According to RMR’s Joey Brabo, the first day of HARD Summer was super lit. The weather was classically Southern California at 80 or so degrees. The people were energized and excited, and clearly ready to rage. Each stage was packed and the performers that he saw all delivered high-energy sets.
Favorite moments from day 1 included walking around the stadiums and discovering all kinds of great places to watch the festival from. Each venue and stage brought about a different vibe and experience and this was much appreciated. It was really cool to see an artist like big Shaq Diesel in the Los Angeles Coliseum. Dillon Francis and Kaskade, who performed at different times, with both of their sets outside, were both super fun. And then Diplo, Blond:Ish, and 21 Savage performing inside the BMO Stadium where the professional soccer matches are held locally that was awesome too.
Although it was warm and humid, the vibes were great and the artists and performers seemingly all enjoyed the party.
The second day of HARD Summer was more of the same — whether that’s a good thing or not depends entirely on those at the receiving end.
It was hot, sticky and ridiculously crowded, but majority of those in attendance were having a blast. After all, it was that packed only because so many people wanted to be there. The annual event caters to a very specific audience and they seem to love every bit of it even if outsiders of the culture can’t tell the difference between the button smashers who take the stage one after the other.
If you’re not part of the scene, two full days of DJ sets might feel like torture — Skrillex, Four Tet and Bicep could easily blur into one for those looking in, but from up close, it was quite the spectacle.
The Variety at HARD Summer Each Year Is as Random as It Is Fitting
Of course, electronic music isn’t all there is to HARD Summer. Like every year, they reserve 10% of the bill for a few completely random, out-of-place acts who still manage to stir up the party. Very few could’ve guessed that Ludacris would be among the handful of hip-hop acts summed to Los Angeles this summer, but he still managed to move the crowd despite the afternoon scorch.
Then there was certified goof Oliver Tree, who, despite his cartoony persona, always comes through when it’s time to perform because his catalog simply makes it too easy to entertain a crowd. A strong case could be made for him being one of the most positively memorable acts on Day 2 of HARD Summer this year.
Oliver Tree at the Purple Stage | Photo Credit: Karan Singh
This brings us to the ultimate low point of the festival, which quite ironically was positioned right when such gatherings usually climax. Kid Cudi aka. Mid Cudi, who is dead in the middle of his pick-me era, closed out the festival by playing a set during which he sang mostly off key and debuted music from his upcoming album, Insano.
If you think you’ve heard the worst of his creativity, don’t let your guard down yet because there’s more around the corner. Based on his excitement, in fact, it seems like there’s a lot more. For those who’ve had the misfortune of following his career over the past decade, watching Cudi become confident in his own mediocrity is terrifying news — unfortunately, he’s in that headspace once again.
Objectively, HARD Summer is hell on Earth, but it’s a fascinating scenery because it brings together thousands of people who all want to party in the early August heat and bond over a very specific kind of music.
If they say it’s fun, then it must be. After all, there’s nothing more important than listening to the kids.
