Diandra Reviews It All

From the beginning, Elements Lakewood sets up that you are REMOTE from civilization, city life, and even the farm life you have to drive through to reach what feels like an “end- of – the- world” campground. Crowds of colorful scarves and hair, tye-dye T’s, and wicked smiles blared the entry way awaiting what seemed like a cosmic event. Thanks to Bang On NYC! run event, you knew you were entering a world away from “the world”.

Amongst the shuttle buses, was an aura of almost “religiosity”. People with beads in their hair, ornate costumes, and fluorescent ponchos cheered at what seemed to be a “party call’ for a spiritual experience/ an admiration for the nature surrounding us. No rough, mountainous terrain to trek and camp could deter their giddiness. As staff radioed each other in the confusion and joy for the massive amounts of people looking onward with bliss, the near Woodstock home, Bethel Woods, found a new little sister in Lakewood. Acts upon acts fell into Friday’s stages that looked like they were decorated by Mother Nature herself. The Golden Pony, Eli Escobar, 2 Melo, and Bauuer, were just a few of the names that played that night to my personal joy. Each stood out amongst the non-stop EDM, by offering their own personal flares and combination of electronica with pop hits, latin-funk, and hip hop.

As strange shapes, blue green hues, and painted faces lit under blaring lights, the ambiance of party and supernatural began to blend. You cannot go into woods with elaborate capes, and not feel like a magical spell will be cast. Still, my favorite had to have the Fire Stage. Claptone played to the rage and rave of the FIRE stage. As tents LITERALLY lit on fire housed young men and women ready to combust from their own euphoria; the masqueraded DJ definitely felt like a headliner. Moreover, elements was well on it way.The warmth of the Elements crowd was more radiant than the Friday sun, of which despite the rainy ambiance, people’s love and eagerness to show it, was amazing. There was feeling of instant safety, which is why Claptone stood out as such as BANG ON! headliner. There was an mischief added by the red lighting, fire blazing, and nude-sequined dancers. Claptone definitely felt the mystical air at being in the woods under the crispness of green grass and rainy wind.

While many in the world desire to connect, the crowd’s desire at artists like Claptone and My Golden Pony was to INVEST. People danced like tomorrow would never come, and only TONIGHT was their chance to move. The irony is that Elements is a three day festival. Hence, to dance with uncertainty amidst assurance is an oddly freeing dynamic As hips and glow sticks swung around, a cool, yoga igloo was lit in calm welcome with chanting music, and bodies twisting in stretch to prep for a Saturday that promised to be better than its predecessor. Checkout My Saturday Review By Clicking HERE.

Here Are My Fave Songs From The Artists Mentioned Above: