Electric Daisy Carnival 2014 - Trip Report

[JuiceJH]

So I have never been to any festival before, and decided that EDC would be my first, so here we go.

The hotel: Booked a two queen FAB room at the Flamingo for a good price back in November, never stayed here before and it may be my favorite so far. Room was clean and had a nice view of the High Roller and the Linq, and the Habitat/pools below. We were also on the 26th floor, only two more floors above us.

The crew: Me and my girlfriend arrived Thursday morning, and my two friends got in Thursday night.


Let me just say the crowd in Vegas for EDC is so nice, people getting excited on the plane, random people at the hotels saying hi and that they can't wait for EDC. Great atmosphere all around.

Friday - Encore Beach - DIPLO: We get to Encore Beach at about 1PM, and the place is slammed. No wait in line at all, but people everywhere. We roam around and settle in poolside at a nice spot. Riff Raff shows up with Diplo and we all go nuts, and he makes it rain..I got a Riff Raff $1 bill. Now here is the good part...my buddy has all my cigarettes and we lost him, so we are on the hunt for him. I'm scanning the crowd and everything then my girlfriend says "HEY! THERE HE IS!" and he is chilling in the infinity pool in one of the Bungalows. WTF? So he says "Dude! Get in here! Free drinks, free food, free sushi, free massages and $1 packs of parliments!!!!"

So, just by filling out a quick survey on an iPad, here I am, in a fucking sick bungalow, getting free drinks, and smoking as many Parliments as possible! Its an absolute twerk fest in the plunge pool, somehow it was all girls. One chick is twerkin so hard, she falls over the edge of the pool face first..hilarious.

We leave in a drunken daze, it is time for Day 1 of Electric Daisy Carnival!

We all get ready in the room, and head out to our shuttle stop at the Linq. For some reason the traffic was terrible, and the shuttle took about 2 hours to get to the Speedway. We roll up, and see all the lights and lazers from outside the venue and it looks glorious!

We roamed around checking all the stages out and getting an idea of where everything was. We caught some sets: Sander van Doorn, Crizzly, DESTROID, Booka Shade, and ended the night with Borgore at the Main Stage.

Up Next: Drai's Beach Club, EDC Day Two, Killing it at Roulette

[kman90]

ok ok a lil sumthin different...

[workhardplayharder]

Haha nice review, where did you find this survey for all this free stuff?! Hope you enjoyed EDC! Lots of "PLUR" at these festives. You guys can find some vids and pics on my instagram at www.instagram.com/astroshadez. Looking forward to day 2!

[kp3205]

Was listening to replays of the sets on Sirius while driving that Sat and Sunday during the day. Always wanted to see a TR on EDC and get their take.

Looking forward to reading more.

[Brooklyn Marc]

Nice, seems like a good time, i might have to plan a trip around that time next year, though my choice in DJ's are very limited might be that i need to branch out a bit more...

[JuiceJH]

Saturday

So, me and my girlfriend were tired from going hard at Encore Beach and EDC, and we left right after Borgore at EDC (probably like 4:45am) The shuttle line for the LINQ was short, and we got on a bus pretty quick. We lost our two friends but cell service improves after like 3:30am when a lot of people leave the speedway. They stayed until the end but are on a bus back. I am still wired, so while my girlfriend takes a nap I go out to adventure in the sun to wait for my friends. They make it back just in time for the pellican feeding at the Flamingo habitat. This is wierd but we got home perfect timing and went to this 3 days in a row haha.

So we regroup in the room, and three of us decide to go explore while one goes to bed. There was a bigger than normal EDM party going on at the Flamingo pool and the bass was rattling our whole room, I thought it was Drai's and was like no way is it that loud, but it wasnt.

We head over to the Yard House, get a few beers, and make our way to Guy Fieri's Vegas Kitchen because we love to make fun of his rock-n-roll outta control menu items. Got some pretty bomb ass wings, also there is a Guy Fieri challenge where you get 4oz(i think) samples of all 32 beers on tap, and you get a free t-shirt for drinking them all for like $30. Not a bad deal.

Meanwhile, my friend hits me up who was at the room still, saying the bass bouncing off the walls makes him want to go out to Drai's Beachclub. I had tickets for me and my girlfriend, but it was too much and I said he can grab my ticket and go check it out. He said it was awesome, but you definitely need a table to get a good spot to chill at. He also lost his phone, but it was in the lost and found (thanks nice people).

So at this point, I am starting to crash and decide to try my luck at the roulette wheel. I get to a $10 min table, and lay down my strategy: $10 on the 1st 12, $10 on the 2nd 12 (outside), and my lucky numbers on the inside for $10. This way, as long as it hits numbers 1-24, I will break even, and if it hits my numbers I win more. So I am the only one at the table, and for some reason this guy spinning just hits 1-24 every single time, hitting my numbers inside all over the place. I'm up about $300, my Coors Light has just been delivered, and I am outta there before my luck turns. Nice hit and run for me.

I think I took about a two hour nap, and then we began the EDC Day 2 Pregame.

EDC Part 2 - Saturday

So we expected the shuttle to be long again this night, but the situation was fixed apparently and we enjoyed a quick 30 minute ride to the Speedway. Again no line to get inside, and basically no pat down, I could have smuggled a midget in my shorts.

We walk down the steps, and right in front of us is A-Trak at the CosmicMEADOW. I love A-Trak since seeing him at LIGHT in September, so we stayed for most of his set. We needed to fill up our camelbacks and get some more waters, so we ventured off and caught 1/2 of Avicii's set at CircuitGROUNDS and went to check out Bro Safari at the BassPOD. Perfect timing because the parade of stuff/characters was just starting and went right in front of us! So cool seeing all the costumes and wierd things they had going on.

Somewhere at this point I tracked down a round of smoothies for us and it was the best decision ever.

After the crazy fireworks display on the first night caught us off guard, we knew the deal was they went off at about 2:30am. So we went into the stands at the Speedway in front of the CosmicMEADOW stage, to watch some Chromeo, and then stay for Knife Party and the fireworks. First of all, best fireworks i've ever seen its like 4th of July x10. They kept setting off these fireworks that exploded into Smiley Faces and hearts. So cool.

So we haven't spent much time at the main stage yet, and from the stands the visuals and effects looked soooo crazy, so while my two friends went to check out Carl Cox at the neonGARDEN, we ventured over to the main stage to check out Alesso and some of Martin Garrix.

We stayed until the end, all met up, and started the journey home. The LINQ shuttle line was about 500feet beyond the tent with the gates, so we decided to sneak into the Cosmopolitan shuttle because it was short. This was probably not a good idea, the Cosmo line was pushing and shoving and not moving, while the LINQ line was moving briskly (fuck!). If anyone was in this line, the kid at the front of the line working flipped out and went crazy, I felt bad for him. Every other line was single file and orderly, except this one. It was hot as balls, but eventually we got home, and went to the Pellican feeding.

Up Next: EDC Day 3, Sunday Funday, Marquee Dayclub, Slot Machine Jackpot?!

[JuiceJH]

Haha nice review, where did you find this survey for all this free stuff?! Hope you enjoyed EDC! Lots of "PLUR" at these festives. You guys can find some vids and pics on my instagram at www.instagram.com/astroshadez. Looking forward to day 2!

There was a sign that said "Smokers Welcome" in front of this bungalow, and it seemed weird to me since they are so much $$, but these girls brought my friend in there and then he told me about it... The first and most likely last time I will be in one of those!

[JuiceJH]

Sunday

So we finally got back, but dropped off at the Cosmopolitan. My friend got separated and was on another bus before us, and we see him in the cab line to get back. He doesn't feel good and wants to sleep, so the rest of us say fuck a cab, re-up on beers, and start walking back to the Flamingo.

Eventually us three venture out again, and my buddy wants to go to Caesars Palace. We walk around the mall a little bit before settling in at the casino. My buddy is the ultimate low roller, puts a $5 bill into a penny slot and bets 1 penny at a time, and is winning nothing. Me and my girlfriend are going up and down on this bank of slots, and getting free drinks at the same time. We eventually make it into the sportsbook, where we decide to gamble on some horses. Its great, you get a free drink ticket for horse bets, so we took advantage of those as well. My friend hits on his first horse race ever (don't we all?) and nothing the rest of the time. The World Cup was going on too, but I was burned bad the day before on some ties so I stayed away. My girlfriend put some $$ on USA for her parents, which also ended in a tie.

We decide we need food, so we go to check out the new breast-raunt in the LINQ, the Tilted Kilt. My friend has a thing for falling asleep in the breastraunts, he fell asleep sitting up at the Twin Peaks last trip, and after some buffalo wings and a few Fat Tire beers, hes dozing off. We all decide to go up and catch a quick nap before the final night of EDC.

EDC - Part 3

Smooth sailing on the shuttle to EDC, and got there just in time for Bassnectar to melt our faces off! First time seeing him, and his visuals are out of this world Our plan was to hit the main stage for Above and Beyond, and then Axwell ^ Ingrosso. We got into the crowd pretty deep, but still enough space to dance. If you haven't seen the main stage design, check out a video on YouTube its was so epic. Both of the sets were incredible, and the fireworks display came on once again mind-blowing. My friends took off to see Angerfist at the BassCON, and we went to sit in the stands and blaze during Zeds Dead and GTA.

We took off in search of another smoothie, but they were all out!! WHAT!! We took one last tour of the grounds, hitting pretty much all the stages, saw someone at the BassPOD late, don't know who, but it was great. We walked around some more doing a final goodbye tour, and then made our way to the main stage for Dash Berlin as the sun came up. Me and my girl met up with one of our friends, and waited an hour for my other friend to show up because he was lost and had no clue where he was. We thought we were going to be FUCKED in the shuttle line, but it was the quickest line of them all. They pulled up a mobile boombox car thing to keep the party going while we waited, and they passed out free bottled water.

Up Next: Keeping the party going, Marquee Dayclub, Skrillex at XS?!, Slot Machine Jackpot?!?

[MikeK32]

Great Report to so far. It's nice to hear the mix of Strip and EDC!

[JuiceJH]

MONDAY

So its Monday, and we just got back from EDC and its about 7am, which means its 10am in Boston. My friend works in sales, and was supposed to be at work but he figured he'd wing it on the phone from Vegas. He is in rough shape, and its hilarious to see him work his magic in the room on speakerphone. We all wash the rave away in a shower, and are still fired up ready to hit the strip.

Me and my girlfriend go down to hit the casino and wait for the other two to get ready. My buddy is going to hit the strip with his iPad to put in orders for work as we go.

So I get to this roulette table, and there is only one other person playing. I put $100 down, and tell the dealer to give $50 in chips to me and $50 to my girlfriend. Its a $10 minimum. My girlfriend hangs back and doesn't bet any of her chips, while I do my same strategy from earlier, and turn my $50 into about $250. My friends join, and have no strategy whatsoever, and finally start betting with me and winning. So i'm satisfied with my profit, and for one last spin I tell my girlfriend, "hey lets just put $10 on two numbers.." I take her chips, and say "You wanna do 7, and 11?" she says yes, and we put them down. Next thing you know BOOM 7. I go nuts, jump up from the table and am pumped up. The dealer looks me in the face and goes "Sorry sir, I cannot pay you that is an invalid bet" ...what???? The dealer explains to me that I cannot play two colors of chips, and because I was the one who put my girlfriends chips down, the bet is invalid. Before I flip the fuck out, he says "I will pay you this time, but remember that." I toss him a $5 chip, say thanks, and i'm outta there.

We need to get some food in our system if we are going to stay alive, so I suggest either Cabo Wabo or PBR Grill since we are walking in that direction. We pick PBR and got wings, quesidillas and mozzerella sticks to share, and a bucket of PBR's of course. We chill and watch some soccer, and then I got a free bull ride when I used my TR Card to pay the bill. I dominated that bull for like 30 seconds and only when my balls were in danger I had to bail.

I hit up Noah, and asked him about the free pool parties at Marquee. Firebeatz was gonna be there, and I definitely wanted to show my friends another pool besides Encore Beach (we did EBC last trip too). So we were worried it would be slammed and a huge line, but Noah said its decent so in my mind that meant no line. The only time I went to Marquee Dayclub before it was LDW Kaskade and the place was packed and I didn't like it that much. This time it wasn't packed at all, no line, but still a good crowd. Plenty of pool space and after being in the no-splashing EBC, the splashing and beach balls were awesome and we had a blast. Carnage and Ummet Ozcan were chillin in a cabana. I like to collect hats, and after getting a LIGHT one last september, I needed to rock a new hat, so I got a sweet glow in the dark Marquee one. I really wanted an EBC or a Wynn one but I was too fucked up Friday to get it.

So we are still goin strong after we leave Marquee, and I decide to hit up Bobby Yeadon and ask about a walk-in to the sold out Skrillex Diplo and RL Grime at XS. He responds so quick and set us up sweetly. We go back to the room and decide to change and get ready to head out again. I go downstairs to grab a slice of pizza, come back up, everyones passed out and I have no room key. I sit in the hall and eat my pizza, and the girl from across the hall comes out and gives me a kandi...sweet. So I eventually get in the room, but from the looks of it we aren't making it to XS. Its ok though, seeing Skrillex on his Mothership tour in Boston at the end of this month. But definitely a shoutout to Bobby Yeadon for coming through no problems, sorry we couldn't make it!

TUESDAY

So my two friends left on a 6am flight, and my flight is at 10am. We clean up the room the best we can, and me and the girlfriend decide to go hit the slots one more time to kill a half hour before we left for the airport. We decide to go find the Willy Wonka machines in the Flamingo casino, but get distracted by some bright, loud, and colorful Wizard of Oz machines. She sits at the good witch, and I sit at the evil witch version. Before I can even put my money in mine, hers starts going crazy on the first spin. Its a penny slot so it starts counting at like 100,000 and is making lots of noise and flashing BIG WIN BIG WIN. I'm trying to do the math in my head but i'm just like thats a shit ton of pennies! So she ended up cashing out $1,600. We get a complimentary celebration beer each, and before they can take any back, we go get our shit from the room and head to McCarren.

[artedm]

that monday night was crazy at xs
rl grime went from around 11-12am
diplo showed up around 12am
skrillex by himself from around 12-130am
diplo went like 130-530am with skrillex jumping on a few times for some "jack u" diplo/skrillex b2b
it wasn't a official nightswim but skrillex got on the mic and said jump in the pool so people were in the pool

I heard it was the second largest crowd at xs (the record is avicii mdw sunday nightswim 11,000) the previous record was 10,000 david guetta ldw sunday nightswim

skrillex and diplo are back again ldw monday 9/1

[wat]

Congrats on ending the trip on a good note! And awesome trip report, man.

[Vegasnoob2014]

Haha nice review, where did you find this survey for all this free stuff?! Hope you enjoyed EDC! Lots of "PLUR" at these festives. You guys can find some vids and pics on my instagram at www.instagram.com/astroshadez. Looking forward to day 2!

My experience is that this younger generation doesn't know the meaning of PLUR