Things heated up for Day 2 of Freaky Deaky, as everyone returned ready to go hard for a stacked lineup of artists. The mud was not as bad, the weather was a bit warmer, and the sun set beautifully over the festival grounds as everyone’s eyes lit up from the lasers and lights. Continue reading to see exactly what Coog Radio reporters Chris Kalwick and Parnia Razi think about Day 2 of Freaky Deaky.

Oliver Heldens

Oliver Heldens | Photo by Chris Kalwick

Oliver Heldens was by far the best DJ to warm up with. Fortunately for the audience, Houston wasn’t all that chilly, yet people left and right wore clothes as if they were expecting cold weather. However, it came to good use with all of the cool tunes Oliver Heldens gave us. The Dutch house DJ brought some cold weather with him for everyone to warm up dancing to, and everyone did. By the time he got on, already a formidable crowd was there to greet him thanks to Chris Lake. Rightfully so though, for Oliver played such a respected set with a ton of songs I don’t think anyone expected to hear. First of which, the heartbreaking Avicii & Journey mash-up “Don’t Stop Believin’ Levels” mixed by Le Brinque & Henrik Grundén. It shook the crowd, as a lot of us have seen Avicii and loved his music. But thankfully, it let everyone remember what we should be remembered for, which was his love for music. Soon, the set went full house, hearing songs such as “The Right Song” by Oliver Heldens & Tiesto, as well as “Renegade Mastah” by Hi-Lo. As his set continued, more and more people came to the stage. It was as if the energy resonated around the grounds and everyone just wanted to be a part of it, which is precisely what it seemed like. But, as every show must come to an end, we knew it was Oliver Heldens time.

– Chris Kalwick

Excision

Excision | Photo courtesy of Instagram

All the headbangers and bassheads of Texas gathered at the mainstage on Sunday evening, ready to go hard to Excision. A dubstep/hardstyle DJ with a heavier sound, he’s known for intense drops, heavy bass, and his blend of electronic music with rock/hardcore. He’s originally from Canada, but has made quite a name for himself around the world and even started hosting his own festival. As his set began, everyone was already going hard the second they heard the first beat drop. There were plenty of mosh pits, as the crowd spread out so they could have room to headbang and mosh, the crowd definitely reflected the high energy of Excision’s set. Playing a solid mix of his own music, as well as featuring a few songs from other similar artists (like Bassnectar’s “Heavyweight Sound”), Excision’s set was exciting, dynamic, and aggressive (but in a good way). His visuals were noticeably vivid too, with video game-like scenes and dinosaurs, robots, and monsters, going perfectly with the music he was playing. Personally, I had expected something a little better, as it was my first time seeing him live yet I had heard the hype, I was a little let down. I expected more nuance and versatility for someone with his reputation and experience, yet a lot of the set seemed redundant and stagnant. I have no doubt that younger and more versatile artists like Rezz will easily replace him at festivals over the next few years, because they can do what he does better, with a fresh and innovative twist.

– Parnia Razi

Kaskade

The king of house music gathered thousands of fans for an ambient, soulful, vibrant set on Sunday night to close

Kaskade | Photo Courtesy of his Instagram

out the festival. Being one of the older DJs (coming close to being 50), I wasn’t sure if I’d like Kaskade’s set although I enjoy some of his music. However, I was impressed in many ways, as his experience and talent came through during his set. Of course, he played many throwbacks to classic dance music/electronic tracks from the early 2000s, but he adds his own style to everything. His mix was incredibly fluid, each beat flowed perfectly into the next, he played a perfect balance of old and new, and with the progressive-house elements he brings, the set exceeded my expectations and I enjoyed every second of it. Similar to Porter’s set, he had slower moments where the crowd just vibed with each other and soaked in the moment, and then built up to vivid beat drops that had everyone dancing. His visuals were just as vibrant and stimulating as his music, the lasers and fireworks lit up the sky, and I felt to bass run through my entire body. Kaskade undoubtedly kills every set, he definitely lives up to his name, and I can see why he has such a large fanbase. The deep serotonin rush I got from this set was unmatched by anyone else who played on day 2, and I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect way to close out a beautiful weekend at Freaky Deaky.

– Parnia Razi

Kaskade

Kaskade | Photo by Chris Kalwick

Kaskade was the king of Freaky Deaky hands down. No surprise since he is usually unmatched in the fanbase. He came and he left before we even realized it, entrancing everybody with his impeccable performance. Traditionally for a Kaskade set you can always expect two things, one being that it’s going to be packed, and the second being him playing the right songs at the right time. The set opened with his sun-soaked mix of “Cold as Stone,” which was unbelievably chilling. The chill was also a part of the slow start, the moody lights, and the eerie peace in the crowd waiting in anticipation for it to finally begin, and once it started, things just took off. But, the best part of seeing Kaskade is his drive to play his music. Most festival DJs play a handful of their music with plenty of others. 25 out of the 32 songs played, either he made or had a part in them, which is what a set really should be, especially with such a large crowd. Songs like “Atmosphere,” “Sweet Memories,” and his remix of “Falls” by Odesza, were a few of many songs he played that just brought the rain on the crowd. However, nothing could compare to the finale which I could easily say is also his climax, which was “Disarm You” ft. Ilsey. By now, everyone was caught in his trap and entranced, his performance made time fly before you realized his. People were still in full throttle, raging to what they knew was going to be the end of his set. Like the ten times I have seen Kaskade, he always can captivate the crowd and put on a show to go back for.

– Chris Kalwick

Destructo

Gary Richards AKA Destructo is one of those DJs that hit the ground running with an explosive set, and he did just

Freaky Deaky

that at Freaky Deaky. The LA native dance music heavyweight went the whole nine yards in giving Houston an experience to remember and respect. Throughout the set, he brought the typical house BPM and grooves, though with the usual hip-hop transition. One of the best parts of his set is when he played his song “Dare You 2 Move” ft. Problem. The chill, soulish melody mixed with the coarse lyrics creates such a unique and fantastic sound. Overall, Freaky Deaky turned out to be pretty great.

Despite having a fair amount of mud on Day 1, they were able to get it cleaned up by Day 2. The stages looked amazing, the lineup was fantastic, and there was practically no traffic to get in, which was roughly an hour long at every Something Wicked. Though I do believe a lot can be changed, and there is a lot of improvement that can still be done. The show still went on, and everyone seemed to have a great time. Disco Donnie turned out a fantastic Halloween festival for the Houston area, which I can say everyone is thankful for because of the absence of Something Wicked. Their contribution to the scene gave most of us a well-needed break from reality by providing us with this experience. Thank you, Disco Donnie, for hosting it, we are looking forward to the next one to come.

– Chris Kalwick

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What were you favorite moments at Freaky Deaky? Would you want to go to the festival next year? Let us know in the comments!