Every year, The Electric Daisy Carnival attracts thousands of new EDM-o-philes who pile in to watch marquee DJs from around the world do their dirtiest behind the decks. Upon asking a handful of people going out to Las Vegas this year about who they want to see, a scary amount of people (who, mind you, actually bought tickets) responded “Skrillex and Deadmau5.” Really? two DJs who aren't even going to fucking be there? Anyway, for those of you who pay attention, we put together a quick list of acts that should–if they're not already– be added to your schedule before you ride out to Las Vegas.
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Location: Kinetic Field
Time: 11:30 p.m. – 12-30 a.m.
Before Avicii turned Etta James', “Good Feeling” into a commercialized phenomenon, Pretty Lights sampled the same song, adding soothing horns, walking piano riffs, trippy turn-table scribbles into what we know as “Finally Moving.” Without selling one album, the DJ born Derek Smith chose to provide his material free for all to download. Splashing horns and classic Motown lyrics against New York hip-hop, DJ scratching and dubstep drops allows to him create a own sound all his own. And as a bonus, Smith also believes in truthful advertising. There actually are an impressive array of sparkling pretty lights during his set, even for an EDM show.
Location: Neon Garden hosted by Super You & Me
Time: 4 a.m. – 5:30 a.m.
Not many UK bassheads can say they turned Kanye West and Jay Z on to dubstep. When Flux Pavillion released “I Can't Stop” he produced a sample for “Who Gon Stop Me” that was on the Platinum-selling Watch The Throne. Noted tracks like “You Got 2 Know” and quirky chest-piercing UK bass make this guy a highlight on your festival roster, as he closes out 2012's EDC on the Neon Garden Stage.
Location: Kinetic Field
Time: 7:30PM – 8:15PM
Arty's Euro-trance chops will take you on a vodka-soaked expedition though the streets of Russia. Along with Gareth Emery, also graced Armin Van Burren's A Stage of Trance Stage at Insomniac's Beyond Wonderland. With tracks like the bass heavy “Rebound,” translucent sounds of “Mozart” and piano melodies in “Kate,” Arty's sound diverts into the classical realm in ways that make rowdiness and refinery seem like a perfect pair.
4. Tommy Trash
Location: Neon Garden hosted by Undocumented
Time: 12:30 a.m. – 1:30 a.m.
Australian madman Tommy Trash is turning into the go-to remix deck master. As a testimony to his blizzard of high-energy mixes, Steve Aoki uses Trash's remix of “Ladi Dadi” during his live set. As he switches channels and drops synthetic courses, Trash will keep the crowd of 300,000 moving in time with his vicious head banding routine at the Neon Garden.
3. Gareth Emery
Location: Circuit Grounds hosted by Group Therapy
Time: 2:30 a.m. – 4:00 a.m.
After being a part of Armin Van Buuren's A State of Trance stage at Insomniac's previous festival, Beyond Wonderland, Gareth Emery makes another huge appearance at EDC on the Group Therapy stage. He is performing after Above & Beyond, which leads us to speculate that these two trance lords may team up to perform “On a Good Day.” Fans wanting to get lost in memorable lyrics and harmonized synth strokes, prepare your ears to hear “Concrete Angel”, “Sanctuary” and “Citadel.”
2. Carl Cox
Location:Cosmic Meadow presented by Carl Cox & Friends
Time: 2:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m.
If you want to hear Top 40 EDM, over-played remixes or dime-a-dozen bass drops, don't even bother coming to see Carl Cox. Cox brings a tec-house and progressive house mix that will give you visions of the '90s rave era. Utilizing basic beats, catch-bass riffs and acid trip sounds, he is the perfect man to helm the Cosmic Meadow stage in its final hours.
1. Blue Man Group and Steve Aoki
Location: Kinetic Field
Time: 4:00 a.m. – 5:30 a.m.
Three blue men and a cake-launching DJ walk into a room. What to you think is going to happen? Our guess is as good as yours, but if you're in the crowd, be prepared to get covered in paint, cake, champagne, orange juice, confetti and toilet paper, all while Newport Beach-bred Steve Aoki is sailing away in the crowd on a blown-up raft.
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