12th PLANET + STEVE AOKI
RAGE IN ANAHEIM, CA
writter: A.F. photographer: Hollywood Cole
[VIEW THE THE PHOTO GALLERY HERE]
Orange County, CA usually plays 2nd fiddle to Los Angeles but this weekend promotion group Into The AM brought out the big guns. The Grove of Anaheim played host to Dubstep monster 12th Planet and Dim Mak head honcho Steve Aoki for a crowd of a couple thousand ravers happy to save gas and not travel to Hollywood for their dose of EDM. After an opening set by Autoerotique, 12th Planet hit the stage dropping crowd pleasers like his remix of Little Jinder's "Youth Blood" and Datsik & Bare "King Kong". In support of a growing trend, 12th threw in the occasional down south track to switch it up and get things crunk thanks to bangers by Waka Flocka Flame and Gucci Mane. Despite the O.C.'s white bread image, they got crunk with girls left and right using any extra space to pop and drop it.
Once Aoki hit the stage it was obvious who the majority had come to see. No disrespect to the other DJs but it's difficult to compete with Dim Mak in southern CA. Not to mention how epic 2011 has been for Aoki, making him a certifiable headliner thanks to a string of releases including "Turbulence" with Laidback Luke, "Wake Up Call" with Sidney Samson, "Earthquaqey People" with Rivers Cuomo from Weezer, "Tornado" with Tiesto, and the massive hit "No Beef" with Afrojack. He has officially arrived having reached the level of being able to only play his own originals, a feet only Deadmau5, Kaskade and few others in Electro have been able to successfully accomplish. With his debut album, Wonderland, scheduled for release in January 2012 he offered us a sample of what's to come, playing new tracks featuring Wynter Gordon, Omarion, and, in my opinion the hi-lite of the set, a new collaboration with Kid Cudi. The cherry on top of the night was that it was Aoki's birthday which he celebrated by throwing a couple cakes in the faces of 2 lucky fans who were begging for the opportunity. Wiping icing off their sweat drenched faces, I'm sure they had a night that will be remembered for life.
[VIEW THE THE PHOTO GALLERY HERE]
