In a time where pop stars such as The Black Eyed Peas are looking to electronic music to find an edge and hip hop radio stations are finding themselves increasingly more open to featuring electro mixes and remixes (that may have never been there only a few years ago), it is easy to forget where these sounds originated from in Los Angeles.

At the forefront of this electro renaissance have been resident record label and party throwers, Dim Mak Records, led by the onstage antics of its leader and founder, Steve Aoki. Nights such as their Tuesdays at Cinespace and Banana Split Sundaes at LAX (later moved to Bardot) have served as platforms for almost every DJ under this umbrella from around the world to shine and flourish to open-minded and anxious audiences.

However, it is the slow and steady growth of the HARD festival that has really shown the massive appeal and breakthrough potential for what many considered to be a musical fad. This year’s Hard Halloween held at the Shrine was a showcase of electro founding fathers (2manydjs/Zombie Nation), as well as, a look into the future of the movement (Bloody Beetroots/Buraka Som Sistema/Harvard Bass).

This was the first time the event was held over two nights (Oct. 30th & Oct. 31st), both of which sold out. While the Saturday night had DJ sets from acts that are quite familiar to the LA market, in the form of Justice, Basement Jaxx, Steve Aoki, and the team of Major Lazer, I found the Friday lineup to be a more interesting statement on the course this scene seems to have taken.

While there are so many stories that could be told about the mixed bag of concert goers at the event and the various halloween insanity, I think the artists themselves tell the story more than anything. From the one-of-a-kind visual show put on by Belgian duo, 2manydjs, to the almost heavy metal rock show feel of The Bloody Beetroots, this scene is growing and thriving on the backs of artists who seem to be bringing something unconventional to a live show most people just thought consisted of two turntables and a mixer. This spirit and aesthetic always seems to present itself at HARD events, DJs putting their best foot forward in front of thousands of fans, who possibly more than in many other scenes are willing and able to go where the set takes them.

These amazing videos, courtesy of Glenjamn, give a great idea of some of the standout sets.