Relive the Magic of Basscenter XI [Read + Watch]

Relive the Magic of Basscenter XI [Read + Watch]

The lasers have dimmed, the confetti has settled, and the bass is off. Bassnectar‘s 11th annual celebration in Hampton, Virginia has concluded. Let me tell you all about our journey in The Mothership.

I used to be skeptical of Lorin Ashton. I couldn’t understand why his fans traveled across the country on a type of religious pilgrimage for his curated events. Last year, I gave him a chance, sat in a car for 18 hours, and attended Basscenter X. I immediately understood the hype. I kept repeating, “I get it now,” throughout the first night.

Basscenter XI, though only being two nights this year, was nothing short of an ethereal experience. Lorin may say some incredibly questionable things on social media, but you can’t deny that the man knows how to throw a party.

Absolutely everything was on point. Track selection, lights & lasers, sound quality, visuals, astronaut blow-up dolls, loving ambassadors and kind police officers made the weekend an unforgettable experience.

In terms of the tracklist, a few of my standouts include “No Way,” Kid Cudi‘s “Day ‘N’ Nite,” “Sugarcube,” “Rising Rising,” “Butterfly,” The Beatles‘ “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” “Easy Does It,” and Peekaboo‘s “Maniac” (click links to watch!).

Before his set on night two, he paid tribute to Aretha Franklin by playing out her timeless song “Respect.”

Lo gets political

As Lorin typically does, he got political on night two. He exemplified the broken system of the electoral college. Prior to the event, fans could vote for one of four sought-after tracks for him to play. He explained that although the popular vote went to “Leprechauns Arise,” we were listening to “Ted-fucking-Nugent” because that’s what the system chose.

Lorin and his ambassadors reminded us throughout the weekend that we’re capable of anything.

Aside from the music and insane production, artists filled the lots with handmade crafts and clothing. DJs including Mad Zach and Of The Trees played sets as fans waited for the doors to open. Hampton’s wonderful uniformed officers even handed out wristbands with a smile on their face. The Dub Bus, a tailgate party of sorts, set up in various parking lots throughout the weekend and featured sets by Mystic Grizzly and DiCE MaN.

All in all, if you get the chance to attend a Bassnectar-curated event, please take the plunge. It’s a pilgrimage filled with memories that any bass music fan will savor.

 

Related Content: