another and striking their signature poses for photos.  

DJ Jeffery
Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © Kataklizmic Design. All Rights Reserved.

Onstage, DJ Jeffery could be seen amongst multicolored strobe lights and smoke, spinning anything from 90s to early 2000s pop, R&B, rock, and hip hop. In addition to the Spice Girls, DJ Jeffery played a great selection pop-favorites such as: Ace of Base, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson, Dream, A-Teens, Vengaboys, B*witched, Eifle 65, Destiny’s Child, and Sisqo – which turned the crowd amusingly raunchy like clockwork. Incorporating hit songs from other genres during that era, Shania Twain, blink-182, and Evanescence were also in rotation, and each new song was met with an uproar of cheers and arms carelessly thrown in the air as the DJ kept the party going.

Britney Spears playing on screen - Photo credit: Katherine Amy Vega
Britney Spears’ “Stronger” music video plays on the big screen for an amped crowd.
Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © Kataklizmic Design. All Rights Reserved.

The electrified dance floor was packed from start to finish as the diverse crowd danced the night away to some of their old favorites, creating a beautiful sense of unity. DJ Jeffery was into it just as much as the crowd on the dance floor, jumping up and down while occasionally chanting the lyrics, as the music videos flashed across a large screen which really pumped up the fans.


He even took a minute between songs to engage the crowd in a cheer-based vote on which Spice Girl was the favorite. To no one’s surprise really, the winner was Posh (Victoria Beckham).

Packed dancefloor - Photo credit: Katherine Amy Vega
Spice Girls Night Phoenix united fans
Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega © Kataklizmic Design. All Rights Reserved.

It was clear from the start that this night was special to anyone who attended it. Those that weren’t old enough to go out clubbing when this music was new were finally able to go wild to it as adults. It was a chance to relive that era alongside others who loved it just as much made it more than just a dance party. Complete strangers feverishly danced alongside each other to the nonstop beats, mouthing the well-ingrained lyrics to one another, and the energy level continued to soar as the night went on. Spice Girls Night brought generations and a unique fanbase together to commemorate the greatness that was 90s pop music and arguably the greatest girl group of all time.

 

PHOTO ALBUM

Photographer: Katherine Amy Vega

Spice Girls Night Phoenix: Club 90s – The Van Buren 5-26-18

Photography © Katherine Amy Vega, Kataklizmic Design
All Rights Reserved.

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Katie Silverman on Facebook
Katie Silverman
Music Journalist at Burning Hot Events
Writer, Photographer, avid fan of Role Playing Games and Harry Potter. Dog lover and craft beer enthusiast. Occasionally wears hard hats.

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