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Lasers, Costumed Kids & Electronic All-Stars: HARD Haunted Mansion 2011
By Zach Bourque/Special to LAist
Though slightly lacking from previous year’s sold out shenanigans, HARD Event’s yearly tour de force packed more lasers, pounding techno music and shirtless USC bros than anything else in the Greater Los Angeles area.
Costumed kids from all walks of life screamed and danced with nary a break to the eclectic mix of electronic all-stars. Sets by so-hot-right-now Skrillex, Skream and Benga and Caspa delivered the ear shattering bass that seems to be all the rage nowadays and those without earplugs almost assuredly walked home with hearing damage. High five!
“Hi we’re Soulwax and we actually brought instruments to play,” sneered front man David Dewaele as the four-piece Belgian natives delved into their remix heavy, highly energetic set. Like LCD Soundsystem on MDMA, the band delivered on all fronts and was a wonderful change from the obnoxious dubstep and house music that highlighted the rest of the night.
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Other highlights included Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Fake Blood and HARD’s own Destructo who, low and behold, lived up to his name yet again.
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