CounterPoint 2012 Preview

Big Gigantic, 10:15 – 11:45 PM

Boulder’s Big Gigantic (QRO photos at a festival) mix (big) electronic beats with live drums and even live saxo-mo-phone.  Known to set crowds in a writhing heap of body parts (QRO photos at a festival), Big Gigantic (QRO photos at a festival) has been showcasing their electronic fervor all across the globe (QRO photos at a festival).  The band currently has a downloadable album off their website, and just played the popular Red Rocks Amphitheater.

World fusion electronica act Beats Antique (QRO photos) not only fuses styles of music, but also styles of dance, including that of the belly (QRO photos at a festival).

Known for their frenetic beats and climatic bass drops, Adventure Club, is one of Canada’s most talented bassheads.  Already remixed Flight Facilities and Britney Spears, the DJ duo has already released an eclectic set of remixes and originals.  Make sure to check out their Soundcloud for some free downloads of their original songs, “Wait” and “Rise and Fall”.

The Netherlands has been proficient with the electronic dance mavens, such as Paul Van Dyk and Armin Van Buuren (QRO live review at a festival) – and now the newest generation in Nobody Beats the Drum (QRO photos at a festival).  Their fusion of hook-worthy beats, and aggressive electro ensues in a sweaty, raucous mess amongst the crowd on all dance floors across the globe.  Some things are better seen live, and Nobody Beats The Drum is one of them.

Also:

Abakus, 5:00 – 6:00 PM

Up Until Now, 10:15 – 11:45 PM

Up Until Now headlines the Backbeat tent with special guest David Murphy of STS9 (QRO photos at a festival).

Also:

RUN DMT, 8:45 – 10:00 PM

ABDECAF, 7:30 – 8:30 PM

Trench, 6:15 – 7:15 PM

Stokeswood, 5:00 – 6:00 PM

Bassnectar, 10:15 PM – 12:00 AM

A festival mainstay, Lorin Ashton (a.k.a. Bassnectar – QRO photos) brings the lights live (QRO photos at a festival) – as well as the hair… (QRO photos at a festival)

How is it that France does such great atmospherics?  M83 (QRO live review) actually exceeded countrymen Air (QRO album review) with 2008’s Saturdays = Youth (QRO review), their most accessible electronica album to-date, and come CounterPoint (QRO photos at a festival) to  behind Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (QRO review), which has led the band to bigger shows (QRO live review) and bigger stages (QRO photos) at bigger festivals (QRO photos at a festival) & more (QRO photos at a festival).

The DJ/producer and rapper duo hailing all the way from Minneapolis, Minnesota (QRO photos in Middle America), has already garnered themselves the reputation of one of hip hops most cacophonous and respected acts.  Known for his aggressive and energetic performances, Atmosphere’s set is a definite must-see (QRO photos at a festival).

Brooklyn’s own rapper Theophilus London (QRO photos) started by wowing them at festivals (QRO photos at a festival) from Cannes to Montreal Jazz (QRO photos outdoors), thanks to his engaging live show (QRO live review).

Also:

Mr. MFN eXquire, 1:45 – 2:30 PM

AVICII, 8:45 – 10:15 PM

Swedish DJ Avicii (QRO photos) was topping the charts last year in countries across Europe, and now is invading America (QRO photos headlining a festival in the U.S.), including performing with Madonna (QRO photos at that festival).

Most electronic acts are restrained on stage, even when their crowd is going nuts, but the duo of Ethan Kath & Alice Glass (QRO live review) match their audience’s fervor – which has gotten them booted from more than one stage, especially at festivals (QRO photos at a festival).  So even if you fall on the ‘hate’ side of this love-them-or-hate-them act (from Canada, surprisingly…), show up for the spectacle… (QRO live review)

Slowly percolating up has been the new ‘chillwave’ movement, whose sound is about as defined as that term, but one of those artists is Ernest Greene (QRO interview) who moved his work out of the bedroom (where he recorded Life of Leisure EP – QRO review) and onto the live stage (QRO live review) as Washed Out (QRO spotlight on), as well as recruiting a full band (QRO photos at a festival) for his latest, last year’s Within and Without (QRO review).

Indie-rockers can be funky, creative, and rock at the same time.  Gardens & Villa (QRO photos at a festival) seem to be on a constant quest to prove this (QRO photos at a festival) – including with pipes (QRO photos).

Also:

Abandon The Earth Mission, 1:00 – 1:45 PM

Alesso, 12:45 – 2:00 AM

Swedish DJ Alesso (QRO photos at a festival) is one of the biggest in the progressive house scene, and headlines the Beat Tent at CounterPoint.

Before Alesso spins to close out the Beat Tent comes Hollander R3HAB.

European-style rave act SAVOY brings the house music to CounterPoint.

Excision, a.k.a. Jeff Abel, is a dubstep producer & DJ from British Columbia (QRO photos).

Jon Gooch – a.k.a. Feed Me – brings his dubstep ‘Teeth’ tour to CounterPoint!

Mashing everything up is Super Mash Bros (QRO photos).

MIM0SA can’t be categorized or pigeonholed.

Also:

Lance Herbstrong, 3:45 – 4:45 PM

Skrause, 2:30 – 3:30 PM

Sorted, 1:15 – 2:15 PM

Rhythm Monks, 12:15 – 1:00 PM

Fool’s Gold Clubhouse

A-Trak, 12:45 – 2:00 AM

Montreal’s Alain Macklovitch – a.k.a. A-Trak – got notice when picked to be the personal DJ to none other than Kanye West (QRO album review), but has also produced for the likes of Lupe Fiasco (QRO photos at a festival) & Kid Sister (QRO photos at a festival), as well as his recent work with Armand Van Helden as Duck Sauce (QRO photos at a festival).

A-Trak closes out the Fool’s Gold Records ‘Clubhouse’, after:

Treasure Fingers, 11:30 PM – 12:30 AM

Oliver, 10:15 – 11:15 PM

Nick Catchdubs, 9:00 – 10:00 PM

3LAU, 7:45 – 8:45 PM

Archnemesis, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

Tokimonsta, 5:15 – 6:15 PM

Street Lurkin, 4:00 – 5:00 PM

Dr. Fameus, 2:45 – 3:45 PM

Heroes & Villians, 1:30 – 2:30 PM

99x Contest Winner, 12:30 – 1:15 PM

Pretty Lights, 10:15 PM – 12:00 AM

Colorado-based producer Derek Vincent Smith (QRO photos at a festival) puts some energy behind his electronic work as Pretty Lights (QRO photos at a festival), with 2009’s Filling Up the City Skies free to download.

One-third of the acclaimed Swedish House Mafia (QRO photos at a festival), Steve Angello comes solo to CounterPoint.

Still probably best known for being one-half of massively successful duo OutKast, Big Boi (QRO photos at a festival) first showed off his solo skills (QRO photos at a festival) in the Speakerboxx half of OutKast’s 2003’s double-LP, Speakerboxx/The Love Below (the latter half being partner Andre 3000’s own solo debut).  But the hip-hop artist (QRO photos) is out with his own (QRO photos at a festival), fully solo Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty last year.

Minneapolis indie/electronic/R&B outfit Poliça (QRO photos at a festival) have been getting serious attention recently (and not just for the ‘ç’…).

ZOOGMA, 1:15 – 2:15 PM

Skrillex, 8:45 – 10:15 PM

Originally frontman for L.A. post-hardcore outfit From First to Last, Sonny Moore – a.k.a. Skrillex (QRO photos) – has since reinvented himself as the electro-house/dubstep DJ (QRO photos), headlining all sorts of festivals (QRO photos headlining a festival)

Since his discovery by superstar producer Mark Ronson, things have gone very well for D.C. rapper Wale, with mixtapes, collaborations, and even regular ol’ studio albums.

One of the ‘big names’ in ‘chillwave’, Chazwick Bundick – a.k.a. Toro y Moi (QRO photos) – had one of the new genre’s touchstone records last year in Causers of This (QRO review), but has since moved to a more rock-oriented sound, especially live (QRO photos).

After opening on tours with the likes of Matt & Kim (QRO spotlight on) & Art Brut (QRO spotlight on), Atlanta’s Reptar (QRO photos) have built up to headlining (QRO photos), though still play early at CounterPoint (QRO photos at a festival).

Princeton’s ghostly-synth Seth Haley is Com Truise (QRO photos), who came out last year with Galactic Melt (QRO review).

Laidback Luke, 12:45 – 2:00 AM

Dutch DJ (though he was born in Manila) first became known for his graffiti work, before moving to the turntables, so expect visuals aplenty with your beats.

Austin’s Ghostland Observatory (QRO photos at a festival) combine electronics, rock, and funk the way only a native of the ‘Live Music Capitol of the World’ would, while ‘keeping it weird’ (QRO photos in Austin).  They also bring an unmistakable light show (QRO photos in Austin).

Porter Robinson (QRO photos) might not be old enough to drink, but he’s already an established DJ.

Indiana’s Lotus moved from self-described “jamtronica” into a more electronic & instrumental style – but are still a jam band festival mainstay (QRO photos at a festival).

Canadian duo DC & Hooks make up the genre-defying Zeds Dead.

Started by The Disco Biscuits’ Aron Magner and Marc Brownstein in 2004, Conspirator has since grown into a full band, with members from such other Camp Bisco as Lotus (see below) and The New Deal.

John Dadzie is a Los Angeles dubstep producer and DJ that’s better known as 12th Planet.

Colorado-based producer Alex B recently began exploring his creating & performing side as Paper Diamond.

Also:

Audrey Napoleon, 2:30 – 3:30 PM

HeRobust, 1:30 – 2:15 PM

Cousin Dan, 12:45 – 1:30 PM

Zedd, 12:50 – 2:00 AM

German electro-house producer Zedd (real name: Anton Zaslavski) has been branching out into complextro & dubstep, as he’s become a festival regular.

Also:

Alvin Risk, 11:45 PM – 12:45 AM

The M Machine, 10:30 – 11:30 PM

Gramatik, 9:15 – 10:15 PM

Gramatik comes all the way from Slovenia (the best part of the former Yugoslavia) to close out the Pretty Lights Music Showcase, after:

Michal Menert, 8:15 – 9:15 PM

SuperVision, 7:15 – 8:15 PM

Paul Basic, 6:15 – 7:15 PM

Emancipator, 5:00 – 6:00 PM

DJ Mayhem, 3:45 – 4:45 PM

DJ Mel, 2:30 – 3:30 PM

Mantis, 1:15 – 2:15 PM

The Mad Violinist & The Symphony Crack Orchestra, 12:00 – 1:00 PM