The annual Hard Day of the Dead music festival returned over the weekend with some changes, including a 21-and-older admission policy and 40% smaller crowds, but that didn’t hinder those who turned out for the pulsating beats Saturday at the Pomona Fairplex’s five indoor stages.
Electronic music fans danced to high-amplitude sets by dozens of acts, including bass-thumping club kings Deadmau5 and Nero, the deep-grooving Bonobo and Luciano, and upstart rappers Future and Vic Mensa. After two women died at the summer edition of the Hard festival in August, Live Nation, which runs the fests, canceled the Night at the Fairplex concert in September and instituted the age limit for the Day of the Dead show while also limiting its capacity. About 20,000 attended Saturday, according to organizers, who said last year’s show brought in 35,000 on each of the festival’s two days.
1/30
Redman, left, and Method Man perform during the Hard Day of the Dead Halloween-themed rave at the Pomona Fairplex on Oct. 31, 2015, in Pomona.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 2/30
Alana Watson of NERO performs.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 3/30
Alana Watson of NERO performs.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 4/30
Redman performs.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 5/30
Method Man and Redman perform at the Hard Day of the Dead Festival in 2015. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
6/30
Method Man performs.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 7/30
Redman, left, and Method Man perform.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 8/30
Hot Chip performs.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 9/30
Fans dance as NERO performs.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 10/30
Redman performs.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 11/30
Method Man performs with Redman.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 12/30
Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip performs.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 13/30
Al Doyle of Hot Chip performs.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 14/30
Flying Lotus, a.k.a. Steven Ellison, performs.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 15/30
Deadmau5 performs.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 16/30
Fans dance as Deadmau5 performs.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 17/30
Music fans walk to the parking lot after the rave.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 18/30
A sign for an amnesty drop box for illegal items outside of security screening.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 19/30
A woman is arrested by the California Highway Patrol outside of security screening.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 20/30
Music fans attend the rave.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 21/30
Kahill Head uses a grinder to make sparks.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 22/30
Music fans attend the rave.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 23/30
Music fans attend the rave.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 24/30
Music fans attend the rave.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 25/30
Music fans attend the rave.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 26/30
A man holds an illumined Donald Trump cardboard cutout.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 27/30
Jennifer Cho, of Sacramento, donned lighted wings as part of her ensemble for the Hard Day of the Dead rave held at the Fairplex in Pomona over Halloween weekend. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
28/30
Madisen Hernandez, Brittany Bostick, and Cassady Farris enjoy the Hard Day of the Dead rave held at the Fairplex in Pomona over Halloween weekend. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
29/30
Participants enjoy the Hard Day of the Dead rave held at the Fairplex in Pomona over Halloween weekend. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
30/30
Cody Epperly, of San Diego, center, uses lighted poi to add his own color to the Hard Day of the Dead rave held at the Fairplex in Pomona over Halloween weekend. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
Pomona police distributed fliers near the entrance gates on the effects of the drug MDMA and the symptoms of overdosing. Concertgoers traversed a gantlet of metal detectors, drug drop-off “amnesty boxes” and finally a row of drug-sniffing dogs before entering the Fairplex. Police said 148 people were arrested Saturday, primarily on suspicion of drug offenses.
NEWSLETTER: Get the day’s top headlines >>
Stephanie Sims, 23, from Santa Barbara, had been to the Hard summer festival two years ago. She noticed the increased police activity at the Day of the Dead concert.
“The cop presence is a little intense,” said Sims, dressed as Little Red Riding Hood.
Despite the changes, the crowd came ready for a Halloween fest, dressed like vampires or Frankensteins or zeitgeisty emoticons. Popular memes abounded, such as “Left Sharks,” a reference to Bryan Gaw, a backup dancer for Katy Perry’s 2015 Super Bowl halftime show, who became Internet-famous after revealing his identity during an Ask-Me-Anything session on social site Reddit.
The audience percolated into a sweaty, swirling mass of bodies during a set by London dance-rock band Hot Chip. A bushel of men in banana suits bounced to the funky set-closing version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark.”
Eddie Sagal, 38, dressed in a Hunter S. Thompson-style tropical shirt, cargo shorts and tall white tube socks, did the gonzo journalist’s signature sway. The rave veteran had been to five editions of Hard fest and said the concert was different from the underground warehouse parties of yore.
1/82
Madonna performs at the Forum in Inglewood on Oct. 27, 2015. Read the review.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 2/82
Don Henley performs at the Forum in Inglewood on Oct. 9, 2015. Read the review.
(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 3/82
Los Lobos perform at El Gallo Plaza in East Los Angeles on Sept. 29, 2015. Read the review.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 4/82
Silversun Pickups perform at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery Masonic Lodge on Sept. 28, 2015. Read the review.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 5/82
R. Kelly, cigar and mike in hand, performs at the Forum in Inglewood on Oct. 10. Read the Times review.
(Axel Koester / For the Los Angeles Times) 6/82
Grace Jones in concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Sep. 27.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 7/82
Lauryn Hill performs at the Greek Theatre on Sept. 14, 2015. Read the review.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 8/82
Little Big Town band member Phillip Sweet performs at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Sept. 10.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 9/82
Miguel performs at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Sept. 4, 2015. Read the review.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 10/82
D’Angelo and the Vanguard performs at FYF Fest at Exposition Park on Aug. 23, 2015. Read the review.
(Christina House / For The Times) 11/82
Morrissey takes the stage at FYF Fest on Aug. 23, 2015. Read the review.
(Christina House / For The Times) 12/82
Solange onstage at FYF Fest on Aug. 23, 2015.
(Christina House / For The Times) 13/82
FKA Twigs performs at FYF Fest at Exposition Park on Aug. 23, 2015.
(Christina House / For The Times) 14/82
Kanye West performs during FYF Fest on Aug. 22.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 15/82
Jehnny Beth performs with Savages at FYF Fest on Aug. 22, 2015.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 16/82
Taylor Swift performs at Staples Center in August.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 17/82
Shania Twain at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 20.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 18/82
Aretha Franklin at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles on Aug. 2.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 19/82
The Weeknd performs during Hard Summer at the Fairplex in Pomona on Aug. 1, 2015. Read the review.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 20/82
Mötley Crüe celebrates the end of another concert, at the Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore., on July 22.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 21/82
John Famiglietti, left, front man Jake Duzsik, and Jupiter Keyes of the L.A. experimental band Health performing at the Echo in Los Angeles on July 22, 2015.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 22/82
Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie performing at the Hollywood Bowl on July 12.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 23/82
Kendrick Lamar performing at the BET Experience at Staples Center on June 27.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 24/82
Underworld performs at the Hollywood Bowl on June 21. Read the review.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 25/82
Brian Wilson at the Greek Theater on Saturday, June 20. It was also his 73rd birthday.
(Michael Robinson Chávez / Los Angeles Times) 26/82
D’Angelo performs at Club Nokia on June 8, 2015. Read the review.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 29/82
Ciara performs at Club Nokia on May 30, 2015.
(Michael Robinson Chávez / Los Angeles Times) 30/82
U2 guitarist The Edge, left, and lead singer Bono perform at the Forum on Tuesday, May 26. It was the first night of five at the venue.
(Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times) 31/82
Guitarist Ron Wood, singer Mick Jagger, drummer Charlie Watts and guitarist Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones play Petco Park in San Diego on May 24, on the opening night of their 2015 American tour.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 32/82
Neil Diamond performs at the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday, May 23, 2015.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 33/82
Steve Aoki, EDM DJ, producer and recording artist, performs on Broadway between 4th and 6th streets in downtown Los Angeles, May 16, 2015.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 34/82
Rapper Big Sean performs at Rock in Rio in Las Vegas on May 16.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 36/82
Sia performs during the Wango Tango concert at the StubHub Center on May 9, 2105, in Carson.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 37/82
Justin Bieber performs during the Wango Tango concert at the StubHub Center on May 9, 2105, in Carson.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 38/82
Kanye West performs in shadowy lights during the Wango Tango concert at the StubHub Center on May 9, 2105, in Carson.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 39/82
Ne-Yo performs in front of a full house during the Wango Tango concert at the StubHub Center on May 9, 2105, in Carson.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 40/82
Nick Jonas performs during the Wango Tango concert at the StubHub Center on May 9, 2105 in Carson.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 41/82
James Hatfield fronts Metallica at the Rock in Rio Festival in Las Vegas on May 9.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 42/82
Chester Bennington and Linkin Park play the Rock in Rio fest in Las Vegas on May 9.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 43/82
Tim McIlrath, lead singer for the Chicago-based, melodic hardcore band Rise Against, wades into the crowd at Rock in Rio on May 9.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 44/82
Gwen Stefani fronts No Doubt at Rock in Rio in Las Vegas on May 8.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 45/82
Janet Weiss, left, and Corin Tucker perform during the
Sleater-Kinney concert at the Palladium in Hollywood on April 30.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 46/82
Carrie Brownstein performs during the
Sleater-Kinney concert at the Palladium in Hollywood on April 30.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 47/82
Swedish-born soft-indie-rock artist
Jose Gonzalez performs at the Regent on April 30.
(Adam Della / For The Times) 49/82
Bassist Dusty Hill, left, and guitarist Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top perform on the Palomino Stage at the
Stagecoach Country Music Festival on April 25.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 51/82
Rumer performs at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetary in Hollywood on April 23.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 52/82
Kanye West makes a surprise appearance during the Weeknd’s performance at the
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 18.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 53/82
Marina and the Diamonds perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 18. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
54/82
FKA Twigs performs at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 18. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
55/82
Barry Manilow performs at the Staples Center on April 14.
(Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times) 56/82
Florence + The Machine perform during the
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 12.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 58/82
El-P, left, and Killer Mike of
Run The Jewels perform at the
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 11.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 59/82
Brittany Howard of
Alabama Shakes performs at the
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 10.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 60/82
Ariana Grande performs at the Forum in Inglewood, April 8, 2015.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 61/82
Rivers Cuomo of Weezer performs with his band at Burgerama on March 28. Weezer was one of the headliners for the two-day festival at Santa Ana’s Observatory.
(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 62/82
Lead singer Zac Carper of FIDLAR performs with his band at Burgerama, the two-day Santa Ana festival thrown by OC DIY impresarios Burger Records.
(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 63/82
Experimental artist Lustmord makes his Los Angeles debut on March 21 at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever.
(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 64/82
R&B singer Chris Brown performs at the Forum in Inglewood. The March 8 show was a stop on his tour with Trey Songz and Tyga.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 65/82
Trey Songz performs at the Forum on March 8.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 66/82
Alan Jackson performs at the Nokia Theatre on Feb. 27 as part of his
Keepin’ It Country tour.
(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 67/82
Brandy Clark performs as part of Alan Jackson’s
Keepin’ It Country tour at the Nokia Theatre on Feb. 27.
(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 68/82
Caribou performs at the Fonda Theater in Hollywood on Feb. 26.
(Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times) 69/82
Roots rocker
Bob Seger performs at the Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on Feb. 25.
(Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times) 70/82
Tegan and Sara perform with the Lonely Island during the 87th
Academy Awards on Feb. 22 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 71/82
Sarah Barthel of Phantogram performs at the
Air + Style concert and snowboarding event at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Feb. 21.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 72/82
Kendrick Lamar performs at the Air + Style concert and snowboarding event at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Feb. 21.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 73/82
John Legend performs during a rehearsal for “Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life - An All-Star Tribute” on Feb. 9 at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
Read the review (Christina House / For The Times) 75/82
Madonna interacts with a dancer during the 57th Grammy Awards on Feb. 8.
Read the review (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 77/82
Patti Smith at the Roxy on Feb. 2.
Read the review (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 78/82
R&B singer Tinashe sings to a packed crowd at the El Rey Theatre on Jan. 22.
Read the review (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 79/82
Eric Church rocks the house while performing at Staples Center on Jan. 23.
Read the review (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 80/82
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue performs at the Grand Plaza during the 2015 NAMM show at the Anaheim Convention Center on Jan. 22. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
81/82
Sam France of Foxygen performs at the Roxy on Jan. 2.
Read the review (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 82/82
Foxygen at the Roxy on Jan. 2. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
“This is much better than the old days, much cleaner,” he said.
During the performance by rappers Redman and Method Man, a troupe clad in costumes based on cult movie “The Warriors” waved hands in the air and rapped along to songs from the 1990s hip-hop group WuTang Clan.
Ryan O’Shaughnessy, 34, a financial analyst dressed as a bunch of green grapes, drove to the festival from San Diego and arrived just in time to see his favorite acts. “For me, the show doesn’t really start until Flying Lotus and Deadmau5,” he said.
On the Bone Shaker stage, ethereal L.A. producer Flying Lotus (aka Steven Ellison) perched behind his beat machines in a police uniform and a mask with glowing oval eyes. Lurching to the bass-heavy rhythms, he was backdropped by psychedelic video projections while other imagery played on a scrim in front of him.
“You want to get weird?” he asked between songs, which included Busta Rhymes’ “Gimme Some More” (which famously samples Bernard Herrmann’s “Psycho” soundtrack) and the hyperkinetic electro of EDM maestro Squarepusher. Ellison wove his own music into the mix, providing the celestial synths, jagged beats and jazzy low-end by virtuosic Los Angeles bassist Thundercat while dishing out tracks from his acclaimed 2010 album, “Cosmogramma,” and his 2014 effort, “You’re Dead.”
Halfway through his performance, the crowd thinned out to catch the other headliner, Deadmau5, whose frenetic video show, melodic breakdowns and pumping kick-drums got audiences moving.
Back at Ellison’s stage, as his set came to a close, he reached into the sparse but loyal crowd with a mic. To those who stuck it out until the end, he announced, “All right, let’s get out of here, I’m ready to go home.”
MORE ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE
U.S. senator and actor Fred Thompson dies at 73
Danny Elfman concert at Hollywood Bowl brings out Tim Burton fans
Making a Tijuana art scene to last
