HARD Summer time returned to the NOS Occasions Heart in San Bernardino this previous weekend for its 14th(!) version and its first ever foray as a 3-day competition. Boasting a stacked lineup that includes among the greatest names in dance music and hip-hop, this yr’s HARD was one for the ages. The phases had been epic, the format was pleasant and handy, the vibes and power of the group had been off the charts. Regardless of the sweltering warmth and humidity over the weekend, Insomniac made positive that each one it’s headliners had been hydrated and shaded as they partied into the night time.
First off, let’s speak about among the logistical modifications that Insomniac made to the format of the competition. The very first thing I seen from an aesthetic standpoint was the reworked phases. Clearly, NOS hosts a number of Insomniac festivals over the course of the yr, and more often than not, the phases are enclosed in a mega-structure. For final yr’s HARD, the crew made the fascinating alternative of eradicating virtually all the roofs of the mega-structures, however in any other case leaving the phases intact.
This yr, the mega-structure roofs had been fully executed away with, permitting the HARD and HARDer phases to light up the night time sky. The HARD stage featured the acquainted trapezoid design that has featured on earlier HARD phases and likewise evokes the Mayan temple from HARD Day of the Useless. The HARDer stage underwent and much more drastic evolution. Transformed into one thing of a smaller Coachella stage, the HARDer stage featured huge video panels adorning the whole stage. The crowds there have been handled to insane colours and visuals in addition to up shut seems of their favourite performers on stage.
One other massive change that alleviated visitors was the tunnel that went from the HARD to the HARDer stage. Final yr, there was an enormous wall between the 2 phases and one needed to stroll all the best way round and again to journey between the 2 locations. This yr, the tunnel provided a faster different, in addition to a detour to the Pink Tent, and allowed for extra breathability going between phases. Actually, for those who went into the tunnel, you had been handled to shade and misters that had been far more prevalent this yr. The climate might have sucked, however Insomniac did their half to assist alleviate the warmth.
HARD has all the time featured an eclectic lineup that’s barely left of heart. Whereas after all there have been artists on the lineup who match that description and are HARD mainstays like Porter Robinson, Madeon, Alison Wonderland and Jai Wolf; Home music was giant and in cost this yr with artists starting from Chris Lake, Classic Tradition, Wax Motif, James Hype, Anabel Englund and Matroda all gracing the HARD stage. This yr’s hip-hop lineup additionally provided up one thing for everybody. Zoomers acquired Lil Uzi Vert and Denzel Curry. Millennials acquired Three 6 Mafia (Juicy J and Undertaking Pat are nonetheless going laborious!). Everybody in between acquired Megan Thee Stallion and 21 Savage. Whether or not you wished to get hype or get in your feels, this yr’s HARD Summer time acquired you.
It was a late arriving crowd on Friday’ it’s all the time brutal driving into San Bernardino from Los Angeles at the moment of day. I loved the shade and mist of the VIP space as Anabel Englund had no matter small quantity of headliners had been there vibing out to her set. James Hype was a particular spotlight along with his insane mixing expertise and fantastic mashups of g-house and 2000s rap and hip-hop classics. Griz was one other enormous spotlight as he has not carried out at HARD Summer time since 2015 again when the occasion was on the Pomona Fairplex. He had his full dwell band, psychedelic visuals, and naturally, that horny sax. I left all of it out on the dancefloor for Griz’s efficiency. Right here’s hoping we don’t have to attend one other seven years to see him again at HARD.
Saturday positively noticed extra headliners descend upon the NOS Occasions Heart. I began the time off on the HARD stage the place Matroda was throwing down the home vibes. I ultimately made my method over to HARDer stage for a few of LP Giobbi’s set and she or he continues to impress along with her distinctive model of groovy home in addition to distinctive visuals. As soon as the solar went down, Three 6 Mafia took the stage, and the group began getting hype because the legendary Memphis duo threw down hit after hit from “Bin Laden,” “Facet 2 Facet” and “Poppin My Collar.” 2000’s Mark was very blissful throughout this set as had been loads of millennials to make sure.
After transient stops at Dimension and Alison Wonderland, I made it again over to HARDer for the spotlight of the night time. Madeon performing Good Religion Without end dwell. Other than a few DJ units, I had not seen Madeon carry out solo dwell since Coachella in 2015. He did carry out with Porter Robinson at Coachella 2017, however once more, it’d been awhile since I’d seen Madeon solo, and it was effectively definitely worth the wait. Unleashing among the most mind-blowing visuals I’ve ever seen, the French singer/songwriter/producer wowed the group with dwell renditions of his Good Religion tracks in addition to up to date variations of his previous progressive classics like “Imperium” and “You’re On.”
It was one other full day on Sunday, as I acquired in early to take a look at a little bit little bit of House Wizard on the Inexperienced Stage earlier than heading over to the HARDer stage for Rossy. The up and coming producer and DJ threw down an appropriately HARD set of old school entice that definitely acquired your blood flowing if the warmth was getting you down.
Highlights of the day needed to be Sidepiece and Tchami. With the solar down and the ultimate night time afoot, the duo of Nitti Gritti and Get together Favor didn’t disappoint as they expertly blended home grooves with 90s and 2000s classics that had the dance ground vibing. Facet observe, for those who discovered that open space to the correct of the HARDer stage you lucked out, you had house to bop all night time lengthy. And, so we did as Tchami took the stage. The famend French producer/DJ dropped a banger of a set that includes all kinds of home genres.
Porter Robinson closed out the night time on the HARD stage, and followers needed to be delighted by his mix of latest tracks like “Have a look at the Sky” and “One thing Comforting” in addition to new re-imaginings of his traditional Worlds tracks like “Straightforward” and “Unhappy Machine.” HARD perhaps an digital music fest, however the musicality of EDM itself is all the time on show at HARD Summer time.
Whereas there was little doubt that HARD Summer time was an absolute vibe, and there are positively performances that can stick with me for a very long time. The one query I’ve for HARD going ahead is, is three days actually needed? This time of the yr is brutal, and it definitely felt like the group was fairly mild at sure occasions. Insomniac additionally often pronounces subsequent yr’s version of the competition straight away. We didn’t get that announcement for HARD Summer time 2023. One must assume it should return to NOS, nevertheless, perhaps it will likely be scaled again a day. Both method, this yr’s HARD Summer time was an absolute blast, and I hope that it will probably return in such an epic kind subsequent yr.
