April 23: Their Best Friend's Birthday (via KaYoTiK)

MSTRKRFT - BEARDS AGAIN

Man, I can't believe it was only a year ago since the last besties birthday party. (Yeah another one of those "wow this was a year ago?" posts.) But seriously, after this party a year ago, this has been the crew I've been rolling with on the regular. A year ago I rudely stepped up on stage while Evita was singing to snap pictures. This time around it was planned and instead of a camera I had a mic (to interrupt Evita). Lots of fun with old and new friends. I can't believe we were here until 4am though...

Thanks to the Beat Benders for making it a special night for me. From the idea of me playing the trumpet (seriously, worst idea ever), to creating the setlist, to rehearsal after rehearsal after rehearsal. It's been a true honor to be a part of the creative process.

Thanks to the Besties: Kesarin and Lauren for putting all of this together. (AND FOR THE WATCH!) (And of course for the best profile picture of 2010.)

Post via the guy who said he wouldn't take pictures, but did anyway.

after days/weeks/months/years of planning, the annual kesarin/lauren birthday bash was this past saturday night. these crazies always do it big for their friends and the hard work is definitely appreciated. thanks for the grand ole time you two!

the birthday girls! hope you enjoy the pictures.


they came up with some pretty delicious drinks.

#6 and #7 are where it's at.



dancey floor


represent alice


this looks photochopped...

(well done cesar)

beat benders making their triumphant return to the stage


groupies!!!!




everyday i'm shufflin


special guest mix master momo on the mic


the girls...they've gone wild.


CAKE!

sorry for the blurriness =(

makin the band 4


aaaannnnnddd a bunch of random party pictures




test tube shots! thanks for looking lauren.




getting rowdy in this discothèque


double/triple test tube shots!


yeaaa...i have no idea what face they're doing...


instant noodohz cru


look! i'm actually posting a picture of myself! yay birthdays!


still dancing at 3am. take THAT culver city fire marshalls.

thanks y'alls! another epic birthday in the books...i'm exhausted...can we stop being born now?

April 21-22: Pre-Bestie's Party

This is probably slowed down so that it doesn't get taken off Soundcloud...

Tyga - Reminded ft Adele
I didn't really know how to title this set of pictures since it's a random mash of things I did before Lauren and Kesarin's birthday party.

On Thursday I shopped around Irvine Spectrum with Evita to help find her an outfit for the performance on Saturday. (Yes, I am a great shopping buddy regardless of the gender.) We took a little dinner break at Yardhouse. 32 ouncers for each of us. That was a bit ambitious...

Always a good time with Evita. We didn't even notice that our appetizers never came out. So the manager comped us on all the food! Chicken nachos, spinach dip, and sliders. That was also a bit ambitious...

The market was closed last Friday, so I had the day off! I scheduled an appointment at the new RVCA employee store in Costa Mesa with Yonten. Did a considerable amount of damage considering I wasn't looking for anything.

Thanks again Ryan! I'll be back in a few months fo sho.

Jamba Juice for lunch.

Later that night I took a trip up to Burbank for the last rehearsal. I'm happy I have my weekends back, but these rehearsals for the past few weekends have been some of the most fun I've had in a while.

And this was just before our performance. CHAINING DAY! I'm an official Beat Bender now. (At least, for 1 more performance.) So it looks like I may not have some of those weekends back afterall...

The Beat Benders.

(I wanted to point out that I picked out Evita's jacket, lent my watch to Alex, my jacket to Jason, and my flannel to Millar. Call me the official stylist too.)

Coachella 2011 (Recap)

Mashy mashy.

Two Door Cinema Club-What You Know (LightsoverLA Club Remix)
Who I saw...

Friday
Skrillex, Odd Future, A-Trak, Afrojack, Sleigh Bells, Marina and the Diamonds, Cut Copy, Magnetic Man, Robyn, Boys Noize, The Chemical Brothers

Saturday
Two Door Cinema Club, Chuckie, Laidback Luke, One Day as a Lion, Fedde le Grand, Empire of the Sun, Steve Angello

Sunday
Wiz Khalifa, Ellie Goulding, Tinie Tempah, Death From Above 1979, Duck Sauce, Ratatat, Chromeo, The Strokes, Kanye West

Talks about Coachella started as far back as EDC 2010.

Jomo if you like EDC, wait until you go to Coachella.
-Jedi Master

I bought my tickets back in the beginning of December, way before they sold out (layaway plan is a godsend). It was the first Coachella for a lot of us. For others it was their maybe their 3rd or 4th. 15 of us under one roof in Palm Springs. 2 rental cars. 3 days. 3 nights. Dinosaur rendezvous spot. Sahara/Mojave/Gobi tents. Outdoor stage. Main stage. Food. Lights. Music. Music. Music. Laughs. Memories. Friends. This festival experience had it all.

-Yes, I stayed until the end of Kanye's set.
-Yes, I got home at about 3am and in bed by 3:30am.
-Yes, I had to get up for work at 5am to get there by 6am.
-Yes, I would do it all over again if I could without hesitation!

Picture credits: Kesarin, James, Brian, Me.

Meetup at the Mo' Bros'.


Defective wristbands.


Indio.



Girls making out with robots.


Celebs.(...)


Early car!

"We broke our wristbands on purpose!"

Beer gardening.


Favorite act from Friday: Sleigh Bells.





Best lights and audio setup go to the Sahara Tent.



This guy missed out on the bass buildup.





Snack bags courtesy of Chris and Kes!


HOUSE.


Good times.


Maximizing our time at Coachella.



Laidback Luke had the best DJ set hands down.






Lots of art lying around.





Steve Angello. Somehow, I got deja vu twice within 30 minutes. Mind: blown.


Laker jerseys everywhere on Sunday! We were all mourning the game 1 loss.


Ellie Goulding #cangetit.




For all those who are afraid to dance...


Coming to a close...




Last massive group shot of the night!


Chromeo got us jumpin'!



A-Team.



Kanye.





The end.


Coachella 2012 is a lock. Apartment. House. Condo. Mobile home. Tent. Whatever it takes.