- Although there have been many massive parties at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, it was the giant talent on the Audiotistic lineup on July 24 that finally inspired me to drive the 60 miles from Los Angeles: Kid Cudi, Bassnectar, Rusko, Talib Kweli, N.A.S.A., Daedelus, Nosaj Thing, A Trak, Riva Starr, Eskmo, Marco V, Cosmic Gate and dozens more electronic artists presented a diverse night of dance that was right in line with SoCal's spread-out musical tastes.
The NOS Events Center is a large, purpose-built outdoor complex. For Audiotistic, four stages were set in giant tents and good energy flow. This open design kept people moving and wandering and exploring—at least when they weren't crushed together by choice in dance euphoria in front of the speaker stacks. A spurting fountain added to the nighttime revelry, matching the glowing gear and happy faces of ravers young and old.
Well, not that young. After the fallout from the Electric Daisy Carnival, Insomniac raised the entry age for Audiotistic to 18, prompting screams of unfairness from minors all over SoCal—and sighs of relief from everyone else. The lack of 16 and 17 year-olds at the party was noticeable; there was slightly less underwear-as-pants fashion, the crowd was not quite as colorful or candied out and the number of minors messed up out of their brains and wallowing on the ground was thankfully none.
Highlights of the festival included Daedelus, who brought along lyricist Busdriver and dazzled the crowd with his precise yet polytemponic style. Rusko, moved from the side dubstep stage to the main stage, proved the promoters right by filling his tent with 10,000+ heads going apeshit to tracks that we were all listening to two years ago. At the same time, over in the drum & bass tent, there were about 400 people on the dance floor. Ouch.
Bassnectar was another hands-down favorite of the night; at large festivals I always wander through the crowds and ask strangers which set they liked best, and Bassnectar was overwhelmingly the most popular answer. Nero also lit the evening up with a fusion set of dubstep-inspired everything. Unfortunately I missed Nosaj Thing for the final set of the night, because there was no way I was waiting until the end of the party and joining 25,000 ravers on the freeway back to LA.
I enjoyed the open-air layout and fairgrounds-feel of the NOS Events Center and will no doubt be returning, despite the drive. Insomniac continues to lead the way on massives in SoCal, and I will be attending their parties again as well—especially if they keep their events 18+, an age where many more people are able to handle their ish, leading to a better festival experience for everyone. Sorry, minors.