Entertainment

Published on July 24th, 2012 | by Alessandra Calderin

Electric Zoo 2012 Preview: Riverside Fool’s Gold Clubhouse (Day 1) 8/31/12

It’s Day 1. If you’re like me, you’re riding the ferry, wind in your hair, staring at the glistening water. Anticipation eats at you until you can’t take it anymore when all of the sudden you hear it.

THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP

Your first flash of tempo starts coursing like a sickness, the urge to move is unstoppable. Just thinking about it gives me chills. You gather your crew near to exit point and speed off the ferry. After a slew of security, the fever sets in, and it’s time to bounce to Riverside. Friday boasts a tight Bromantic curation by A-Trak and Nick Catchdub’s label, Fool’s Gold. Let’s meet the player.

A-Trak

If you’re looking for someone with the credentials to back up his DJ title, A-Trak is your man. In 1997 he became the youngest ever Technics/ DMC World Campion at 15 and has racked up a few more titles to his name over the years. The Canadian infuses electro house beats with hip hop and swag, so if you’re looking for a danceable bounce, this is where you want to be. For those of you house purists, you’ll be pleased to know that he’s a lover of the turntable, winning the ITF Western Hemisphere Scratching Championship in 1999. He also just published this nifty piece on Huffington Post. On the scene before the singles were the end all be all, he has an impressive discography to his name full of vinyl LPs and CDs. He’s also one half of Duck Sauce, and his brand new remix of Justice’s brand new track is an extraterrestrial sleigh ride all over these “New Lands.” Peep it below.

Tracks to Know:

The Night Out (A-Trak Remix), Money Makin’, New Lands (A-Trak Remix), Sting Ray

Tommy Trash

When a man looks like an Australian Jim Morrison with a splash of Slash, you know he’s going to bring it. Inspired by the rock-stars of yesterday, Tommy Trash brings his hard partying to every venue and aims to personalize every live set. With remixes on remixes, his master plan is to mix it up and make it special just for you, EZoo. While he tends to veer towards equal parts progressive and electro, what differentiates him is that Tommy Trash touch that makes every sound really dirty. It’s got that post-coital air of raunchiness that leaves you dying for more. Need an intro taste? His Unite Kids Private Bootleg is available for download on SoundCloud. His latest track alongside Digitalism,”Falling” is just too good to miss! Just allow our EDM Insider track review will fill you in!

Tracks to know:

Cascade, Future Folk, The End, Falling

Brodinski

It’s all about the love for the French producer who tears it up with Afro-beat infused electro house that makes a beat that will control your body. His steady booms keep things constant while subtle eccentricities reverberate in and out of the flow. His mantra states he is a DJ first and not a musician, making him an ideal live set over production centered acts that are sure to draw attention. Check out some amazing track below.

Tracks to Know:

On’n’On (Brodinski Remix), Let the Beat Control Your Body feat. LOUISAHHH!!!!, Viol (Brodinski Remix)

Dillon Francis

The dream boat himself, Dillon Francis has been blasting his bouncy brand of electro house to much acclaim, becoming the first moombahton artist to nab a #1 on the Beatport Top 5 Releases Chart. His track list is built to kill and includes a song that embodies his attitude “I.D.G.A.F.O.S.” and a track so good I had to mention it twice, “Money Makin’.” Diplo has stated that he has “one of the best haircuts I’ve seen, seriously, like top notch” and that signature style truly lends to his boyish good looks and devil may care charm. He’s like the James Dean of moombahton. Check his Tumblr/website if you doubt me.

Tracks to Know:

Control Freak, Dill the Noise, Masta Blasta, Music is Dead

Gesaffelstein

Leaning towards a more minimalist vibe, Gesaffelstein brings thudding techno that shall boom and pulse your pants off through the Riverside tent. The French producer is a label mate of Brodinski, sharing Bromance in the studio and on tour (as that was the name of their most recent tour). Lots of bro on bro love here.

Tracks to Know:

Control Movement, Blue Jeans (Gesaffelstein Remix), Variations, Viol

Kavinsky

Another Frenchman to ease you into the groove, Kavinsky specializes in Chill Wave and Indie Dance beats to keep you moving at a reasonable pace during the hottest hours of the day. Twinkling synths will lift you out of the heat and transport you up above the clouds.

Tracks to Know:

Grand Canyon, Nightcall, Pacific Coast Highway, Wayfarer

Nadastrom

Nadastrom operates in the realm of Low End Theory, which basically makes it experimental electronic hip hop taking its name from a weekly club night in Los Angeles. They have additionally leaned toward moombahton, which has helped them fully realize, “there are never any rules.”

Tracks to Know:

Liberation, Theo, Pussy, All Night, Save Us

Nick Catchdubs

If you’re into the local scene, you’ll want to get to the island early and catch Nick Catchdubs. This Brooklyn boy teamed up with A-Trak to create Fool’s Gold, the label that brought you Kid Sister, Kid Cudi and, of course, the killer line up that is this tent. With a hip hop bounce reminiscent of his label mates, this set is sure to be a gangsta’s paradise.

Tracks to Know:

666RACKZ, Cashin Out (Nick Catchdubs Gonzo Mix), Doggy (Nick Catchdubs Rabid Mix)

Treasure Fingers

This southern gentleman identifies as a “purveyor of feel good house music,” and that’s exactly what you can expect from the Atlanta native known as Treasure Fingers. With a more traditional house style, his beats will keep that familiar thud booming along with bright bumpy synths to flood your day with some old school funk.

Tracks to Know:

Rooftop Revival, Crusaders, Au Revue, Lift Me

Special Guest: Jack Beats

Jack Beats specialize in hybrid music. Testing the waters with elements of hip hop, dubstep, house, minimal techno and more, they put it all together and produce monstrous chimeras of sound that just work. The London based duo are sure to have plenty of filthy weirdness to test out on the Zoo crowd so be sure to catch this must see guest of the day.

Tracks to Know:

End of Love, Get Off (Jack Beats Remix), Revolution (VIP Mix), Labyrinth, Get Down

Article by: Alessandra Calderin

About the Author

Alessandra Calderin Notorious for her legendary dance offs, Alessandra lives in New York City where she writes for EDMInsider and galavants about. She prefers her EDM outdoors or in sketchy Brooklyn warehouses but will occasionally "hit da club" if you really want her to. She tweets about music, film, yoga and weird thoughts. She doesn't update her tumblr nearly as often as she should. Her spirit animal is Harley Quinn.