FNGRS CRSSD DAY.MVS XL 2022 Review

Paije Kantor | August 16, 2022

FNGRS CRSSD DAY.MVS XL 2022 at Waterfront Park in San Diego, California was a charming experience accompanied by ideal weather and a majestic venue welcoming all attendees to dance barefoot in the water fountains. The event progressed seamlessly across two days from August 6-7, showcasing a top-tier lineup of house and techno artists from around the globe.

The strong lineup of house and techno artists attracted thousands of fans to Waterfront Park as it does every year. Headliners Duke Dumont and Eric Prydz delivered wonderful two-hour sets to close the event both days. Prydz’s set was slightly less cinematic than his world-renowned HOLO and Pryda projects– leaning into a more fun, hard techno to round out day-two. Crowd favorites Claptone, VNSSA, and Chris Lorenzo brought unparalleled energy to their sets, showcasing their mastery of house and techno genres.

One of the most unique aspects of DAY.MVS XL was the stunning location at Waterfront Park in San Diego. The park sits directly on the marina, adjacent to Little Italy and the San Diego airport, providing fantastic views of the ocean, boats, and airplanes landing overhead. The close proximity to Little Italy placed dozens of hotels and restaurants within walking-distance of the event– a massive convenience for local and traveling guests. Furthermore, the walkability of the area greatly decreased troubles with parking and rideshare traffic. The venue itself was beautifully designed to host two stages, separated by a plethora of food options. In addition, the two shallow pools with fountains stretched alongside the crowds of the North and South stages, providing a cool area to sit or dance in the water while retaining a fantastic view of the show. Hundreds of attendees could be seen dipping their feet or blissfully dancing in the pools throughout the weekend.

The stage design was another festival component that CRSSD did not leave untapped. The larger North Stage was equipped with three massive screens and plentiful lighting, allowing for quality production. However, the opposing South Stage was the true standout of the weekend. The stage was adorned with a forest of tropical foliage, giving an extravagant background to each set. This particular stage design was a dazzling sight, and could not have been a better choice to fit the atmosphere of the festival.

Although the Waterfront Park venue was a stunning location and beautifully organized to host two stages, it came with some tradeoffs. A direct consequence of utilizing this particular public park was its rigid rules against smoking. Since Waterfront Park is declared a non-smoking area by San Diego County, typically legal substances such as cigarettes, marijuana, and vapes were prohibited from entering the festival. The complete smoking ban was unprecedented for a California event, but did not seem to be a deal-breaker for the majority of guests. Aside from the rules regarding smoking, the “Prohibited Items” list was lengthy and somewhat confusing for dance music fans. For example, LED flow toys, kandi, and rave attire were completely restricted. Since none of these objects are inherently dangerous and relatively common in the EDM community, this ban could be an effort to distance the CRSSD image from the rave scene.

Lastly, the most significant prohibition targeted hydration backpacks, none of which were permitted entry into the event. Only Nalgene water bottles of specific capacity were allowed, and could be taken to the single free water refill station. These strict water regulations resulted in most attendees being forced to buy water inside the event. The only water option available were small cans of water that could not be resealed and cost approximately $5 each, after tax. Since DAY.MVS XL was a daytime festival during the summer, guests could’ve easily spent up to $100 on water over the two days, if they stayed the entire time.

Overall, the venue was easily the standout aspect of DAY.MVS XL, facilitating increased comfort and efficiency that complimented the meticulously crafted lineup. Every set provided a scenic atmosphere created by each artist, leaving little room for disappointment. Besides the few unexpected security rules, DAY.MVS XL 2022 was a huge success that further solidified FNGRS CRSSD’s dominance in the San Diego house and techno scene.