Electric Daisy Carnival made the switch to sin city this year after being stationed in Los Angeles for it’s first 14 years. Judging by how it went, I don’t think it will ever be going back. I had a different perspective of the whole thing since I was a volunteer, but the event went off without a hitch. The usual first day complications ensued: miscommunications with security guards and inevitable long antsy waits to get in. Once inside, everyone was welcomed with the largest EDM playground in North America with only more room to expand in the future. Six jam packed stages (Neon Garden, Cosmic Meadow, Circuit Grounds, BassPod, Kinetic Field), 20+ legit carnival rides that I didn’t go on for some reason, and 100s of the world’s best DJs. It all almost sounded too good to be true.
I don’t know why, but I went in with really low expectations this year…I just didn’t want to fork over another $200 on a festival mainly filled with DJs I’ve seen already. The event would have been worth every penny had I made the commitment. For the most part, everyone brought out a fresh tracklist to throw down. The up-and-comers (Zedd, Porter, Feed Me, Bird Peterson, Drop the Lime, Them Jeans, LA Riots) strategically put together the set of their lives. One minor qualm I had was that it was hard to go through the sets without hearing songs repeated. It seemed that the songs of the weekend included, but weren’t limited to: Brap, Bass Canon, Space Junk, Turbulence, In For the Kill, and remixes of that stupid Party Rock Anthem song or whatever.
Overall…it was one of the most fun and well put together events I’ve ever gone to. The production couldn’t have been more on point. The towering stages were lined with light screens, strobe lights, fog machines, and shit I’ve never even seen before. The performers on stage were either really trippy or really entertaining. So that whole aspect made each set special in their own right. On top of everything else, each night’s peak (circa 2-3AM) had its own 15 minute firework show. It wasn’t as elaborate as it was just large scale. Never seen that many fireworks. My whole concept of time was fucked. 3AM just meant “3 more hours,” and 5AM meant “SUNRISE SET!” It was so crazy seeing them perform as the sun creeped up behind the desert mountains. Bottom line, Insomniac really knows how to throw an event. They’re always in the know about DJs to pick up, but I feel like they should dive deeper and pick up some people that we aren’t as familiar with. That being said, I’m counting down til next year. Here are my picks for the weekend.
My Top 10
I tried to get videos for as many as I could, but I was working at the water station for a lot of them. So lucky my station was right in front of the Neon Garden Stage. If you saw the lineup you’d know what I mean (especially Day 2). And also sorry about the bass…my little flip couldn’t handle all the bass when I got too close. Just make sure to view the videos in HD.
1 ) Laidback Luke
I’ve seen Laidback Luke a few times now and he just gets better every time. When he performs he plays the widest range of songs compared to most DJs. He has those sing along songs, his original productions, rock, hip hop, and relentless bass filled, wobbly dub. I’m going to go far enough to say that he’s one of the top DJs in the world right now, and he’s only getting better. Watch out!!
2 ) Bassnectar
Bassnectar is always such a pleasure to see. He plays an infusion of the fattest, hardest, most distorted dubstep and hip hop, and yet he’s such a positively light hearted dude. It’s hard to choose which one of the times that I’ve seen him is the best, because every set is different and amazing in its own way. He’s never started or ended two sets the same. Always staying up to date with new songs that come out and playing his own tweaked out remixes of songs we all know. Definitely one of my top pics for live DJs.
3 ) Jack Beats
I hardly ever have anything bad to say about Jack Beats. Again they fill an hour and a half with wobbly bangers and hard hitting remixes, and my friend and I were front and center for the occasion. You wouldn’t find me anywhere else for these guys. It was pretty cool at the beginning, because Skrillex and AC Slater came out to introduce them to the crowd. As if they need an introduction…Jack Beats are gods.
4 ) Skrillex
After Jack Beats came the prince of dubstep. I had seen Skrillex a couple times so I wanted to see what all the hype was with Above & Beyond. Being front and center already, we decided to stay. I got hella love for Skrillex and his production abilities. He’s changed the game and opened so many doors for electronic, and there’s no denying that. One thing I can do without is the crowd Skrillex brings: douche central straight up. Fools don’t even know how to get down to dubstep. Another thing that’s pretty funny is when Skrillex talks on the mic. Hahah always gets me. Speaking of mic, Afrojack came out in the middle of the set and grabbed the mic to let us know that there were more people there than the main stage and that he couldn’t believe it. Massive set and it looks like I’ll be seeing him again for HARD Summer.
5 ) MSTRKRFT
Favorite sunrise set of the weekend. The sun would start creepin’ up around 5, be blasting the DJs at Neon Garden at 5:30. It seems like I’ll got months without hearing anything from MSTRKRFT, and then they play a local show or I’ll catch them at a festival, reminding me that these veterans are very much still alive and very much still bosses in the game. Such a fun dancy set. I just want another album already!
6 ) Porter Robinson
This kid knows how to jam. You can always tell how stoked he is to be performing, and he doesn’t get caught up in it. He hypes everyone up so much and throws down consistently bass heavy tracks that everyone loses their minds to. Still can’t believe he just graduate at high school. I try to refrain from saying “age is just a number” to keep from sounding rapy, but clearly it hasn’t kept him from producing some of the hardest tracks of today.
7 ) Bart B More
This set was the biggest surprise to me. I knew he was good, and I’ve heard a lot of his tracks, but I wasn’t expecting to be as blown away as I was. Such dutchy track selection had me going for the whole set. His song “Brap” was a DJ favorite for the event, so it was cool to seem him drop it.
8 ) Zeds Dead
**Be careful with this video haha.
Left Skrillex early to catch these guys. I thought I was going to be late but it looked like they had some technical difficulties, starting almost 15 minutes after they were supposed to. Their sound is definitely not for everyone. More on the wobbly side like Jack Beats, but sharper and more distorted. They definitely exceeded my already high expectations. Went mental for the whole set.
9 ) Dada Life
The Swedes capped out on the last sunrise set of the weekend. We trucked over with all the remaining energy we had, and their set was enough to keep me dancing for the final moments of EDC. They get so into it, and make it hard for you not to join. The usual blow up champagne and banana toys made their way through the crowd. It was cool because they took up everyone that was dressed like a banana. You can see in the video.
10 ) Zedd
Not too much to say about Zedd other than I can’t to see what else he brings in the future. He just finished touring with Porter and Skrillex, so that should be enough to prove that he’s worthy. His productions have been hitting the blogs more consistently than most DJs. Zedd’s video game influenced style really makes his tracks distinguishable and easy to remember. His set was one of the few that were recorded, so I’ma give that one a go asap.
Delightful Mention
Avicii
Feed Me
Bloody Beetroots
Major Lazer
LA Riots
Drop the Lime
Them Jeans
Who I Wish I Saw
Had I been able to clone myself, I would have seen all of these guys:
Above & Beyond
Tiesto
ATB
Doctor P
All of Swedish House Mafia
Chuckie
Bingo Players
Skream & Benga
Disappointments
Wolfgang Gartner
