Cypress Hill SmokeOut: NOS Events Center, San Bernardino, CA 10/16/10

Stoners everywhere gathered in San Bernardino, California for the Cypress Hill SmokeOut on October 16, 2010. From the Patient Consumption Area to the Massive Stoned Garden there wasn’t a clear eye in sight, though plenty were looking rather dazed and perhaps even a little confused. The beats were inescapable, but it’s not like you would’ve wanted to escape them anyway. The genres ranged from reggae to techno to hip hop and it drew gangsters to hipsters and everything in between.

Getting into the venue, however, proved problematic. The lines were insanely long and patients and non-patients had to be separated. It seemed that the city wasn’t happy about the festival; the police presence on the outside was very noticeable and there were no bathrooms for the people waiting in the lines. But really, how much order can
you expect at a SmokeOut.

The SmokeOut stage was ablaze with great music throughout the afternoon and into the evening. It kicked off with Living Legends and wrapped up with some musical bliss from Incubus. No one at the festival hesitated to play their hits, which kept bodies bouncing late into the night.

Things started to light up when Nas & Damian Marley took the stage. A crowd gathered to listen and watch Nas and Damian bust out a combo of intertwined rap and reggae while constantly waving the Ethiopian flag in the background. One of the highlights of the show was the heart touching cover of Bob Marley’s “Could You Be Loved?” preformed by his son, Damian, and Nas.

Slightly Stoopid played a variety of songs with perfect execution. They had an upbeat set with no trace of even a hiccup. Slightly Stoopid was an ideal band to have play before Cypress Hill. There sound was different enough to give the festival some diversity and they put everyone in a good mood.

Anticipation for Cypress Hill was immense and grew even bigger when the word got out that Travis Barker would be playing drums for them. It looked like every person at the festival was there to see them. They erupted in cheers as B-Real entered flipping everyone off. But as soon a he started singing eyebrows furrowed and whispers of, “I can’t hear him,” were audible. Then the microphone switched on and exuberance replaced the building tension. Cypress Hill completed the rest of their first album with only a few more stutters from the microphone. People didn’t seem to mind though, the energy of the band and audience was just so high.

After Cypress Hill’s set, many assembled to smoke out to MGMT and get their groove on. Lights flashed and beach balls were expelled into the smoky air. MGMT didn’t hold back any of their crowd pleasers and the Massive Stoned Garden turned into the Massive Stoned Dance Party.

People shuffled again and found themselves jam-packed for Incubus. The band didn’t disappoint as their radio friendly sound was refreshing and the crowd devoured it. Incubus played their final notes and finished their set, but it didn’t end there.

People swaggered down to the Massive Stoned Garden where Deadmau5’s head-bobbing beats were beginning to take effect. The mouse headed DJ kept people fist pumping into the early morning and the end of the festival. The SmokeOut was an event full of music, intensity, and yes, a little pot.

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