Meltdown 2012

Last weekend in Grand Prairie, Texas (a suburb of Dallas) a little known festival called Meltdown occurred. Artists from the likes of Pretty Lights, Flux Pavilion, Feed Me, and Passion Pit showed up to perform. And what a day it was.

Held in a minor league baseball park and it's adjacent parking lots, the festival began to heat up as the sun went down. Though it started at 3pm with acts such as Lucky Date and DallasK, the majority of people showed up to beat the Texas heat just as the sun was going down on the main stage with Shiny Toy Guns performing. With exorbitant amounts of energy lead singer Carrah Faye Charnow pumped up the crowd  cane in hand (no one was sure if she was hurt or if it was a fashion accessory). With synth driven rock anthems, they kept the audience interested through their hour long set.

Passion Pit was up next, and it was obvious this band was the reason for many people coming. Lead singer Michael Angelakos would not let us forget that they were from Boston, Ma, but otherwise spent his time making sure that every person had their hand up to the music and was singing along to the words of "The Reeling", "Little Secrets", and "Sleepyhead". Personally, I felt having a band as well-known as Passion Pit playing at an EDM festival was a great idea, and it mixed up the crowd who was there significantly. Angelakos noted "I'm sorry we need to stop between songs unlike the DJ's here" but no one seemed to mind at all.


Next up was Sander Van Doorn, who brought some classic house experience to a festival that seemed to exude dubstep and Avicii type melodic house. He stuck to his deep/progressive/electro house roots seemed to control the decks better than anyone else that night. A high point was his mix of Renegade and Kernkraft 400.

Next on stage was Swedish House Mafia member Steve Angello. As expected, he began his set with the new SHM single "Greyhound" to a rowdy crowd. However, after that, his set seemed just up to par. Playing out EDM hit after hit, it seemed as if he just copied and pasted the Beatport top 100 of the past 3 years. Though it was nice to hear "One(Your Name)"played, I enjoyed sitting in the 1st base seats enjoying an ice cream rather than ogling over what I consider to be an overrated DJ. SHM would have been a different story.

I headed over to the Bass stage, eager not to miss Feed Me's treacherous set. Though the sound technicians could taken "bass" in the name more lightly (read the EQ on the speakers were awful) Feed Me still managed to make the large crowd go nuts to his most popular songs as well as a great mix of moombahton. The fog and laser show was almost over the top but made for a great atmosphere.

I winded my way back to the main stage for Pretty Lights. Although I only managed to stay for the first part, his dominance over this festival was clear: the field was packed and the lights spectacle was incredible. He seemed more interested in getting the crowd raging however, than letting us groove to his west coast style beats. Although he was only able to fit a scaled down version of his setup on the stage, it was still beyond anything I have seen other than, of course, Deadmau5's cube etc.

I skipped out on Flux Pavilion because I had just seen him in Houston two days ago with Cookie Monsta and Brown & Gammon. That concert was out-of-this-world with confetti and CO2 cannons, though Flux didn't come on until 1:15 in the morning.



Flux at Stereo Live in H-Town ------->




Overall, for $66 and an impressive lineup, Meltdown Festival was worth it. I know will never compare to  Electric Zoo in september though (hope to see you there).

P.S. For all of you at EDC Vegas this weekend: stay safe, rage hard, and dance your asses off.

Mixtape Thursday: Fool's Gold Records!

 

This week's Mixtape Thursday features Fool's Gold Records' monthly radio mix. Fool's Gold was started by the talented turntablist powerhouse, A-Trak. He is also one half of the famous Duck Sauce duo who brought you that addicting tune Barbara Streisand. It's monthly radio mix is recorded and mixed live by A-Trak on the 1s and 2s. He combines slick turntablism (scratching, beat juggling, battle routines) with uplifting electro house and a touch of groovy house feel. Guarantee to make your feet infected with that viral groove.

WARNING: LISTENING TO THIS MIX MIGHT GET YOU ON YOUR FEET AND DANCE. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CLICKING ON THE PLAY BUTTON IF YOU DO NOT LIKE BEING IN A GOOD MOOD.

Download A-Trak Fool's Gold Radio - Episode 11 (June mix)

Agressively Progressive 8

Shh, it's time for this week's serving of progressive tunes brought to you by Vaya Con House. Just sit back, relax and let the magic work itself.

First up, this song has been going on in my head for the past 2 weeks since I first heard it. This song is so uplifting and has the ability to just brighten your day up or really just make you forget all the load on your shoulders. Well at least for me. Eric Prydz sprinkling his magic dust on this track, M83's Midnight City.

Download M83 Midnight City (Eric Prydz Private Remix)

2Symmetry is a duo comprising of Jakov Domitrek and Tino Grzunov. I came across their SoundCloud page one day and I thought I stumbled on some lost gold. Their songs bring that progressive house feel with a tease of electro grime without going overboard. This is one is my favorite for now, Our World Is Here So You Can Lick It (2Symmetry Bootleg).

Download Steve Lade & Xspectiv Our World Is Here So You Can Lick It (2Symmetry Bootleg) @ Vaya Con House

I'm definitely becoming a fan of Zashanell. I think her voice adds a really big element to a track where it can just take you up another level. With some solid production work by Ken Loi, All It Takes has all it takes (pun intended) to fix that progressive itch with it's big synths and smooth drop.

Download Ken Loi feat. Zashanell All It Takes (Original Mix)

Last but not least, here's a track with the same foundation of the previous track, solid synths and lovely female vocals. A classic template for a progressive track. It's the first track by Nilson & The 8th Note. I don't know too much about them before, but after this track it's definitely made me keep an eye open for more upcoming productions. The vocals on this track is by Fenja. It's also my first time listening to her. Check it out, leave a comment, let us know what you think.

Download Nilson, The 8th Note, Fenja Looking For Love feat. Fenja (Original Club Mix)

Electro Madness Monday: Going Hard

God let me just say I let the beast out of the cage this weekend, and you know what? It felt good.

Moral of the story: Go Hard.

Get your boners ready caus Tiesto just released a BOMB. "Hell Yeah" (afore mentioned bomb) is really pushing his sound more and more towards the gnarly electro/progressive. Like the kinda shit that literally pulls your mind out of your body and makes body do things your previously thought impossible.

Tiesto, Showtek - Hell Yeah! (Original Mix)

And I am not the biggest fan of the really heavy sound of Knife Party and bros like that BUT because this week is about going hard I must admit that knife party goes HARD. "Rage Valley" Comes straight off their new EP. are your ready?

Knife Party - Rage Valley (Original Mix)

"I Rave You" has been all over the beatport charts but seriously its a monster.

Basto - I Rave You (Original Mix)

Bonus: Madeon just released a preview of his new single "Finale" (dont worry its a monster track). Here is a cut of that. get jacked up caus the future of edm is looking good.

Madeon - Finanle (Melfrez Extended Cut)

#bonerfy

Funky Friday Vol. 5

Well your man is back in the glorious U S of A and is ready to break it down with ya'll like it's the 4th on the ACK. We have plenty of goodies for you today on VCH and I hope you use these groovy tunes to your advantage this weekend when trying to impress your buddies on the beach or poolside. We have a couple of familiar faces for you today and I'm sure you won't be upset to listen to some new material from these artists. As dad always says... gotta get up to get down (don't know what his original intentions of that saying was but I think it can be applicable in many situations and contexts):

Tits & Clits... what a name. It's been a while since I've had these guys up here but this swing/groove tune is reminiscent of Mr. Scruff:



I had Codes on here last week and here is our man once again with this fun remix of the Chromeo original "Tenderoni". Hopefully I run into this guy in Brooklyn. Unlikely, but I can still dream:



Hemo DJ's? Get familiar:



Broke One is dud proof when it comes to new work he puts out. This remix is no different:



This next record by Betamax named, "Disco Dracula" is spookily funky and fun. I have no doubt I will be listening more from Betamax in future days:

Mixtape Thursday

It's Thursday again and I hope this week's mix will be a good start to your weekend. Stream it, download it, whatever gets you in the zone. If you like it, share it and show VCH some love!

Wobble Wednesday

I wish I made that logo above... that's exactly what I hope my audience does to my dub songs when I post them.  Morph into tropical Wompzilla on a skimboard on Wednesdays.  I've got a few nice tracks for you bassheads out there, all of them new.  I'll get right to it. 

First track, "Move Closer",  is by DC Breaks. It features very quality female vocals with electronic melodies and synths, but retains the Wompzilla sound that dub promises. 

Download DC Breaks DC Breaks - Move Closer (Dubstep Version)

This second one is from a previously VCH featured artist, Delta Heavy. They broke into the game with the widespread enjoyment of their "Must Be the Feeling" remix, and their new track "Get By" continues the same success.  Listen for the beautiful vocal build up and try and tell me the drop doesn't put you in tropical clothing on a skimboard. 

Download Delta Heavy Get By

Batting third.... Adventure Club. "Wait", the newest single from this young gun duo. I don't remember the last time I heard a bad Adventure Club song. 

Download Adventure Club Wait

Keep it Trilla.

-Ya boyy