Collaboratively written by Caleb Kim and Jaden Mehrdad
The crowd at Niteharts Day 3 was stocked up on handheld fans, HOT stickers, and Filipino pride. Upon entering Snapdragon Stadium, we witnessed a stampede of leather boots accompanied by many shirtless men. We were graced not only by pleasant sprinkles of rain but also by Daine, who came out during Underscores’ set and danced with the Filipino flag. “Shout out Philippines!!” As enthusiastic as the crowd was for this show of solidarity, the early and still-bright set left much to be desired, especially considering the barricade was relatively lifeless. Through the stunning graphics of Innuendo, Do It, and Music, the crowd was essentially motionless, and it felt like we were the only ones singing along. Only at the “um oo ah ah” beginning of The Peace did people suddenly yelp, just to return to their solemn state. Would this have been different if the set was after sundown? Yes, almost unequivocally.
The sets that followed included the DJs Hamdi, RL Grime, and the finale, Knock2 and DJ Snake. During Hamdi’s set, we went to the concession booths and devoured some bao buns to refuel for the night ahead. Upon returning to the main area, the crowd was getting ready for RL Grime’s rapid and jagged set. Girls next to us jokingly yet earnestly exclaimed, “Daddy’s going on next!” The sky was black now, leaving the perfect canvas for the pyrotechnic choreography. The EDM Trap emitting from the speakers propagated through the crowd as everyone banged their heads in unison. We danced and shook so furiously we invoked the presence of the sticker man who bestowed upon us his eternal gift of the HOT sticker. A long haired bearded man with a red scarf resembling Jesus was there also, and bore witness to this god-given rite of rave passage.
DJ Snake and Knock2 took a commanding presence as they effectively stress-tested the lasers, pyrotechnics, and speakers for their grand finale. Some familiar snippets were heard, like Charli XCX’s Club Classics, his own You Know You Like it, and his infamous Turn Down for What. He also sprinkled in some Latino tunes, igniting the fans even more.
The most jarring moment came when the synth drone of Fein pierced the night and ruined the vibe. The otherwise kind and caring crowd was entranced by fifteen seconds of unadulterated, unmixed Fein. Not even a little bit of swagger or taste could be felt in these fifteen seconds, and we looked around appalled, meeting the gazes of some other conscientious objectors.
Despite this unfortunate end, Niteharts was our introduction to the SoCal rave crowd. Even at the gate, we could feel a sense of community seeing huge groups of friends taking pictures together with their sprouts and sunglasses. It was easy to find a space you felt comfortable in. We had the choice to immerse ourselves in the tight crowd or to sit criss-cross on the outskirts without fear of trampling. Within these clusters of festival-goers, it was easy to join a group, mosh with them, and part ways after a song or two. The festival experience is uniquely special because of these people: the ones you vibe with, and probably won’t ever see again.