Kaskade In The Park delivered a jam-packed experience filled with dynamic sets to San Diego’s Gallagher Square, making it a night that fans won’t soon forget.
When Kaskade comes to play in your hometown, you should be there. That’s been my mantra for years, and he’s consistently failed to disappoint each passing time. Call me a sucker if you want, but his stage presence and the way he curates his sets not only fill me with happiness, but he’s also one of the artists who always seem to know how to make me dance and create one hell of a party.
In previous years, when I’ve caught Kaskade at a curated show, whether in San Diego or elsewhere, the lineups have typically been house-centric, rarely straying from that sound. Yet for Kaskade In The Park, the ARKADE boss and LED Presents shook things up in a way that surprised me and many others. A dose of drum and bass from Dimension, some UK Garage from Interplanetary Criminal, and the ever-dynamic bass house style of Wenzday drew my attention and made me punch my ticket.
Although I was fresh off my recent adventure on EDSea and flight back to San Diego, any exhaustion in my body was washed away on the day of the show. There’s a certain type of energy that flows through me when I get the chance to see Kaskade, even more so on my home turf at Gallagher Square.
While I unfortunately missed the opening set from Jax Carter and much of Wenzday’s set, I was ready for the night ahead.
Security around that time was a breeze, and LED Presents had created an exclusive patch that they passed out for free to those who arrived early to the show. This has become a hallmark of the promoter’s shows at Gallagher Square in recent years, and it’s the little things like that that make the event feel even more special. Considering the merch was fairly limited, it was a nice keepsake.
Something I must always commend at Gallagher Square is the fairly vast selection of food and beverages. The bar lines throughout the night took no time at all to navigate, and there was everything from burgers and chicken tenders to other tasty treats that you could munch on throughout the show. I also gained an appreciation for the raised viewing deck, part of the venue’s recent renovation. From that vantage point, you could sit and chill with friends while catching the show from a distance, all while being away from the swelling crowd below, yet still with solid sound.
Interplanetary Criminal took the reins of the stage after Wenzday delivered her final tunes, and immediately dove into some bumping UKG grooves. From an energy-level perspective, he should’ve perhaps been billed before the 40oz Cult co-founder, but the crowd was vibing throughout his set. That’s when I made my way closer to the stage, ready to immerse myself in the rest of the night’s performances.
The biggest curveball in the lineup was Dimension.
Having just seen him days prior, I was ready for another dose of his high-octane drum and bass tunes. His set was filled to the brim with energy as he ran through some of his classics and recent hits, while also layering in some gems that sparked energy from the stage.
Although my friend, a few others, and I were having a great time belting out the lyrics, it was hard to tell whether the rest of the crowd was really into the performance. Perhaps Kaskade’s crowd isn’t really one that has embraced drum and bass yet, or perhaps this was their first time seeing a set like that, but it was interesting to see the ebb and flow of reactions. Regardless, I fully appreciated Dimension dropping some serious heat during the otherwise chilly evening.
It was finally time for the man of the hour to take the stage, and Kaskade wasn’t going to disappoint.
I’ve seen Kaskade more times than I can count, yet each time I see him, I have loads of fun. He’s currently in the midst of his undux era, so I expected to hear tracks from that blended in with his iconic hits along the way, and he delivered just that. “DNCR” was an early standout moment with fireworks blasting off during its drop, and the crowd surged with everyone dancing.
Those aforementioned iconic hits would come through in full force throughout his set, as Kaskade showcased different eras of his sound by spinning everything from “Escape,” “Disarm You,” and “Move For Me” to “Feeling the Night,” “Eyes,” and “Room For Happiness.” He didn’t just dig into his own discography either, as he pulled out an Acraze remix of “Just Dance” and an edit of CHRYSTAL and Notion’s “The Days” with Blinders’ “Prayer (Pt. II).” Another highlight was Cassian and Yotto’s take on Da Hool’s “Love Parade,” while the crowd had a huge response to Fallon’s “Diet Coke,” which has taken the scene by storm. Of course, his signature of shouting “Come On!” to kick the energy levels up carried throughout the set.
When Kaskade started playing “Something Something Champs” to close his set, the clock was ticking toward curfew.
The first verse trailed off and faded out as the music stopped, and the set abruptly ended. We had hit the dreaded 11pm time limit for shows at Gallagher Square, and they even cut off the PA so he couldn’t hop on the mic to thank everyone who came to the show. Instead, he showed his gratitude to the crowd by hopping on the decks and gesturing to everyone, but the show had certainly ended, and there would be no fine for going past the allotted time tonight.
Whether he’s curating a show or taking the stage at a club or festival, Kaskade is one not to miss. From the timeless hits to his new soundscapes, there’s always something to love from this legendary artist in the scene. Don’t sleep on your chance to catch him when he heads to a city near you.
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