Rideshare, Layout, and Stages

From the stories on social media about it being a pain to call a car last year, I was surprised to find out how easy it was to get dropped off. About a mile away from the main entrance at the Target parking lot was the Rideshare Lounge. The designated pickup/dropoff area was fully stacked with a seating area and port-a-potties. 

This year's main entrance was in front of the Sequence stage and had more flair. I got goosebumps on the first night as I entered the festival. After passing through the security checkpoints, I was welcomed by massive arches emitting DS iconic blue light. Having the entrance near the psytrance stage this year was so hype! 

The Void relocated to the middle of the NOS. Despite the occasional sound bleed, the move was a great decision since it gave unknowing Dreamers a chance to discover their subconscious desire for trance's more progressive and darker sounds. Inside the hangar was The Vision, where people took shelter from the freezing desert winds to the euphoric sounds of Solarstone and Stoneblue.

The Dream was where the big baddy for all the trance daddies, or mommies, performed. This year's design had an evangelical touch. The enormous LED screens transformed into stained glass paintings accompanied by arches of steel trusses hovering over the dance floor. The Dream’s holy design was of no surprise because this year's main act was not other than Armin Van Burren. 

Shifting a few stages around allowed more space and more opportunity to see conflicting artists. There were more food options and even, this is my fav, more bathrooms! Also, the lasers sweeping the night sky and strings of lights reflecting off the NOS Pond, beautiful. One complaint, though, would be how the GA bar only had rail liquor! 

Music

I know my opinion is biased because I’m a trance head, but the music was sooo good, there was not one bad set. The most played track of DS had to be Fred Again's collaboration with Swedish House Mafia's “Turn On The Lights Again.” 

Relocating The Void to the middle of the festival was such a 10-brain move because rising stars like Miss Monique and Billy Gillies weren’t hidden away at the corner of the event center. On the first night, I was walking by after Ferry Corsten’s techno-fueled set and heard the warm melodies of Lane 8’s “Run” and discovered Anjunafamily’s Jerro, which would have never happened if the stage hadn’t moved.

A set that took me by surprise was ATB. I usually don’t like having an MC with my trance, but senior Andre Tanneberger was a riot! Initially, I was planning on just staying for his iconic song “Ecstasy,” but I ended up staying for the whole set and missing half of Stoneblue. Sorry, Ilan. ATB dropped Feelz Bombs like “Sweet Disposition,” “Children,” and “Sandstorm,” tracks that took me back to My Golden Years of Raving. 

Best set, hands down, was Armin Van Buuren. I’m not religious, but something spiritual awakened in me as I heard the divine tunes of “Lethal Industry,” “Airport Shivers,” and “Universal Nation.” The whole production, stage design, and Armin’s trademark Jesus pose felt like I was in a rave church having a trance revelation. It was a rapture of bangers foretold by Verse 138: “Who’s Afraid.”

The first official Dreamstate Afterpart was a success since it gave people a place to sober up. I only went to the Saturdays afterparty because I’m old. atDusk B2B Ruben de Ronde played some classics. Billy Gillies B2B Sneijder went hard. Craig Connelly B2B Factor B was so good. Shame I was only able to stay for an hour of their set before having to take off to catch a train back to LA for a 10 am shift. 

Vibes

DS always felt more like a rave than a festival to me. I saw people in fishnets, OG parachute pants, and neon clothes with strings of LED lights attached. Despite the low temperature, I still saw rave cheeks clapping alongside collapsible fans and sizzling abs. Hey, if you have them flaunt them, my brave and shivering Dreamers. But the best thing that people wore at DS was a smile. 

Everyone seemed genuinely happy and was super friendly. Shout out to the Jolly Rancher guy. Although I speak from my personal experience, there have been several threads online about their negative experiences and critiques of the current trance scene—also, shoutout to the LED totem spreading messages of love and LOL’s. 

There were reports of phone thieves at the event. An Unofficial Dreamstate Facebook page post showed a video of a few people getting arrested. On the first night, I ran into someone who had lost her phone. Luckily someone found and returned her phone; thus, I gave her back to her friends so I could take off to catch Elysian set. 

The coolest addition to this year's DS was Insomniac’s partnership with End Overdose, a nonprofit specializing in drug education and providing supplies for medical intervention. I think this shows us, Dreamers, that Insomniac is willing to invest in our safety rather than punish. A whole can of worms here, but that’s for next time. 

All In All

Dreamstate will always be an intimate event where TranceFamilies give thanks to their loved ones and new. From start to finish, I had a lot of fun this year at Dreamstate; more fun than EDC, even. It’s such a magical experience, which is why I always 100 outta 10 recommend. You know, some people say the real ground score is the friends you make along the way as you struggle from one stage to another. 

The Music

Although I’d seen Mr. Daniel Goldstein plenty of times, this was my first time seeing PRAANA, Le Youth, and CloZee. Due to work, I wasn’t able to catch any of Luzi Tudor’s uplifting house and techno. 

When I arrived at the LASHP, my eyes were overcome by the PRAANA’s cinematic visuals. The duo’s energetic sound kept the crowd warm just as the sun began to set. Next was Le Youth, a name I’ve heard before but never seen. The breeze could have scolded me for forgetting my sweater, but the deep, joyful style sent chills throughout my body. The final guest was CloZee who took me by surprise. I am not well-versed with future bass but the French artist came at me with the right amount of wub and dub to the point where my face could not stop scrunching in approval. 

Now Lane 8, well, he took me on a feelz-trip. I remember how dark I felt when he played “Opium” by Alastor & Jerome Isma Ae and the once flamboyant visuals shifted to a void of black screens and white lasers. Or the rush of euphoria when my friends and I held each other as we tried to sing along to “Don’t Let Me Go” after a couple of whiskies. For three hours, he played every track to its last beat. His long transitions made me feel a sense of closure between each emotional chapter of the Reviver Tour.

When the lights came on after “Little Voices” finished, I thought the show was over before hearing the one song I wanted to share with my friends. But that Daniel is a trickster as he came back on stage for an encore and played “Brightest Lights” mashed up with “My Purple iPod Nano (Salute remix).”

Normally, I would spend a lot of time recording parts of the performance for notes or a future video. But not being on my phone allowed me to be fully immersed as I heard every catalyst, every synth, and the weight of every beat.

The Venue

Surprisingly, this was my first time attending a show at the LASHP. I’m amazed at how deep the stage was in the park and how Goldenvoice set up the perimeter where it would be difficult for someone to try and hear the music outside. The event didn’t sell out, but it felt packed at times, especially on the left side since it was the first area one would see upon entering. The right side was pretty much empty the whole show. So for future reference, the right side has additional (and probably cleaner) bathrooms, various food trucks, and a buck ton of bartenders (saving you about 30 minutes of waiting). 

The Vibes 

It was a mix mash of people wearing Lane 8 merch; people dipped in black techno wear or those few dawning elaborate outfits matching their vibrant personalities. Though I didn’t wear any, I saw several people wearing Kandi and one glover. So, I tip my hat at thee. I suppose this show felt like it was in between a rave and a house concert.

Compared to EDC or Dreamstate, I would say the vibes here aren’t as pleasant, but on par with other house events I've attended. There weren’t many trains rushing to the front, and people were generally friendly, but a few of my friends did get their personal space invaded, which is never ok. Honestly, none of that really mattered anyways because I was surrounded by love and compassion. 

When my friends asked me in July if I wanted to join them, I hesitated since I was unemployed. However, I eventually caved. Despite my reckless decision, rolling the dice on seeing Lane 8 with my friends, whom I’d not seen in ages, was the best decision I’d made all year. Since then, my heart feels full whenever I hear “Sunday Song” and remember the late-night shenanigans that never happened.

The first stage I went to was The Hydra because it was the closest to the entrance and the only set of GA bathrooms. Its layout reminded me of kineticFIELD with its monstrous LED screens and speaker towers spread across the dance floor. Like the serpent in Greek mythology, this stage showed the versatility of styles steaming from the body of trance.

On the first day, The Hydra took me on a trip filled with psychedelic riffs and energetic tempos from Alchimyst, Astrix, and Infected Mushroom. All the psytrance made Saturday a battle because everyone in their mamas was trying to get to the front. The next day went just as hard with aggressive percussion and driving basslines from the likes of David Forbes, Will Atkinson, Mark Sherry, and Bryan (Bryan, Bryan effin') Kearney. It’s been over two years since Bryan played in the USA, but his set was utter Kearnage.

Across the harbor was The Aquaria, where the DJs still wrecked my legs but in a loving take-you-out-for-breakfast-after kinda way. A silver cage of naked Truss Segments encompassed the stage, forcing everyone to huddle together for an intimate dance floor. Even when it was packed like sardines because the cold wind was blasting everyone from a state of trance, it was still easier to move around than in The Hydra.

Christina Novelli, Craig Connelly, Estiva, and Giuseppe Ottaviani were some of the DJs who opened The Aquaria, easing us into the night. But when it got dark, so did the music because it was banger after banger from Sean Tyas, Paul van Dyk, John O’Callaghan, and Sander van Doorn (presents Purple Haze). So many fantastic DJs played at this stage, but my favorite act from this pool was Markus Schulz.  

Why? Well, I suppose it's because I feel like a man possessed every time I see the Unicorn Slayer. The way he balances the vigorous snares and kicks from techno with the euphoric melodies of trance is a work of art that makes me want to hug friends and strangers while also punching the air like it owes me money. *chef’s kiss*

Honestly, there's not much for me to complain about besides wishing there were more bathrooms, but space in the venue is limited, so I understand. But the free and quick in-and-out parking was fantastic! There were moments when I encountered some not-so-PLUR people who would elbow their way through the crowd or to the front, but that’s not Insomniac's problem. People were generally friendly, spreading the good vibes from the Book of PLUR. There weren’t all the bells and whistles you would typically see at a festival, but I don’t think DSH needed the extra production or stages because the sound management was perfect.

Rewatching my "Sun & Moon" recording during Ilan Bluestone's set made me realize something. I realized how much I suck at singing and that I dance like I'm losing a game of DDR. But none of my horrible singing and terrible dance moves matter because, in these small moments of imperfection shared amongst my friends and strangers, I am happy. Thank you, Insomniac, for creating a culture celebrating the magic of trance.

All-in-all, the first Dreamstate Harbor was pretty cool. I have no regrets, not even when I spent 17 dollars on dry chicken tenders and fries. (No lie, I saw a basket of fries on the floor and thought how someone wasted nine dollars.) The star-packed lineup and breathtaking sights of laser-colored fog with giant ships in the background made it all worth my while. TL;DR: New location, same feelz, 100 out of 10, highly recommended.

The Early Days

Before hardstyle, hardcore (aka gabber), hard trance, and hard house ruled European nightlife. Eventually, all three genres would hit the mainstream radios and TVs. However, not many gabbers were too happy about the dilution of their favorite niche. “Hardstyle came from the exhaustion of the happy hardcore scene,” Stuff I Like stated in his video Subgenres of HARDSTYLE and Their History.

In Hardstyle in Retrospect - A DJ'S Perspective (Documentary), DJ Haze, a Dutch hardstyle legend, said the negative press surrounding hardcore also contributed to the mass exodus. His video showed a clip of the media labeling gabber listeners as aggressive racist druggies with a lousy sense of fashion due to their choice of designer tracksuits.

During this time, producers started experimenting with gabber by slowing the BPM down to about 140-145, spliced in quick vocal cuts, simple FX, and minimalizing the melodies. This process led to the invention of the reverse bass.

What is a reverse bass? “Usually, the bass is hardest alongside the punch and then diminishes until the next kick,” Meph0 on Reddit wrote. “In a reverse bass, the bassline is reversed, so the bassline swoops up after the punch. This creates a very characteristic pulsating rhythm.” If you’re still unsure of the difference, watch this video by EDMPapa.

Nobody really knows what the actual “first” hardstyle track was. “It was not hardstyle because it did not exist back then,” DJ Isaac (a badass DJ who produced the iconic track “B*****S”) said in Haze’s documentary. Regardless, there was no stopping the movement as pioneers like Lady Dana and The Prophet blew out speakers across the Netherlands.

According to Stuff I Like, some of the early tracks heard in clubs were produced in Italy. He said many people assume hardstyle to be only of Dutch origin is because most notable festivals are in the Netherlands and Belgium. An example he showed was a 2001 production titled “I’m Your DeeJay” by Zenith vs. Avex.

The Golden Era

As time went on, the sounds of hardstyle became more refined. Producers started to make more melodic tracks, the tempo increased to about 150 BPM, and kick pitching (adjusting the pitch of the kick) became more common. Eventually, this style became known as Nustyle. DJs like Headhunterz, Wildstylez, and Noise Control became household names during this time. Stuff I Like and the lads on Reddit called this The Golden Era of Hardstyle (roughly 2005-2010).

Undoubtedly, the transition onto the big stage couldn’t have been made possible without the help of a wee production company called Qlass Elite. The Dutch organizers threw the first documented hardstyle event called Qlubtempo (2000) in Zaandam, a city of the North Holland province. These parties were actually unsuccessful, DJ Luna said in Haze’s documentary, but was a necessary catalyst for the future hardstyle.

On June 3rd of the same year, Qlass Elite took over the city of Beursgebouw for a party that would become the most iconic hardstyle event still happening today, Qlimax. The festival celebrated the more brutal tunes of electronic dance music. Some of you, including me, might be surprised to know that Armin Van Buuren and Ferry Corsten were on the ticket!

Qlass Elite would change its name to Q-dance. You’ve certainly seen their black flag with an orange Q at events before, even if you haven’t heard of them until now. In 2002, fellow Dutch organization ID&T (the peeps who do Tomorrowland) hopped on the hardstyle train with Sensation Black.

Hardstyle Later On

As hardstyle continued to take over the festival scene in Europe, many people were concerned the popularity would lead to the same fatal commercialized path of the very genre it spawned from. “Not every fan wanted the happy singalong style,” Stuff I Like said, “this split the fanbase into two camps: those who like Nustyle and those who hate it.”

Haze was not a fan of the overwhelming growth of hardstyle. He felt the music no longer inspired him and decided to take a step back from the main stage in 2003, a significant reason why he split with his music partner Abyss. However, Haze would later join the counter-movement festering in the shadows cast by the uplifting tone of Nustyle. Under the alias Artic, the Dutch would start producing what we would know as Rawstyle.

By implementing more brutal kicks, vocals preaching evil messages, minimal dark melodies, and more screeches, Rawstyle tried to oppose everything Nustyle represented. Haze considered this to be the more “authentic” form of hardstyle. Later productions would adapt kick rolls and fake drops (anti-climaxes) as additional means to further distinguish itself from the prior; thus, Nustyle became known as Euphoric style.

Stuff I Like believed Max Enforcer ft. The Rush “Fade to Black” theme for Sensation Black in 2010 was the “first Rawstyle” track in the terms defined by the gatekeeping police.

When Headhunterz left in 2014 to make big room house, Rawstyle fans celebrated a victory as E-Force took the number one spot on DJ Mag Hardstyle List with “Seven.” The battle between Euphoric and Raw continued as fans bickered on online forums and at festivals. To find peace, producers in 2018 tried to find common ground by combining the two styles.

Our boy Haze eventually came around to the lighter(ish) side and teamed up with fellow Dutch DJ Desnar to form The Warriorz to produce this new hybrid style. “In almost 20 years, this music genre has blurred borders, and I am grateful to have contributed to this,” Haze said at the end of his documentary. “I am still in love with the music, the atmosphere, and the culture. And I will always feel connected with the scene.” He even reunited with Abyss at Hemkade 48, an event complex in North Holland.

Hardstyle on the Mainstage

Around the same time all of this was happening in Europe, Q-dance expanded its reach to Australia, North and South America, and Asia. In 2012, Q-dance even had a pirate ship stage at EDC. Since then, EDC has built a home for hardstyle with scary stages, often made of skulls that shoot flames surrounded by railcars tagged up with graffiti. This magical place is called Wasteland.

“Where does hardstyle evolve to next?” Stuff I Like asked in his video.

Well, Headhunterz played on the main stage of EDC in 2013. Showtek cannonballed into the American festival circuit with their blend of hardstyle and house. Trance DJs like Gareth Emery started to experiment with screeches and reverse bass. Hardcore legend Darren Styles teamed up with Da Tweekaz for a bangin’ hardcore-style fusion set at Tomorrowland 2018.

So to answer the question posed before, I’m sure no matter what happens, I am sure the future is bright—or dark, depending on if you’re team Nu or Raw.

Local star Mr. Brooks kicked off the celebration with a high octane set that had everyone dancing like we were in the final hours of a festival. I was already flirting with the limitations of my deodorant by the time Ruben de Ronde took over. Despite it being hot as balls and my body being covered in dried sweat, I could not stop grooving to the melodic music coming from the Dutchman. Luckily, I was able to catch my breath when Ruben slowed the tempo with Above & Beyond’s “Can’t Sleep” ft. Ashley Tomberlin.

After Ruben was Gabriel & Dresden. The California duo blew my mind with a set blurring the boundaries between trance and progressive. Between mashups of “Tracking Treasure Down” and “Heaven Scent” mixed in with remixes from names such as Layton Giordani and tracks from Cristoph, G&D hard flexed their prowess as both DJs and producers.

Cosmic Gate also took me down a rabbit hole filled with hard synths, distorted horns, and plucking claps threaded together by a powerful kick drum. It was a musical journey of past and present as I heard “Retrospection,” ft. Greenhaven DJs, and their iconic “Exploration of Space.” Their set was so dark that management had to turn on the lights!

So, Armin. Honestly, it was effin’ awesome! The man of the hour opened with a few new IDs, including his new song promoting peace and love. There was a live performance from Kazi Jay, intense 3D visuals accompanied by lasers upon lasers, and fireworks! His set took me on a roller coaster of emotions when I heard my song “Airport Shivers,” a mashup he did with Photographer.

When he played “Great Spirit,” everyone started jumping- from the floor to the stands to the security in the back. Even I, a man with bad knees surviving the night on $20 pizza and a Rockstar, had the rebel ignited inside of me (***wink*wink***). Gareth Emery made a surprise appearance during the encore when Armin featured their new collaboration with vocals from Owl City.

ASOT was a dang good time, but let me tell you about MaRLo. The Australian burst onto the stage with his track “Visions,” followed by Planet Funk’s “Chase the Sun” and a mashup of Gareth Emery’s “Saving Light.” His uplifting sound filled with big room drops set to the background of vibrant orange and red flashing from the ginormous LED screens was a vibe, and I was there for it.

My favorite moment of the night was when Triode and LA singer Linney joined MaRLo on stage to debut their new project. When Linney got on top of the decks and began singing Avicii’s “Wake Me Up,” my heart skipped a beat.

“I didn’t know until that morning that I would be called on stage to join MaRLo and Linney, who did such an incredible performance,” Triode told me. It was a dream come true for the Bay Area DJ when MaRLo played two of their collabs back-to-back: "Wake Me Up” and “Castles In The Sky.” “I was thinking as I was walking off stage: seeing a huge crowd react so positively to a song you made on your laptop is a producer's dream come true.”

ASOT reminded me of my love for trance. A shoutout to all the DJs who filled my heart with an endless combination of percussion and melodies, each with its own rhythm. A shoutout to all of the passion, empathy, and respect I felt at the show elevating me to another level. And a shoutout to my bank account since I maxed out my credit card, but it was all worth it because my love for A State of Trance has no limit.

1000/10 will def do again!

Because the event was held smack-dab in the middle of LA, there was not much space. The North Stage, which was home to tech-house DJs such as Lee Foss and Sonny Fodera, and the South Stage, the savage land of techno with the sounds of Loco Dice and Marco Carola, was connected by a narrow walkway where people swam upstream to catch the end of a DJ set. There were plenty of volunteers helping the traffic flow, but trying to herd cattle would have been easier.

Toilets were conveniently located at the entrance of both stages. There were enough port-a-potties for you to take a wee if your group is making the journey to the next DJ. The South Stage had a rest area with food trucks for anyone’s dietary needs. Unless you don’t care about diet, you could take a bite out of the Cinnabon truck. My pick of the night was the Billionaire Burger Club.

If there were any complaints about the night, it would have to be the design choice for the North Stage because there was absolutely no room for dancing. The sides of the stage were cluttered with bars and people trying to bulldoze to the front. Not as many people went on Sunday as they did on Saturday, so the spacing issue wasn’t as bad.

The highlight of my weekend was seeing two of Naples's best techno DJs (IMO) of today: Anfisa Letyago and Deborah De Luca. Holy moly, their set was absolutely mental. Their sets were a barrage of dark 808s, acid riffs, and unexpected remixes. It was strong “Britney'' energy. I knew I was in for a treat Sunday when I turned to my friend at the end of Letyago’s set and asked, “Yo bro, is she playing psytrance?!”

All in all, Skyline was a good time. I hope Insomniac can allocate more room for dancing and travel in the future if they decide to bring the festival back to LA. The music was great, the food was great, and the friend lineup was stacked. Plus, seeing Luca and Letyago was the sweet, sweet cherry of the weekend.

10 out of 10, will probably do again.

Things have changed since my move; the corner of Illinois and Marin used to be the home of Breakfast of Champions before The Midway decided to host their own NYE celebration. Though there were still sprinkles of flamboyant colored wigs and leopard fur coats, FS replaced the Burning Man vibes with a more tech-housey-festival kinda feel. But the music was still lit, of course.

Across three days and four stages, I feasted on a smorgasbord of house and progressive. There was Duke Dumont at Main Squeez (main stage), Boys Noize shaking the metal beams at the RiOT stage, DJ Dan reminding us why he’s still a beast at Gods & Monsters, and Justin Martin closing out the weekend at Heavy Petting Zoo. 

By Sunday, everyone was pretty hungover, which was great because Anjunadeep was there to ease our pain with their mainstage takeover. Not going to lie, it got cold as heck when the sun went down, but everyone who stuck it through huddled up and danced to stay warm because Eli & Fur, Lane 8, and Yotto were worth all the chills.

Especially Yotto. This was my first time seeing the Finnish DJ, but holy heck! He blew me away. His set was the perfect blend of grooving percussion and layers upon layers of melodies for a hangover Sunday.

One thing I loved about FS was seeing all my favorite SF DJs. SOKYO opened up the second-day HPZ car the second day, B33SON played at set on the HPZ car, Sokyo opened up the second day at HPZ. Blurr played at the Gods stage. A surprise of the weekend was seeing Niko Zografos debut his prog alias NZ with a B2B set with Pathfynder.

“It was fun playing a B2B set with my friend Pathfynder who played before me in my first NZ set at Audio SF a few months ago,” Zografos said. “This style has been fun to explore and showcase a deeper style of music that I love. Fresh start was such an amazing event.”

Aside from the music, the festival had a lot of amenities for those who lived life pinkies up. VIP attendees had private bars and free food from Chef Luis Lagos, who served smoked brisket and oysters, or fresh rolls from Angel Sushi. My pick for food, though, would be Los Kuyas, and I had no shame stuffing my face with their sisig burrito.

The only thing I found troublesome was the layout of the event. On Saturday, the main stage got too packed, so the path to the HPZ stage or the game room to play air hockey was a fight upstream. Also, having the bottle service cabanas along the side of the T intersection where the paths to the two stages did not make things easier.

All in all, I had a good time. Fresh Start was a cool party to kick off the new year; I got to see DJs I probably would never have thought to check out at other massives, and I got to see DJs I left behind when I moved. Besides hearing like five Pryda tracks on Sunday, the best part was probably seeing old faces from my kandi-kid-warehouse-party-Kellys-Mission-Rock days. You know, seeing everyone again at a new festival on the first weekend of the new year did make it feel like a fresh start to a . . . I’m sorry, I had to do it one more time before finishing this review.

Despite having gone to many Dreamstate events in NorCal, I have never attended Insomniac’s premiere all-trance festival at the NOS Event Center. To add more stains on my trance-pants, I only went to Saturday of the two-day gathering. Luckily, my awesome rave fam helped me catch up on all the love and music for a magical night as we frolicked from stage to stage.

The first stage I encountered was The Void, located next to NOS’s iconic pond, where reflections of lights emitted from the strings of twinkles. As the name suggests, this was home to DJs who played darker trance tunes. Behind that stage was The Vision, the only indoor stage which hosted household names like Solarstone and Aly & Fila. Continuing along the path of lights was where I found a collection of tribes dancing to the psychedelic grooves of Vini Vici and Alchimyst at a tent called The Sequence.

At the end of the road was The Dream, a stage akin to the Megastructure I’ve seen at EDC or Ultra. Here, giant LED Screens and an assortment of lasers served as the backdrop to some of the biggest DJs playing those songs we all love to sing along to, like a karaoke machine IRL.

The Dream was where I spent most of my time Saturday night; this was where my tribe set camp for home base. Like many others who went to DS, I am sure I am not alone in saying there was so much love at this tent. I can’t help but smile when I think about how my friends and I embraced each other during the highs of Ilan Bluestone  or sang offkey to the hits of Gareth Emery  and ALPHA 9. There were definitely a bunch of bangers and criers.

But my favorite singalong was during Craig Connelly’s set when he played Ciaran McAuley’s remix of “All I Want.” Originally written and performed by Irish indie rock band Kodaline,  McAuley’s remix perfectly blends Clare Stagg’s vocals with uplifting melodies that got me all in my feelz.

Aside from the music, there were a lot of great things about Dreamstate. For one, I was pleased, also surprised, about how much space there was at the venue. I don’t think the event sold out; I saw on Reddit that only 20k people attended, but it was a bit of relief knowing that I had room to run to the exit if need be. Though it did make for a long walk to the bathroom; but, there were multiple neon structures in the middle of the festival to take a short break if need be.

The only bad experience I had was eating a whole pizza right before Andrew Beyer’s set. Don’t get me wrong, it was delicious, and it came from the back of a fire truck (quick shout out to Dang Brother Pizza because that pizza was bomb dot com!), but the heartburn was real! #RavingAfter30AmIRight?

Luckily, a stranger noticed my discomfort and coincidentally had some heartburn medicine. Honestly, this was one of the many acts of kindness I witnessed throughout the night. Maybe it’s the positive message within the music, or perhaps it’s all this PLUR that people are taking, but there is something special about the trance community.

At the end of the night, someone asked, “What was your favorite part about Dreamstate?” Without hesitating, I said, “It was reuniting with all my friends.” Since I moved to SoCal, I haven’t seen many of my rave fams and having them all in one festival at that.

Dreamstate allowed me to see my friends from all over the place, including some I never thought I would see again. I am thankful Insomniac provided a home where we can all be together again to celebrate our love for trance and lasers because festivals are more than just music; it’s about the friends you make along the way.

Yah, I know that was a cheesy line, but I had to say it. 10/10, can’t wait for next year!

ARC’s lineup was smacking! I wouldn’t have expected anything less for a festival held in the city where house music was born. Saturday kicked the weekend off with sets from megastars like ZHU, Fisher, and Cirez D. The best set from a DJ I’ve Never Seen Before award goes to Layton Giordani. Let me tell you; he brought the effin heat! His set was so hot it started raining because everyone there needed to cool off.

Sunday’s lineup was also fire; literally, it was humid. Being an old man who attends festivals, I was pretty worn out from the day before. Luckily, I visited Dr. Will Clarke and Hot Since '82 for a prescription of bangers kicking my rear back into gear. When the oontz-oontz got a bit too much for me, and I wanted something more boots-and-cats, I took a timeout at the main stage with Jeremy Orlander, Camelphat, and the king himself, Eric Prydz.

Aside from having such a stacked lineup, the guys at Auris did a great job designing the four stages. Each dance floor felt like a different festival with unique decor and vibes.

The Grid was a massive field of green grass with plenty of space. An enormous screen sandwiched between smaller monitors and speakers sat at the front, surrounded by shipping containers painted in neon green with splashes of blue and yellow. At night, strips of LED lights filled the dark park with vivid color as the flock of strobe lamps perched on top of the stage swept the crowd with an assortment of lasers.

Elrow was the second biggest stage at ARC, but it was definitely the most intoxicating. Decorative balloons dyed in flamboyant shades of pink, purple, and green covered the ceiling. I remember seeing performers in strange costumes walking around the dance floor on stilts led by exotic handlers as rainbow confetti rained down like we were at Carnival. It was all weird and confusing but funky and exhilarating, a sample of the original Elrow in Spain.

Between The Grid and Elrow was the GoodBus. Which, as you can probably picture, is a fully-functional mobile renovated school bus with a 10,000-watt machine! Aside from this festival, this party on wheels has made its way through Electric Forest and Summer Camp.

Expansion was the dustiest stage of them all. There were times when I thought the lasers were drawing designs on steam generated from a machine, but nope, it was clouds of dust. My nose is starting to close up just thinking about it. However, having the bathroom located in the back of this stage was clutch since not many people knew about it. So, thank you.

Getting to Union Park was pretty easy. I took the L train the first day (the CTA trains are beautiful and easy to use, BTW) and a rideshare the second. Getting out of the park was a different story. My friend and I walked back to our hotel on Sunday since we didn’t want to wait for transportation. The humidity did not make the 2.5 miles trek easy, nor did the sweat-soaked jeans I wore. 

Even though the festival ended at 10 pm, the party continued with ARC After Dark: official afterparties spread across five Chicago clubs both nights, which isn’t surprising since Auris is a band of club owners and those in the nightlife industry. There was Blacklizt at Radius, Will Clarke at Spybar, the Adam Beyer-less Drumcode takeover at Concord Music Hall, and many more. I only had the energy to attend one, which was the PRYDA AFTER PARTY BABY! Thus completing a goal of mine, seeling all three of Prydz (current) alias in one weekend. 

Besides getting walked through when I was trying to dance, I found that everyone was pretty chill; everyone there was just trying to have a good time after a festival drought. There was a lot of black attire. The outfits are similar to those seen here at homegameauction, but just in black with more black. Oh, and also a bunch of psychedelic Hawaiian shirts and overalls.

The thing I’ll remember the most about ARC is the people. ARC reminded me how magical it feels when you make a new friend over your shared love of music and overpriced water, or how sometimes all you need is a weekend running from stage to porta-potty with your tribe to feel like everything is going to be alright.

All in all, I had a fantastic time. If you have a chance to reconnect with your crew, then I would highly recommend it. 10-out-of-10, I would hella do it again!

When I arrived at the first checkpoint, I saw the staff checking for proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. With the recent announcement from Pasquale on Instagram about updating the entry requirements for EDC, I can only assume this will be the new normal.

There were three food trucks in the back with the free water station. Up a small flight of stairs was the massive dance floor. A vast stage with a giant video wall framed by metallic rods with several stage lamps mounted on the top stood at the very top. Four sets of speakers with the same metal casing and LED light strips marked the corners of the dance floor and each of the speakers had a small stage for performers and an accessible dancing area.

So the music was amazeballs! Saturday night was an onslaught of synth and bass, started by Cirez D “Privilege Intro ID.” Prydz was relentless, suffocating you with one Cirez D banger after another, ending the night with the fan-favorite “Opus” by Pryda.

Before I move on from music, I want to mention how beautiful his transitions are, straight class. Hearing a track reduced to a jumble of percussion and hi-hat as the melody of the next song gingerly fades in, chef’s kiss. It’s a work of art.

The people were chill, aside from those running trains through the crowd. Although most people were wearing black on black, I saw a few anime tees, spotted a few strings of Kandi, and even a SpiritHood or two.

I met a Bay Area DJ who traveled from SF for the show Sunday night. “After seeing Eric Prydz play twice in SF and then once more for his final night of the tour in LA, I can decisively say that the final night was the best!” Michael Bricker said. “Factory 93's outdoor location provided that much-missed festival feeling on top of the giant LED wall and lasers. The production really brought Eric's performance to the next level!”

Hell yeah, brother! I saw a neon cyberpunk city or a warning throughout the night like some sci-fi Evangelion computer screen flashing in red, barcodes, moons, stars, and other worlds. And, of course, lazzzers! It wouldn’t be an Eric Prydz show without the lasers!

Factory 93's mission is to take today’s scene back to its underground roots. And I would say: mission accomplished! I don’t know if it was the graffiti on the surrounding buildings, or hearing a train’s horn as it passes by just outside the chain-linked fence, or finding myself dancing in a crowd of strangers under a full moon, but the aesthetics were on point.

All in all, it was good vibes. 10 out of 10, highly recommend. If you missed Eric Prydz this time, then make sure to catch him at Escape and EDC in October. 

With events opening up but mask mandates being put in place off and on around the country, ravers are navigating a new normal while trying to keep themselves and their communities safe. As they say, the show must go on, so here is how several ravers, DJs and promoters feel about raving now that things have opened back up.

“It feels surreal to be going back to events at a larger scale already,” @_zomgsteph said about her first in-person event at the Midway in San Francisco. Though she had kept her rave spirit burning by listening to live streams and posting humorous content on Instagram/TikTok about the cringey festival moments we would all like to forget, it paled in comparison to the real thing. “Just being able to dance outside with other humans around me was memorable. . .Not the same!”

After months of turning the tables in his room to a virtual dance floor, Bay Area DJ Niko Zografos wasted no time returning to the stage. Having just released “Last Storm” on the Northern Irish label, Kinected Recordings, the DJ celebrated with two shows in one weekend with Aly & Fila & Dave Neven: Dreamstate Presents at Public Works SF [Friday] and the Academy LA [Saturday].

“My gigs in SF and LA were amazing,” Zografos said. Whether in NorCal or SoCal, he said the energy was the electric: everyone was excited to be out, spreading the love as they frolicked with freedom from CDC guidelines. “It was one of my favorite weekends in a long time. Incredible vibes!”

Though, the party can’t last forever as the threat of the Delta variant looms over like the sun at 6 am, waiting for you to walk out of that warehouse party to serve you a brutal slappin’ hangover with a side of ibuprofen.

Rising numbers of new infections and hospitalization reported by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, The City of Angels would technically be in the purple tier and shut down again if California was still using the COVID-19 reopening system.

Despite the current relaxed guidelines, the fear of permanently closing nightlife establishments is still a reality. In an August 2020 article by the California Restaurant Association, nearly 30% of restaurants would close permanently. The National Independent Venue Association even started the social media campaign #SAVEOURSTAGES to raise funds where Congress’ federal relief fell short. Not to mention, every big promotion company last year either canceled or moved the dates of music festivals, causing a bunch of pissed-off ravers. ***cough* Ultra *cough***

Various restaurants and nightlife establishments in L.A. County are trying to stay ahead of the curve by requiring proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 tests. Iconic venues in S.F. (like 1015 Folsom) have also joined the growing list of businesses in Calif. making it mandatory for those who wish to enter to be vaccinated or provide a negative test.

“I think it’s essential people be responsible and get vaccinated. It’s not just about them,” Zografos said about those hesitant to get vaccinated. He hopes that people can take the proper precautions to ensure events are here to stay. “This last year has been hard on many of us mentally and emotionally, and it’s important as a community to be there for each other.”

“I know a lot of people who have mentally struggled through this time without human contact and are willing to follow protocols to make events a safe space,” @_zomgsteph said. “All I can say is going to events during this time is a privilege, not a right.”

You can stock up on masks and other personal protective equipment at the homegameauction website here. We also encourage all of our rave babes to get vaccinated, and check out the CDC website or speak with your doctor if you have any questions.

Tops

Alright, let’s start with the first thing people are going to see when you’re at a festival. Which would be tops—because your beautiful face is going to be snugged behind a face mask since you’re doing your part in protecting others from a virus, right? Right?!

At a festival, you’re going to be jumping around, sweating and releasing all those demons that have manifested inside of you during those extra shifts you picked up just to make sure you had a little bit of extra spending money. For those comfortable with their bodies, there’s no harm in freeing your bare chest from its cloth cage as you get in touch with your inner Tarzan. But for those like me who have yet to make peace with their fading metabolism, I recommend tank tops. It’s the perfect way to partake in “Suns out, guns out” while still being able to enjoy another donut.

Personally, I like to wear solid, neon-colored tanks that are a size up (because nothing is worse than trying to find your groove just to have a sweaty shirt hold you back). Though, if you want something more expressive, I think you should take a look at the Chakra Owl Glow-In-The-Dark Tank on the iHR store. The top comes in a slimming black with a print of an owl that glows in the dark. And for my anime homies out there, there’s no better way for you to align your chakra under the Electric Sky than having Insomniac’s icon close to your heart.

Bottoms

Who likes short shorts? I do. There’s nothing more freeing than giving your “absolute territory” the freedom to breathe when high jumping to a dropped beat. For shorts, I recommend anything in the realm of running shorts. And preferably with zipper pocks to help secure your wallet and such from escaping when doing said jumping. And if you’re looking for something a bit out of this world, then iHR’s Milky Way Shorts will be perfect for you. Concerned about your berries when a DJ is blasting you off into outer space? I got you covered. Or, actually, iHR has got you covered with the Hidden Pocket Men’s Boxer Briefs. Not only will these briefs keep your astronaut secured, but they will also help secure that opened chapstick you brought from the no-no-police.

But this is just my taste. If you want more pockets, then definitely go with cargo shorts. And if you’re feeling a bit cheeky, there’s no harm in expressing yourself with some daisy dukes.

Also, I CANNOT stress this enough, wear comfortable shoes. You’re gonna be jumping on the balls of your feet for X amount of hours, so it’s in your best interest to wear comfortable shoes. You could get these It’s The Right Time Dad Sneakers so your feet won’t be destroyed after dancing from sun-down to sun-up. Another tip: get your footwear in dark colors because you will be stepped on!

Accessories

If you want to feel comfortable at a festival, the less you have in your pockets, the better. Such things as fanny packs, camel bags, rave backpacks will be your best friend. iHR has a great collection of these festival bags. Of course, my favorite is the Vibedration Neon Yellow Hydration Pack (I love the color, plus, it’s easy to spot me in the middle of the crowd when I get lost...which happens a lot).

At the risk of challenging my masculinity, I love to wear Kandi at festivals; I started my early raving years in the hardcore scene. But during these summer dance fests, I limit myself to a select few on each hand to ensure these colorful tokens of friendship don’t cut off the circulation to my arms. A tip: designate one arm with trading Kandi. You know, just to make it easier for when you get lost in the music.

Before I forget, always check the weather before any big event to see if you need to bring a light sweater/long-sleeved shirt. There’s nothing worst than trying to find your car or waiting for a shuttle as the early morning wind tries to freeze you to death. Because if you don’t, you might have to try and buy a sweater only to have the employee wearing a puffy jacket tell you all the long-sleeved items are sold out so you’ll have to settle for a $60 shirt that’s a size too small...Damn you, EDC 2019.

Say you’re at a festival and you see that one girl with an amazing smile, pumping her fist away. You realize through the flashing neon lights and streams of fluorescent lasers that there is something unique about her, invoking this new-found urge to get her attention. Before you could go talk to her, a flood of insecurities and doubts halts your steps and forces you to rethink the whole situation.

Well that’s what I’m here for . . . well I’m no Casanova: just an Asian kid who has been through trials and many errors. I’m here with warnings for my fellow bros; I’m here to make sure you “check yo self before you wreck yo self!”

1. If she says she likes your kandi then she wants the D!

If some girl takes the time to burrow her way through the crowd to say “I like your kandi,” then she’s trying to talk to you. If she’s complimenting you then she’s deff hitting on you dwag. Trying to get some of that ALPHA!

Look bros, if a girl says she likes your kandi then maybe she just genuinely likes your kandi. Maybe she is a kandi enthusiast. If she compliments you on your piece then strike up a conversation; she notices you so that’s a good thing. You can use this as way to slip in a flirt but don’t use this as an excuse to try and jam your tongue down her mouth.

2.There’s no way a girl is just trying to dance

If a girl is up there shaking her carefully crafted booty, then she’s waiting for some Alpha.

Don’t assume that just because girls is at a festival, who are wearing eye-catching apparel, are there to meet guys. Just because she’s shaking that rave booty doesn’t mean it’s a National Geographic mating call. If she rejects you then you have to respect that. She’s doing you a favor by letting you down easy, bro. It’s also wrong to assume she’s a lesbian or call her derogatory names after the rejection; be a mature adult and leave, at least you asked her.

3. Bump and GRIND!!!

Just sneakily walk up behind her and start pumping that fist. Flex those biceps, shrug those shoulders, you’re not wearing that tank top cuz it’s comfortable. You spent all that time in the gym and taken half of GNC, show her what those steroids got cha. Strategically pump that fist next to her and “accidentally” bump into her. If she bumps back then that means she wants it.

I will have to admit that in the past I have done this with success. But that doesn’t mean go around “accidentally” bumping into every cute girl you see. Most girls find it creepy when strangers comes behind them and forcefully grind on their unprotected back. Don’t keep coming after she shakes you off like some creepy grinding Terminator. If you want to dance with a girl, a back-attack isn’t the answer.

4. Uplift her hands and into her rave panties

Right before that sick drop from one of those awesome Top 10 bangers, there is an overused build-up. You gotta look at her and say, “I love this part” and grab her hand and lift it in the air. This shows her that you’re sensitive and sh*t. Then she is left defenseless and you gotta seize this moment to strategically give her a twirl into your grinding position.

Sometimes when a guy tries to dance with a random girl a train wreck occurs as the guy tries to spin the girl around for a dance. There is a sense of trust when you hold someones hands up in the air during a euphoric moment, you share a bond as the lights shines and the beats surrounds everyone. So embrace it for what it is and don’t use it as an excuse to creep.

5. Hug and Squeeze her into your trap

Rave chicks love to hug and cuddle. Give her the nod and hug her. It’s a reason to get close. Make sure she smells your alpha smell that has been manifesting since the banger dropped. Cuddle hard and remember that girls love it when you say creepy things to them.

I don’t like to hug much, especially during a festival when I’m all sweaty and smelly. I’ve seen it too many times when after a hug there would be that lingering arm. If she’s jumping up and down and the only connection between you two is your desperate arm, then just let go. If it was really meant to be then she would come back to you.

6. No such thing as a FRIEND-ZONE!

No Alpha settles in the friend-zone. If she says that she only wants to be friends then you gotta move onto the next one. She’s not ready for an alpha like you. Or fist pump your way out of the friend-zone by playing the friend card.

This could either apply to that new person you met or that one person whom you have been eying in the crew for the last 4 sets. If she says she wants to be friends then you gotta respect that. Who knows, maybe something will happen later down the road. However, at that moment she just wants to be friends. Don’t use that sneaky friend card to try and get into a girls rave box, be her friend. A trust and respect between friends is one that should not be broken.

Alright bros, I’ve given you some tips on how to NOT be a creeper. You’re an intelligent human being, don’t be a bro looking for that “gash.” Use your words, talk to girls. Words good, random grinding bad . . . unless Channing Tatum. No girl likes a desperate bro. If she don’t like you then just move on. Rage hard. Be an ALPHA and not a creep.