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 largest names in dance music and hip-hop, this yr’s HARD was one for the ages. The levels have been epic, the structure was pleasant and handy, the vibes and vitality of the group have been off the charts. Regardless of the sweltering warmth and humidity over the weekend, Insomniac made positive that each one it’s headliners have been hydrated and shaded as they partied into the night time.
First off, let’s speak about among the logistical adjustments that Insomniac made to the structure of the competition. The very first thing I seen from an aesthetic standpoint was the reworked levels. Clearly, NOS hosts a number of Insomniac festivals over the course of the yr, and more often than not, the levels are enclosed in a mega-structure. For final yr’s HARD, the crew made the attention-grabbing alternative of eradicating nearly all the roofs of the mega-structures, however in any other case leaving the levels intact.
This yr, the mega-structure roofs have been utterly performed away with, permitting the HARD and HARDer levels to light up the night time sky. The HARD stage featured the acquainted trapezoid design that has featured on earlier HARD levels 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 large video panels adorning your entire stage. The crowds there have been handled to insane colours and visuals in addition to up shut appears to be like of their favourite performers on stage.
One other large change that alleviated site visitors was the tunnel that went from the HARD to the HARDer stage. Final yr, there was a large wall between the 2 levels and one needed to stroll all the way in which 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 levels. In actual fact, should you went into the tunnel, you have been handled to shade and misters that have been far more prevalent this yr. The climate could 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 in fact 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 Challenge Pat are nonetheless going exhausting!). Everybody in between acquired Megan Thee Stallion and 21 Savage. Whether or not you needed 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 have 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 stay 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 undoubtedly 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 finally made my method over to HARDer stage for a few of LP Giobbi’s set and he or she continues to impress together 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 glad throughout this set as have been a variety of millennials to make certain.
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 Eternally stay. Except for a few DJ units, I had not seen Madeon carry out solo stay 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 stay renditions of his Good Religion tracks in addition to up to date variations of his outdated 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 somewhat little bit of Area 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 Occasion Favor didn’t disappoint as they expertly blended home grooves with 90s and 2000s classics that had the dance flooring vibing. Facet word, should you discovered that open space to the suitable of the HARDer stage you lucked out, you had area 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 recent tracks like “Take a look at the Sky” and “One thing Comforting” in addition to new re-imaginings of his traditional Worlds tracks like “Simple” 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 question that HARD Summer time was an absolute vibe, and there are undoubtedly performances that may stick with me for a very long time. The one query I’ve for HARD going ahead is, is three days actually vital? This time of the yr is brutal, and it definitely felt like the group was fairly gentle at sure occasions. Insomniac additionally normally pronounces subsequent yr’s version of the competition instantly. We didn’t get that announcement for HARD Summer time 2023. One must assume it is going to return to NOS, nonetheless, perhaps will probably be scaled again a day. Both method, this yr’s HARD Summer time was an absolute blast, and I hope that it may return in such an epic kind subsequent yr.
