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A lot of good arguements in this post.
First off, my opinion on the thread title. I think, as was already stated, the fact that the European clubbing style is heavily influenced by people who go clubbing to get either pissed drunk or out of their heads on drugs and listen to relative music for people in that state i.e. edm, has a lot to do with the contrast in styles. I do think that in the US, there is more of a focus on relaxation and chatting up women/men rather than a drinking/drugs culture. But I also think that because the edm scene isnt as prominent in the US as it is in Europe, it is very difficult for harder styles of edm to have an impact on clubbing culture. The majority of clubs, if not all, are purely run to make profits i.e. entrance fees and drink receipts, so obvioulsy the more people the better. So with edm already being a fairly underground style of music in the US, not many clubs are gonna book a hardstyle DJ to play in their club...they will book an R'n'B DJ, Chart DJ etc...so if there are dance events, it is going to be a softer, more general & mainstream orientated format of edm i.e. house, progressive etc.
Another thing that people may have missed is the respective laws in relation to alcohol. On average across Europe, the age at which you are allowed drink alcohol and enter clubs is 18....21 in the US. Obviously the music in clubs will have to reflect this...a huge level of 'musical maturity' happens within 3 years, even look at the music being played at teenage discos in comparison with over 18/21 clubs. So inevitably i think the clubs in the US (in general terms, im not saying all clubs) will have a more matured, slower style of edm....again i.e. most forms of house, prog etc.
Obviously my opinion, and the thread as a whole, is a massive generalisation. EDM culture can be found all over the world, with respective genres found in some shape or form, so i dont necessarily think that the US is 'all softer edm compared to Europe'. Although it must be said that certain genres are rare in parts...I love progressive music but its near to impossible to find a progressive night here in Dublin (if anyone knows of any, let me know  )....but again thats just down to the lack of popularity that the genre has here, or to be more correct, the lack of risk the club owners are willing to take, but thats neither here nor there. In the end it all comes down to supply and demand, and the demand of the European clubbers (over 18, drink & drug culture etc) is for faster club music whereas the demand for US clubbers (over 21, aiming to get 'hooked up' etc )is for a more mainstream, slower dance music.
Also, I agree with Beat Blog on the arguement regarding hardcore/hardstyle music. I beleive that there is a very limited amount of talent involved in producing a track in these genres. The whole structure and production styles of these genres result in a lot of the songs elements being cancelled out/drowned out by other elements. I read a post from someone stating that 'just because an element is drowned out, it doesnt mean its not there'....well it sort of defeats the purpose then doesnt it?! What is the point in having a certain element in a song if you cant hear it?!
Anyway, good thread
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