University of San Diego Radio

Having gone to the previous night and seen A-Trak, The Bloody Beetroots, 2ManyDJs, and Deadmau5, I had very high expectations for Saturday night.  Fortunately, I was no where near disappointed.  The second night of intense sets was just as good if not better than the first.  And for those of you who picked Friday night over Saturday, all I can say is that you missed out!

Buraka Som Sistema:
I really hadn’t heard of this Portuguese kuduro group before, but they definitely had the outdoor stage moving with their tribal beats and onstage antics. These guys knew how to get the crowd involved and even got the entire crowd to sit down on the floor, only to have everyone jumping in unison 4 counts later.

Major Lazer:
Diplo and Switch definitely showed up on Saturday to rock everyone until most thought they were moving in some kind of Jamaican dancehall paradise. The two DJs, along with the accompanying vocalists and dancers, kept the crowd dancing, whether it was with the heavy beats and sounds they are known for or the mellow dubstep beats that helped create one of the best concert atmospheres I have ever seen.

Basement Jaxx:
To be perfectly honest, walking into Saturday night I felt that Basement Jaxx was somewhat out of place in comparison to the other acts on the lineup. I had expected Basement Jaxx to be more poppy than everyone else.  However, Basement Jaxx had one of the best DJ sets I have ever seen. One could say that they “did it HARD.” They played all heavy dance hits you can think of, from a remix of their own “Where’s Your Head At” to their mix of “Warp 1.9″ by the Bloody Beetroots. Their set on saturday made me a fan of Basement Jaxx for life.

Justice:
When I think of Justice’s set on Saturday, very few words, other than “amazing,” “fantastic,” or “perfect,” come to mind. Justice played all the favorites: “Waters of Nazareth,” “Phantom,” and “D.A.N.C.E.” They even surprised me by playing a mix of “Everybody Up In the Place” by Prodigy. But what really turned out to be the highlight of their performance was their transition from “We Are Your Friends” to “Why Can’t We Be Friends.” It would be very safe for me to say that any verbal description of their set would not be able to truly do it Justice.

So the cool kids already know this, but Hard Haunted Mansion is back this year for one of the best two nights of techno and electro.  We’ve already posted the preview for Friday’s headliners, and Saturday’s lineup is just as amazing.

Justice: The French duo is back for their second year in a row at Hard Haunted Mansion. Justice has a solid reputation for putting on amazing shows that keep the beat bumping and the kids dancing.  If you didn’t see them before at Street Scene ’08 or last year’s Hard Haunted Mansion, then they should no doubt be the set to see on Saturday night.

“Phantom II (Boys Noize Remix)

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Crookers: The Crookers are one of the many acts that were unable to play at the recent Hard Summer disaster. Nevertheless, these Italian DJs will be there this Saturday to light up the dance floors with their crazy mixes and fuzzy beats. These guys are definitely worth seeing so don’t miss out!

“Wassup (Crookers Remix)”

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Major Lazer: This collaboration between DJs Diplo and Switch has been making lots of waves with their electro/dub/hip-hop style.  They played at the Electric Daisy Carnival early this past summer and have been spreading their unique sound. Be sure to see them this Saturday and, based on Diplo’s past shows, expect some “guest appearances.”

“Pon de Floor (Feat VYBZ Kartel)”

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Steve Aoki: Another amazing DJ who was unable to play at Hard Summer. Steve Aoki is one of LA’s best DJs and even owns DIM MAK Records, the record label that promotes the Bloody Beetroots. Steve Aoki is famous worldwide and after you hear him live, there won’t be any question as to who he is.

“I’m in the House (Feat. Zuper Blahq/Dub Instrumental Mix)”

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Basement Jaxx: This British duo has been pumping out dance floor hits since 1994. The distinct soul of 90′s dance music clashed together with the modern fuzz and blips of electro recently came together in their latest album Scars. They sure to bring the party vibe to their set so don’t miss them!

“Twerk”

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HARD Haunted Mansion makes its way to The Shrine this Halloween weekend. The two-day festival starts Friday the 30th and continues on Saturday night. Though HARD summer was shut down early due to the Fire Marshall, this weekends set boasts an even more impressive line-up and has the majority of our DJ’s in eager anticipation. Doors will open both nights at 7pm, with music running from 8pm to 4am. For tickets, check out HARD Haunted Mansion’s site.

FRIDAY:

Deadmau5: Toronto producer Joel Zimmerman has caught crowd attention for both his Mouse headgear and world-class progressive electro music. Deadmau5 found success around the globe, including back-to back Juno Awards for Best Dance Recording of the Year in 2008 & 2009, a 2009 Grammy nomination for Best Remixed Recording and an appearance on Armen van Buuren’s State of Trance radio show. Expect a stellar set from the headliner.
“Faxing Berlin”

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2 Many DJ’s: Belgium based David and Stephen Dewaele have operated under previous monikers of Soulwax and Flying Dewaele Brothers before. The duo made the name famous with the Soulwax release of the “2 Many Dj’s” album, which featured a mix of everything from Salt n Peppa’s “Push It” to Basement Jaxx’s “Where’s Your Head At?”.
“DARE (Soulwax Remix)”

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A-Trak: New York based, Montreal born Alain Macklovtic h has been mixing since he was 12, and was entering competitions alongside Mix Masta Mike and Mister Sinista at 15. He won a world DJ-Battle at 15, and traveled around the world for competitions. Since then, the hip-hop rooted DJ has earned a following and worked with the likes of Kanye.   Check out our USD Radio interview with A-Trak
“Mastered feat. Lupe Fiasco”

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Bloody Beetroots: Italians Bobby Rifo and Tommy Tea have been putting together some of the harder hitting electro out there lately. There punk rock base mixes with house for a unique style. This summer they dropped their “Romborama” album, which will surely get playtime at HARD. Plus they’ll doning their signature masks, that come from “the Italian Commedia dell’Arte, a 16th Century Venetian form of social satire in the theatre”
Check out our USD Radio interview with the Beetroots
“Warp 1.9″ feat. Steve Aoki

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Check out the Official Hard website here

HARD HAUNTED MANSION RETURNS TO THE SHRINE AS A TWO DAY FESTIVAL, FRIDAY OCTOBER 30th AND SATURDAY OCTOBER 31st

HALLOWEEN LINEUP INCLUDES JUSTICE, BASEMENT JAXX, DEADMAU5, 2MANYDJS, CROOKERS, THE BLOODY BEETROOTS, A-TRAK, MAJOR LAZER, MODESELEKTOR, BURAKA SOM SISTEMA, DESTRUCTO, ZOMBIE NATION AND MANY MORE

HARD, the dance party impresarios who’ve brought you HARD New Year’s Eve and HARD Summer Fest have heard the fans requests and announced their line-up for this year’s HARD Haunted Mansion, a massive dance party taking place this Halloween at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.  Recognizing that one day just wasn’t enough for a lineup this good, HARD Haunted Mansion has been extended into two days of the world’s most premier DJs and electronic dance artists.

The lineup for this year’s HARD Haunted Mansion is a veritable who’s who of contemporary DJs known for consistently pushing the boundaries of dance music forward.  Headlining act Justice, a duo that needs no introduction, have become synonymous with a movement in maximal electronic music that defines the current era.  UK-based veterans Basement Jaxx are paying a rare US-visit to drop their brand of classic-yet-innovative house music in anticipation of their fifth studio album, Scars. Joining them are heavyweights such as Deadmau5, 2ManyDJs, Crookers, A-Trak, The Bloody Beetroots, Modeselektor, Major Lazer, Buraka Som Sistema, Zombie Nation, Steve Aoki, Destructo, Don Rimini, Shinichi Osawa and more. Anyone who appreciates a phenomenal dance party will not want to miss the most electric event in the country this Halloween weekend.

“…the hottest ticket in town on one of the year’s biggest party nights” – LA TIMES

HARD HAUNTED MANSION 2009
Friday October 30th and Saturday October 31st
Shrine Expo Center
2 days, 2 stages, 16 hours of music!!!
Limited Capacity
8pm – 4am

FRIDAY
Deadmau5
2ManyDJs
A-trak
The Bloody Beetroots
Mixhell
Destructo
Don Rimini
Danger
Harvard Bass
Staccato
**Special Guests

Saturday
Justice (DJ set)
Basement Jaxx (DJ set)
Crookers
Major Lazer
Modeselektor
Buraka Som Sistema
Steve Aoki
Zombie Nation
Shinichi Osawa
Classixx
**Special Guests

TICKETS ARE LIMITED!!!!
Individual daily tickets (pre-sale $60), VIP (21+, pre-sale $125) and limited 2 Day discount passes  ($100) available through Groove Tickets and various retail outlets.

For more tickets and more information, please visit:  WWW.HARDFEST.COM

According to HARDfest.com:

We were required to shut down Hard Summer at The Forum last night by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. They declared the event a “hazard” after seeing concertgoers jumping from the balcony to the floor, along with numerous other potentially dangerous activities. The Inglewood Police Department backed the decision of the Fire Department and assisted in the clearance of the venue.

While we, the promoters, worked with the authorities to consider other options to continue the concert, ultimately they made the decision based on the safety of the concertgoers. We are happy to report that there were no major injuries.

We are offering refunds to all concertgoers.

Ticketmaster Sales:
Beginning Monday, August 10th at 10 am, if you purchased your tickets through ticketmaster.com or a Ticketmaster phone center, the credit card you used to purchase the tickets will automatically be credited. If you purchased your ticket through a Ticketmaster outlet, you will need to go to the point of purchase to obtain a refund.

Groovetickets Sales:
If you purchased your tickets online through Groovetickets.com, a refund for the total face value of your order will be automatically applied to the credit card you used. Please allow up to five business days for the credit to appear on your banking statement.

Retail Stores / Venue Box Office:
If you purchased your tickets through any of the retail stores or from the venue box office, you may obtain a refund by mailing your ticket(s) to:

The Forum
3900 West Manchester Blvd
Inglewood, CA 90305
Attn: Hard Refund Department

Please include the mailing address where you would like the refund check mailed to as well as an e-mail address. Include the payee’s full name for check payment or full credit card information. Please allow up to 30 days for your refund to be processed.

Who’s excited?  I’m excited.  Who should be excited?  Anyone who’s going to HARD Summer this coming Saturday.  This awesome lineup is ready to blow minds with DJs that will lay down only the hardest and fuzziest beats and buildups.

THE BLOODY BEETROOTS: If there’s one act I will definitely not miss this weekend, it’s this masked duo’s set.  With a sound and style to rival those of Justice or Crookers, it’s no doubt that these guys are ahead of the contemporary electro curve.  They killed their last appearance at Coachella a few months ago, and I’m positive they’ll serve up something even more epic this Saturday.

“Warp 1.9 Feat. Steve Aoki”

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CHROMEO: These guys are probably the coolest and flashiest dudes on the bill.  I don’t know if it’s just because I’m a big fan of 80s that draws me to Chromeo, but they know how to make their 80s style of synth and funk sound really good. A little fun fact, Dave 1 of Chromeo is actually brother to A-Trak, who is also on the bill for this weekend. If you’re for a little funk to dance to, go see their set this weekend.

“Fancy Footwork”

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BUSY P: Former Daft Punk manager, Pedro Winter aka Busy P has been at the forefront of the recent French electro movement. He also currently owns the Ed Banger record label, which has produced acts such as Justice, Sebastian, Mr. Oizo, and Uffie.  I actually had a chance to see some of his set at Hard Haunted Mansion this past Halloween, and I have to say he’s definitely worth seeing.

“To Protect and Entertain (Crookers Remix)

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A-TRAK: Kanye West’s tour DJ and one of the best turntablist DJs around, A-Trak is looking to bring a fresh hip-hop style to the lineup.  I have yet to see him live, but based on his track record I’m positive he’ll show up and rock the place.  If you haven’t already checked it out, look up Ariel’s recent interview with A-Trak to get a better feel for what this guy is all about.

“Say Whoa”

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CROOKERS: I saw these guys last Halloween at Hard Haunted Mansion and they put on a very good show.  The thing I love about these guys is that they can literally take anything and turn it into a hard hitting club hit.  Whether it’s their famous remix of Kid Cudi’s “Day n’ Nite” or their remix of ACDC, these guys know how to crank out heavy hits.

“The Salmon Dance (Crookers Wow Remix)”

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SEBASTIAN: I have seen SebastiAn once before at LA Detour Fest in 2008 and I have to say I liked what I saw.  He may be a little bit more avant-garde than most DJs, but he still puts on awesome shows and sets.  It would definitely be worth your time to check him out or any of his various remixes.

“Motor”

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CRYSTAL CASTLES: This Vancouver based duo has all the blips and synth that anyone can want.  I missed Crystal Castles at Hard Haunted Mansion and hopefully I can get a chance to see them this Saturday.

“Crimewave”

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STEVE AOKI: Steve Aoki has been LA’s premier DJ with his pounding club beats and epic stage presence. The founder and owner of the DIM MAK record label, Aoki’s sounds are found in the sounds of fellow label artist such as The Bloody Beetroots. His set at HARD SUMMER should do nothing less than keep the beat pumping and keep kids moving.

“Licky (Work it Out)”a

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UNDERWORLD: Underworld has been in the electronic scene since the 1980s. If you are looking for the classic, feel good, trancey techno show, this is the set to see. Underworld is sure to bring a less aggressive, yet unique style of music to a line-up that could possibly melt your brain.

“Holding the Moth(Audiojack Remix)”

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