VZ Magazine

Steve Aoki Headed an Army of DJ's

Who Launched a Massive Attack of Music on Santa Barbara EDM Fans

Steve Aoki returned to his roots to play two shows in Santa Barbara on January 20^th. The first was a showcase concert at UCSB, his old Alma Mater. His career in music began in Isla Vista where he staged countless underground concerts in his “Biko Room”, where he lived in his college days. The master producer then formed his own record label, “Dim Mak”, in 1996. His work as a producer and collaborator was already legendary by the time he released his own first recording in 1998, “Pillowface and His Airplane Chronicles”. Since then he has become one of the most played remix artists in nightclubs around the world. Although he is not as well known as EDM pop DJ's like Euro Superstar Tiesto or American Favorite Deadmau5, his production and remix tentacles have a much more far reaching influence than most of his contemporaries. His brand of music is considered hard core, sort of like the Nine Inch Nails or Black Sabbath of EDM. His live shows have generated a large fanatical following of fans.

His second show in Santa Barbara was a much more elaborate affair than the University showcase, taking place in one of the concrete block houses in the Earl Warren Showgrounds. The Showgrounds have a long history of producing legendary live concerts in Santa Barbara, long before venues like the Santa Barbara Bowl were utilized. In the 60's many of the most popular bands in the world played there, including Led Zeppelin, The Doors, and Jimi Hendrix. The cavernous hall utilized by Aoki and his army of opening DJ's, may not have had very good acoustics, but this was somewhat remedied by the massive bass speakers, necessary for the full effect of the thunderous and hypnotic dance beat. An ear shattering decibel level overcame the buildings acoustic shortcomings, a level so loud that the show could have not taken place legally anywhere outdoors in Santa Barbara. The music began early in the evening, with many in the 18 and under admission line waiting patiently for over an hour to get inside. The older crowd had an easier time of it with a fast track line to the inside and a private bar for the even more elderly 21 and up crowd. But this crowd was dominated by a festive rave fashioned crowd of eager young teenagers, tongue waging and rolling in ecstatic excitement. Nearly three and a half hours after the event started and 4 sets in to the evening, second in command DJ Datsik (AKA Troy Beetles) was still performing his set to a packed crowd of dance trance music fans. Datsik is a Dubstep DJ from British Columbia, and has several club hit releases in the last few years

By the time Aoki started his set at 10.45pm most everyone in the crowd was engrossed in a sweaty surge towards the stage. As the evening progressed, each new DJ booth would grow larger higher and more elaborate. By the time Aoki was revealed to the crowd his massive DJ booth towered above the crowd almost touching the ceiling. As soon as he began, the master mixer had the crowd engaged in a dancing frenzy. Like a wizard waving his wand, Aoki began to mix and flail about like a conductor of a possessed orchestra. Part of the appeal of his live shows are his animated histrionics that lend themselves well to endearing the DJ directly to the crowd. As and array of LED panels animated behind, large panels in front illuminated to spell out his name. Later giant floating balloon letters settled into the crowd also spelling his name. Occasionally the master showman would leap from his pedastal into the crowd and surf through the steamy masses. By the time his set ended shortly after midnight, he had presided over Santa Barbara's longest and most intense dance party in recent memory.

Fifth Annual Sunset Strip Music Festival

Celebration of the Music Of the Doors Attracts Massive Crowd

L. Paul Mann

The 2012 Sunset Strip Music Festival attracted the biggest crowds to date, for the annual event, now in it's fifth year. The infamous strip was shut down for several blocks, in front of some of the most well known live music clubs in West Hollywood. While, dozens of bands are showcased in these clubs during the all day long festival, two large main stages on the street provide a diverse line up of some of the most successful names in pop music. This years theme, the music of the iconic Doors, who got their start playing on the strip in the 1960's, became a catalyst for some of the hottest jams that the prestigious festival has ever offered up.

This years event was not without it's missteps. For some inexplicable reason, the sound board barricades were not completely installed before the gates were opened. This caused a delay of nearly an hour for the opening act on the main (West Stage) , while staff worked frantically in the hot humid midday sun to quickly install the forgotten barrier. With near record temperatures and unusual humidity drifting in from the remnants of a Mexican hurricane, a sweltering early bird crowd was kept waiting to enter the stage area. A sigh of relief could be felt when the sweaty crowd was finally allowed to rush the stage to seek prime viewing spots for opening act Dead Sara. One of the most dynamic new bands to emerge from Los Angeles, the group just couldn't seem to cut a break when trying to present their short thirty minute showcase set. Shortly into the delayed set, guitarist Siouxsie Medley broke a string and struggled to get her guitar back in tune during the second song. But this young band with an old soul soldiered on an performed like veteran rockers, not letting the early problems distract them from what they do best, play some of the best hard rock jams of any new band touring today. The male rhythm section comprised of bassist Chris Null and drummer Sean Friday laid down a groove in the tradition of classic rockers Led Zeppelin or The Who. Lead guitarist and backing vocalist Medley, played in a similar vain encompassing all that is best in classic rock. But this band is not chained to the past, creating their own unique sound with a modern edge. Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Emily Armstrong channels the best of the female blues rock tradition, earning comparisons to legendary names like Grace Slick or Janis Joplin. Her frenzied performing style brings back memories of a possessed Jim Morrison, especially on this day, with the spirit of the DOORS everywhere. The best part about the music of this phenomenal young band is that the multi-level complexity of their music affords them the opportunity to easily expand and create a host of new sounds. Dead Sara may well become one of the most prolific new groups to emerge from Los Angeles in years.

While Dead Sara finished their set, the other main stage (East Stage) and the clubs were already up and running with a diverse line up of music. Here too, unfortunately, their were some delays and scheduling problems. On the East Stage, opening act The Mowgli's were experiencing equipment problems and the band Far East Movement, scheduled for later in the day were stuck outside the country because of airplane troubles. (Apparently they made it to the Strip in time to perform a late night set in one of the clubs). The clubs also were having to shuffle bands around due to scheduling problems. But, even though it became frustrating for music fans who were trying to follow a strict music schedule to catch all of their favorite acts, an opportunity arose for them. They could just throw out the schedule and randomly wander the many stages taking in tasty soundbites from the smorgasbord of music available. There were in fact so many diverse acts to choose from, most music fans quickly melted into a euphoric saturation from the many faceted sounds emanating from the festival. The cavernous Key Club, offered up bands on two separate stages. Groups like Betty Moon kept the venue rocking all day. The Roxy, which hasn't changed much since the Doors were playing down the street at The Whiskey in the 1960's, featured some of the most eclectic music of the day. This included a delightful performance by Hip Hop band Wallpaper. Outside of the Roxy there was another small stage with colorful rock bands like the all girl Cherri Bombs. Meanwhile the legendary Whiskey catered mostly to hard rock and metal fans with an ear splitting line up of veteran head bangers.

The main stages were the focus for the majority of music fans, however, and crowds quickly grew as the day wore on. Black Label Society brought the most authentic Metal sound to the West Stage. Lead singer Zakk Wylde, emerging onstage wearing a massive feather headdress, led the band into a thunderous opening song “Crazy Horse”. Wylde, who played guitar for many years for Ozzy Osbourne”s band, has a true Hollywood pedigree, with hand prints in the Hollywood Rock Walk of Fame. The guitarist led his band of accomplished hardcore musicians into a thunderous metal assault on the frenzied sweaty crowd. He sometimes seemed to channel deceased guitarist Randy Rhodes, one of his acknowledged mentors. The band ended their set in a triumphant moment, joined by the Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger, for a full Metal version of “Roadhouse Blues”. Bad Religion, took the West Stage next, changing up the sound to a Southern California traditional punk rock mode. Despite the absence of founding guitar member Brett Gurewitz, the other veteran members of the Los Angeles group played a spirited set full of their classic mosh pit inspiring hits songs, like “Sorrow” and “Infected”. The band played their first show, opening for Social Distortion, in 1980 and have been delighting their fans with raucous live shows ever since. Their performance Saturday also included some lesser known older tracks from their treasure trove of songs in their library. These included, “Generator”,”You”,”Anesthesia”, and “Sanity”. The band members led by singer Greg Graffin, were in a playful mood. When Bass player Jay Bentley accidentally fell on his back, he continued to play for awhile laying down and flailing his feet into the air. Graffin, beaming widely, would occasionally pretend to stomp on the prone bass player, all the while belting out his lyrics. By the time Offspring took the West Stage next, a huge crowd swelled the street below. Although this Orange County punk skater band has been around nearly as long as Bad Religion, their sound is most associated with a newer 90's brand of punk, popular with the surf/skate world. The band played their over the top punk anthems in an almost cartoon like caricature of party punk music. Led by Lead singer Dexter Holland the band seemed to be savoring the ecstatic crowd surrounding them on the famous street. They played some of their biggest hits like, “Bad Habit” and “Gotta Get Away”, in a frenzied flat out style that had mosh pits boiling, in the sweaty crowd. Even the campy “Pretty Fly for a White Guy”, seemed to inspire the enthusiastic crowd to erupt in a sweaty dance fever.

Meanwhile, over on the East Stage, after solving sound and scheduling problems the music finally started to flow. Young Riverside rapper T. Mills, just off the Vans Warped tour got the dance crowd warmed up before Hip Hop legends De La Soul took the stage. Since their debut masterpiece album, “3 Feet High and Rising” in 1989, De La Soul has held a place on the dance floor of every night club that plays dance music ever since. The New York groundbreaking rappers bring a dance frenzy intensity to their live shows and the crowd at Sunset Strip responded well to the bands performance. The band has evolved over the decades, showcasing several distinctive styles of their unique brand of hip hop infused dance music. After their set there was a long pause on the East Stage, with Steve Aoki's closing set coming nearly an hour late. But loyal dance music fans who waited packed like sardines near the front of the stage were rewarded with one of the best performances of the night. The master DJ took the stage silhouetted against a large LED video light show and immediately sent the frenzied crowd into a dance trance. As Aoki exploded to life in the dazzling light show he looked primed and ready for the performance, with a wild glazed expression in his eyes. An extravagant light and laser show began to bombard the stage from building rooftops and lighting platforms. The energy notched up into a new dimension when rapper Lil John joined Aoki onstage. These two performers meshed perfectly like two peas in a pod. The crowd went wild as the two performed one of Aoki's favorite concert tricks. They shook up champagne bottles and shot the foamy spray into the crowd. After Lil John departed Aoki selected girls from the crowd and sent them crowd surfing on an inflatable mattress. At least one girls ride ended abruptly when she fell off the traveling mat backwards. A parade of musical guests continued to join Aoki thoroughout his set, including Travis Barker, will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas, and Miss Palmer. The finale of the show featured Aoki diving into a 400 pound cake that was wheeled onto the stage. Other well known DJ's like Deadmau5 and Skrillex(Who was at the recent Outside Lands Festival), offer up much bigger eye dazzling pyrotechnic performances. But for my money DJ Steve Aoki still offers up the most personal intense live DJ performance in the EDM world today. His wild acrobatic antics and his ability to seemingly make eye contact with nearly everyone in the crowd, endear him to an adulate audience.

By the time headliner Marilyn Manson took the West stage about thirty minutes late, a huge crowd, estimated at over 15,000 people, had gathered on the street for his performance. The iconic singer seemed a bit more demure than in years past looking and sounding less like a Goth rock idol and more like a straight forward rock star. Perhaps this was in deference to the Doors theme of the night. He performed his classics like “The Dopeshow” and “Mobscene” and some of his covers of bands like the Eurythmics and Depeche Mode. But the highlight of the evening came when he was joined onstage by keyboardist Ray Manzarek and Guitarist Robbie Krieger of the Doors. Sadly drummer John Densmore was no where to be seen. He has taken an increasingly low performance profile in recent years, just as Manzarek and Krieger have been on a prolific live touring schedule, even playing across Europe last year. He did join the band at their performance during the 40^th anniversary of the Monterey pop festival, in 2007, but rarely has appeared with them since. The two veteran rockers joined Manson on riveting versions of three Doors classics, “People Are Strange”, “Love Me Two Times”, and “Five To One”. In the latter Manson delivered the lyrics in a chilling shrieking trance like style, channeling Morrison's spirit, which hung above the street like a dark unseen cloud. “I don't know if you guys invented Sunset Strip”, an adulate Manson quipped to the pair at the end, “but you pretty much paved it”. Long live the Doors and the Sunset Strip.