Pacific Festival 2011 Recap

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Pacific Festival 2011 Recap
Pacific Festival 2011 Recap

Oak Canyon Ranch, in Irvine, CA, might be the best festival venue in SoCal.  Barely four miles off the freeway, yet still completely secluded from the outside world, the Ranch is a quick jaunt for anyone in Orange County, and just an hour and a half for both L.A. and San Diego.  Ample parking, easy in-and-out access, and one very important factor missing from many major festivals these days: open space.  Surrounded on all sides by forests, fields, and water, Oak Canyon provides easy access to a diverse, private world to enjoy a show; and the people (as well as promoters) have begun to take notice.  Gaining fame over the last few years from hosting the much-loved LIB (Lightning In a Bottle) weekends in the Spring, the Ranch captured another shot of energy this August, opening it’s fields, lawns, and massive social areas to the up-and-coming Pacific Festival: OC.

Pacific Festival

Featuring an eclectic selection of bands, DJs, and MCs (when’s the last time Black Lips and Snoop Dogg shared the same stage?), Pacific aptly filled the void of outside-of-downtown-L.A. events for the O.C.  Attracting the dance crowd with acts such as Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki, Cut Copy, Zeds Dead, Ghostland ObservatoryJacques Renault, and Classixx; the hipster set with Ghostland Observatory, Black Lips, !!!, and Phantogram; and the obviously attention-grabbing headliner of Snoop Dogg (don’t forget, an honestly fun set by none other than Afroman), Pacific brought in over 50 acts to its five unique stages that Saturday – more than enough to satisfy any one-day/night show warrior’s need.

Arriving in the lot during Afroman‘s (again-yes, Afroman) set, we headed down to the check-in to get things started.  First up, was the awesome (is there really a better word to describe these guys?) party of !!!.  Borrowing a lyric from James Murphy, it’s becoming more and more aware that these festival favorites (pronounced “Chk Chk Chk” ), really are in need of a hit.  Endlessly touring throughout the fest circuit each year, and playing sold-out club dates to bookend their stops along Black Lipsthe road, !!! is a band of symbols, not singles – but their energy, sexuality, and interactive live shows are something of legend to most in attendance.  The same people who, if pressed, probably couldn’t name their favorite song or album from !!!’s backlog, flee the surrounding stage fronts each and every time they drop the first note to their rule-free, funk-filled dance-fest.  Just one warning, for those looking to score a front-row seat at the disco: be prepared to get some high-shorted hip thrusting in the face.  Not saying that’s a bad thing; just be sure you’re cool with some man-love from the frontman.

PhantogramLater on the Main Stage, DJ heroes Calvin Harris and Steve Aoki would take their turns, spinning tracks old and new for the L.A. dance crowd.  Harris would hit the tables first, showcasing his 2011 single “Bounce”, and the new “Feels So Close”, which would go on to top the iTunes charts just a few days later upon it’s worldwide release.  Harris is hard to define at times: at once so talented a producer, yet lacking some of the egotism seen by many of the world’s best.  In short, he wants you to have a great time with him -by designing, opening, and providing the epic soundtrack to your shared, communal, non-stop party.
!!!

!!!While some DJs want your hands in the air (Tiësto); others want you to drip in filth (Skrillex); and still others (Harris among them) are talented curators, Steve Aoki pretty much just wants to kill your momma.  Following up the energy and happiness felt during Harris’ set, Aoki took no time in turning the shit right up to 11.  Playing what has to be described as a ‘violent’ hour and a half at the Main Stage, ‘louder, faster, harder’ was the mantra, with Aoki utilizing his trademark (admittedly, now-expected) stage-diving, bottle-popping, screaming-into-the-mic stage antics to incense the crowd.  Let’s just say… we’re glad we weren’t on drugs during that set.  We proudly would’ve killed a man.  Or, your mom.

!!!Closing out the show, the music world’s run out of superlatives to describe Snoop Dogg .  He’s still got it, and for many in attendance, has reached an almost U2-esque level of ‘must-see-before-I-die’ fame.  Laying down songs old and new, featuring dancers and shakers everywhere, and giving much love back to LA, Snoop killed it.  As one young fan was overheard, “Holy fuck, dude… I don’t even care if I die tonight, anymore.”
!!!

www.PacificFestival.com

-words: Adam Hawes
-photos: Adam Hawes and Rodjiana Muñoz

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