Well, I've been a participant in the San Francisco club and rave scene for 4 years now. No point in commenting about the Central Valley scene because it's pretty much non-existent and whatever raves do get thrown here are usually small and overrun with thugs trying to get you to buy their pills.

Overall, I think the scene in the Bay Area is decent, but far from its glory years back in the late 90's when people from all over the world used to visit Homebase, a legendary rave venue that could hold up to 15,000 people. What I do like about the scene here is that there's a little bit of everything. There's still an active trance scene, house remains the big thing here, and there's quite a few intimate but good drum n bass parties that happen almost every week. Also, I noticed that a dubstep scene has emerged, and a lot of local dnb dj's have made the switch to dubstep, which you can even hear at raves, amongst the trance, dnb and happy hardcore sets. We're still known for our abundance of kandi kid ravers, although our ranks have slowly diminished and I believe Socal has beaten us in numbers now. But thanks to all the brightly colored beaded necklaces and bracelets floating around, the stigma of drug association, mainly ecstacy, has been attached firmly on our culture and will probably remain so for some time.

But there are two things that are hurting our scene at present. First is the rising popularity of the "thizz" hip-hop culture. Most of the kids around my area are influenced heavily on this sound and attitude, and when they learn about raves, they bring with them that same thug mentality of getting fucked up on thizz, harassing the girls, and being a general nuisance which hurts the vibe of the party. I find their presence rather intrusive, and it pisses me off to no end when you get a group of them shouting out on the dance floor to put on some Mac Dre. I don't drive 80+ miles out to the Bay just so I can listen to some shit-produced rap. I get plenty of that here. Second, promoters aren't taking the time and effort to find new venues/spots to throw parties. When a new venue is found, the spot just gets blown up, attracting more police attention until the venue owners simply stop leasing the venue. It's a sad state of affairs, but every now and then you get an old crew that comes out of retirement, finds a venue that is either new or hasn't been used in some time, and throws a wonderful party. It's those few good ones, that keep me coming back for more.

I think it's not bad in the bay area. I don't really participate in events because I'm a homebody, but I do go out once in ahwhile. I think lovefest in SF is good and bad, but more good and has somewhat helpped the scene.

It's good because people who never go to EDM events go to it out of curiosity. People who hate "techno" will go to it because it's just a huge party, and they can see that dance music isn't about bloop-bleep randomness, madonna, happy-funky house, and DDR happy music, which is what most americans are exposed to when they think of "techno". No offense to those people involved in making or fans of those songs.

The thing is there is a sponsor at every corner during that event. It feels too commercial, but running a festival isn't free so it's understandable.

Overall, I'm loving the fact that there are so many producers out there. There are many hidden gems especially in the progressive house scene imo. Easily accessable software has helped more than it has hurt, except when it comes to trance. A lot of trance songs these days aren't good imo. Don't get me wrong, there are trance songs that are gold every now and then but the frequency of good ones has lowered for trance.

quote:

Originally posted by Internet TufGai It's good because people who never go to EDM events go to it out of curiosity. People who hate "techno" will go to it because it's just a huge party, and they can see that dance music isn't about bloop-bleep randomness, madonna, happy-funky house, and DDR happy music, which is what most americans are exposed to when they think of "techno". No offense to those people involved in making or fans of those songs.

But that's a similar situation at many clubs at any city in any given night. People go for different reasons, but you will more or less always find people who couldn't care less about the music, and are fully intent upon being seen in a place where its hip to be seen.

As for the situation here in the Bay Area, it continues to remain quite healthy due to its support of tremendous variety and diversity (I know, it's a very San Francisco word to use, but it's true). There's a great representation of genres to be found here, and although some produce greater headlines than others, it seems the community aspect of it all makes just about everything available to those who are interested in going out and finding it. I'm sure this is the case at any other major metropolitan area, but it's certainly obvious here.

Also, another thing I'd like to question: what are the parameters of good or bad? Does good constitute a scene with sufficient musical creativity and output? A strong group or core of people whom are into it and are passionate about its progression and ability to sustain? Does bad mean it's merging with other scenes?

How do you define things? Lumping all of this together and tagging it with a "this is good" and "this is bad" emblem seems to me to be about the most quixotic and pointless venture I've seen someone attempt to undertake. You need to get specific or else whatever you're trying to do or write will appear as clandestine jargon that no one will ever want to read. Ever.

Pooping = Good

Not pooping = Bad

^Parameters.

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quote:

Originally posted by noikeee What do you ever do except for complaining or calling people "haters"? This is a music discussion forum, therefore we're discussing music, surprise.

It's the only way he can feel like he belongs.

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sweet, a guy from Hickory posted, this thread is awesome now.

My opinion that I doubt anyone cares about:

I've been having a good time, I guess the last thing I saw was some local Halloween shenanagins. The bigger parties have been dissapointing, it is hardly worth the struggle to drive 5 hours to a major city and see a celebrity DJ, but it's not a big loss(unless you are living in a major city and that is the only thing you ever visit). The festival type things that last more than one night where you camp out and don't remember what the hell you did after it's all over are still great fun. I would recommend assigning one friend to remember what happened, just so somebody believes your stories when you go home.

There is crappy music and there is good music, there are many crowds that go crazy for crappy music, none of that is new. Some Crowds are really vain, others crowds give you that classic feeling of being totally free to dance and act however you like without consequence.

I like to wear shiny reflective outfits and flail like a psycho while talking in leet-speak to my friends as we all turn into drunken idiots, I can get away with such behavior at about half the parties I attend. Some music out there is not conducive to the style of flailing I prefer, some clubs are full of really vain people and you can get in trouble for standing out too much in such places.

Occasionally you get kicked out for wearing your hoodie or your shoes that are actually confortable to dance in. Often you hear some ridiculously awful song and can't help but stand off to the side and shake your head as the rest of the kids cheer and dance and stuff, but to be honest I am sometimes that kid dancing while those other kids are in my position.

Drugs are still in your face everywhere you go, I think that popular assumption about EDM is based on reality. The kids in the crowd brag about doing it, people sell it in the friggin bathrooms, you can go to a bar and have a stranger ask you if you want a line, this shit is everywhere when you go out. I agree that it is very enjoyable without the substances, but the reality is that enterprising people gravitate towards this music because members of the crowd are paying them. Just know what you are getting into, you will run into party kids under the influence of every imaginable substance, be observant and safe.

Last edited by Zombie0915 on Nov-15-2007 at 18:28

People talk about the electronic "scene" and consider things such as how "massive events are" and about "how often a dj comes to play to the local town", whereas IMO the core component of a "music scene" is the actual music itself (the genres and the subgeneres) rather then the activity that is associated with it (e.g. clubs, events etc.)which, in the end of the day, may not be good representatives of the whole thing (and may be better representatives of how "popular" things are... and popularity is not equal to quality).


IMO the current state of EDM is comprised of empty, "musicless" without substance, pointless-but nevertheless cool according to press- "trends" ( such as "minimal" and/or "electro") and of the typical stale, samey-same genres such as trance (of all types), techno, house etc. This of course is the subjective opinion of a person who had been around for a while and finds the (supe)-saw of the epic trance, the jazzy chords of the deep house and the banging loops of techno oveplayed and boring as hell. This may not be true for the younger person who may find these sounds extra-ordinary and great.


In the end of the day trance (of the epic/melodic kind) is of course NOT dead (and neither is deep/tech house, banging techno etc.), the mind (the musical perception for those specific sounds) of the older listeners (like mine) IS. Because older listeners like me are probably not impressed by the sounds anymore ( they have "habituated" to those specific sounds e.g. the super-saw), they have possibly adopted more strict musical criteria in comparison to a younger person who may rave fot the 80% of the overall output. In contrast, from the majority of today's epic trance productions, i personally enjoy/appreciate a few ones. Despite these subjective aspects, it is true that most EDM genres have little evolved during the last 10 years.

It is probably the extensive commercialization of EDM that supports the creation of stupid pointless (but fashionable) trends (like minimal) and keeps things back from evolving, possibly due to the fact that people can still make money from the same formulas.