I don’t know about you, but when I think of a perfect location for a festival, the beach is one of the first places that comes to my mind. Who doesn’t love “hanging out” on the sand and in the ocean with a huge group of friends? Add in some of the biggest acts going around the festival circuit, and you’ve got yourself a few days of fun in the sun and oceanfront grooves.
As we speak, at this exact moment in time, the fourth annual Hangout Music Festival is getting into full swing! This is a really unique festival, an experience unlike any other. Set on the beautiful, pristine beaches of the Gulf Shores in Alabama, this festival stock piled their artist lineup this year, even adding in a special Kick-Off Party on Thursday the 16th. Some may even say that the Thursday Night Kick-Off is the best lineup night of the whole festival, others may not, but when you’ve got Future Rock, Lotus, Conspirator (A wookie favorite), Railroad Earth, Dillon Francis, Benny Benassi, and Umphrey’s headlining the first night, jeeeeez, how do you beat that?
Other big acts at Hangout Fest this year include, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bassnectar, (seems to be a staple at most festivals, I ain’t complainin’), Trey Anastasio Band, Kings of Leon, Kendrick Lamar, Moe., Zion I, Big Gigantic…..wow, just listing all those names got me all tingly inside, and that’s not even half of them.
The good people in attendance at this year’s Hangout are definitely in for a treat, especially tonight. I think the only thing that could make this event better is if they allowed camping on the beaches, but still, it’s hard to ask for much more.
So let’s just cut straight to the point. Myself, an astute member of The Wookie Post, fell into a BIG ol’ bowl of luck when my brother earned himself, plus one, a trip to the magical, wondrous place known as, Las Vegas. Now certainly, going to Las Vegas is a spectacle all in itself, with the lights and sounds that no other city in the WORLD can even stand up to, but that was just the tip of the iceberg.
As we found out that this trip was actually going to take place, we said to ourselves, “I wonder if there is going to be any cool artists to go see while we’re there?”. A rookie question to say the least, as we quickly learned that each hotel loads up their DJ booth’s with the biggest names on the EDM scene. Avicii, Tommy Trash, Dillon Francis, Lil’ Jon (apparently doing DJ sets now?), Sir Elton fucking John was even playing shows there, and these were just the people playing shows in the three days that we were there! (no, Elton John wasn’t doing a DJ set, but he was doing his own show nearby)
We definitely had our options laid out, but one name grabbed our attention, and there was just no looking back. Bassnectar, 4/20, Surrender Nightclub, tickets bought, game on. This couldn’t have worked out better. I am no EDM aficionado, but if there is one DJ/producer I will always have love for, it’s definitely Mr. Lorin Ashton, aka Bassnectar. His style is just that, HIS own style. No matter how many DJ’s, producers, or play pushers come out on to a stage, this man puts on a show like no other. It seems that he has an unlimited amount of energy, and wants every show to top his last one, and you just have to respect that. RESPECT!
Opener’s DJ Booth
So, the show wasn’t until the last night that we were there. Which meant we had to make it through the first 3 days alive and ready to rage Bassnectar into the early morning. A tough task indeed, but a challenge worthy for the taking. I’ll skip over most of the actual vacation details, ya know, since this isn’t really a personal blog, but let’s just say, reality itself really is too twisted.
Now for the good stuff. This really wasn’t set up to be any ordinary Bassnectar show. First off, there was a strict dress code enforced, button ups and no sneakers for the guys, ladies dress to impress. Anyone who’s been to a Nectar show before knows this sounds like it just shouldn’t and wouldn’t work, with people usually decked out in neon tank-tops and bear suits, but it turned out to be pretty cool with everyone in the club looking fresh, fly and sexy.
Secondly, the club isn’t exactly optimally set up for a Bassnectar show. The venue itself is UNREAL. A huge outside club with pools set up like moats around these floating islands, some with dancer’s poles and some with couches for lounging. The stage itself was in an enclosed area, no bigger than a regular-to small sized bar. The only problem was the front was way too packed, unless you got there hours earlier and stood there the whole time until the show. If you were outside the enclosed area (which fit probably ~150 people) than it was extremely difficult to hear the show.
Surrender Nightclub
1:00am starts to creep up, almost show time. The opening DJ (apparently just the club’s house DJ, didn’t catch a name) had been progressively getting the crowd more and more amped, bumpin’ some remixes and mash-ups on the sick sound system they had set up on the outside. Worth to note that the opening DJ had been playing in the outside part, and the sound was perfect, which led us to believe that even standing on the outside they would probably have the music playing on the inside and out. Sadly, this was not the case…..
Lorin comes on the stage. The crowd goes nuts. People have been waiting close to 3 hours now, and with $15 drinks, it’s tough to keep the booze flowing, so we were ready for the intoxicating BASS to take over. The music starts, and since we’re on the outside at this point, we can’t hear shit. We look for a path to try to get through to the inside, and it’s just not looking promising. We weren’t about to have this night ruined though. My bro, being Mr. Joe Smooth, as he always is, finds the closest guy to us that looks like he’s running things. After a few words with him, our group was quickly being escorted to the front of the stage area, to an open space with #IllTight acoustics. I’m pretty sure he just told him we were with Wookie Post, and he hooked us up. I’ll never know for sure, so we’ll just leave it at that.
That Dude
Being inside the stage area was a whole new ballgame. Intimate Bassnectar shows are ALWAYS the best ones, and this felt just like that. A smaller crowd, a smaller venue, you feel like he’s just playing to you and a private party. The visuals were on point the whole time, especially when they made it look like you were flying through the Vegas strip with all the crazy lights and colors, and then at the end, BOOOOM he drops the bass and the crowd jumps up in complete synchronization. Truly spine-tingling moments. Something only achievable at live shows like these. That’s what keeps us all coming back for more, whatever your musical tastes may be.
On top of the visuals, there were also live visuals throughout the stage area, as they had 6 poles set up with sexxxy, scantily dressed ladies GETTIN’ DOWN to the music. I’m talking booty droppin’, elbows to the knees type shit. Not exactly a bad obstruction of view if there had to be one.
And The Ladies Were The Rest Of The Night
Highlights of the show for me were definitely the visuals, the beautiful people around me, and he did drop that Blur – Song 2 remix that I love oh so much. Some things that did disappoint me A LITTLE bit, was the fact that he’d build up a beat, everything seems to be coming together perfect, and then he’d drop some trap sounding remix that seems to be popular as of late. Definitely something I’m not used to hearing from Lorin, especially multiple times throughout a show, but just left me with a little something more to be desired. But, it is what it is. (Check out the video at the top of the page.)
Overall, just an amazing experience to see one of my favorite DJ’s in one of the most amazing cities on Earth. After the show, we stumbled back to our hotel, and capped off the night in the most appropriate of ways, considering it was 4/20.
Blaze on peoples, and remember, what happens in Vegas, you better tell everyone that shit.
wookiepost 