Despite the many forces trying to keep crowds away (fire at Miami airport, delays into Ft. Lauderdale Airport, traffic all over Miami, overbooked cab companies) over 150,000 enthusiastic fans made their way to Bicentennial Park on Friday for the 13th annual Ultra Music Festival (raise your hand if you drove from Orlando!). It was hot, it was packed and the schedule was chaotic, yet fans banded together for one simple reason: to dance the days away to one of the best electronic music lineups ever put together.

What once started as a small party on the beach in 1999 is now the world’s biggest dance music festival, encompassing three days, eight stages and more than 200 musicians, evidence that the electronic dance music craze has exploded into a full blown pop-culture revolution here in the United States.

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From D.C to Kaskade & me, here’s a weekend full of home-grown, all-naturale, organic beats and eats. My weekend recap, from start to finish….
Ready, steady go!

Travel. Fly - On-Air. Train. 
Thursday. All Day. 

So I flew to Washington DC on Thursday morning to appear on Let’s Talk Live… let’s just say I learned  few lessons. 

1. The @US Airways Shuttle? Umm, not so much. After 3 hours of delays and runway resting, I realized there’s only one good thing about this so-called shuttle: the variety and plethora of business men, curiously pondering why I’m on the 6 a.m to DC. Oh good mornin’…. 

@USAirways don’t make me late to my date with #WashingtonDC#delays

2. Don’t wear red and khaki on a morning show during the holidays. On my way out of the studio, a lovely man said “Oh look, its the Christmas elf“… 

Just finished up a travel segment for @LetsTalkLiveDC… Thankfully I made it here despite this weather!

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So it’s pretty clear I like music, and heading out to concerts and events in NYC is my little way of escaping when I can’t actually escape. International DJ’s and musicians bring some flavor to the everyday, and @Pacha NYC packs in all the action.

Last weekend, renowned DJ @Bob Sinclar brought Jamaican beats to a massive and curious crowd. For the last two years, the French disco maven was holed up in Kingston, Jamaica with Sly & Robbie’s legendary crew, re-imagining all his biggest hits in a reggae style. And on Friday, Pacha hosted Tim Bergling aka @Avicii aka 1 of 3 of Swedish House Mafia whose broad sonic palette has given me a sweet tooth for Swedes.

So if you can’t travel to the city, let the city travel to you…. In honor of Pacha’s Five-Year Anniversary, here’s a month of transporting tunes, so gear up!

See all the action with the amazing video by SPREADhouse 

France: David Guetta
Friday, December 3.
Grammy Award-winning sensation David Guetta is coming back to the booth from which he first rocked New York. In just four years, Guetta has gone from Ibiza’s favorite son to every pop star’s go-to producer and an international star in his own right, gracing the cover of Billboard magazine.

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Well, because I’m bouncing through the streets, and I thought you should join me. Happy July. You’re welcome…

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On to the next one….

Coachella - Day 2
(Be sure to check out my Coachella videos) 

Headbands courtesy of @Gold_Saturn, we love you!

Temper Trap.
4:00 PM. Saturday

I skipped Temper Trap’s show last week in Brooklyn so that their Coachella performance could be my first live experience. Boy was it the right decision. Lead singer Dougy Mandagi has a beautiful voice and knows how to use it. Tracks like “Resurrection” sounded even better live than on the record. The clear highlight of the show was “Sweet Disposition”; the crowd exploded and jammed until the last second. Their 5 or 6 song set could’ve been a bit more energetic, but Mandagi’s sweet voice had everyone mesmerized. 

Click for VIDEO:

DIALOGUE. @TheTemperTrap:

Just finished a great week end at @Coachella and we are playing our last show tonight in Solana beach. Couldn’t be a better way to finish - about 22 hours ago via Twitterrific

Break. Spicy Pizza & DoLaB.
4:45 PM.

It’s reputation precedes it. Seriously yum.

DoLaB.
The Do LaB is an LA based artists collective and event creations company who set up shop at Coachella. The mist tent was by far one of the most brilliant things to hit the field since grass. 

DIALOGUE. @DoLaB

Thank you Coachella for an amazing time! We’ll see you next at our 4 day music+art festival: @LIBfestival!http://bit.ly/LIB2010 #coachella 1:00 AM Apr 19th via CoTweet 

Welder is up next on The Do LaB stage! Come check it him out now + enjoy our shade and super cool misting! #coachella 2:45 PM Apr 18th via CoTweet 

All weekend long The Do LaB is hosting world class music and performances in the center of Coachella!http://bit.ly/LIB2010 #coachella 2:00 PM Apr 18th via CoTweet 

The doors are open and we’re ready to party w/ y’all at The Do LaB stage! Come get cooled off here all day! http://bit.ly/LIB2010 #coachella 12:00 PM Apr 18th via CoTweet

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.
5:10 PM. Saturday

Capturing the Woodstock influence of Coachella, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros was by far the grooviest show of the weekend. Hippies and hipsters banned together to enjoy the bouncy, bubbly set. Thousands of fans crowded the smaller outdoor stage as the band opened with “40 Day Dreams.” I don’t know what they’re smoking, but my guess is that peace and love are in their pipes.

via New York Times

DIALOGUE. @EdwardSharpe

COACHELLA Coachella oh how we love you the beautiful sea of people. Yesterday was the best ever 2:22 PM Apr 18th via TweetDeck

(YOUR VAN or TRUCK needs a trailer tow package with trailer ball dimensions 2 5/16ths (STANDARD) coachella or bust yall! 2:43 AM Apr 16th via TweetDeck

Giveaway Alert!! Want to come to Coachella? If you can tow our trailer from San Diego to Coachella in the morning, YOU’RE IN. 2:37 AM Apr 16th via TweetDeck

The XX.
6:25. Saturday

The XX was one of the most anticipated acts of the weekend (even Jay Z was spotted in the audience). The British band played it cool with a soulful 45 minute set that competed with the overbearing beats from surrounding tents. Despite a few moments of climatic volume, the XX captured the audience with a smokey attitude and mild synthetic beats. The three performers don’t do much on stage but stare at one another, but the music sure does sound good. The crowd melted over “Basic Space” as the neighboring stage (Coheed & Cambria’s) lit on fire due to misfired pyrotechnics. XX Bassist Sim commented, “The roof is on fire” and kept on jamming. 

Via New York Times

Bassnectar.
6:40. Saturday

Bassnectar dropped serious bass on Saturday night. I was blown away by Lorin Ashton’s grinding, churning, blasting beats. That’s really all there is to it. This guy is moving up in the world.

Click for VIDEO:

DIALOGUE. @Bassnectar

THANK YOU #COACHELLA WE LOVE YOUhttp://tinyurl.com/nectardestroy Utterly mind blowing! now dashing east coast for 7 cities in 7 nights AYE!12:49 PM Apr 18th via web

Coachellaaaaaa: zooming towards you like a bass rocket YEEEEHAAAAAAAWWWWW!!!8:55 PM Apr 16th via txt

Kaskade.
7:45. Saturday

Kaskade, a Mormon man turned one of the worlds most popular DJ’s, washed his fans in fairytale, feminine grooves and trance melodies on Saturday night. Fans bounced as white balls fell from the sky and purple hued lights filled the Sahara tent. Bassnectar provided the perfect contrast to the soft, flowing sounds of Kaskade. I can’t wait for his new album with @Tiesto. Its like a dream come true.

Click for VIDEO: 

David Guetta.
9:00 PM. Saturday

David Guetta took the stage with “Sexy B-tch.” Joined by Apl.De.Ap from the Black Eyed Peas, he kept the fans dancing post Kaskade’s killer performance. I love David Guetta, but his set sounded a lot like a club in NYC on Saturday night. For non-techno lovers, he churned out remixed hits like “Apple Bottom Jeans” and killed the usual favorites like “Getting Over” and “On the Dancefloor.” On the other hand, he wowed with a remix of “Smack my B-tch Up” by Prodigy, complete with dancing 10-foot robots on the stage. 

He wore us out, and got us ready for Tiesto.  

Click for VIDEO:

Tiesto.
11:40 PM. Saturday

Tiesto brought up to 75,000 people to the main stage for what has been deemed the largest dance party ever in the Coachella Valley. The world’s self-proclaimed No. 1 DJ managed to get even the weary, sleep-deprived kids on their feet with dance hits like “Escape Me” featuring C.C. Sheffield and “Feel it in My Bones” featuring Tegan and Sara who joined him on stage. A gift from the heavens above: a remix of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs hit “Heads Will Roll” which actually brought me to tears. I’ve seen Tiesto perform a dozen times and this time, he really out did himself.

Click for VIDEO:

DIALOGUE. @Tiesto.

Nice hanging with @whoisMGMT @wolfganggartner @theteganandsara @passionpit @muse @kaskade@JayZ @dirtysouth909 @diplo @Deadmau5@coachella 11:55 AM Apr 18th via Echofon

 
Amazing last night @coachella, def my favorite festival in the world!! 11:51 AM Apr 18th via Echofon

Lessons Learned:

• Never skip Deadmau5 or Benny Benassi, even for Jay Z.
• Of all the guides/blogs I read, none of them said to come early. OK, I’ll say this once – COME EARLY or you’ll be stuck in traffic for 4+ hours. Chill out, tan, groove to the earlier acts.
• VIP Passes = not worth it. If you’re a lush, get one band for all of your friends and get drinks in rotation.
• Coachella is all about the style, but comfort is more important. Bikini, tank top, jean shorts. Done.
• There’s a lot to see and do, but don’t miss the Do Lab, Spicy Pizza and Ferris Wheel. The random art exhibits and performances are truly incredible.  

Until Next Time. Over & Out.