Mad Decent block party a whirlwind of fun

LOS ANGELES – Putting the ‘fun’ in Sunday Funday, on Sept. 20, Diplo, guest performers, and a stellar lineup of opening acts entertained a crowd of over 5,000 people at Mad Decent Block Party. The show is part of a series of 22 concerts in 19 cities ranging from Brooklyn to Toronto to LA hosted by Diplo’s record label, Mad Decent.

What began in 2008 as an intimate block party in Philadelphia to generate buzz for signed artists and their friends has become a full-scale dance, electronic tour. This is no surprise considering the roster now includes well-known names such as Flosstradamus and Major Lazer. As a larger event the set up is fairly consistent from city to city with a large main stage, local food trucks and a beer garden.

After being blown away by the block party in Brooklyn this August, I jumped at the chance to go again in downtown Los Angeles. I was even more excited to learn that the venue was a quick Uber ride away at Los Angeles Center Studios on West Fifth Street. It was essentially an expansive parking lot that funnelled into a narrow, yet deep rectangle. The lack of width, unfortunately, did not leave much room for concertgoers to get up close to the stage. It also prevented them from having the freedom to grab food or water and easily return to their friends.

Though the space was a major drawback, the music easily distracted me from the discomfort. I was able to catch the second half of Cashmere Cat’s set and, as per usual, the Norwegian artist did not disappoint. True to his genre-bending remixes he added futuristic and mellow beats under the vocals of Ariana Grande for their hit song, “Adore.” He also played fan favorite Mirror Maru mixed in with dancier beats to feed the concert vibes.

Thomas Jack followed with an equally groovy set filled with his signature “tropical house” remixes. His hit, “Rivers,” had the crowd instantly dancing to the folksy vocals and electronic beat. Also featured under this musical subgenre was Klingande who brought out a live saxophonist. The instrument added another dimension to songs like Jubel and RIVA. He also served as hype man, running across the stage with a gopro attached to his saxophone.

And then came Cut Copy. Though their darker indie beats have always been a bit intense for my musical taste, the group put on a fantastic performance. Founder, DJ Dan Whitford’s vocals were raw and intense, paired with the a perfectly choreographed light show. As stunning visuals flashed in time with songs such as “Lights & Music,” “Free Your Mind” and “Hearts on Fire,” it was impossible to turn away. He was joined onstage by band members Tim Hooey, Mitchell Scott and Ben Browning. A breath of fresh air from the deafening bass of deep house, the instrumental skill showed by Cut Copy was incredibly refreshing.

That being said, I admit that I spent a lot of time during the set fantasizing about the “friends” Diplo had promised to bring out. The headliner and host emerged from behind his massive, elevated booth and bass vibrated across the pavement. To the excitement Diplo featured a lot of strong female vocals such as CL, George Maple and Aluna of AlunaGeorge. My personal favorite was Aluna. Her energy was infectious as she ran across the stage belting out hits like JackU’s hit “To U.”

After six hours of dancing and standing in the blazing heat the crowd still managed to join in the party when Diplo brought out Ty Dolla $ign and Rae Sremmurd. They played their popular collaboration “Blase” as white confetti and streamers fell over the crowd. After a few songs they were also joined onstage by the rest of their entourage for a massive dance party.

Despite the venue’s poor setup, energy was high among concert goers and performers. The eclectic lineup made the transition from chill sunday vibes to a hype rap concert. Mad Decent Block Party once again proved Diplo’s prominence and influence in the industry.

Through collaborations, he is able to introduce new artists and give them a platform to spread their music to a larger audience. A truly honorable mission for a simple block party.