EDC Las Vegas 2012

[nick5745]

Gaiser was my favorite from last night, I think Richie is gone already though, he said on facebook that him and the rest of the Enter crew who didn't get to play will try to be back soon to make it up. Its a ways away but they are also bringing Enter to Escape from wonderland as well

[guedita]

EDC: promoting high-kicks only.

[theGold]

also one last complaint lol. I hate that you cant lay down on the grass without a cop coming up to you and telling you to sit up. I dont need to be babysat

I mean, I get it. How do you know who's seriously injured/passed out/dead if there are people on the ground all over? Especially at night.

[betao]

I mean, I get it. How do you know who's seriously injured/passed out/dead if there are people on the ground all over? Especially at night.

This is a very common rule in music venues and clubs. In some places you'll be woken up/bothered if you're just sitting there with your head down and/or eyes closed.

[MostlyMellow]

Edc attracts the worst people and guedita you're a fucking pos person so congrats o.n being the one nobody liked in reality

[Riggins33]

A dude I know just said that the traffic was so bad that hes just partying in Vegas tonight...Is it really that bad?? He also said there was too many Asians which apparently really bugged him.

[Pea]

Well, my friend has had to wait 4 hours each night for a cab or shuttle or whatever the fuck their mode of transportation is, so I would say yes.

[Mugwog]

If you had an awful time, you just did it wrong.

[ods..]

Traffic was reallllllly bad tonight but we figured out a way around it eventually. Another great night of music, so much fun.

Definitely my last Edc though. Too unorganized, not enough good names on the lineup. I had an amazing time at cosmic meadow (which would have been my favorite stage set up regardless of lineup) but I don't like festivals where I onl stay at one stage. Boring. The soundsystems and lights for every stage were incredible though. Out of control.

[malcolmjamalawesome]

Edc attracts the worst people and guedita you're a fucking pos person so congrats o.n being the one nobody liked in reality

Bravo

[nick5745]

I'd advise renting a car next year if the transportation was that bad. I rented a car for $10 a day and stayed in a hotel right off the nearest freeway exit from the speedway. Took me 10 minutes to get there and back each time I went, but I went early (around 6:00). Anyways though EDC was amazing, Digweed and Carl Cox were incredible and so was Nic Fancuilli but I was bummed that Joris Voorn wasn't there

[guedita]

It took me 2 full minutes to decipher that p.o.s. person stands for "piece of shit" person. Which, I guess, makes me a piece of shit.

[guedita]

In reality.

[malcolmjamalawesome]

Obituary: She was the one nobody liked in reality.

[casey]

Last year we drove in and the traffic wasn't that bad. The first day the shuttles were really bad from what I heard, but they worked it out by the second day. Was that not the case this year, and if so how did they get worse? Also, did any of you guys stay at Nellis this year and if so did they relax their policies at all about guests, passes, parking, etc.? People who went last year vs. this year, what changes did you notice?

[Mugwog]

Stage placing was improved, rides in a more central area, more water stations, more vendors, some security more relaxed, lines to get in weren't bad, not too many staff pros doing yellow jack sweep lines thru the crowd, circuit grounds now paved, you could exit thru the back at the end of the night, hard style stage, more art and parades, more fun.

[NachoCat]

I expect a more detailed review from an experienced untzer like yourself. Shame.

[Mugwog]

A dude I know just said that the traffic was so bad that hes just partying in Vegas tonight...Is it really that bad?? He also said there was too many Asians which apparently really bugged him.

I'm guessing your friend took las Vegas blvd or I-15 to get there, his fault for being a noob.

Most people left too late, for this event you should be leaving the strip at 630/7 if you're driving and 530/6 if you shuttle. It's pretty silly to think you're going to get to an event in a breeze when there are 100k people trying to get in on one road.

Too many Asians? I felt we needed at least 10,000 more asians

[faxman75]

Anyone get screwed checking into MGM properties (MGM, Excalibur, NY NY, Luxor, Mandalay etc.)? I heard their reservation system crashed nationwide and some had to wait 4-6 hours to check into their hotels this weekend.

[Mugwog]

I'll write a real summary for my weekend later. One work appt today in 30 min then back to sleep for a day or two. So much good stuff for the time I was there. I would much rather EDC than Coachella.

[casey]

Stage placing was improved, rides in a more central area, more water stations, more vendors, some security more relaxed, lines to get in weren't bad, not too many staff pros doing yellow jack sweep lines thru the crowd, circuit grounds now paved, you could exit thru the back at the end of the night, hard style stage, more art and parades, more fun.

Yay! That was my biggest complaint from last year. Great news.

[JiggyVdub]

I'll write a real summary for my weekend later. One work appt today in 30 min then back to sleep for a day or two. So much good stuff for the time I was there. I would much rather EDC than Coachella.

darn i was really starting to like you

[Phunkevil]

Did coachella for 5 years...this is my first edc


edc blows coachella out of the water

Fuck u coachella

I would much rather EDC than Coachella.

I remember the first time I did ecstasy.

[jgafs]

I remember the first time I did ecstasy.

The 1990's was such a good time.

[patsfan5454]

Anyone get screwed checking into MGM properties (MGM, Excalibur, NY NY, Luxor, Mandalay etc.)? I heard their reservation system crashed nationwide and some had to wait 4-6 hours to check into their hotels this weekend.

I stayed at the Monte Carlo and it was a breeze checking in on wednesday night, but on Thursday as we were passing through to the Luxor to the Mandalay Bay We saw the longest line ever!! I didnt know where it started and where it ended, had to have wrapped around the whole casino and then some, i would guess a 4-6 hour wait at the minimum was what they were waiting, thank god we came in on wednesday. It looked like the worst mood killer in the world, to arrive to Vegas and then have to sit with all of your shit in a line that you have no idea how long its going to take!

[Mugwog]

After doing 9 Coachellas and this last year being one of my worst experiences on the Polo Fields and doing 5 EDCs, this being my 2nd one in Vegas, I prefer EDC over Coachella now. Both cost me about the same amount of money and really, I prefer to wake up in a refreshing hotel room rather than the campgrounds that aren't really campgrounds.

Per request of NachoCat:
The crowd at EDC this year was far more spectacular than the crowd at this year's Coachella. Yes, Coachella goers, surprisingly the fanbase at Coachella has a far more snarky and unapproachable attitude compared to the folks at EDC. People embrace the weird rather than giving a condescending eye roll at someone having a great time, the costumes were creative and elaborate, not just tutus and neon tank tops. Poi and hoopers were in full effect, crowds gave them respect and room to perform in and appreciated the efforts. Folks took time to take a picture for a stranger who would ask. The community was just better, and I know it might be hard for you die hard Coachella goers, but I was in your shoes once and now times have changed. All of you young kids ruined Coachella anyway.


After being super delayed by work and fixing my car's AC, I headed out to Vegas Thursday evening around 7, took about 3 hours, traffic wasn't bad at all after I left OC, the stars were wonderful in the nights sky. I arrived in Vegas at 1030pm, met up with my friends at the Cosmo and picked up my roomie for the weekend to head out to Bassrush. Arrived just in time for Knife Party, search was mellow, security was friendly and chatty. Knife Party brought the Orleans Arena through a journey of music, the crowd loved it, everyone was moving. This one guy was holding up a girl in a red costume with one hand under her stomach as she lay flat just above the crowds head. Security had him put her and then he just walked up 10 feet and did it again. People were having a blast. The beats kept switching to different genres, but properly, I had a derpstep infection. I also had a dance machine as company in addition to some great Mols, so it wasn't hard to have a blast. Made some guys sing 80s songs in exchange for getting them stoned, they really enjoyed that trade.

After Knife Party came Datsik. I'm really not into him at all, but the dubstep he played wasn't all Skrilly Dilly, he had his own style of dubstep that felt like a twisted cartoon character or something out of American McGee's Alice. So I employed dances such as the creeping snake, the dangling spider, the slug slime, etc. It felt better to dance and make some stupid dances up to the dubstep than just cross my arms and disapprove of it. Datsik actually surprised me when he played some 90s hiphop and dNb, then he went back to dubstep, it grew into the skrillydilly style. I wish he did more dNb, because he was actually onto something and the crowd was feeling it too. The transitions were not very clean at all for him, especially when it went back to the dubstep. Cest la vie.

Borgore was the final act of the night, just some more dubstep, some electro was thrown in there. I danced a shit ton and it felt great. Friend did a backwards hand spring flip, so she was definitely feeling the vibe. A quick safe drive back to the Treasure Island and a bowl concluded the first night.

Friday was started with house keeping coming in and me running to the door not awake at all saying come later. She was happy to, went back to sleep and woke up to get the day started. Coordinated with my peoples, did the business that was needed, and got ready. Took off for EDC around 730pm, somehow loaded 5 girls in the back of my sports coupe. We took my special route and got in line for security within an hour from leaving the strip. Lot 7 was money, about 30 minutes worth of wait inside the security line, which was fine as we cracked out 100 glow sticks, passing them to randoms in line also who had no glow. Got in, took a few pictures and then went straight to the Hardstyle stage, Noisecontrollers were on. This stage is definitely one of my new favorites at EDC, with huge flames on the side and an evil looking head at the top of the stage, music boomed from this stage, folks walking by had a hard time as the crowd grew bigger and bigger with everyone stomping to the beat and getting loose. Definitely the way to start off the night.

My friend had some friends who wanted to head to Afrojack, I declined. I decided to wander a bit, so I went to the Cosmic Meadow to see the new setup of my favorite stage last year. It felt much roomier than last year, much more grass to sit on and a wider area for the stage, so everyone didn't have to compact together in order to see the stage. I saw a bit of Thomas Gold, wasn't really familiar with his work, but when I noticed the Clown Drumline was on stage, I parked it and probably ate some paper to help set the mood. The drumline worked with great precision with Gold's beats. Going from all drummers performing at once to just one keeping a controlled beat. Gave some random guy who made a comment to me about the stage some firework sunglasses. Ended up running into that cat later at Benny Benassi as I wandered around, he smoked me out and vice versa. Great random vibes from the dude and his friends. I bid them farewell and headed off to the Serpent Mother to meet some friends for Above and Beyond.

Serpent Mother was a very easy meetup spot, had a great time watching people who were tripped out get scared the random flames the art structure put out. Grabbed some beer before heading in, and then a friend decided to find her sister at Kaskade instead of A&B. She regretted it later. I was going to check out Kaskade after being at a good portion of A&B but, A&B was pretty fantastic. Went from the back to the front with ease, everyone gave each other so much space. Smiles as you walked by, enough room so you didn't interrupt someone dancing as you went past them. Sometime during the middle of the set the fireworks started to go off. It kind of annoyed me as it took away from the music (too many random boom booms conflicting with the beat). A&B finished up and Gareth Emery immediately took over, I was interested in seeing some other acts, but everytime we tried to leave, he kept dropping something that just us turn around. I enjoyed how it got less crowded after A&B left, you could walk right up to the front of the stage if you wanted to.

Wrapped the night up with some Sidney Samson and then wandered a bit to see if we could round anyone up, left the venue as the sun rose, made the mistake of going right on Las Vegas Blvd instead of left and got stuck in a few hours of traffic, yeah it sucked a little bit, but putting on The Orb and smoking some ganja made the trip not so bad, as soon as we got to Nellis, we booked it back pretty fast. I love how gas is 3.79 for 91 in Vegas. Got back to to hotel around 8am/9am and crashed till about 330/4pm.

Saturday we decided we wanted to get in earlier since it was still a little nasty the night before, so we hustled to get ready, picked up our party and headed back to Nellis, made a left on gate 8 and they were having us park in lots by the shuttles, so I drove to the valet - $20, right next to the further entrance. Got in easily within 15 minutes, ate some paper while in line. Had to wait for the girls a little bit longer, we got in around 915pm, took some pictures and then ate magical cinnamon toast crunch. Met up with friends at serpent mother, I was disappointed to miss Andy C: Alive, but that shit was on to early, my friend had wanted to see Sander Van Doorn but his set was super early and only 30 minutes. Very confusing scheduling on those two acts. I was a bit cranky from the night before doing the whole group thing and Digitalism had been on for a little bit so I dashed to them. Told my friends where to find me while I was getting down. Digitalism did a great set, much better than their HARD Summer set last year. Apparently I was going off so hard some folks too pictures of me my friends told me. Takes a good set to get me going like that.

Digitalism closed up their set and we headed off to the Hardstyle stage, caught the end of Lady Faith and saw Headhunterz after her. Holy shit Headhunterz, it went off, I was stomping around like a mad man, my austrailian bromance partner for the weekend ended up running into a bunch of awesome gals from Alberta he met at an airpot in Minnesota and they joined our flock. We all got down at the hardstyle stage, some friends paid 20 per 2 folks to get them up on the VIP section by the soundbooth for the hardstyle stage. My homegirl was breaking it down so hard, the guy with a RED Scarlet camera filming the stage ended up filming a bunch of her moves instead. Hopefully we'll catch her on the next EDC movie.

Afterwards, we gathered our harem of lovely Candian gals and headed off to Markus Schulz. Helped everyone catch up with mood enhancers as we parked it at the edge of the arcs in the back of the Circuit Grounds. Ate this thing I had in a little baggy. Schulz threw it down, the trance was aggressive and filled with energy, and our party got bigger and bigger in the back. Some guy on bath salts came up to my aussie boy and told him he was the first person he's seen while rolling for the first time ever. Our group was feeling so good, we didn't mind his odd behavior. He was telling my friend he could get us bath salts really easy. Sorry buddy, we prefer real cocaine. As he told our whole group one by one that he was rolling for the first time, I offered him some ganja, this fool did not know what the fuck to do. He was fucking *zombie flipping out of his mind (*bath salts/ecstasy). He kept trying to the grab the cherry of the joint, when I would hand him the crutch end. I haven't instructed someone how to properly smoke weed since I was 18. Very funny, he peaced out soon and we kept going, I was fucking feeling Schulz, bouncing around grooving like there was no tomorrow. We had a wonderful Poi performer named Gary do some work for us, a friend in the group saw the guy (Gary) off somewhere else and brought him into our area so we could get a show. It was some talent. Some people would walk thru the circle and I was expecting someone to get whacked right away. I would have laughed. The paper and cinnamon toast crunch combo just rocked my socks off. The winds kept picking up and soon the hanging speakers were swaying, Schulz announced he had to stop his set, which is understandable, those speakers would fucking kill someone if they fell down. Some of our group went to Tommy Trash as me and the Aussie man (We're known as Nick and Johnny - Saturday night bromance) waited for the Canadian gals to get back from the bathroom (gentlemen always keep their word). They ended up bringing more of their friends back, so we had a nice little harem of beautiful stoner canadian girls. Possibly am in love.

Tangent: Canadians prove time and time again, they are awesome people.

We ended up finding some places to chill and just got to know the ladies a little bit better, they were at first a little tripped out by the guy in leopard pants and checkered jacket and the wig (me) but after smoking a J and chatting it up, we all got along really well. Found out I led one of the girls down her first roll and she loved it, they were all cool with the wind as where they were from in Canada had far worse weather. Knock down styled wind. After an hour or so in the cool lounge a few girls decided to take off back to the strip and that actually helped even out the ratio. Exchanged some info and eventually the staff told everyone in the cool lounge that the event was now cancelled. So we trekked to the exits, no phone service at all and I had to find my party I came with. I bid farewell to the lovely ladies and sent my pals with them, couldn't just take off and leave my friend and her sister behind. Found out after waiting by the valet for about 40 minutes trying to call my friend, that they allowed people to stay in the Cosmic Meadow. Unfortunately it was too late for me to go back and it was already 345am. The winds were picking up and you could tell girls were having wardrobe remorse. Friends came out, the cinnamon toast crunch was doing them well, we took off and sat in the exit traffic, we started up our party vibes instantly with a sing a long to Cinema by Benassi, friend was dancing on my center console partying through the moonroof, we kept the energy going and took a left out of the stadium this time. Lit up a huge J and listened to Wolfgang Gartner's EDC mix on the traffic jam back.

Took off on Sunday evening after some day partying at the Cosmo pools and selling my Sunday ticket. Sure I was bummed not to go last night, but I had gotten my fill for the weekend and you can have my Coachella ticket next year if The Knife or DP aren't there, I'm already planning for next year's EDC. It may have gotten shutdown on Saturday, but it was amazing. For those of you who bitched about traffic, should've tried my map. It worked fine for me every single night.

Also you should consider the logistics of getting 100k people into a venue with only one road, its probably going to be like LA traffic. You're also in Vegas during the weekend of a huge boxing match. It's going to be crowded...

Too bad the group meetup didn't happen due to mother fucking nature.

I fel the wind was much worse at Fantastifest 2012: Circle of the Sun

[tmac]

my favorite night of music was cancelled, but it was still an awesome weekend. i will definitely be back

[NachoCat]

Excellent write up sir. Good vibes. I fully plan on meeting up with you next year.

Mugwog: Doing it proper

[Pea]

Thanks for posting that. Great read! You've got me all kinds of excited for Digitalism, A&B, and Knife Party in a couple of weeks.

[ods..]

Anyone who actually believes EDC > Coachella deserves to be shot.

Shot in the stomach and tied to floor at the hard dance stage so they can be stomped on for eternity. You people are delusional, get some fucking sleep.