Another good example is that I went to see The Rangers VS Tampa Bay sunday afternoon. You would think it would be exciting since Tampa is a great team and Rangers are fighting for playoffs.. Madison Square Garden and all...
I was bored out my fckn mind. Not because of the game, but the crowd and overall ambiance. Light years away from Bell Center.
I heart Montreal
Marcus007
quote:
Originally posted by Ravemontreal
Montreal rocks guys. It's even rocking a little too much.
Right now we are testing the very limits of what a small city like this one can handle.
2 after-hours clubs in the top 100 DJ mag, PIknic, Igloofest, Montreal en lumières, fantastic bookings, bal en blanc, black & blue.....
Never seen winter so alive in Montreal. Its usually dead. We had so much this year.
I was in New York last week-end for Ben Klock, and the vibe doesn't even compare to here.
I lived in London, Los Angeles, Sydney.... and althought they are great cities, Montreal is truely unique.
Promoters and artists from Toronto and NY writting to me saying that they want to move here, that we kick ass.
Most guests I bring are having a hard time just findind a second gig in North America.
People that haven't travelled much may think that other cities are SO much better. That everything is SO great and life would be SO much better.
The fact is most of them aren't.
Like a lot of Montreal producers that can't wait to travel the world because Montreal doesn't "get it".
Believe me, if Montreal doesn't get it and you can't get a crowd moving here, most of the world won't neither.
Places like Germany are a really tiny % of that.
I think what people could do if they really enjoy a night, is to help it and pass the word around, try to bring people with you. Spread the joy.
But as promoters we do have to find better ways then Facebook to reach our audience. Honestly, It's very hard to figure that one out.
I am way too old and tired to go out and party every week-end trying to recrute new audiences. That's why we do need help from the younger people.
great post mang
WittyHandle
The good thing about not living in Montreal is never getting caught up in taking it for granted like I see so many who live there do. Martin speaks the truth.
Zyklon_Jay
quote:
Originally posted by corjay9
the thing is, they're ing kids. 17-19 years old fresh off their Metallica obsession.. listening to noisy dance music and getting super hammered. They'll grow up and out of it if you expose them to the techno/house scene in a few years.
I dunno, when you guys were 18 were you popping pills and partying until 10am? Give them some time they'll mature.
16 here and i wore phat pants:p
Witty is right to an extent, although I don't think it is better off dying.
The drugs are different, the technology has evolved, and the new generation of kids are just completely different. There is nothing wrong with this, history repeats itself and this same thing has happened in generations past.
I think a reason why the 90's and early 00's were so bumping here (besides the drugs being better and the type of drug en vogue at these events were more widely used by a broader demographic) was that there was much more in terms of events that younger people who could not go to clubs could attend. By the time they were of clubbing age, they already had a little bit of "rave" under their belts, and the transition was made easier.
The mystique of DJ culture is over. You can find almost any track using shazam, beatport and a whole bunch of stuff. You don't even have to learn any mixing skills to get hired anymore, creating an influx of absolutely horrible djs...and this does not extend to locals...some guys with huge booking fees are absolutely clueless behind the decks (traktor). Now underground is something that is sanitized, nicely packaged, and used as a marketing angle. Underground music is dead, it has been for a long time now. I'm going to catch flack for saying that, but the reality is that you can post any "underground" set, and within an hour i can have every track in it without leaving my house.
If that is not accessibility, i don't know what is. Underground and accessibility aren't really good bed mates now are they?
Back in the day there was this mystique in regards to this music. If you wanted to hear it, you had no choice but to go to the places that it was played at. Why go to an afterhours anymore? The kids can just go see a bar owner, tell them they are bringing 50 people for a party, and play music which resembles this sort of stuff with nothing more than a laptop, mouse, and a really ty PA system. They know all of the big hits to play, because they have convenient top 10, top 100 lists to purchase it from. It is a sanitized exercise in mediocrity, so it is normal that it might not incite that aura of mystique as in previous generations. That mystique, the being part of something that was shunned and misunderstood by popular culture at the time, was a big reason for the success it had.
The saving grace is Piknik, at least on the musical side of things. That is the best shot to hook em while they are young. Hell, I am surprised an afterhour never approached them to start a partnership in where they can share some costs and the dj. You have the guy play an all ages show in the day, and an afterhours set at night. This kind of cross promotion would work wonders imo, the brand piknik has created is easily the strongest in this city since the 514 days....
this brainfart was brought to you by the letter e and the number 65.
If every generation just sat on its hands and did the same exact things as in the generations past, the music we like would not even exist. The parties we still remember and always will would not have happened. The kids will come up with their own niche things that they will be defined by in the future, that they will be nostalgic about like the old s like me are today.
i'm thankful i'm not as old as creator though, because depends are expensive:p
Ravemontreal
quote:
Originally posted by Zyklon_Jay
i'm thankful i'm not as old as creator though, because depends are expensive:p
ha ha yeah, but I can still drag my ass to the club. You just stay home, mumbling about vinyl days... ;-)
Zyklon_Jay
hey i made it until 6am sober as 2 weeks ago:p
josh wink sucks:p
DJ_LIFT
quote:
Originally posted by Ravemontreal
Montreal rocks guys. It's even rocking a little too much.
Right now we are testing the very limits of what a small city like this one can handle.
2 after-hours clubs in the top 100 DJ mag, PIknic, Igloofest, Montreal en lumières, fantastic bookings, bal en blanc, black & blue.....
Never seen winter so alive in Montreal. Its usually dead. We had so much this year.
I was in New York last week-end for Ben Klock, and the vibe doesn't even compare to here.
I lived in London, Los Angeles, Sydney.... and althought they are great cities, Montreal is truely unique.
Promoters and artists from Toronto and NY writting to me saying that they want to move here, that we kick ass.
Most guests I bring are having a hard time just findind a second gig in North America.
People that haven't travelled much may think that other cities are SO much better. That everything is SO great and life would be SO much better.
The fact is most of them aren't.
Believe me, if Montreal doesn't get it and you can't get a crowd moving here, most of the world won't neither.
OMG Martin you kill me! It seems like every time someone steps out and broadcasts a strong opinion you somehow find a way throw a counter-arguement that is diametrically opposed to whatever the opinion was! LOL! Once again....BRAVO! :happy2: :happy2: :happy2:
But seriously every time you share your thoughts I truly enjoy it! And on this thought I think your absolutely right!
Montreal is without question one of the top 10 ( if not top 5 ) EDM cities on the planet for various reasons and if there is any doubt simply ask any of the world class DJs that have experience in Montreal and they will tell you the same damn thing.
And I can tell you why it is so much better then pretty much anywhere in North America... because it's one of the most EUROPEAN thinking cities in North America!
And make no mistake, it isn't a coincidence that these two facts occur in the same city , because EDM and being "Euro-esque" go hand in hand much like Bee's are to honey.
There is really no comparison between the party scene in Toronto , Las Vegas , New York , Vancover , etc ,etc ,etc and Montreal. The energy, vibe , and atmosphere is one of a kind that none of these other cities have. Not to mention the depth and variety of EDM music that can be heard in MTL is second to none.
What makes it unique is that MTL is influenced by both US EDM and EURO EDM industries and when mixed with a very open minded and fun loving attitude that many people in Montreal have you get the results you see today.
In no way does that suggest that MTL is perfect or the best at all times. There are pros and cons and there are cities that can be stronger in some aspects. For example, Miami has the WMC / Ultra festival however that happens for one week then it's back to the status quo. Vegas and Toronto pull in big numbers in crowd turnout and have more eye candy ( light shows , decorations , live shows, etc ) but they truly do lack something when it comes to how free thinking and open minded the crowd is.
I will take a Montreal afterhours over a massive cheese/commercial party in Vegas/NYC/Miami any day of the week.
What I also agree with Martin is you need real exposure to the rest of the world to appreciate Montreal more. I realized this after coming back from both Spain and Vegas.
I think when you see a lame party in Montreal it's more to do with how overloaded the city is with nightlife then a reflection of the music , talent , etc. Many people who party in Montreal are spoiled anyway and don't appreciate or realize what it's like in other cities.
But when you have it so good to comes with the package sometimes. I say to anyone who is overly-critical of MTL to get out and travel around a little bit , THEN you will realize how good it really is!
At the moment you really only have a few places ( England , Germany , Argentina , Netherlands , Spain , Italy, Mexico ) that could compete with Montreal in terms of EDM quality. However what they all have in common is the "Euro" influence that Montreal shares with these other hot spots.
A "3 star" Montreal event would be a "5 star" pretty much anywhere else in Canada or the US.
Because at the end of the day it's the quality of the crowd that makes the party fun , not just the numbers. I think quality is more important then quantity. And on this measurement Montreal rules!
corjay9
quote:
Originally posted by JamesBrown
Don't attack "ing kids" with your prejudices, you ing idiot.
Are you ing retarded? I was one of those "ing kids", how is that being prejudiced? Did you read my post at all? Or do you just like to argue online? Eat and die.
DJ_LIFT
quote:
Originally posted by Zyklon_Jay
The mystique of DJ culture is over. You can find almost any track using shazam, beatport and a whole bunch of stuff. You don't even have to learn any mixing skills to get hired anymore, creating an influx of absolutely horrible djs...and this does not extend to locals...some guys with huge booking fees are absolutely clueless behind the decks (traktor). Now underground is something that is sanitized, nicely packaged, and used as a marketing angle. Underground music is dead, it has been for a long time now. I'm going to catch flack for saying that, but the reality is that you can post any "underground" set, and within an hour i can have every track in it without leaving my house.
If that is not accessibility, i don't know what is. Underground and accessibility aren't really good bed mates now are they?
Back in the day there was this mystique in regards to this music. If you wanted to hear it, you had no choice but to go to the places that it was played at. Why go to an afterhours anymore? The kids can just go see a bar owner, tell them they are bringing 50 people for a party, and play music which resembles this sort of stuff with nothing more than a laptop, mouse, and a really ty PA system. They know all of the big hits to play, because they have convenient top 10, top 100 lists to purchase it from. It is a sanitized exercise in mediocrity, so it is normal that it might not incite that aura of mystique as in previous generations. That mystique, the being part of something that was shunned and misunderstood by popular culture at the time, was a big reason for the success it had.
i'm thankful i'm not as old as creator though, because depends are expensive:p
Another good point.
I used to think that the art of DJing got simplified when DJs stated used CDJs instead of vinyl, and used beatport to get their music instead of going out to the stores to buy records after hours of research.
In the last 4-5 it has changed so much yet again! Now many new DJs can't beatmatch to save their life and depend on software on their laptop to beatmatch , perform advanced DJing techniques , and using the "top 10" charts to decide their track selection for them.
The price we all pay for the advancements in technology and all these luxuries is that you open the door for many new DJs that lack the real passion for the music that was truly tested when you had to do all the hard work like the DJs in the past had to do.
And now we enter the generation of the "soul-less" DJ.
I also agree that the crowd has changed. With Soundcloud , iApps , podcasts , Internet radio , and all the other EDM websites music it is so accessible that people no longer need to make the effort to show up to the club and spend some money to hear the music they love.
Now you can pretty much download for free whatever you want to listen too and enjoy it at home,in the car, etc.
So now the "need" that used to exist years ago for people to goto the club and hear the DJ play music that could only be heard at that time is over.
What I have concluded is now people that go out now are going out for the PARTY! Not just to hear the music , because that can be done anywhere now.
So a top DJ has to do more then just play great music now, they have to deliver an amazing experience and a great party. This means a great DJ today needs to be able to bring people out for more reasons then just the music ( unless of course they are a brilliant producer , which is the only exception IMO ). And this forces DJs to add a new dimension to their talent that stretches beyond just the music if they want to be successful in clubs.
Some DJs achieve success because of charisma...some because of sex ( ex-Playboy Plamates for example )... some because they offer something special in the music nobody else is doing... whatever the reason in 2011 it takes something more...something special.
So in conclusion I think the changes we are experiencing are neither for the better or for the worse of the EDM scene.... it's simply a result of evolution that in nature must happen at some point. So in the end we all must make a choice: Evolve with it or be left behind.
Dj Nacht
First I would like to say great posts to the three of you. You all managed to sum up the state of the electronic scene here in Montreal and managed to give you're own very convincing theories to why it is the way it is.
I completely agree that Montreal is a city full of variety when it comes to electronic music and we truly are at the frontline of the scene. A lot of people might be shocked that I would write that concidering my posts here in the last few years. After a lot of anger and confusion I finally realized there was nothing wrong with Montreal. The scene evolved and I just don't like the way it evolved and thats why I'm not interested anymore. There is no more suprise for me anymore when I go out, been there, done that.
Its so true that underground is dead, it means nothing anymore. I have watched as people who used to want nothing to do with techno 8 years ago are now more ontop of the scene than me. Electronic music has literally exploded like the big bang and its expanding at the speed of light. I personally don't like the way things are now but in the long run it will be very profitable and it is guarenteed to sustain the scene for a very long time.
JamesBrown
quote:
Originally posted by corjay9
Are you ing retarded? I was one of those "ing kids", how is that being prejudiced? Did you read my post at all? Or do you just like to argue online? Eat and die.
Not the first time I've been asked if I'm ing retarded, but no, I don't think I am.
Explain please: Is it true you think that taking pills and saying up until 10am is mature?
To answer your second question: your prejudice stems from your own sad experiences. There exist many kids far more mature than most supposed adults. (Though clearly, my understanding of the word "mature" is far different from yours.)
Yes, and Yes to your last two questions.
JamesBrown
And I'm not hardly mature at all at times... so I understand! ;-)
