Headstash

The final day of Electric Forest 2012 was by far the rowdiest and most crowded with a plethora of bassheads ready to expel any and all saved energy when Bassnectar hit the stage later in the evening. The air was hot and the air was dusty as weary yet determined festivalgoers marched through the forest trying to savor their last day on the magical grounds.

We'll be posting our comprehensive review coverage all day on Thursday taking you through each act and what the highlights, lowlights and surprises of the festival were along with 101 Things To Know About Electric Forest. We'll also have numerous pictures so you can feel like you were there or re-live the experience.

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe - The funky group took the stage around 3:00 p.m. as most attendees stayed a bit further back from the stage to lay in the shade. The versatile band cycled through a number of laid-back tunes, utilizing jazz, funk and soul themes. The band was a nicely placed afternoon relaxer.

The guitarist had a look like your everyday, middle-aged Dad, but he absolutely ripped it on occaision and stood out even with the affable Denson often taking the lead with his rusty sax.

Papadosio - Playing a more docile and spiritual set rather than a hard rocking and electronic one, the band showcased its versatility and played perfectly to the impressive crowd. With smiles on their faces nearly the entire set, the music felt healing - as if they were helping combat the hot sun that was quickly draining all our energy.

The set started to really pick up pace during the middle as your legs and feet started moving almost without you noticing.

Inspired Flight - One of the best and most underrated performances of the weekend was this duo who raced through textured, layered tracks that encompassed everything from classical to hip-hop to indie to soul.

I've raved about them before after Re:Generation 2011, but this performance was equally solid and even more intimate as they closed out the Forest Stage. The DJ's live scratching was refreshing and captivating.

Their sound was like old-school Pretty Lights, mixed live and with the addition of vocals and guitar. The guitar work was also not some simplistic riffs and had some amazing flow.

It's one of those feel-good acts that gives everyone what they want - music to chill to, nap to, dance to, rage to, etc. It's thoughtful, poetic and well-crafted.

String Cheese Incident - The LED screens were louder and more noticeable during the second set with flamed and waves and other cool effects adorning them. The toys were out in full-force with hoopers, jugglers, stick holders and glowstick throwers making this show more of an experience than anything.

Big G's Dom Lalli say in for the encore, which included Bob Marley's "Could You Be Loved," with some deep, sultry sax that foreshadowed his later set. It was nice to see Dom mix it up with SCI - he'd been around all weekend taking in the festival. Overall, SCI played solidly all weekend with some highs and fun songs that got people moving at all times.

Bassnectar - Somehow, Lorin Ashton creates a melodic set that flows nicely despite dropping the screeching and booming bass every 30 seconds (literally). The set was definitely unlike anything else at EF 2012 and was by far the loudest. 

Glow sticks were flying by the hundreds at every drop and while it was hard to hear the person next to you, it wasn't hard to know what they were thinking or feeling. Bassnectar cycled through some of his more popular tracks and sampled some new favorites.

The show was an experience unlike any other and - love it or hate it - something that everyone should respect or at least check out for themselves.

Big Gigantic - Closing out the festival on Sherwood Court was the Colorado duo who have been making waves all over the country with their unique brand of electro-bass music that always gets kicked up a notch with that sexy brass instrument.

They raced through popular mainstays like "Lucid Dreams" and "Sky High," new favorites like "It's Goin' Down" and "Nocturnal" and remixes of Kanye West's "Get 'Em High," Jay-Z's "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" and "Hard In The Paint" by Waka Flocka Flame.

The set was the perfect expulsion of energy and a bit of a come-down for those who stayed at the intense Bassnectar show for so long. Dom had the crowd wrapped around his finger, hyping them up verbally and musically. It really seemed like everyone knew all the songs and had been waiting all weekend for this show.

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Stay tuned to Headstash for comprehensive Electric Forest review coverage this week.