Hallelujah! It's finally Friday. Feel like cutting loose this weekend, having a few cocktails and then cutting a rug like nobody's watching? You've come to exactly the right place. As with every week around this time, we've put together a full rundown of the best EDM options available to you, and there's quite a few events to fill up your Dance Card this weekend, from Chris Malinchak to Roger Sanchez to Michal Menert and more. Keep reading to get the drop on the weekend's best dance bets.
See also: - Ten best EDM shows to 2012 - VS talks EDM and improv - Michal Menert discusses board culture and how the destination is in the journey
VS @ LARIMER LOUNGE | SAT, 12/15/12 VS, which stands for Vibration Sequence (originally EVS, the "E" standing for "Eternal"), was formed in 2009 by Cole Hopfenspirger and Tom Moore, who met while working at the Cheesecake Factory. Both started in the hardcore scene but had left that world before meeting each other. They were familiar with improvisation-minded bands like the Mars Volta and shared an appreciation for the electronic and rock fusion explored by acts like Sound Tribe Sector 9 and, to a lesser degree, TV on the Radio and Radiohead. Combining their fatefully complementary pieces of electronic gear to create a studio in which they could explore an electro-organic sound that blended tangible musical elements with the purely electronic, the duo has developed a richly detailed and inventive sound that's got one leg in EDM and the other in improvisational rock, without properly sounding like either. You can hear the results on the latest VS album, the fascinatingly eclectic Somewhere. Over There. -- Tom Murphy
Sub.mission brings the bass to the main floor at Beta once again tonight, featuring Antiserum with NastyNasty and MC Juakali; Subliminal will do the opening honors. In the Beatport Lounge, P.U.N.C.H.I.S. presents Scan 7, John Templeton, Jak Turbo, Steve Mangleson and Mere offering up underground techno goodness for the masses. (9 p.m., 18+, $5-$15)
The French Express Tour is hitting NORAD on Saturday night with Chris Malinchak, Moon Boots and Mike Moses on the main floor and Devious D, Brian Bellas, Josh Manke and a special guest in the upstairs lounge. (9 p.m., 21+, $10 before 11 p.m., higher after)
Roger Sanchez, house producer and mixer extraordinaire, will take over the main floor at Beta on Saturday night with Cognition + T-Rav and Marshall Monica opening things up for the powerhouse. (9 p.m., 18+, $10)
If you feel like taking a drive, Michal Menert will be in Breckenridge at Three20South for glitchy, bass-driven goodness on Saturday night with Mux Mool, Thumper and Late Night Radio. (9 p.m., 21+, $12-$15)
Sub.mission continues the fun on Saturday night at Cervantes' with the lovely (and bass-tasstic) Lotus Drops and many secret special guests. The dress code is ugly holiday sweater, so break out your finest! (9 p.m., all ages, free for 21+ before 10 p.m., $5 after, $10 for under 21)
If you feel like falling into a trance on Saturday night, head to Lumonics for an all-trance night with Tangle & Mateusz, JackJack, Soapbox, Brian Vance, A-Train and Hazy Meadow. (9 p.m., all ages, $10 donation)
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