Halloween is a magical time of year for most people but once you’ve been to Santa Barbara to celebrate the holiday Gaucho style, there’s really no turning back. Instead of just one day of tricks, treats and costumes you can spend the better half of the month in costume.  Now that I’m a little older and a tad more mature, I don’t feel the need to party the way I did for it in college.  I still have a hard time saying no to fun, but I’d like to think that I pick and choose my battles a little more wisely at this point.

Like I always rave about LA, there are so many – almost too many options when it comes to getting down with your bad self.  I tend to be swayed by the social factors – like which of my friends will be there and who would be down for group costumes; but it also comes down to taste in music, how far you’re willing to travel and preferred venue – house party, festival or club. And since I’ve moved to LA, I’ve basically covered all of the bases.  My first year, I went to Monster Massive, Hard Haunted and spent the week in Santa Barbara; in 2009, I stayed in to study for the GRE and hang out with my kitties; in 2010 I went to Avalon for Dirty South and last year it was a combination of a great house party in Newport thrown by close friends and seeing Nero slay it at the Music Box. And finally  this year I’m going back to my festival roots and hitting up HARD Presents Day of the Dead.

I have somewhat of a lovehate relationship with festivals – they’re crowded, the lines are terrible, lots of pushing and sound systems failing, the beer cups are small,  the drinking area is in an undesirable location and lets not even get started on the bathroom situation.  But then, there’s this glorious flip side: magical experiences with new friends and old, ridiculous people watching, amazing costumes, incredible performances, surprise guests and celebrity sightings. Over the past few years I’ve been known to say the phrase “Never, ever again…” while leaving but I just keep coming back for more.  I went to HARD summer and had a fabulous time so I figured why not give it another whirl – the Metro is free to ride and runs until 3am, perfect for us nocturnal kittens who thrive on the freaks coming out at night.

To better prepare myself for next Saturday’s mayhem, I’ve made a little playlist of the artists I want to see next weekend. Let the countdown to Day of the Dead begin!

Tracklist

1. Knife Party – Internet Friends
2. Justice – Genesis
3. Zeds Dead ft Omar Linx – You and I
4. Major Lazer ft The Partysquad – Original Don
5. Blue Foundation – Eyes on Fire (Zeds Dead Remix)
6. John Dahlback ft Erik Hassle – One Last Ride (Tommy Trash Remix)
7. Tiesto vs Diplo – C’mon
8. Jack Beats ft John B – All Night
9. Dillon Francis & Kill the Noise – Dill the Noise
10. Massive Attack – Paradise Circus (Zeds Dead Remix)
11. Moguai & Tommy Trash – In N’Out (Tommy Trash Remix)
12. Jack Beats – Get Down
13. Bo Saris – She’s On Fire (Maya Jane Coles Remix)
14. Chris Isaak – Wicked Games (Soul Clap Remix)
15. Clockwork – Airflow
16. Diplo ft Lazrdisk Party Sex – Set It Off
17. Dillon Francis – I.D.G.A.F.O.S.
18. Zedd – Stars Come Out (Dillon Francis Remix)
19. MGMT – Electric Feel (Justice Remix)
20. Knife Party – Centipede
21. Major Lazer ft Nina Sky – Keep It Going Louder
22. Florence + The Machine – Spectrum (Maya Jane Coles Remix)
23. Felix Cartal – Love (Clockwork Remix)
24. Knife Party – Rage Valley