Fuck electronic music. Whoa. There I said. Feel much better already.
Ok. Let's rewind. I looove electronic music. I have enjoyed dipping into the dance/rave/ electro scene very, very much over the past several years. Between losing multiple pound of sweat per show, the flashing lights, random dance partners (Lucy, Molly, Mary, ect.), introducing newbies to the other side, and just letting loose and dancing like there really was no tomorrow; shits the bomb.
I always liked techno and house even when it was strictly "Euro". Jumped on the Pretty Lights bandwagon ever since my first concert back in '08. And my life has certainly never been the same since Lorin aka BassNectar first dropped 5 tons of bass on my face at AllGood. Even dubstep was novel for a few days.
Flash forward to today. Skrillex has a song in a commercial for a camera company? Flux Pavilion was sampled on Jay-Z and Kanye's "Watch the Throne”? Which is great for them, it really is, congratulations! Smiley face! You went from basement button pusher to Don of the rave bunnies in bars, clubs, festivals, and warehouses to sharing a track with generation “Why Not’s” leader of entertainment, HOVA.
And yes, we are Gen “Why Not”, when ever there is an obstacle in our road, our first question is normally “Why Not?” “Why not spend all my money and travel around Thailand, and Europe”, “Why Not hit every music festival the summer has to offer”, or “Why not strip naked, listen to good music, and have a snuggle puddle with all my friends.” And if there isn’t a REALLY REALLY good reason why we shouldn’t do something, it more often then not, gets done. My Rule #1 at music festivals is, “never say ‘I should have…’ Just DO IT”.
I have strayed from my point.
September was a wild and crazy month for electronic music in Washington D.C. I saw my virgin Deadmau5 show at The (brand new!!) Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD on 9.22.11. I was honestly not all that impressed, cool mouse head, (I guess), not amazing energy from him, even though his melodies he strings together are pretty unique.
Followed by Bassnectar, and Big Gigantic, and at the D.C. Armory 9.24.11, which is really the show that got me thinking: The scene is whack! The electronic scene that used to scream to me, underground, different, freakish, even exclusive to the point that most people had no knowledge or desire to explore it now screams, “Ahhhh that girl is wearing a neon bikini, too much make-up, fur boots, is 12 years-old AND WITH HER PARENTS!!”
Not cool. Not a place I want to spend my ever so valuable free time. I look around and am surrounded by high school kids, most with a blank stare in their eyes from their first experimentation with drugs; the mainstream has flooded our special, secret, slot canyon of dance and mystery.
Bassnectar will likely be my last dubstep show. However, I am easily persuaded and could simply answer, “Why not?”
Concluded by an amazing Pretty Lights show, again at the Fillmore on 9.29.11, (what a week, right!) I freaking love PL, and obviously had a good time. His lights sure are prettier than that first show I saw, when he still had a drummer, Cory. Remember that. But then he fired Cory and hired xx, and now he just tours solo. Personally, I enjoyed the live drums in the mix, but that’s just me.
What is dope in the game are the unknowns, and smaller, regional DJs. The ones who link up with 10 others, rent a warehouse, and throw down hard like it’s the first and last dubstep show ever. 21+ events.
The D.C. locals whom I have enjoyed most recently are the likes of Yola Monster, a dubstep producer, BIG on the wobbles, and heavy on the BASS and Chas “Chooky” Derr, producer for RockNYC favs Fuzzy G and Mac Boi, who implements a tasteful dose of hip/hop into most of his tracks. You can check their stuff out at www.yolamonster.com and www.soundcloud.com/chasderr, respectively.
It’s these guys who give me faith in the progression of electronic music. They see the changing world around them, and act accordingly, going in a new direction with their music. If the electronic music is staying around, more and more live instruments are going to be adding into the mix. This is evident with the likes of bands such as STS9, Lotus, and Papadosio, all of whom I have discovered and fallen in love with at various festivals over the last couple of years.
Sound Tribe is coming to the Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD on October 27th. See you guys there, cause in the end, Why Not?