NIGHTS IN NEW YORK (MoodZONE, EDC, Felix Da Housecat, Flash Factory, Erick Morillo)
A rainbow greeted us from the airport and onto the bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan last Friday. Best omen! I’d come to the city to check out EDC and Nicole Moudaber’s MoodZONE stage, see some friends and imbibe the overall New York City vibes. Electric Daisy Carnival is mega - 5 stages and almost 100 artists amidst a carnival atmosphere in the massive parking lot of Citi Field (home to the Mets) with rides, installation art, interactive structures, food trucks and more.
I went late the first day to check out the atmosphere and Hot Since 82’s set at his Knee Deep in New York stage where he welcomed guests Nicolas Matar, Technasia, Sante, Green Velvet and the Martinez Brothers. It was there, at the Neon Garden tent, amidst the colossal energy of EDC, that I found my techno sanctuary. Superb vibes, great bass, impressive visuals and a great time. From there we went back to Manhattan to see Felix Da Housecat at Flash Factory - exceptional decor, like a church, tons of detail right down to stained glass windows, great sound and atmosphere. More good times, and always good to see someone you've heard so much about! Felix brought the vibes:)
Then it was time for Erick Morillo at Stage 48, incredible for me to finally see this man who I’d heard and read so much about for many years and to watch him do his thing live. Animated, full of the music, tuned in and connected - doing his thing.
The next day was Nicole Moudaber’s MoodZONE stage, a special, and truly extraordinary, day celebrating her first festival stage and this notable career milestone. She invited Lauren Lane, Thugfucker, Mind Against, Paco Osuna and Chris Liebing as her guests. I got there for Paco pounding the tent with his straight-up techno. Nicole then came on and took it both deeper and heavier, rolling out her thick techno thunder to an ever-growing, appreciative crowd. They packed the tent early and the vibe was concentrated love.
The word ‘mood’ is apt to convey what consistently occurs at her shows - she sets a mood, vibe, ambience and atmosphere that magnetizes people to it. A collective space that holds energy, everything from euphoric to melancholic, yet always uplifting. Again here at this tent, the spirit was palpable. From her set, Chris Liebing built on the momentum and took it to the next realm. He basically pounded the tent relentlessly. And though he smashed pure techno, it was nestled in a capacious groove.
From there, Nicole joined him to finish the epic day with a seamless, brilliant b2b set. Hard to find words to describe their integrated musical journey. Passionate, real, full force, connected and outstanding.
The day was amazing and for me the achievement that stood out the most was the undeniable energy that permeated the Neon Garden tent. Nicole, the organizers, artists and the partyers brought the mood and it was impossible not to feel it!
