By: Jamie Reysen

Lorin Ashton, better known as Bassnectar, could very well be the reigning king of dubstep and underground bass music. No matter how many times I see him live, there continues to be something indescribable about his performances. His July 9 performance on Camp Bisco’s main stage was no different.

The main stage area was packed with bass heads by the time Bassnectar appeared on stage, with throngs of fans still flocking to the area as he began, no doubt lured in by his wicked bass lines and sinister sound.
Bassnectar started off strong and remained constant throughout the set. His high-energy tracks were filled with brilliant build-ups and heavy drops, and he drew from an array of genres, including rap, rock, and pop.

“That’s the anthem, get ya damn hands up,” a sample from Jay-Z’s “H to the Izzo,” fit well into an extended mix of “Bass Head”—after all, it’s become somewhat of a fan anthem since its 2010 release.

He dropped his mix of P.H. Fat’s “Big Five,” a glitchy staple to many of his live performances, with its popular refrain that beckons everybody to “get down like animals.” In typical Bassnectar fashion, he was quick to switch the style up, transitioning into an edit of Skee-Lo’s pop track “I Wish,” which prompted a crowd-wide sing-along. From there, he dropped “Matrix,” off his upcoming Aug. 2 release, Divergent Spectrum. The song has already become a hit among fans.

Other highlights included a “Bass Down Low” mix –who among us can’t embrace the mantra, “I like my beats fast and my bass down low?” Dev’s hit then shape-shifted into an edit of Estelle’s “Freak.” A personal favorite was Bassnectar’s edit of “Gold Dust,” a remix that never gets old, no matter how often I hear it.

Once again, Bassnectar proved he knows how to throw down at a festival, and he shows no signs of slowing down. He’ll even host his own mini festival, Bass Island, at Governor’s Island in New York on August 13. The show will feature Bassnectar, Lupe Fiasco, Z-Trip, Prefuse 73, Virtual Boy, Dave Nada, and Joro Boro.

If you can't make it, look out for a Divergent Spectrum tour date near you this fall, and don’t forget to get in on the complete album packages, available now at bassnectar.net.

Listen to a brand new released track off Divergent Spectrum: 

Bassnectar & Seth Drake - Above & Beyond