Sun God 2015 - UCSD's Mini-Coachella

Whirlwind weekend covering music festivals.  Saturday, Desert Daze -- the anti-Coachella in sweltering Mecca, California (here is my review amidst the 100 degree dust-storm).  Yesterday, Sun God -- UCSD's mini-Coachella a world away in downright chilly La Jolla, California (and featuring a Ferris wheel, just like its much bigger brother).

Sun God is impressive -- student organized, student run.  Virtually only open to UCSD students (as part of their student services fees -- no separate purchase required) -- about 20,000 of them (I attended as an official member of the press).  In a bold move (surprising to me given generally conservative college administrations), the festival featured Snoop Dogg as the headliner -- and Snoop did not disappoint.  Not your usual Snoop show to be sure, as the wafting of smoke was minimized by some of the tightest festival security I have ever seen.  OK Go (pictured to the left) also stood out amidst the festive, carnival-like atmosphere where EDM was also minimized this year (certainly in an attempt to rein in the general EDM "state of mind" -- which is frequently altered as part of the genre's definition).  Sure, the festival this year was held on a Sunday -- and sure it ended just after 8 pm (in further nods to an increasing conservatism).  But, it was held.  THAT is what matters.  Students look forward to it all year.  And, Sun God organizers pulled off this mini-major once again-- no small feat given myriad challenges in an official school sponsored event.

My Weekend As A Music Journalist - Desert Daze & Sun God

Those of you who are reading this know that, if nothing else, I am prolific.  Write a lot.  Here in my own blog.  And also as a contributor to Variety, TechCrunch, Billboard, VideoInk, HuffPo, Business Insider, Wired and soon-to-be-for Forbes, among others.  For me, writing/journalism is an important "hat" I wear -- love doing it, and love adding a nugget of value/insight/access/amusement here and there.

Those of you who are reading this also likely know that I am a music junkie -- listen 24/7 -- attend festivals and live events all the time (just saw The Decemberists and Lucius with my family two nights ago in San Diego -- an excellent show by the way).

This weekend brings these two great tastes (writing and music) together  -- in one weekend where I will cover two separate music festivals as an official member of the press.  Festival #1 today, Saturday -- Desert Daze in Mecca, California (about 30 minutes from the site of Coachella).  And, Festival #2 tomorrow, Sunday -- Sun God at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) right here near me in La Jolla.  The two are hundreds of miles apart -- and also a world away in terms of the featured music.  Desert Daze -- primarily indie-focused -- features Warpaint and DIIV, among others (am preparing by listening to DIIV right now).  Sun God, on the other hand, features Snoop Dogg.  Not Snoop Lion, Snoop Dogg.  Need I say more?

Will certainly write about the music -- and about the overall festival scene and experience.  After all, my family and I continuously attend festivals and other live music events.  Our upcoming two big summer vacations are festival-driven through and through -- (1) Live Earth in Paris in June (about which I am writing for Forbes) and (2) Outside Lands in San Francisco in August.

But, I will also explore how these festivals and other live events use digital media/technology to enhance and extend the overall experience -- and how our increasingly digital/online/virtual world beckons more and more of us to engage and actively participate in the offline/physical world.

Stay tuned for my reports ...

Sun God Music Festival 2013 -- A Review

Last weekend, my wife and I attended the first Bottle Rock music festival in Napa -- here is my review.

Yesterday, I attended the Sun God music festival, which is held on the campus of the University of California, San Diego, each year.  Sounds relatively small, right?

Wrong.  Sun God is 20,000 -- outdoors -- amidst the beauty of San Diego.

Sun God has become a mini-Coachella.  It's that good.  The grounds are grassy and beautiful (like Coachella, and unlike Bottle Rock). The production is first-class all the way (like Coachella and Bottle Rock).  Over the years, Sun God has dialed it all in (the layout, the logistics).  And, the line-up is relatively strong for a festival that is essentially fully funded by the UCSD students themselves (via their annual student services fees).  Essentially, 3 stages -- one main stage for the bands (including one of my favorites for the day, Youngblood Hawke out of LA -- pictured here); a second stage for EDM, which has taken over the world (and is beginning to out-draw the main rock and roll stage at Sun God); and a "tent" venue that features various dance troups and other performances.

Sun God sits on a perfect venue for live music.  This has become an annual rite of passage for UCSD students -- and it was fun just to experience all of these kids meandering all around and getting a taste of a real festival experience.

But, do they really appreciate how unique it is for them?