Photo credit: Chris Costello – Clutch Pro-Vids
Friday November 30, 2012 marked a landmark event for the DC electronic dance music scene. Steez Promo presented the second installment of DC Mega at Echostage, the venue that single handedly changed the landscape of large scale edm production in the mid-atlantic region. Let me take a moment to let Paper Diamond explain:
With the dance floor packed and two second story levels of VIP overlooking, the entire converted warehouse erupted as a frolicking sea of one. A second story view was breathtaking even for the most veteran of party-goers. Mega cultivated a complete experience of the finest talent, all of whom left every bleeding ounce of energy on stage. The connection between the crowd and the artists was 100% reciprocal.
Can a lineup that includes Brillz, Bare Noize, Paper Diamond, Zeds Dead and Gemini really go wrong? No, not in DC. It’s this very focus and connection with what it’s market desires that makes Steez events an easy decision for ticket buyers.
Gemini, I love you, but the night was owned by Paper Diamond and Zeds Dead. 12:30 – 3am included the peak moments of the evening where the energy level and number of heads had the dial turned all the way up to maximum mental. The defining second of DC Mega round 2 was when PD came out and dropped this track, lights simultaneously (and fittingly) engulfing the room with a blinding red as if the joint had literally been set on fire:
Alex B refused to slow down. Coming from someone who has seen him multiple times recently, cherish that set if you were there. Something about the environment at Echostage must have gotten into him because that folks, was nuts. The way he applied more dub to the set was brilliant, especially considering Baltimore and Steez territory is synonymous with the most dedicated bass music fans in the country.
Photo Credit: Chris Costello – Clutch Pro-Vids
The second best moment and maybe the most powerful was in the middle of Zeds Dead set. The tempo slowed and the lights dimmed as the duo’s remix of Blue Foundation’s Eyes On Fire captivated thousands, the entire room waving lighters and singing along in unison. Sights and small moments like this are the timeless memories people remember for years to come. For the remainder, the set was surprisingly mellow considering past experiences, and hearing their work with Omar Linx on ‘Victor’ was perfect and provided a recallable time stamp to the performance.
Emerging trap star Brillz managed to warm everyone up. As a fresh face who has recently collaborated and blossomed under releases from Mad Decent, I was eager to see him in action. Not a lick of disappointment and he even teased the crowd with some unreleased gems . Bare Noize followed up with a montage of heavy bass and dnb. Danny and Oliver are interesting to me because their style seems to be a unique mix, combining sounds from the present direction of Americanized or contemporary UK dubstep with a respectful nod to the legendary London garage scene. The set highlight for me was the collab with Foreign Beggars ‘See the Light’.
DC Mega’s second showing was nothing but a spectacle. Almost 8 hours of music and dance brought about 3,200+ people together to share an experience that was not possible in DC prior to the opening of Echostage. Glow DC and Steez running the show under this new roof has proved to be perfect marriage. The most premiere talent in the world weekly at humble, affordable prices. Anyone who thinks $40 was too high for this event loses all credibility in their opinion.
Special thanks to Steez Promo for having us and granting our media credentials. Shoutout to Chris Costello with Clutch Pro-Vids for allowing us to use his photography as a visual supplement to this review.
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