Check Yo Ponytail 2
Echoplex
Jan. 25, 2012
Skrillex forgot to check his ponytail at the door last night, when he was joined onstage by the American Godfather of Dubstep, a.k.a. the hero of Dubstep, 12th Planet and U.K.'s Caspa.
If you were at the Echoplex, you were in for a treat. The intimate setting was akin to Green Day performing at Chain Reaction. Viewing these three legends on the stage at the same time was like seeing dubstep's Mount Rushmore in a Los Angeles living room.
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Diplo warmed up the crowd with drum n bass and moombahton. He also threw a hip-hop mix with songs like “Look At Me Now,” “Niggas in Paris (That Shit Cray),” “Teach Me How To Dougie,” “A Millie” and “Like a G6.” For a second I thought I was at Sutra. The crowd went crazy as people pop locked, dougied, and and dropped it low in their own little bubbles. As Diplo closed his set, he was joined by Dillon Francis, Skrillex, 12th Planet and Caspa.
Skrillex, 12th Planet and Caspa went onstage at the same time. They rotated like a blunt in rotation (passed it to the right). It felt like a alien spaceship landed with the chaotic sci-fi lighting and music. Skrillex showcased his newly release EP Bangarang, and also played his other hits such as “Ruffneck,” “All I Ask Of You,” and “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites.” While performing “In For The Kill,” you could hear the crowd stomping during the brutal breakdowns–it was like a Skrillex army had invaded the Echoplex. He then transitioned to the heavily radio played “Levels,” which brought on more Bro-Stepping–It looked like soft-core hardcore dancing. Huntington Beach, you have a worthy Bro-pponent .
Local LA DJ Dillon Francis made a guest appearance last night. While he was on was on the stage, the sound completely went out. Dillon said, “Skrillex, you are not worth of playing my songs.” As a rebuttal, Skrillex led the crowd to a chant: “1-2-3, fuck you Dillon!”
12th Planet played his entire new EP The End Is Near. Now every time I see a Scion commercial, I will think of screeching breakdowns. (Thanks 12th!). Caspa tossed in some of his tracks like “I Remember and “I Beat My Robot.”
As fights started to break out, Skrillex stopped his set and said, “No more fighting, this is a love song.” He continued to sing-talk to his fans and said, “You don't want to get into a fight with me, you'll be going home with a black eye.” That made the crowd laugh, and the fighting stopped shortly thereafter. Lit lighters filled the air while he dropped his new lovestep song with Ellie Goulding, “Summit.”
The crowed yelled out the lyrics word for word: “You are my cinema, a Hollywood treasure. Love you just the way you are, my cinema, my cinema.” Then Caspa took the mic and said, “In London, we call this a rewind.” He messed up at first, but then rewinded “Cinema” while Skrillex yelled with his raspy rock voice, “Echoplex, let's kick up some dust!”
Even though these are the best in Dubstep, at times all three looked at each other in confusion. Transitions at the wrong time, random seconds of silence and just plain madness.
As all of those issues were minor set backs, Check Yo Ponytail 2 was an insane spectacle.
Critics Bias I wish Skrillex would have sang “Father Said.” Other than that, his performance was jaw-dropping. You can say what you will about Skrillex,, but the bottom line is the guy is a musical genius. All the blood, sweat and tears is definitely felt in all his performances.
The Crowd A blend of people who looked like they shopped at thrift stores and Hot Topic. I think the 18+ crowd had a curfew; the crowd thinned out around 1:15 a.m., after hearing “Ruffneck” and “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites.”
Overheard in the crowd “Why is Skrillex playing at the Ghetto-plex?”
Random Notebook Dump While I was writing with my camera around my shoulder, a guy asked me if I had pills. Another guy asked me where he could find the “candy.” About 10 minutes later, the same guy who asked me for pills the first time sat next to me and asked me for pills again.
Lineup
Skrillex vs. 12th Planet vs. Caspa
Diplo
Franki Chan
Kuru
