By Mckenzie Mitchell
You know what they say, once you find a venue you love you’ll go to any event there. That’s how I feel about the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino, California. After Escape Psycho Circus at Halloween, I knew there was no way I was ever missing another Insomniac event at the NOS. When the Countdown NYE lineup was announced, I was even more thrilled. It included crazy dubstep that was missing at many other NYE events around the West Coast. Also included legends like Porter Robinson, Deadmau5, and Flux Pavilion. Although I had previously planned on attending Decadance AZ for my NYE, once I raved at the NOS my heart was set on Countdown.
The Insomniac Experience
Insomniac does the most incredible production for every event they put on, and Countdown was no different. With countless strands of twinkling lights illuminating the walkways and big, lit balloons perched in the surrounding trees. Walking around the NOS for New Year’s weekend felt like I had tumbled into a sparkling wonderland, with colors and bright faces everywhere. Performers on stilts walked through the crowd and danced with us as we wrecked our necks to some Kai Wachi and Infekt. As well as vibed with us as we sang our hearts out to Galantis and Alison Wonderland. The food selection was vast, only a little outrageously overpriced, and good quality. Both days, the NOS was clean and ready for action, and the vendors were endless. I spent a good portion of my Christmas money just visiting all the different tents and seeing what they had to offer.
Favorite Sets?
I don’t really like to choose favorite sets. This is because because each and every set that I’ve seen in my short 1.5 years of being a festival goer is truly special in its own way. They all hold a different feeling and memory in my heart. Countdown was no different- the legendary b2b with Zeds Dead and Jauz, Joyryde, Dombresky, Datsik, Jai Wolf, and Habstrakt all were incredible and completely blew me away. This was my first time seeing many of these artists.
However, as a sworn lover of filthy dubstep, both Funtcase and Spag Heddy had the craziest, absolute best sets of the weekend. Non-stop energy from both the crowd and the artist, and what they were throwing down was unbelievable. There were times during Spag Heddy’s set that I could only just stand still, facing the stage with my mouth agape because of how dirty it was getting. I was absolutely thriving!
However, a big honorable mention of the weekend would have to go to Deadmau5- the man is not on many lineups and we were seriously blessed with an incredible performance from both Deadmau5 and his incredible cube stage. For my first time seeing him, and not being a massive techno fan, I was in absolute awe. Not to mention that he partnered with the creator/voices of Rick and Morty (Justin Roiland) to create a hilarious, one-of-a-kind countdown into 2018 for us. Seriously a life changing moment and I feel beyond blessed that I gotta see it live.
I will absolutely be spending as many NYE as I can at Countdown- the vibes, the production, and the music were all on point, and I know it can only get better in years to come.
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