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2012: A Year in Review
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| feelgood |
So as the year comes to a close, what are your thoughts on how 2012 panned out for our scene? Ill try and dig up the 2011 review thread.
How were the promoters?
How were the clubs?
How was the 'scene' ?
What was great? Not so great?
Where is it going?
Here's my review:
In terms of promoters, I felt this year was terrific. Heavyweights such as Platform kept on doing what they do best. The newer guys on the scene equaria/Ozmosis/zeropercent diversified their bookings to bring in some great names. Also i've noticed tons of upstart promo groups getting started, which has created an influx of cool unique parties covering all genres and sound. Next year I can see a bunch of these new smaller upstarts working together to throw some sweet parties.
Clubs. It seems parties are shifting to the more 'underground' route as big clubs are being taken up by the bigger names. Lots of rented spaces, or one off's in cool venues. Lots of newer 'big' clubs have popped up (uniun/moskito/cinema off the top of my head) Footwork is still my reliable go to, but I love Moskito. Big, airy, place to dance. Some sound tweaking and Moskito will be my go to. Toronto is also now host to some great festivals. Sound in Motion, Digital Dreams, Brrr! are all great additions to Toronto.
The scene. We're in a good situation. The generation that latched on to electronic music via Justice/MSTRKRFT/SHM/ EDM boom back in the late 2000s has matured, and their tastes have followed. Ive noticed tons of cutting edge cool sounds coming from the younger guys. I think its easy to take for granted how good we have it in Toronto.
I predict the electronic bubble is gonna pop in the next 12 months, and it'll crash hard. However, the underground will thrive as it always has with the new boost from the younger generation.
Overall, I feel 2012 was an A+ year in terms of how the scene has evolved. its been a year of change, but definitely for the better.
Thoughts? |
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| CMR |
| quote: | Originally posted by feelgood
I predict the electronic bubble is gonna pop in the next 12 months, and it'll crash hard. |
No way, its still far too soon. Trends change faster than ever now, but nonetheless, the current "boom" only really started in earnest around 2010. The 90s boom lasted for the whole decade - and in some places, never died at all, which is what could be happening here now. As a trend, it'll die down in a few years, but I think electronic music has finally become accepted by the North American mainstream for good.
Otherwise, I agree. :tongue3 |
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| GGM |
Music in general has been better than most recent years. So many good tracks and a lot of breakout artists that are on fire. It's cool because I would say no matter what genre/s you love (except for trance which has been dying for years) you can find so many stellar tracks that came out this year.
In terms of new to TO, the festivals and Moskito have made this year a pretty good sign of things to come. Both are breakouts with improvements to be had but enough successes to build on for a great future. Boat cruises slowed down a bit but seeing as how that's all the city has had to offer in the summer for a few years it's almost a welcome occurrence.
Only downside to this year is the Ink bookings. I've always brushed off the haters cause you know what a mega club with a solid all access lineup is just damn fun no matter what you say. But outside of Freedom they haven't booked any internationals even worth looking at which is a sad, sad thing. Hope they can grab a new booking manager for 2013 or if all else fails other clubs (ie more Moskitos) pop up to replace them. |
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| kotsy |
| quote: | Originally posted by GGM
Only downside to this year is the Ink bookings. I've always brushed off the haters cause you know what a mega club with a solid all access lineup is just damn fun no matter what you say. But outside of Freedom they haven't booked any internationals even worth looking at which is a sad, sad thing. Hope they can grab a new booking manager for 2013 or if all else fails other clubs (ie more Moskitos) pop up to replace them. |
+1
guv's bookings for 2012 have been a joke for the most part! I don't expect it to ever get better because $ from one crowd is the same as $ from another. Here's hoping Moskito sticks around long term! |
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| ItalianPoiSon |
| quote: | Originally posted by kotsy
+1
guv's bookings for 2012 have been a joke for the most part! |
Im at work so im gonna go on a bit of a rant regarding the clubs that I experienced this year lol
I half agree with guv/inks bookings being rather comedic. They did do the Vault fest and the after parties at Guv had wikkid line ups... Thats of course if you enjoy those dj's... I do agree that hey gotta bring in more talent and maybe take a risk and try book some newer acts in one of there smaller clubs or bars... but your right it prbly wont get any better... electro and dub are in demand so thats what there gonna serve up...
As far as what ink has been doing in 2012 was a bit of a joke... they closed the Gallery down and Skybar plays hip hop on a saturday i terible... shutting down soho @ TiL then moving it to Cube then ending it all together for Factory Fridays (thats a god awful name)@ Uniun is laughable by my standards...
ink also stopped booking Lalwer, whats up with that? no skybar set? no boat cruise?
I went to Moskito only once and i'm dying to go back for another event, hopefully they stick around....
Provoke has been bringing in a few good names to Maison and Cobra... I think they had a few healiners at XS as well but that spot seems like a 19 year old haven... From what I know I like these guys and hope they keep going and provide healty competition for Ink...
Digital Dreams is a step in the right direction even thou i didnt go and am not crazy about festivals as a whole... The way they laid out the after parties was pretty cool...
I did not like the crowd or layout at Cinema whats so ever, I think it needs an age limit of 25+ males to compete with Cube or Maison on a friday... so yea pass on that club...
The Green Velvet Beats-Ahoy boat cruise in May (i tihnk) was half full but still had some fun... the after party at Aqua Lounge was pretty awesome too...
Sunnyside for Labour day was awesome!
I had a few good nights at the Hoxton no complaints... lots of hipsters thou...
I'm sure im leaving a few other club nights out but this is what I recall off the top of my head...
Overal regarding our Toronto scene as a whole... I think we got it a bit better then we take it for... I went to Amsterdam, Ibiza, Montreal, and NYC this year and I gotta tell you its not all that different over there... it really isn't...
I will say this in Ibiza and NYC i felt there is way more production value in there shows and clubs (hint.hint.nudge.nudge ink, provoke)
If theres one thing I will change (and needs to be changed) is the last call time... give us to atleast 3 or 4 am... if we had that then we will be on par with some of the major party cities of the world... |
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| ItalianPoiSon |
Oh and shout out (lol) to Destiny for bringing WEMF back.. I didnt go but a friend of mine went (not really a music guy) but he said it was one of the best parites hes experienced...
so yeah repsect to Destiny they deserve a 2012 shout out for sure... |
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| randallpink |
2012 was kind of an off year for me in terms of partying because of various re-occuring leg injuries throughout the year (too much two-steppin in 2011 :P )
but from what i went to i felt that the highlight was definitely Digital Dreams. i had very low expectations before the lineup was announced but bought a ticket immediately once i saw it and had an amazing time. im not a fan of the more commercial or electro sound so i stuck to the beach stage but wow, was that a great couple of days. can't wait to see what they have in store this year |
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| Nobbie Q |
| quote: | Originally posted by ItalianPoiSon
Overal regarding our Toronto scene as a whole... I think we got it a bit better then we take it for... I went to Amsterdam, Ibiza, Montreal, and NYC this year and I gotta tell you its not all that different over there... it really isn't...
I will say this in Ibiza and NYC i felt there is way more production value in there shows and clubs (hint.hint.nudge.nudge ink, provoke)
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Yeah the Toronto scene is really good. I think many of us just take it for granted so we can afford to be picky about some of the acts that booked here on this board, when really T-Dot gets a diverse range of EDM DJs ranging from cheese to underground. I'm here in Seoul...and there is barely a scene here. Everyone seems to be obsessed with the cheesiest of big house electro songs here. There are a few locals who play alright deep house or tech house though but most of the clubs play cheese house and there aren't too many int'l DJs that come by here. |
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| ItalianPoiSon |
| quote: | Originally posted by Nobbie Q
Yeah the Toronto scene is really good. I think many of us just take it for granted so we can afford to be picky about some of the acts that booked here on this board, when really T-Dot gets a diverse range of EDM DJs ranging from cheese to underground. I'm here in Seoul...and there is barely a scene here. Everyone seems to be obsessed with the cheesiest of big house electro songs here. There are a few locals who play alright deep house or tech house though but most of the clubs play cheese house and there aren't too many int'l DJs that come by here. |
Yeah I agree with you bud
I also will mention Unique Life Styles promo, i believe they brought in a few good acts and there parties have been good...
Since this is a 2012 thread... the whole neon thing that came up this year I really am not a fan... It hurts the eyes lol...
personally i've been listening to alot of the "deep house" sound... Hot Natures - Benaddiction has been a fav of mine this year... |
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| feelgood |
| quote: | Originally posted by Nobbie Q
I'm here in Seoul...and there is barely a scene here. Everyone seems to be obsessed with the cheesiest of big house electro songs here. There are a few locals who play alright deep house or tech house though but most of the clubs play cheese house and there aren't too many int'l DJs that come by here. |
Nice! Im headed out to Korea early in the new year to teach english. Not sure if its going to be Seoul, but whereever it is, ive got my eyes on getting involved in the scene there. |
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| randallpink |
| quote: | | Hot Natures - Benaddiction has been a fav of mine this year... |
ditto ;) |
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| Nobbie Q |
| quote: | Originally posted by feelgood
Nice! Im headed out to Korea early in the new year to teach english. Not sure if its going to be Seoul, but whereever it is, ive got my eyes on getting involved in the scene there. |
I'm here teaching English too. Do you have a contract? Just warning you that they're not renewing any middle school or high school teachers' contracts in 2012 in Gyeonggi province which are funded by the province. They're really scaling back the program. PM me if you want more info.
I haven't checked out the local scene throughly but the major clubs I've been to (Mass and Coccoon) play trash. Ellui is the best club here, more tech house oriented, and the only club to book int'l DJs consistently. This month, we had Jay Lumen and Mark Knight's coming down tonight. Had Cosmic Gate late Novmember, Sebestien Leger late Sept. The opening acts play good tech house, they even have a Gallery type of small room off to the side which has the Dj playing some good tech house until they switch it up to cheese. They probably do it to contrast the tech house sound from the next room...but man I swear...the DJ was playing some awesome CZ'ish type of tech house when he had the need to switch it up to DUCK SAUCE when he suddenly saw more people dancing! arrgh! And the change wasn't even subtle either!
They've had a bunch of residents from Space Ibiza come and play for what it's worth...I dunno, just don't expect the same level of booking Ink or Platform does in Tdot where it seems like every week there's at least 1-2 big to semi-big DJs who get booked. We had UMF Korea in the summer which had legit acts like Digweed, Cox, Yousef, Jon Rundell, Crystal Method, Sander Kleinenberg and KEN ISHII who was the biggest surprise booking. It was my first time seeing him as he hasn't been in Tdot for the like the longest time. We've had Global Gathering as well but it was kinda weak...like only really 4 major acts (Guetta, Orbital , Markus Schultz, John O'Callaghan) spread over over 2 days. Not worth it. Sure there's no last call here..and with the lack of any drugs here, you get a less sketchy crowd which could be a good thing, but the music could be better.
Anyway...sorry for the long post, but T-Dot has it really good. I only want to Markus Schultz in Feb and that was alright, plus TiNi in CZ as well which was well...whatever. Really sucks to miss out Digital Dreams and all the other jams. |
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