by Editor’s Note: The text and all photos are courtesy of Michael Mital. If you’re a sports fan, be sure to check out the blog he co-founded, Fantasy Couch.
For one unforgettable night in Silicon Valley, hardcore and casual EDM fans alike converged on the grassy hill of the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View to witness some of the hottest DJ’s in electronic music put on a visually-stunning show that left the 10,000 plus in attendance screaming for more.
Despite a last-minute cancellation from Dutch electro house DJ Hardwell due to the flu, Identity Festival’s first stop on the west coast leg of the tour did not disappoint. Up and coming acts such as Stephan Jacobs and Audrey Napoleon got the party started on the Rockstar Stage with bass-heavy sets that greeted those who eagerly trickled into the gates for the 9-hour event.
Scratching songs from her debut EP, Ornamental Egos, the raven-haired Napoleon showed why she is quickly earning respect from critics and gaining fans with her unique blend of electro house beats and female vocal-infused mixes.
Meanwhile, the majority of the festival-goers began making their way to the iHome main stage to get a glimpse of Russian trance phenom Arty and Dutch house duo Bingo Players. The buzz grew louder and louder as Bingo Players dropped several heart-thumping beats that whipped the crowd into a frenzy.
The energy at the Shoreline soon reached a fever-pitch as Talenthouse collaborator and trance legend Paul van Dyk put on one of his trademark performances amid a sea of bobbing heads and glow sticks. Spinning tracks from his latest hit album, Evolution, PVD showed why he is still one of the most sought-after DJ’s on the planet.
While PVD’s hour-long set had a more melancholy feel, the grand finale was an all-out assault on the senses thanks to Swedish techno sensation Eric Prydz, headlining the festival despite a well-known fear of flying. Thankfully for those who were in attendance, Prydz delivered a climactic set filled with equal parts flashing lights, eye-popping imagery and billowing smoke effects which brought everyone to their feet.
Minor setbacks aside, the Bay Area showing of ID Fest was a raging success that put EDM on center stage for at least one night. Until we meet again next year, Identity…
Be sure to check out the submissions we received in our Creative Invite with Paul van Dyk.
