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The 5th Annual Cypress Smokeout -AleX Distefano
The 5th annual Cypress Hill Smoke Out made its way to it’s hometown this year. The smokin event featured the most diverse line up in its history, among the headlining bands were Circle Jerks, AdemaTaproot, Snoop Dogg, and Everlast, and of course the founders Cypress Hill. The 12 hour event was filled to the brink with stoners of all walks of life, from old hippy burn outs, to old school and new school punk kids, ravers, ballers and metalheads alike. The diversity is the key to the festival’s success.
The Circle Jerks pummeled through an amazing set of hardcore and old school political punk angst. Taproot and Adema brought along the ‘Nu-Metal’vibe, the former bringing children of the KoRn fed styles, and the latter mixing melody and Alice in Chains like songs with Nu-metal style. The now clean and sober Snoop Dogg closed the show, but just because he doesn’t smoke, doesn’t mean he can’t get the crowd bouncing with a set mixed with old school classics and new school songs. And of course the real deal Cypress Hill played behind a giant Buddha, a 6 foot bong, and 25, 000 of their stoner friends in the audience all grooving along. On the side stages, this year emo-metal came in full force. Poison the Well’s angry yet beautiful mix of hardcore and emo went well with the angry emo punk/hardcore of Finch. LA’s best kept secret BAD ACID TRIP certainly made a dent in the festival, their brutal death-metal meets thrash sound made up for the scariness that Mudvayne were supposed to bring, only this was genuine and much scarier. The former band were scheduled to play but were a no show, canceling at the last minute. Everlast, and a supprise performance by bone Thugs N’ Harmony provided the softer urban poetry, mixed with hip hop and even folk guitar, courtesy of Everlast. A special tribute to the late Jam MAster Jay, of RUN DMC served as a reminder that we lost a hip hop legend , and the crowd showed it’s solidarity. On the mini stage, LA’s best tribute bands rocked out to eager fans of nostalgic memories of the past. The Iron MAidens, the all female Iron Maiden tribute band made the biggest impression bringing together both male and female metalheads alike to raise hell in the pit. Also, Led Zeppagain, Which One’s Pink, and Wild Child, all played tributes to some of the most influential classic rock bands of all time. Meanwhile the DJ /DAnce area provided an outlet for the ravers who might have felt out of place, some of today’s hottest club and rave DJs spun sets that made even sober fans trip out.
Over all, the musical diversity, the good food, the party atmosphere, and of course the smoke, made this a hell of a good time. But if it weren’t for the long lines for munchies and restrooms, it would have been the ultimate STONER HEAVEN.
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CYPRESS HILL MUDVAYNE MOS DEF TAPROOT CIRCLE JERKS 3RD STRIKE KOOL KEITH SX-10 POISON THE WELL DJ C-MINUS SNOOP DOGG FACE TO FACE EVERLAST ADEMA THE USED KOTTONMOUTH KINGS FINCH MC RX BANDITS DJ RAP TUNNEL IRON MAIDENS LED (and others) Hosted by TOMMY CHONG
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