Home to nearly 4 million people, Los Angeles is the second most populous city in the United States and boasted a record-breaking 41.4 million visitors in 2012. Tourists can take Mulholland Drive up to the Hollywood Hills, stroll several beach-side boardwalks, gawk at the massive Malibu mansions, shop in Beverly Hills, and snap pics on the Walk of Fame. The City of Angels is now Southern California’s heavenly home for electronic music moguls like Pete Tong, Skrillex, Avicii, Funkagenda, Chris Lake, Matt Lange… the list goes on and on.
On any given evening you can catch your favorite DJ/producer at one of L.A.’s best nightclubs. The only problem might be how to choose which of the simultaneous shows to see.
Sound Nightclub
Located in the heart of Hollywood, this intimate venue is outfitted with upscale industrial décor, including stairway railings salvaged from a Colorado railroad and wood paneling from Frank Sinatra’s former home. Sound brings us back to the warehouse days when you could get up close and personal with the DJ. This is the place to get down on the dancefloor … close enough to exchange smiles with your favorite deep and tech house artists and (almost) touch them. True to its name, Sound’s Funktion One system is the peak of perfection and the beautifully simplistic audiovisuals compliment the music seamlessly. No confetti canons here… just really good music for real house music lovers. So good, in fact, that Pete Tong himself has set up a monthly “All Gone Pete Tong” residency, it has become the new home for long-running club night, Monday Night Social, and shows by talents like Felix da Housecat, Loco Dice, Sander Kleinenberg, Moby, and Nicole Moudaber. Did we mention they also have a kitchen? The late-night grubbing is delicious!
Exchange LA
Former home of the Los Angeles Stock Exchange, this Downtown L.A. hotspot reopened its doors in 2010 and has quickly established itself as one of the top nightclubs in the world for EDM. This massive, four-story building has all of the glamor and production that you would expect from an L.A. nightclub. The most recent addition of a 200 square foot LED wall with 1.25 million bulbs provides club-goers with jaw-dropping audiovisuals complete with out of this world laser shows, CO2 blasts, and stunning confetti drops. The elevated stage has been graced by the likes of Armin van Buuren, Fedde le Grand, Ferry Corsten, Green Velvet, Dubfire, and Seth Troxler. Need more convicing? According to the website, they have the bragging rights to “more restrooms than any other nightclub in L.A.” The typical GA line stretches down both sides of the building, so snagging presale tickets from one of the numerous promoters is highly recommended.
Avalon Hollywood
Located on the historic corner of Hollywood and Vine, Avalon Hollywood itself is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Formerly the Hollywood Palace, its stage has made way for some of the most infamous musical performances of our time, such as The Beatles’ west coast debut and the Jackson Five’s first live TV performance. Renovated and reopened in 2002 as Avalon Hollywood, it became one of L.A.’s first dance music meccas and was the home for Sasha’s first west coast residency. Control Fridays (19+) and Avaland Saturdays (21+) have become internationally known as some of the best EDM nights in the industry and have stacked their rosters from up-and-comers to EDM giants like Markus Schulz, Erick Morillo, Hot Since 82, and Paul Oakenfold.
Create
Formerly Vanguard, this massive and newly renovated space is one of Insomniac and SBE’s new collaborative efforts in the EDM world. The vast, typically packed dancefloor provides more of a festival-style feel, which is great for the big names they bring in weekly. Recent headliners include Cedric Gervais, Tiësto, Eric Prydz, Nervo, and even a performance by Lil Jon and Paris Hilton (insert eye roll here). The crowd is a little more “Hollywood” with elevated bottle service tables lining both sides of the venue. Looking for a place to be seen, dance in heels, and rage to EDM? Create has you covered.
Lure
Dubbed Nightclub & Bar‘s “2013 Mega-Club of the Year,” Lure is a prime example of Hollywood nightlife. The club is equipped with LED galore, musically synchronized light spheres, and a powerful Kryo machine. One of the best features of this venue is the scenic outdoor patio that is open seasonally and equipped with a DJ booth. Although Saturdays tend to be hit-or-miss, their most popular night is Thursday, or “Luresday” as they call it. Calvin Harris, Tommy Trash, Alesso, Chris Garcia, and Sultan + Ned Shepard have performed for a typically overly packed crowd. Your best bet is to catch a Private Label night for some good tunes and a better crowd.
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