Lightning In A Bottle | The Do Lab | Complete Photo Album

Music festivals have found themselves in a surge previously thought unimaginable. What was once “one rave here” or “one Coachella there” has turned into “Festival Season” and “Festival Season Leading to Festival Season.” There are relatively countless events to attend of all shapes and sizes. Now that people are succumbing to what truly makes a festival special, experiences are more easily shaped towards the fan’s wants and needs. There is now a fourth dimension: vibes. This is coming from someone who has been to almost every West Coast festival on multiple occasions for the past half decade; Lightning In A Bottle is of another realm. Check after the jump for pictures and more!

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Wolfmother

I’m cut. I’m bruised. I’m sore. And I owe it all to Wolfmother. This week marked the near three year anniversary of this hard rock sensation’s last trip the the U.S. Finally headed our way from the down under, Wolfmother, formerly disbanded, came together to tackle southern California in a way few could really say they were prepared for. With the first date at the historic Troubadour in LA selling out within minutes, they scheduled another for the following week; frustratingly selling out even faster than the first. When all was thought to be lost, Orange County got love with a show at the Observatory, and my dream of seeing these guys out of a festival setting was that much closer to becoming reality.

Wolfmother – Dimension
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/Music/07%20Dimension.mp3]
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London Grammar | Buy the EPs

Chris Douridas and mfg’s School Night is known for bringing the best of the underground to Bardot Hollywood. This week, the team brought a very special act: London Grammar. What made it even more special was the fact that this was the trio’s US debut. We caught a live experience of their beautiful vocals and tunes.

Disclosure – Help Me to Lose My Mind (ft. London Grammar)
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/Music/disclosure/14%20Help%20Me%20Lose%20My%20Mind.mp3]
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Lightning In A Bottle Info | The Do Lab | VMC | Tickets

With Lightning In A Bottle slowly but surely creeping up on the horizon, patience continues to wear thin. The Do Lab are teaming up with the new Venice Music Crawl in (you guessed it) Venice Beach, California! This event series takes over the many bars and venues of the beautiful city, and turn it into an experienced filled with great music in one of the most liberal places in the country. This is a good thing! Also check the Nico song below to prep for LIB fest. Trust.

If you’re in San Francisco, there’s fun for you too! The party is TONIGHT! Get at it.

Nicolas Jaar – Russian Dolls (Ryan Crosson remix)
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/Music/02%20Russian%20Dolls%20%28Ryan%20Crosson%20remix%29.mp3]

SET TIMES

12:00 DJ Ora
1:15 Jeniluv
2:30 Shayn Almeida
3:45 Henry Pope
5:00 Loomer
6:15 Ancona
7:30 Sammy Bliss
8:45 Jesse Wright
10:00 jOBOT
11:15 Gina Calderoni
12:30AM Shawna

Focus OC | Kaskade | Josh Billings

All the rumors were laid to rest last Tuesday as Focus OC’s 10 year anniversary was finally underway. The 300 person venue was filled with lucky patrons anxious to see if all the hype would result in an unforgettable night or the biggest let down of the new decade…debatably, of course. With all the talk surrounding the possibility of Kaskade playing a ridiculously intimate show in Orange County, I thought it could only go so many ways. My worry was that the place was going to be uncomfortably packed with bandwagoners who overpaid on scalped tickets. Josh Billings, Focus OC’s head honcho, fortunately had the answer.

With each ticket being attained through an in-person purchase and individual assignment, every attendant earned their place. A feeling of achievement rushed through the crowd when everyone’s trust in Focus paid off with Kaskade taking the decks. There was almost too much room! That place heated up like a sauna from everyone keeping the energy high. Kaskade didn’t make it any easier to keep cool. He had us all grooving through his two hour set; packed with his decade old classics and some of the hottest deep house tracks of today. I have never been to a show of stadium selling caliber at such an intimate spot. The vibes were just as powerful. I had a chance to talk to Josh about his accomplishment on the monumental night. Check their 10 year anniversary mix and the interview after the jump!

Ticket holders! If you saved your ticket you can go for FREE to part 2 of their 10 year anniversary with an exclusive set from Focus’s own DJs (Josh Billings, Wobs, & Nonfiction) this Tuesday!

Focus DJ’s 10 Year Anniversary Live Opening Set (Right Click > Save As)
[audio:http://liveatfocus.com/mp3s/Focus-DJs-Live-At-Focus-6-4-13.mp3]

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Classixx | Buy Hanging Gardens | Holy Ghost! | PHOTOS

Last Sunday in Orange County marked the first day of the Holy Ghost! / Classixx tour. With the recent release of the DFA Records mini doc and Classixx debut album Hanging Gardens, there was a considerable amount of hype around the evening. Classixx are no strangers to Southern California, and though many in attendance had seen them before (myself included), this was the dawn of their new era. Let’s just say they’re ready to take on the resurgence of LIVE music head on. With their synths lined up and mics at the ready, they took the crowd on a whole new journey. They even brought out a member of Holy Ghost to play the guitar! It couldn’t have been more rock and roll, despite playing a primarily house and dance music set; proving they were the choice openers for the big show.

Classixx – Holding On
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/Music/03%20Holding%20On.mp3]

Holy Ghost! – Wait & See
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/Music/02%20Wait%20And%20See.mp3]

Behind Classixx was a series of gadgets and gizmos seemingly towering over the stage. Control boards, synths galore, drums, pianos…It was like an electronic and tech nerd’s playground. Holy Ghost took the stage with 6 men strong and appropriately covered the entire stage. Throughout the performance, the members would switch between instruments, having their turn at everything the set up offered. There’s nothing that adds to the energy of a performance more than when the artists are moving around, staying active, and interacting with the crowd. This being Holy Ghost’s first club show in some time proved to bring the crowd together in a special way. Their live set up was one of the coolest, most interactive I’ve seen. Looking forward to both of these artists’ promising careers.

My first trip to Texas for this world renowned festival was better than I could have ever imagined. Where to begin? The barbeque? The surprises? The free alcohol? Well first off, it’s not a “music festival” in the same way most of us are familiar with the term. No big fields. No main stage. No ticket necessary. Just so long as you’re ready for an adventure; ready to walk around to the hundreds of restaurants, venues, and bars of downtown Austin, Texas, you are in for a treat. Check after the jump for everything you’d want to know about SXSW and the highlights of 2013.

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