I’ve been undergoing constant withdrawals with last weekend already fading into the past. Although, the performances I saw and the flawlessness of the fourth annual HARD Haunted Mansion will forever hold a special place in my heart. It’s crazy to see how far this scene has come and how many people stayed true to the love for one of the best parties of the year. This year especially was filled with some of the most overlooked DJ’s that will be the driving forces of tomorrow’s music, and we were there to document it. It’s a funny feeling to see the new and old faces on the stages that held the likes of Justice, deadmau5, DJAM (RIP), Boys Noize, Soulwax, sebastiAn, Diplo and to think how far they all have gone. It was SO HARD (pun intended) to pick favorites because everyone played their best sets that I’ve ever seen. After much consideration, here are the top dogs of Haunted Mansion 2011.
After many complications on getting to the venue, the first set I was able to make it to was Laidback Luke. I feel like he’s one of the most underrated DJs in the world. What does it depend on? Song selection? Performance? Mixing abilities? This guy does it all. He plays the best of the best of every genre, giving everyone a little piece of what they want. I want to say I’m surprised he dropped moombahton, but I’d be lying. This guy is hip to anything that hits hard and makes you feel like dancing. I love the way he gets into his sets and always dances with the crowd. It makes a big difference. Sucks I have to put him at #7, but that’s just how the shit played out.
6. T.E.E.D.
After missing him at HARD13 and the set times being adjusted to let me see both him and Fake Blood’s set in their entirety, I was finally going to see TEED in all his dino dancing glory. I had heard myths, legends, claims about his crazy costumes and enigmatic ability to draw you in with his voice. Through all the DJs today, it’s a breath of fresh air to see something as unique as a set like this. He would switch between head wear, shake his little dino neck plate things as he beat matched between songs. And the songs. Wow. Deep house glory! Lots of wobs. Lots of pounding bass. It all had everyone dancing together in a way that focuses on the fun of it. Can’t wait to catch him again.
5. 2 Many DJs
What more can I say about these guys that I haven’t already said? They’re gods among men! Turntable extraordinaires! The mixologists of our time! But seriously, I love these guys. It was my fourth time catching them, the three prior being nearly identical sets. As we all were hoping for a new set, the worries began to build when they played the same intro that we always remembered. It didn’t take long until the new journey began. A journey through all the new music that’s come out since the last time we saw them (Coachella 2010). They didn’t forget to throw in timeless classics that they remixed to our dancing pleasure. That’s what’s so great about these guys. Their ability to reinvent the new and the timeless in a way only they can accomplish. C+A+D favorites for life.
4. Rusko
I’m going to be honest here: I was a bit blown away by this set. I was expecting Rusko to be good, but not this good. I don’t know why? Possibly because the first time I caught him (Haunted Mansion 2010) I didn’t see the whole set, and it didn’t include his R-U-S-K-O…which was AWESOME! He dropped new tracks after new tracks that shed light on the future of harmonic bass music set to come our way. He’s such a pleasure to watch. The way he works the crowd gives you this kind of energy you didn’t know you had. Plus it just induces lol’s. The guy goes mental!! Wicked performance.
3. Fake Blood
It wasn’t much longer after the sighting of that shiny dome, suited up in the usual plaid and jeans, that the party was about to be taken to a whole new level. Fake Blood’s sets are always filled with the most grimy, synthtastic tracks that have this ability to pump you up and rattle your bones. Right from the get go the twisted sounds took flight, soon thereafter dropping that signature snare to keep the beat afloat. “Medieval” was one of the first tracks he dropped so you know he had a bunch of surprises for the rest of his hour. I lost my shit when he dropped “Voices,” one of my favorite tracks of the year. “Wahhh….waAAAAaaaHHHH” Such an uplifting track that manages to weigh you down with its heavy bassline. Looking forward for his return to LA.
2. Zeds Dead
I’m going to have to start this one off by awarding Zeds Dead with the Costume of the Night Award. A Jew…..and Jesus. Locked and loaded with the most glorious beards. These guys tore the inside stage a new one. It was a sweat shop in there. They dropped “Out For Blood,” “Gimme Shelter Remix,” “Reptile,” “Crush On You,” my favorite “Rudeboy,” and ended with “Coffee Break.” Their set was packed with consistent bangers that had all 5000 people inside in straight mosh pit mode. They worked the crowd much like a hip hop show (see video) that brought everyone together in a fuckin’ legit way. I’d like to thank Monster Massive for getting shut down, so Zeds Dead could be added to this show. Game changers for sure. These guys are the future of bass music!
1. Soulwax
Nearly one and a half score years ago, Soulwax graced LA with a disturbingly cut short set at HARD Summer 2010 and almost two years before that at Haunted Mansion 08. The ultimate combo of electronic and rock all in one place. These guys are masterminds. Watch Radio Soulwax right now and tell me they aren’t the artists of our time. I didn’t take any videos, because they started ten minutes late and that’s ten whole minutes of dancing I’d have to give up for over a year til they came back. Needless to say, that’s not something I’m ready to sacrifice. Watch this video of the first time I saw them and it will all make sense. SEE SOULWAX LIVE!!
