He covered just about every genre he could lay his hands on, culminating in his thumping radio hit Earthquake, a definite highlight of the evening.
He was succeeded by dubstep duo Nero, who instantly won the Largest DJ Table Award, with the sunglass-wearing DJs rolling out atop a towering black citadel.
With the fashionably late older demographic now flooding in, a teeming mass of bowing bass worshipers started to bounce and pay homage to Nero's giant altar of noise.
They went down a treat with the appreciative congregation, with their dark synths and low-slung dubstep beats garnishing huge applause.
It was getting past 1am as Nero's monolith was replaced by a modest wooden table holding up an assortment of technology.
All humility was quickly banished as larger-than-life DJ Rusko brought the house down, grabbing a microphone to bark out dance orders to his willing crowd.
He brought a human element that perhaps Nero was lacking, and his infectious energy and bombastic beats were a fitting end to a loud and crazy night.
Wait, make that morning. It was now 3am and word was getting round that there was an after party down the road at 1885 bar.
New York might have the label, but for Saturday morning Auckland became the city that never sleeps.
What: R&V Soundcheck
Where: Vector Arena, Auckland
When: Friday, October 5
* nzherald.co.nz will have the full Rhythm & Vines line-up announcement on Monday morning.
