Feature Photo Credit: Ivan Meneses for Insomniac Events
While some were finalizing outfits for their NYE plans, others went full pre-NYE send at the NOS Event Center for Insomniac’s Audiotistic, held on Saturday, December 28. While the music was on point and the weather just the right amount of crisp (onesies without dying of heat!) the event fell slightly short of Insomniac’s usual impeccable execution. Maybe it was the darkened, silent stages visible in the distance, awaiting the New Year’s Eve revelers for upcoming Countdown, or the fact that one stage was at maximum capacity for nearly the entire evening – either way attendees made the best of it and got their groove on everywhere from the depths of the Frequency 1.1 stage to on top of barrels outside the Night Bass hosted Frequency 2.2 stage.
The Music
Attendees who successfully navigated the parking lots and cruised through the gates right on time beelined to Frequency 2.2, where AC Slater‘s label was holding court. With sets from artists like rising star Taiki Nulight, bass queen Flava D and a spicy B2B featuring a very pregnant Anna Lunoe and Wax Motif, the crowd was showered with the finest of Night Bass. Though the stage was packed to the absolute gills, those relegated to the outdoors could enjoy the bedlam on a massive screen set up outside , where the heaters and room to dance were plentiful.
Frequency 1.1 brought the likes of Getter, soon-to-be-on-hiatus Flosstradamus, 4B B2B Valentino Khan and NGHTMRE to name a few. The tent had the vibes of a jam packed main stage, totems flailing and each headliner bringing their unique energy to the stage. If nonstop dancing was the goal, this stage over-delivered and the music was pushed into overdrive as the infamous Malaa went B2B with Tchami, a reliable duo that never disappoints. The B2B’s truly stood out on this stage, most notably 4B and Valentino Khan. When those artists join forces it can only be described as electric and it’s a set you must make time for if you spot it on a lineup near you.
Honorable mention goes to the area that at first was applauded for the shortest drink lines but ended up blasting some pretty impressive beats as attendees enjoyed the toasty heaters strewn throughout the building. Lasers washed over the crowd as fans gravitated towards the warmth and the talent on stage was holding nothing back.
The Logistics
Taking into account the event was by far not Insomniac’s first rodeo at the NOS Event Center, one would think details like parking, entry and stage capacity would be second nature. While thankfully the entry line’s bark was worse than its bite, having more knowledgeable parking attendants and utilizing a larger stage to accommodate the crowds who would obviously come out in full force to see a powerhouse label like Night Bass would have been appreciated. Countdown signs were being hung as the night went on which gave the unavoidable feeling Audiotistic was simply a money maker jammed between Dreamstate and the flagship NYE event. These factors certainly didn’t eclipse the quality of the music and overall production, both of which were certainly at the level of quality one would expect from Insomniac.
Audiotistic faithful can expect the event to return to the Bay Area summer of 2020, as it has in past years. Keep an eye on Insomniac Events for the official announcement!