Review: Insomniac White Wonderland New Years Eve Gala 2013

From the most upscale production to booking the most innovative talent in the booming electronic music industry, Insomniac Events has narrowed their “experience making” craft down to a science and created memories that will last us party goers a lifetime. Since their Coliseum days, the reigning production company has dust themselves off and never seized to impress us with lineups filled with all-stars of every genre that have us biting the bullet each time ticket sales are announced for the next elaborately themed event.

Since the split of Go Ventures and Insomniac who formally co-hosted the infamous Los Angeles New Years Eve event, Together As One, Insomniac CEO Pasquale Rotella has sought out new venues and a fresher take on the ultimate New Years Eve Gala and we had the pleasure to attend last Monday evening.

From the moment we arrived to the Anaheim Convention Center, high energy and excitement ignited the air as a sea of white entered the venue for a night filled with progressive sounds and trance melodies. Security ran smoothly and appeared to be organized taking us no longer than 20 minutes to pass all lines however, those who arrived as doors opened were not as lucky and took close to two hours before reaching the White Wonderland themed stages. Inspired by the wonderland theme, Insomniac enforced a strict head to toe white dress code, which encouraged partygoers to be as festive and creative as the color allowed. From Storm Troopers, togas, and classy ensembles, we saw it all, which made for more laughs and photos to add to our albums.

Overall the crowd was a step above what we expected, which I’m sure contributed from the 21 + age restriction and hot ticket price. For those who frequent swanky nightclubs and wanted nothing less than the V.I.P experience, a table accompanied with only the best bubbly and bottle service girls was all yours complete with a not so pretty price tag all courtesy of Sutra and Identity Management, who transformed the V.I.P. sections into intimate nightclub settings. However, with an entire crowd filled with people of the legal champagne sipping age, the thought of dropping another 100 just to be “exclusive” enough to cross such ropes seemed better spent on drinks and food for the after partying. Not to mention, there was so much of the venue to see and admire. White lit up balls hung from the ceiling and above the crowd, glowing against the snowflakes that glimmered each time the laser beams shot through the room in sync to the music. Aerialists dropped and twisted from ribbons above our heads and go-go’s who dressed in over-the-top costumes resembling snow bunnies and angels took the stage.

Ferry Corsten, Hardwell, Avicii, Madeon, Sebastian Ingrosso, and Above & Beyond were just a few of the note worthy acts who provided the perfect soundtrack to our new years evening. Hardwell had us on our toes with a consistent bass heavy set and Madeon blew me away with a mature musical taste that has surely progressed since I first saw the young French producer perform at Coachella. Not to mention, he threw it way back dropping Song 2 by Blur; a song released when he was barely 3 years old. After a few moments of silence, Bingo Players showed up just minutes before midnight and revived us with their high energy banger filled set that had the crowd jumping in unison for 60 minutes straight. Confetti and sparks lit the crowd as Bingo Players welcomed us into a new year; however, the countdown was rather a weak countdown in our opinion. We knew better than to expect an epic 10 minute EDC firework show inside the convention center, however the pyrotechnic effects and lighting at that moment could hardly hold a candle to any top Vegas nightclub. We were left wondering what tricks they held back for the next act. Perhaps, announcing Sebastian on the decks as he jumps through a ring of fire?

Sebastian Ingrosso did impress us with a set that for once we couldn’t predict but Above & Beyond as always, stole the night with a heart-felt performance we couldn’t bear to end. Aerialists danced above as they filled the room with their hypnotic melody and heart stopping beats. It’s almost in a philosophical way how they work and manage to drive each beat and deeply written lyric to your soul. It’s nearly impossible to describe the euphoric energy that overwhelmed the sea of fans dressed in white as each lyric was sung in unison till the lights went dim and it was ready to leave our White Wonderland.

Photos By: RSorey Photography

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White Wonderland NYE 2012 Official Trailer White Wonderland 2012 Lineup White Wonderland Discovery Project [Contest] Review: Sebastian Ingrosso @ Roseland Ballroom