Well I never thought I’d see the day, but here is my first post on the “god of trance” himself: Tiesto. As I’ve said before I don’t like to hate on other music, but in the past I never found a reason to go looking for his stuff. Not sure why. The one thing that seemed to be unanimous about the guy was that his live shows are among nothing else. I missed Tiesto at Coachella ’10 because 2 Many DJ’s were set to rock at the same time and I wasn’t about to miss my boys. My friends said Tiesto’s light show was SO good that they blacked out and don’t remember it. Bit of a hype up huh? I never wanted to go out of my way to see him, but when your openers are Porter Robinson, Dada Life, and Diplo; and your tickets are for $40 after fees; and you’re breaking the record for highest attendance for any single DJ; I’d be a fool to not attend. It was a undoubtedly a damn, memorable night.
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concert recall
Well I never thought I’d see the day, but here is my first post on the “god of trance” himself: Tiesto. As I’ve said before I don’t like to hate on other music, but in the past I never found a reason to go looking for his stuff. Not sure why. The one thing that seemed to be unanimous about the guy was that his live shows are among nothing else. I missed Tiesto at Coachella ’10 because 2 Many DJ’s were set to rock at the same time and I wasn’t about to miss my boys. My friends said Tiesto’s light show was SO good that they blacked out and don’t remember it. Bit of a hype up huh? I never wanted to go out of my way to see him, but when your openers are Porter Robinson, Dada Life, and Diplo; and your tickets are for $40 after fees; and you’re breaking the record for highest attendance for any single DJ; I’d be a fool to not attend. It was a undoubtedly a damn, memorable night.
(more…)
FULL POST
FULL POST
Tijs Michiel Verwest, Stepping in and out of the spotlight since 97’, is one of the most respected producers in electronic music history. He released 5 studio albums, was titled “World’s Best DJ” on 3 separate occasions, dated a Dutch model and is better known under his alias, Tiesto. Spouting facts like a broken trivia fountain, I could gloat about his accomplishments for days.. but to keep it short n sweet, there’s an immense militia of trance warriors that would courageously follow him into battle, the man has an army.
Tiesto is the Meca for house lovers. When word broke out that Big T would ride through town on his dazzling white stallion, people started raging. The windows of IV viciously shook, not from pounding techno music, but from fist pumping induced atmospheric depressurization. So I didn’t want to go.
Long story short, I was offered a reasonably priced ticket the morning of the show.. and I can never say no to a good bargain ^_^
So I went.
A smile as big as the moon gleamed off my face as I neared the illustrious SB Bowl. Excitement coursed inside me like liquid electricity. This was a beautiful moment.
Despite my glowing positivity, #collegeinvasiontour shat on my face.
· I got there at 8pm, Tiesto was already spinning. dafuck? I was expecting this guy to wake up the sun with me.
· Fire marshall was posted with the volume knob in his tight grip. There was no bass. I blindly scavenged through crowds in a desperate search for just a little taste. The place was wobless.
· Security was unnecessarily heavy. I couldn’t even bust a move without a yellowshirt breathing down my neck.
· His set was SO bland. Avicii’s Levels, really? I’m paying 50 dollars, give me something FRESH. Lets be real, Kaskade did it better.
Tiesto, I thought you were the best? I was ready to embark on a journey; instead you gave me Hypem’s top 10 of the summer. You’re milking that retirement fund like a champ.
I thought my night was dead and buried, but then out of the cold, thick air, I received a magical text. Porter Robinson was to play an inconspicuous private show in my neighbor’s backyard. My friends were sure it was a hoax, but low and behold the boy prodigy made an appearance.
About a hundred people on a beachside balcony, probably the most intimate show I’ve ever been to. Everyone was sippin on glass brews and blunts were in roto like free candy. I kept trying to pass the bleezy to PR, but he was vibed out, completely engulfed by the music. The set was flawless, the crowd was rowdy and the night was salvaged.
Ed Banger’s very own SebastiAn made his almost scheduled yearly return to Los Angeles last Friday, teaming up with Sharooz, Destructo, and a surprisingly talented and sexy opener. Last time I got to be victim to his relentless bass was HARD Haunted Mansion 2010. Before that was the tragedy of HARD summer 2009 that he didn’t even get to play at, and even before that was HARD Haunted Mansion 2008. AKA the rave that woke America up. I’ll never forget when he opened…slamming on Motor and going to a remix of the Strokes that never seemed to surface on the internet. It was everything you’d dream a sebastiAn show to sound like live. Heavy. Massive. Distorted. Packed with samples. Filled with bass. I could go on forever. Nothing but sweetness! What put this show aside from the formers, other than the fact that it wasn’t a HARD event, was that this time he came locked and loaded with a new live set at his own show.
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FULL POST
Ed Banger’s very own SebastiAn made his almost scheduled yearly return to Los Angeles last Friday, teaming up with Sharooz, Destructo, and a surprisingly talented and sexy opener. Last time I got to be victim to his relentless bass was HARD Haunted Mansion 2010. Before that was the tragedy of HARD summer 2009 that he didn’t even get to play at, and even before that was HARD Haunted Mansion 2008. AKA the rave that woke America up. I’ll never forget when he opened…slamming on Motor and going to a remix of the Strokes that never seemed to surface on the internet. It was everything you’d dream a sebastiAn show to sound like live. Heavy. Massive. Distorted. Packed with samples. Filled with bass. I could go on forever. Nothing but sweetness! What put this show aside from the formers, other than the fact that it wasn’t a HARD event, was that this time he came locked and loaded with a new live set at his own show.
(more…)
Caught Casey Veggies, Schoolboy Q, and Kendrick Lamar at The Music Box last Friday — second time I’ve got to see him but first time solo w/o the rest of Black Hippy. What a night. Dream Urban should’ve given Kendrick a trojan before he fucked our minds. A historic night for hip-hop and the West Coast. The Music Box has the best sound system I’ve heard from a venue that size, I literally was knocked back at every bass kick. I kinda want to catch even average artists in the future there just for the system. Kendrick played all the hits, brought out Snoop, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Game, and Big Sean came out and played “I Do It.” The crowd kept murmuring as they looked up to see Snoop and Dre sitting up on the balcony next to each other. The show ended with an emotional moment between everyone on stage and a metaphorical passing of the torch from Game and Snoop (who the fuck gave Game the torch ?) and some moisture from Kendrick… that went straight into Hii PoWeR. I’m struggling to put how crazy this show was into words, watch this video to understand what I’m trying to say:
To top it off I turned 21 at midnight and afterwards got to say whatup to Ab-Soul, Talib, and got in a pic with Kendrick. Yes.
FULL POST
Caught Casey Veggies, Schoolboy Q, and Kendrick Lamar at The Music Box last Friday — second time I’ve got to see him but first time solo w/o the rest of Black Hippy. What a night. Dream Urban should’ve given Kendrick a trojan before he fucked our minds. A historic night for hip-hop and the West Coast. The Music Box has the best sound system I’ve heard from a venue that size, I literally was knocked back at every bass kick. I kinda want to catch even average artists in the future there just for the system. Kendrick played all the hits, brought out Snoop, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Game, and Big Sean came out and played “I Do It.” The crowd kept murmuring as they looked up to see Snoop and Dre sitting up on the balcony next to each other. The show ended with an emotional moment between everyone on stage and a metaphorical passing of the torch from Game and Snoop (who the fuck gave Game the torch ?) and some moisture from Kendrick… that went straight into Hii PoWeR. I’m struggling to put how crazy this show was into words, watch this video to understand what I’m trying to say:
To top it off I turned 21 at midnight and afterwards got to say whatup to Ab-Soul, Talib, and got in a pic with Kendrick. Yes.
Outside Lands saw its fourth year in Golden Gate Park last weekend, and we were able to go lounge and get down in one of my favorite places in the world. There’s a lot in San Francisco that you can only get in San Francisco, but there’s something about the people there that make all the difference. The spirit of the city couldn’t have been more tangible and everyone seemed to be on the same page. All troubles and worries went on hold for that weekend, as we got together to enjoy life with some of the most talented well-known and underground artists of our time. From sneaking back stage and meeting the Shins to being packed in the front for Black Keys and Muse to seeing deadmau5’s new live set in person, the memories continued to stack from beginning to end. Another year in the fields, another successful weekend. Here were our favorites.
Best of Outside Lands 2011
(in no particular order)
Starfucker
The Shins
The Black Keys
Deadmau5
Ty Segall
Foster the People
Sound Tribe Sector 9
The Vaccines
Arcade Fire
Muse
Starfucker/STRFKR
I had been running around all day Friday and Saturday telling anyone and everyone to make sure Starfucker didn’t make their “Acts I Should Have Seen” list and the boys proved me right once again. There’s something about the way their synths ring and the way their energy flows that makes them one of my favorite bands to see live. This was the first time I wasn’t seeing them in a more intimate venue, and it didn’t take anything away from the awesomeness. So happy they got a crowd of that size. They deserve it all!
The Shins
The Shins were ultimately what pushed me off the fence in terms of purchasing an Outside Lands ticket, though I’d never heard anything about their live performances before. I wasn’t really expecting much because I’d remembered hearing some recordings that weren’t particularly stunning. It was more that I felt obligated to see them, having been a fan for years. Judging by the size of the crowd, I wasn’t the only one that felt that way. Needless to say they far exceeded my expectations. They have great stage presence; James Mercer is such a talented musician. They played just about everything I was hoping they would, except for “Turn On Me” but hey, I think I’ll live.
The Black Keys
We stuffed ourselves in the heart of the Lands End main stage to catch these guys in their entirety, the way it should be done. After a less than favorable review of their performance at Coachella, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The Black Keys came out and played one of the most raw sets I’ve ever seen. Dan Auerbach (guitars/vocals) came out with a look in his eye that wreaked of satisfaction. Ten years in the game and they held down the stage like their career depended on it. Pat Carney played the drums with such angst that had him dripping with sweat when they closed. The live show changed everything, even when I thought I couldn’t like them anymore than I already did.
Deadmau5
Finally back in the mau5 hut after a year and a half since I had seen him last. After all the hype and videos surfacing around the web I had to ensure a good spot to make sure my brain melts proper. Deadmau5 is on tour almost every night, flying around the world from one show to another. Yet he still has the energy and poise to come out and have fun with the crowd. So fun to watch and even more fun to dance to. His sets are always packed with the future of mau5 and everything you want to hear from before.
Ty Segall
Ty was stuffed on the smaller stage of the four, but he played like a headliner and got the crowd response to match. I lost control and ran into the pit after that video to crowd surf and pay my respects to the legend. Hadn’t done that in years and I don’t know why! But that’s just the effect they had on me that day. His live shows are always action packed, and this one proved to be no different. Definitely cool to see him get such a response in his hometown. We got ‘hella’ love for Ty Segall. Oh and I’m really starting to think they actually spelled his name wrong on the poster haha. Two L’s bro.
Foster the People
I almost instantly fell in love with Foster the People when their EP came out earlier this year and was really bummed when I missed them at Coachella. I even sat through Tinie Tempah (worst performance I have ever experienced) to see them but still missed it. All I can say is seeing them at OSL definitely made up for missing them at Coachella and might have actually made up for Tinie Tempah. If I didn’t love them before seeing them live, I do now. Their performance was spot on and so much fun.
STS9
Sound Tribe Sector 9 just sounded like a cool name before I got to witness all their glory live. They’ve made the bill of lots of major festivals around the world and their live show was held to much critical acclaim from anyone that’s seen them. They concocted a combination of electro in a sort of Glitch Mob way with psychedelic guitar riffs as they jammed through the whole set. Lots of funky tunes with a hip hop feel that had everyone dancing to the beat of their crazy drummer! Really sweet stuff. Must see!
The Vaccines
The Vaccines have been on tour with Arctic Monkeys and have quickly become one of my favorite breakout bands from 2011 thus far. Their debut album What Did You Expcect from The Vaccines? embodies just what makes British rock really cool and I can’t really think of another way to put it. I expect big things from them in the future because they possess a lot of power and talent. Buzzing guitar, drowning reverb and bouncing beats make for a great live performance. I would go so far as to say they are better live than on record. I’m just sad I missed them performing “Post Break-Up Sex.”
Arcade Fire
I left the glory that is Deadmau5 early in order to see Arcade Fire. They are another band I intended to see yet missed at Coachella this year (I grudgingly recall being dragged out early just as they were playing “Keep the Car Running) so I wasn’t about to miss them again. And I don’t for a second regret leaving Deadmau5, as great as his set was. Arcade Fire are absolutely brilliant performers; another band that sounds even better live than on record. I feel like I forged a different sort of relationship with their music after hearing it live/witnessing their on-stage energy and incredible synergy. They have a really great way of incorporating their audience in their performers. Being there during “Wake-Up” with the whole crowd singing along was almost an otherworldly experience.
MUSE
I have no words for Muse. it was hands down the best performance I have ever experienced. Between the band members’ total synergism and the light show, Muse was worth the price of the ticket. I’m not usually one for light shows, I think they can be pretty tacky but what they had going on was something else. As if they needed anything to enhance the raw energy and musical brilliance they bring to the stage. I definitely got the chills several times during their performance. They left the stage at what appeared to be the end of the show but came back to play “Plug In Baby” and “Knights of Cydonia”–probably the best encore I could think of. Utter brilliance is the best way I can describe their live performance. Cheers.
Love,
Skinny Genes & Witler
FULL POST
Outside Lands saw its fourth year in Golden Gate Park last weekend, and we were able to go lounge and get down in one of my favorite places in the world. There’s a lot in San Francisco that you can only get in San Francisco, but there’s something about the people there that make all the difference. The spirit of the city couldn’t have been more tangible and everyone seemed to be on the same page. All troubles and worries went on hold for that weekend, as we got together to enjoy life with some of the most talented well-known and underground artists of our time. From sneaking back stage and meeting the Shins to being packed in the front for Black Keys and Muse to seeing deadmau5’s new live set in person, the memories continued to stack from beginning to end. Another year in the fields, another successful weekend. Here were our favorites.
Best of Outside Lands 2011
(in no particular order)
Starfucker
The Shins
The Black Keys
Deadmau5
Ty Segall
Foster the People
Sound Tribe Sector 9
The Vaccines
Arcade Fire
Muse
Starfucker/STRFKR
I had been running around all day Friday and Saturday telling anyone and everyone to make sure Starfucker didn’t make their “Acts I Should Have Seen” list and the boys proved me right once again. There’s something about the way their synths ring and the way their energy flows that makes them one of my favorite bands to see live. This was the first time I wasn’t seeing them in a more intimate venue, and it didn’t take anything away from the awesomeness. So happy they got a crowd of that size. They deserve it all!
The Shins
The Shins were ultimately what pushed me off the fence in terms of purchasing an Outside Lands ticket, though I’d never heard anything about their live performances before. I wasn’t really expecting much because I’d remembered hearing some recordings that weren’t particularly stunning. It was more that I felt obligated to see them, having been a fan for years. Judging by the size of the crowd, I wasn’t the only one that felt that way. Needless to say they far exceeded my expectations. They have great stage presence; James Mercer is such a talented musician. They played just about everything I was hoping they would, except for “Turn On Me” but hey, I think I’ll live.
The Black Keys
We stuffed ourselves in the heart of the Lands End main stage to catch these guys in their entirety, the way it should be done. After a less than favorable review of their performance at Coachella, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The Black Keys came out and played one of the most raw sets I’ve ever seen. Dan Auerbach (guitars/vocals) came out with a look in his eye that wreaked of satisfaction. Ten years in the game and they held down the stage like their career depended on it. Pat Carney played the drums with such angst that had him dripping with sweat when they closed. The live show changed everything, even when I thought I couldn’t like them anymore than I already did.
Deadmau5
Finally back in the mau5 hut after a year and a half since I had seen him last. After all the hype and videos surfacing around the web I had to ensure a good spot to make sure my brain melts proper. Deadmau5 is on tour almost every night, flying around the world from one show to another. Yet he still has the energy and poise to come out and have fun with the crowd. So fun to watch and even more fun to dance to. His sets are always packed with the future of mau5 and everything you want to hear from before.
Ty Segall
Ty was stuffed on the smaller stage of the four, but he played like a headliner and got the crowd response to match. I lost control and ran into the pit after that video to crowd surf and pay my respects to the legend. Hadn’t done that in years and I don’t know why! But that’s just the effect they had on me that day. His live shows are always action packed, and this one proved to be no different. Definitely cool to see him get such a response in his hometown. We got ‘hella’ love for Ty Segall. Oh and I’m really starting to think they actually spelled his name wrong on the poster haha. Two L’s bro.
Foster the People
I almost instantly fell in love with Foster the People when their EP came out earlier this year and was really bummed when I missed them at Coachella. I even sat through Tinie Tempah (worst performance I have ever experienced) to see them but still missed it. All I can say is seeing them at OSL definitely made up for missing them at Coachella and might have actually made up for Tinie Tempah. If I didn’t love them before seeing them live, I do now. Their performance was spot on and so much fun.
STS9
Sound Tribe Sector 9 just sounded like a cool name before I got to witness all their glory live. They’ve made the bill of lots of major festivals around the world and their live show was held to much critical acclaim from anyone that’s seen them. They concocted a combination of electro in a sort of Glitch Mob way with psychedelic guitar riffs as they jammed through the whole set. Lots of funky tunes with a hip hop feel that had everyone dancing to the beat of their crazy drummer! Really sweet stuff. Must see!
The Vaccines
The Vaccines have been on tour with Arctic Monkeys and have quickly become one of my favorite breakout bands from 2011 thus far. Their debut album What Did You Expcect from The Vaccines? embodies just what makes British rock really cool and I can’t really think of another way to put it. I expect big things from them in the future because they possess a lot of power and talent. Buzzing guitar, drowning reverb and bouncing beats make for a great live performance. I would go so far as to say they are better live than on record. I’m just sad I missed them performing “Post Break-Up Sex.”
Arcade Fire
I left the glory that is Deadmau5 early in order to see Arcade Fire. They are another band I intended to see yet missed at Coachella this year (I grudgingly recall being dragged out early just as they were playing “Keep the Car Running) so I wasn’t about to miss them again. And I don’t for a second regret leaving Deadmau5, as great as his set was. Arcade Fire are absolutely brilliant performers; another band that sounds even better live than on record. I feel like I forged a different sort of relationship with their music after hearing it live/witnessing their on-stage energy and incredible synergy. They have a really great way of incorporating their audience in their performers. Being there during “Wake-Up” with the whole crowd singing along was almost an otherworldly experience.
MUSE
I have no words for Muse. it was hands down the best performance I have ever experienced. Between the band members’ total synergism and the light show, Muse was worth the price of the ticket. I’m not usually one for light shows, I think they can be pretty tacky but what they had going on was something else. As if they needed anything to enhance the raw energy and musical brilliance they bring to the stage. I definitely got the chills several times during their performance. They left the stage at what appeared to be the end of the show but came back to play “Plug In Baby” and “Knights of Cydonia”–probably the best encore I could think of. Utter brilliance is the best way I can describe their live performance. Cheers.
Love,
Skinny Genes & Witler
August 6th 2011 marked the fourth annual HARD Summer Music Festival to be held, and the third to go down successfully. (people don’t forget!) If you were with me in 2009, I share the pain. All in good fun though! Gary Richards has long since redeemed himself. With the help of stacked lineup after stacked lineup in Los Angeles, and now through the rest of the country, HARD has established its superiority in the realm of memorable concerts. HARD Summer went off without a hitch, and I was fortunate enough to be there through the whole thing! I had my FlipCam handy and got to see all the future talent, while everyone else was at the already established names. Although it breaks my heart that I had to miss Jack Beats, Skrillex, and all of Boys Noize/Duck Sauce’s sets, I was happily tucked in the relatively crowd free stages. Here are the highlights from start to finish:
Dillon Francis 6:20-7:20
The first of the day. I actually got to the venue late and went through the line saying “Dillon Francis is on right now! If you know who he is, come with me. If you don’t, let me go!” After getting through the line way faster than expected and with a crew of Dillon Francis fans, the party had begun. Straight into the bassy moombah beats that I rushed through the crowd for. Dillon had everyone bouncing and definitely made it clear that he deserved a better slot.
Gesaffelstein 7:15-8:15 Delightful Mention!
Biggest surprise of the day. I hadn’t been able to get into his recordings before seeing him live, as it all made sense afterwards. True European techno with a musky feel that was new to me, but kept the crowd and me intrigued from start to finish. I wanted to record his whole set, because track after track was like nothing I had ever heard dropped before. This guy’s got some serious talent.
RATATAT 8:50-9:20 Runner Up!
Ratatat…..we finally meet. 10 feet back and center, I was ready to see the act I had been fawning over since I was in high school. One of the most creative sets I’ve bared witness. They had these huge screens that they had holographic images synced to the beat of the music. All the while, they were thrashing on their guitars or slamming the drum kits which added up to what I thought was going to be the best set of the night, til I saw Digitalism.
Siriusmo 9:20-10:20
All the hype surrounding Siriusmo had my expectations set high. He very rarely plays live shows, so this was supposed to be a treat. It also didn’t help that his full length Mosaik slaps, and I had it on repeat through the week. His set was kind of a let down overall. Although he had pretty solid song selection, his persona matched that of dude on his 6th straight hour of World of Warcraft. Focused. Poised. Ready to kill. But not that fun to watch.
Digitalism (Live) 10:20-11:30 Best Set!
I heard myths and legends about how these guys were live and I was ready to get down in support of their latest album I Love You, Dude. Right off the bat: live drummer. NOTHING compares to a live drummer for electronic sets. The drummer was an addition to their live show but was my favorite part. Through the drum machine slamming, singing, and synth tweaking, these guys delivered the highest energy set of the night. Great stuff.
James Murphy & Pat Mahoney 11:30-12
Another hyped set I had to get my groove on to was this 2 hour disco special inside the DFA tent. Coolest most unique vibes I’ve ever felt at any concert. This tent was lined with disco balls and lights that had me in a time machine to the 70s. So cool! Glad they did this.
Busy Pictionary 12-12:30
After not having this set in my initial plan, I thought I’d leave the DFA tent early to pay my respects to the one and only BUSY P. So Me was on side of the decks, doodling away while Pedro threw down tracks of the future. Got there just in time to see the unreleased Justice track live! (video)
Carte Blanche 12:30-1:15
After a hefty intro from Busy P, DJ Mehdi and Riton brought the funk. I made it front and center as pretty much everyone else was at Skrillex or Boys Noize, so the setting was pretty intimate. I was expecting more in comparison to some of their mixes I had heard before, but I still had fun. Mehdi seems like a real cool dude. He was dancing the whole time, getting the crowd involved, and that’s the shit that makes a difference in the end.
I wish I could have seen more of Boys Noize and Duck Sauce, but I managed to sneak off to see my main squeezes throwing down just as I thought they would. Los Angeles, this is how a concert is done right. You got your headliners. You got your surprises. You got your low key, future of music hopefuls. And you got the LA skyline as your back drop. Get ready for Haunted Mansion people. Probably my favorite party of the year, and this year’s may take the cake.
FULL POST
August 6th 2011 marked the fourth annual HARD Summer Music Festival to be held, and the third to go down successfully. (people don’t forget!) If you were with me in 2009, I share the pain. All in good fun though! Gary Richards has long since redeemed himself. With the help of stacked lineup after stacked lineup in Los Angeles, and now through the rest of the country, HARD has established its superiority in the realm of memorable concerts. HARD Summer went off without a hitch, and I was fortunate enough to be there through the whole thing! I had my FlipCam handy and got to see all the future talent, while everyone else was at the already established names. Although it breaks my heart that I had to miss Jack Beats, Skrillex, and all of Boys Noize/Duck Sauce’s sets, I was happily tucked in the relatively crowd free stages. Here are the highlights from start to finish:
Dillon Francis 6:20-7:20
The first of the day. I actually got to the venue late and went through the line saying “Dillon Francis is on right now! If you know who he is, come with me. If you don’t, let me go!” After getting through the line way faster than expected and with a crew of Dillon Francis fans, the party had begun. Straight into the bassy moombah beats that I rushed through the crowd for. Dillon had everyone bouncing and definitely made it clear that he deserved a better slot.
Gesaffelstein 7:15-8:15 Delightful Mention!
Biggest surprise of the day. I hadn’t been able to get into his recordings before seeing him live, as it all made sense afterwards. True European techno with a musky feel that was new to me, but kept the crowd and me intrigued from start to finish. I wanted to record his whole set, because track after track was like nothing I had ever heard dropped before. This guy’s got some serious talent.
RATATAT 8:50-9:20 Runner Up!
Ratatat…..we finally meet. 10 feet back and center, I was ready to see the act I had been fawning over since I was in high school. One of the most creative sets I’ve bared witness. They had these huge screens that they had holographic images synced to the beat of the music. All the while, they were thrashing on their guitars or slamming the drum kits which added up to what I thought was going to be the best set of the night, til I saw Digitalism.
Siriusmo 9:20-10:20
All the hype surrounding Siriusmo had my expectations set high. He very rarely plays live shows, so this was supposed to be a treat. It also didn’t help that his full length Mosaik slaps, and I had it on repeat through the week. His set was kind of a let down overall. Although he had pretty solid song selection, his persona matched that of dude on his 6th straight hour of World of Warcraft. Focused. Poised. Ready to kill. But not that fun to watch.
Digitalism (Live) 10:20-11:30 Best Set!
I heard myths and legends about how these guys were live and I was ready to get down in support of their latest album I Love You, Dude. Right off the bat: live drummer. NOTHING compares to a live drummer for electronic sets. The drummer was an addition to their live show but was my favorite part. Through the drum machine slamming, singing, and synth tweaking, these guys delivered the highest energy set of the night. Great stuff.
James Murphy & Pat Mahoney 11:30-12
Another hyped set I had to get my groove on to was this 2 hour disco special inside the DFA tent. Coolest most unique vibes I’ve ever felt at any concert. This tent was lined with disco balls and lights that had me in a time machine to the 70s. So cool! Glad they did this.
Busy Pictionary 12-12:30
After not having this set in my initial plan, I thought I’d leave the DFA tent early to pay my respects to the one and only BUSY P. So Me was on side of the decks, doodling away while Pedro threw down tracks of the future. Got there just in time to see the unreleased Justice track live! (video)
Carte Blanche 12:30-1:15
After a hefty intro from Busy P, DJ Mehdi and Riton brought the funk. I made it front and center as pretty much everyone else was at Skrillex or Boys Noize, so the setting was pretty intimate. I was expecting more in comparison to some of their mixes I had heard before, but I still had fun. Mehdi seems like a real cool dude. He was dancing the whole time, getting the crowd involved, and that’s the shit that makes a difference in the end.
I wish I could have seen more of Boys Noize and Duck Sauce, but I managed to sneak off to see my main squeezes throwing down just as I thought they would. Los Angeles, this is how a concert is done right. You got your headliners. You got your surprises. You got your low key, future of music hopefuls. And you got the LA skyline as your back drop. Get ready for Haunted Mansion people. Probably my favorite party of the year, and this year’s may take the cake.
A-Trak @ Voyeur (Photo: Mackenzie Bradley)
Woke up early Sunday morning to get ready for an adventure I didn’t know I was going to take. I found out about this show when Laidback Luke came to play back to back sets in May. Once at Voyeur and then straight to 4th&B to close out the night. L.E.D. events have a thing for two-a-days, and Fool’s Golds’ A-Trak and Treasure Fingers flew together for this one. I had one goal on Sunday and that was get to San Diego to see two hour sets from the best house DJs I know. My friends were dropping like flies, but Chronic Mncher wised up to the occasion and we made the drive. A-Trak and Treasure fingers were playing at Wave House and then rushing to Voyeur to do San Diego right.
Treasure Fingers was set to go on promptly from 5-7 and A-Trak was to follow from 7-9. Wave House has to be the coolest venue I’ve ever been to. Literally right on Mission Beach, packed with the most beautiful people from wall to wall. Right when you walk in you come up on their massive artificial wave. $40 an hour to ride or free to watch, so I just chilled and jammed to the bumping house until TF came on. We were graced with a straight two hour lounge set filled with the most consistent funk you can get. I will never get tired of it! He filled his set with his remixes of Innerpartysystem’s “It’s Not Getting Any Better” and Classixx “I’ll Get You.” Hey come and tell me do you like bass do ya do ya like bass. And he didn’t let up on his originals from the Lift Me EP. Fully funk-tional set that made the whole trip worth it in that very two hours.
TF set the tone but it was party time when A-Trak manned the decks, and everyone knew it. He never ceases to amaze and you can tell how much fun he’s having every time he spins a fresh set. You can’t fake that stuff. A-Trak played through what seemed to be a perfect Sunday sunset in San Diego and then disappeared to a roaring applause from the satisfied crowd. I had to make moves to catch the boys at Voyeur, so I jumped in the freezing beach showers, club attired myself, and snagged a ride downtown. I was so happy to see that both A-Trak and TF played different and equally amazing sets at both events. It proved that much more to me just how legit they are. A-Trak pumped out banger after banger. “Ray Ban Vision,” throwback tracks like his remix of “Oh!” and of course the Duck Sauce favs “aNYway,” “Barbra Streissand,” and “Big Bad Wolf,” which actually turns out to be much better as a live track than through headphones. Ahwoooooooowoowoowoo. Seeing A-Trak DJ from upstairs where I could see every knob turn, switch flip, record scratch, and beat match put him on a whole new level. He truly is the OGDJ, and I have yet to see his skills topped.
All in all, absolutely awesome day. I love going down to San Diego, because the scene seems to be so much more pure there. EVERYONE was dancing to the point of overwhelming heat and sweatiness, but no one seemed to care. Chants, dance circles, dirty dancing, pounding house music all added to make those two events some of the most fun parties I’ve been to. I’ve seen them both countless times, and I don’t plan on letting up anytime soon. I only wish I had my FlipCam with me to document, but you’re just going to have to see them for yourself next time they come around. I’ll definitely be there when they do, so let’s get down!
Media Fingers
Classixx – I’ll Get You (Treasure Fingers Remix)
Treasure Fingers – Lift Me (Original Mix)
N.A.S.A. – Gifted (Treasure Fingers Remix) Delightful Choice!
First time I caught Treasure Fingers was the closing set of
Audiotistic 2010 right after A-Trak. Best ending ever!
MediA-Trak
A-Trak Annie Mac Mini Mix
Boys Noize – Oh! (A-Trak Remix) ++throoowbaaackkk
A-Trak – Ray Ban Vision (Ft. CyHi da Prynce)
The SoCal debut of the “A” at Coachella topped with A-Trak’s relentless
beat juggling abilities. How can someone be so tight, yet hang so loose?
FULL POST
A-Trak @ Voyeur (Photo: Mackenzie Bradley)
Woke up early Sunday morning to get ready for an adventure I didn’t know I was going to take. I found out about this show when Laidback Luke came to play back to back sets in May. Once at Voyeur and then straight to 4th&B to close out the night. L.E.D. events have a thing for two-a-days, and Fool’s Golds’ A-Trak and Treasure Fingers flew together for this one. I had one goal on Sunday and that was get to San Diego to see two hour sets from the best house DJs I know. My friends were dropping like flies, but Chronic Mncher wised up to the occasion and we made the drive. A-Trak and Treasure fingers were playing at Wave House and then rushing to Voyeur to do San Diego right.
Treasure Fingers was set to go on promptly from 5-7 and A-Trak was to follow from 7-9. Wave House has to be the coolest venue I’ve ever been to. Literally right on Mission Beach, packed with the most beautiful people from wall to wall. Right when you walk in you come up on their massive artificial wave. $40 an hour to ride or free to watch, so I just chilled and jammed to the bumping house until TF came on. We were graced with a straight two hour lounge set filled with the most consistent funk you can get. I will never get tired of it! He filled his set with his remixes of Innerpartysystem’s “It’s Not Getting Any Better” and Classixx “I’ll Get You.” Hey come and tell me do you like bass do ya do ya like bass. And he didn’t let up on his originals from the Lift Me EP. Fully funk-tional set that made the whole trip worth it in that very two hours.
TF set the tone but it was party time when A-Trak manned the decks, and everyone knew it. He never ceases to amaze and you can tell how much fun he’s having every time he spins a fresh set. You can’t fake that stuff. A-Trak played through what seemed to be a perfect Sunday sunset in San Diego and then disappeared to a roaring applause from the satisfied crowd. I had to make moves to catch the boys at Voyeur, so I jumped in the freezing beach showers, club attired myself, and snagged a ride downtown. I was so happy to see that both A-Trak and TF played different and equally amazing sets at both events. It proved that much more to me just how legit they are. A-Trak pumped out banger after banger. “Ray Ban Vision,” throwback tracks like his remix of “Oh!” and of course the Duck Sauce favs “aNYway,” “Barbra Streissand,” and “Big Bad Wolf,” which actually turns out to be much better as a live track than through headphones. Ahwoooooooowoowoowoo. Seeing A-Trak DJ from upstairs where I could see every knob turn, switch flip, record scratch, and beat match put him on a whole new level. He truly is the OGDJ, and I have yet to see his skills topped.
All in all, absolutely awesome day. I love going down to San Diego, because the scene seems to be so much more pure there. EVERYONE was dancing to the point of overwhelming heat and sweatiness, but no one seemed to care. Chants, dance circles, dirty dancing, pounding house music all added to make those two events some of the most fun parties I’ve been to. I’ve seen them both countless times, and I don’t plan on letting up anytime soon. I only wish I had my FlipCam with me to document, but you’re just going to have to see them for yourself next time they come around. I’ll definitely be there when they do, so let’s get down!
Media Fingers
Classixx – I’ll Get You (Treasure Fingers Remix)
Treasure Fingers – Lift Me (Original Mix)
N.A.S.A. – Gifted (Treasure Fingers Remix) Delightful Choice!
First time I caught Treasure Fingers was the closing set of
Audiotistic 2010 right after A-Trak. Best ending ever!
MediA-Trak
A-Trak Annie Mac Mini Mix
Boys Noize – Oh! (A-Trak Remix) ++throoowbaaackkk
A-Trak – Ray Ban Vision (Ft. CyHi da Prynce)
The SoCal debut of the “A” at Coachella topped with A-Trak’s relentless
beat juggling abilities. How can someone be so tight, yet hang so loose?
