Tag Archives: dubstep

My Hostile Takeover Experience by 3MiloE

The thing one has to realize about riddim and dubstep is that the crowd loves to get wild and aggressive, but due to the hard, raw nature of sounds of the genres, who can blame them for being so intense? Its hard to contain one’s self when these styles are blaring through enormous speakers accompanied by trippy visuals, lasers, and masked DJs. It truly makes you want to throw your fists in the air.

I bought my ticket for Hostile Takeover months in advance, so it was definitely time for the anticipation to end and for the experience of what Hostile Takeover really was to begin. I grabbed my EDC 2016 shirt and my bandana and headed from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles.  Hostile Takeover took place at the Union Nightclub, a very enjoyable venue. The bathrooms were clean, they served free water, and blasted hard, loud music that made everyone go insane and rage. As crazy as the crowd was, the venue was able to keep things under controlno easy task with this kind of music. I give the the club respect for keeping everyone safe while also letting people let loose and express themselves. Apart from an altercation between two women outside while I waited in line, everything was chill.

When I first entered the venue, I was hit with a  powerful energy… the energy of dubstep and riddim. As the night grew on, the energy got more and more intense until it peaked around 1:00 a.m.

Clowning Dubstep
This was my favorite DJ at the Loft stage, clowning the dubstep.

At one point, all of the DJs put on masks.  Some were in costumes, everyone started going twice as hard. Mosh pits were rough, but no one was punching or throwing elbows at each other. One raver fell while in the mosh pit, but myself and others picked him back up to his feet before he got trampled.

At the Riddim Stage
These guys killed it on stage.

I was drawn to lights all night. I actually found the person who was controlling the visuals for the stage, which included the lasers and background screen. For a few moments I observed him control the visuals as a DJ would a deck. He changed the visuals with the music, keeping them in sync as it played. I watched him use technique and skills that looked like it took years of training to learn. I always had thought light shows were automated,  and was surprised to discover that it actually took a person to control such amazing visuals.

Visuals Controller
This was the man behind the visuals

My favorite set of all night was Subtronics back-to-back with Svdden Death and Uber Dubstep. The skills of the DJs at Hostile Takeover rivaled some of the DJs that performed at Project Z! I went so hard I could barely stand the next day because my muscles were so sore from dancing. I entered the pit and came out a happier person after I did exaggerated body movements, fist pumps, and jumping up and down to get out my frustrations and aggression in a positive way.

Overall, I would say that Hostile Takeover was an incredible event, that will not long be forgotten. Quality riddim and dubstep, along with a good venue, is an experience that will not long be forgotten. I definitely had a great experience, and I plan on going to another Fresh event soon. I was impressed with the promoters because they know how to throw sick events. The music quality was phenomenal, the vibes were chill, and it allowed me to feel and explore the harder side of EDM. Thanks to everyone who went for making it an amazing time!

На платформе Musicoin размещен первый в мире блокчейн DJ-микс

Каждый раз, когда микс “Rock the Blockchain” (автор диджей Deadly Buda) проигрывается на платформе Musicoin.org, 15 отдельных музыкальных треков в жанре электронной танцевальной музыки, а также их авторы, в течение нескольких секунд автоматически получают оплату.

Этот микс был завершен в 2:00 13 августа 2017 года, когда Deadly Buda выполнил интеграцию 19 “смарт-контрактов” на блокчейне Musicoin и приложил их к своему диджейскому миксу. “В целом, это кардинальная перемена для любого музыкального жанра, в котором участвует диджей: EDM, Disco, House и Hip-Hop,” – сказал DJ Deadly Buda.

Микс “Rock the Blockchain” можно послушать тут.
Hi-voltage-dude.jpg
Обложка микса “Rock the Blockchain”. Микс содержит 15 EDM-треков различных жанров: Hard Electronic, Dubstep, Hardstyle, Hard Bass, Jungle, Drum and Bass, Hardcore Techno, Shamancore, Tekno, и Ambient, авторами которых являются музыканты Counterstrike, Satroniq & DJ Delirium, Teknoaidi, Subterranean, Cap, M27, Harhor и Deadly Buda.

С тех пор, как формат диджейских миксов обрел популярность в 1970-е, он до сих пор пребывает в полулегальном состоянии. Поскольку записанный микс является непрерывным сочетанием нескольких отдельных песен или «треков», он требует многочисленных разрешений, документов и лицензий, чтобы стать юридически совместимым. К тому времени, когда необходимые документы готовы, аудитория обычно рассматривает музыку в миксе устаревшей, поскольку в моду уже вошло новое звучание. Следовательно, большинство диджеев на протяжении десятилетий не удосуживались получать разрешения и выпускали миксы «незаконно» на кассетах, компакт-дисках, а теперь на платформах Soundcloud и Youtube. Как правило, основные авторы в этих миксах не получают денег за свою музыку и часто даже не упоминаются в титрах. По этой причине диджеи часто не предоставляют плейлисты, чтобы избежать контроля, ограничений по времени, отсутствия надлежащей маркировки на танцевальных записях или, в худшем случае, хотят все внимание привлечь только к своей персоне.

Как ни странно, танцевальные продюсеры делают свою музыку специально, чтобы на ее основе можно было делать миксы, и призывают популярных диджеев использовать свои песни. Диджейские миксы, зачастую технически незаконные, являются основным каналом рекламы для небольших сцен танцевальной музыки или талантливых исполнителей. Итак, в течение последних нескольких десятилетий музыкальная индустрия вообще не применяла свои авторские права на диджейские миксы, хотя и могла это всегда сделать . Следовательно, диджеи, опасаясь потенциального обвинения, редко могут публиковать свои миксы для большой аудитории или получать гораздо больший доход, чем стоимость записей или Mp3, использованных в миксе. Кумулятивный эффект этой полулегальности заключается в том, что диджейские миксы по-прежнему считаются «андеграундом», хотя аудитория слушателей танцевальной музыки очень хорошо их принимает.

“Чем больше я узнавал о технологии блокчейна, тем отчетливее я понимал, что проблемы с законностью диджейских миксов близки к тому, чтобы уйти в прошлое,” – утверждает DJ Deadly Buda, – все разрешения, документы и платежи могут быть выполнены мгновенно.”

*Musicoin это сфокусированная на музыке криптовалюта с возможностью смарт-контрактов.*
Musicoin это сфокусированная на музыке криптовалюта с возможностью смарт-контрактов.

Технология блокчейна – это, в общем виде, распределенная база данных, поддерживаемая несколькими компьютерами. Самый популярный в мире блокчейн – Биткоин, он вдохновил другие блокчейны нацелиться на конкретные сферы мировой экономики. Musicoin, как следует из названия, ориентирован на музыку, музыкантов и поклонников. Когда пользователь воспроизводит песню на musicoin.org, исполнитель песни получает один Musicoin (стоит около 0,01-0,02 доллара США), и это происходит за считанные секунды.

Система блокчейна Musicoin позволяет музыканту загружать песню и прикладывать так называемый «смарт-контракт», который может распределять платежи нескольким сторонам, если это необходимо. Например, смарт-контракт можно запрограммировать так, чтобы каждый раз, когда играется песня, барабанщик, певец, гитарист и басист в группе получали раздельную оплату.

«Когда я понял, что каждая песня в системе Musicoin имеет свой собственный платежный адрес, я вспомнил множество знакомых музыкантов, делающих отличную музыку, которая подходит для загрузки. Затем я попросил разрешения использовать их музыку в моем миксе, – сказал Deadly Buda. – После встречи с некоторыми из музыкантов было решено использовать следующую формулу: 40% дохода от микширования поступает диджею, а 60% равномерно распределяются между песнями в миксе. Диджей проводит много времени, просеивая кучу музыки, чтобы найти драгоценные камни, которые затем он или она играет для публики, поэтому я хотел одновременно учесть эти трудозатраты и расходы, в то же время оставив достаточно места для каждой песни, чтобы она могла заработать деньги ».

deadly-buda-2-dj.jpg
DJ Deadly Buda выпустил первый в мире диджейский микс с использованием блокчейна.

Новая парадигма создания и оплаты диджейских миксов теперь официально существует благодаря DJ Deadly Buda и Musicoin, “но предстоит еще много работы, – говорит Deadly Buda. – В самом ближайшем будущем, вероятно, появится только одно поле для ввода данных, которое сможет использовать музыкант и которое даст всем участникам системы право на микширование их музыки, поскольку она будет оплачиваться через смарт-контракт. Как только это произойдет, систему уже невозможно будет остановить, она принесет огромную пользу как существующей музыкальной индустрии, так и новым музыкантам.”

Здесь вы можете зарегистрироваться на платформе Musicoin.

World’s First Blockchained DJ Mix Released by Deadly Buda on Musicoin

When DJ Deadly Buda’s “Rock the Blockchain” DJ mix is played on Musicoin.org, fifteen separate electronic dance music tracks and their artists get paid automatically, within seconds.

The system that makes this possible was made public at about 2:00 AM, on August 13, 2017, when Deadly Buda finalized the integration of 19 “smart contracts” on the Musicoin blockchain and attached them to his DJ mix on Musicoin.org. “This will completely change the dance music landscape,” said DJ Deadly Buda, “it’s a

Click here to visit Deadly Buda's Musicoin profile.
Click here to visit Deadly Buda’s Musicoin profile.

development on par with the introduction of the 12” single or the crossfader. It will change the way we do things creatively and the listener will be the winner.”

The DJ mix contains 15 EDM tracks of various genres, hard electronic, dubstep, hardstyle, hard bass, jungle, drum and bass, hardcore techno, shamancore,  tekno, and ambient, by artists Counterstrike, Satroniq & DJ Delirium, Teknoaidi, Subterranean, Cap, M27, Harhor, and Deadly Buda.

The DJ mix format was popularized in the 1970’s and since then has existed in a quasi-legal state. A recorded DJ mix is a continuous blend of several separate songs or “tracks”. To be traditionally legally compliant, this requires numerous permissions, paperwork, and licenses. By the time the paperwork is done, the audience generally considers the music in the mix old, and has moved on to the latest sound in fashion. Consequently, most DJs over the decades haven’t bothered to get the permissions, and have released the mixes “illegally” on cassettes, CDs, and now, SoundCloud and YouTube. Generally, the artists in these mixes aren’t receiving any compensation for their music and oftentimes aren’t even credited as part of the mix.  Many DJs don’t supply playlists due to avoiding scrutiny, time constraints, lack of proper labeling on dance records, or at worst, just wanting all the attention for themselves.

Rock the Blockchain's flyer graphic is from the 1993 Turbo-Zen party in Pittsburgh, PA, High Voltage! The graphics would later be mentioned by Dan Mross in the movie "The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin" for its slogan, Technology Must Be Used to Liberate the Indvidual."
Rock the Blockchain’s flyer graphic is from the 1993 Turbo-Zen party in Pittsburgh, PA, High Voltage! The graphics would later be mentioned by Daniel Mross in the movie “The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin” for its slogan, “Technology Must Be Used to Liberate the Indvidual.”

Ironically, dance music producers make their music specifically so that it can be mixed by DJs, and clamor for popular DJs to use their songs. DJ mixes, though often technically illegal, are the main channel of publicity for smaller dance music scenes or up-and-coming talent. So for the last few decades, the music industry has generally not enforced their copyrights against DJ mixes while retaining their right to do so. Consequently, the DJs, still fearing potential incrimination, can rarely publicize their mixes on a grand scale or derive much more income than money they spent purchasing the records or Mp3s used in the mix. The cumulative effect of this quasi-legality has been that DJ mixes are still considered “underground” even though it is the audience’s preferred manner of listening to dance music.

“The more I understood blockchain technology, the more I realized that the legal problems with the DJ mix were about to be a thing of the past,” stated DJ Deadly Buda. “All the permissions, paperwork, and payments could be done in an instant.”

Blockchain technology is basically a decentralized ledger system maintained by multiple computers. The most popular blockchain in the world is Bitcoin, and it has inspired other blockchains to target specific areas of the world economy. Musicoin, as the name suggests, is geared towards music, musicians, and fans.  When a user plays a song on musicoin.org the artist of the song gets paid one Musicoin (currently worth about $0.01-0.04 USD)—usually in a matter of seconds. This is significantly higher than average artists get paid per play on Spotify or iTunes.

You can sign up to Musicoin here.
You can sign up to Musicoin here.

Furthermore, the Musicoin blockchain system allows an artist to upload a song and attach what is called a “smart contract” that can distribute payments to multiple parties if needed. For example, the smart contract could be programmed so that every time the song is played, the drummer, singer, guitarist, and bassist in a band all split the payment.

“When I realized every song on the Musicoin system had its own payment address, I got as many people I knew that made great music to upload. Then, I asked their permission if I could use their music in my mix,” revealed Deadly Buda. After conferring with some of the artists, realizing they were helping to establish a new paradigm, the following formula was decided: 40% of the mix revenue goes to the DJ, and the remaining 60% is split evenly between each of the songs in the mix. “A DJ spends a lot of time sifting through a lot of bad music to find the gems he or she plays for the public, so I wanted to honor that time and money expenditure while at the same time leaving a fair amount of room for each song to make money as well.”

A new paradigm for how DJ mixes can be made and monetized is now officially live thanks to DJ Deadly Buda and Musicoin, but there is still work to be done says Deadly Buda, “In the very near future, there will probably be just a checkbox an artist can use that gives anyone on the system the right to mix their music so long as they get paid via a smart contract. As soon as that happens, the system will be unstoppable and will benefit the established music industry and new artists alike.”

You can sign up to Musicoin here.

My Project Z Experience by 3MiloE

Every time I listen to electronic music, the experience seems new to me. Perhaps maybe it is because electronic music is an ever- changing, ever-expanding entity, with each genre and style having its own sound, social groups, and individual cultures. Festivals like Project Z is where all these groups of people who love different kinds of  electronic music unite together and celebrate not just the music, but the way it makes us feel.

Project Z 2017 was my first Project Z experience, and my girl’s first Insomniac event. It seems needless to say to those who attended, but we were both blown away.

Excitement and anticipation filled us with adrenaline as we got in line to enter, the music and bright lights shining over the fences making me nod my head and dance a little. Upon entering, I was hit with a wave of relief and euphoria. We had made it to Project Z! The scenery made me feel like i was in a dream. Colors of blue and green lit up the night and reflected upon a lake. A grassy field lay beside it, and there were many ravers just chilling and relaxing by the tranquil water. Security allowed people to relax and vibe out, while also making it feel very safe and calm when and where it needed to be. My girl and I came casually dressed and slightly unprepared in that sense, but we had comfortable shoes, a CamelBak, and an attitude to have fun.

Our main objective of the night was to find all stages and get a sense of where everything at the event was located, like exits and facilities, information booths, and other important locations. There was plenty of open space between the stages, bathrooms, and vendors, yet were also in close enough proximity of each other to navigate the event easily and comfortably considering the large attendance.

So many sights and interesting characters were there to be seen. Having just watched an entire of Rick and Morty a week prior to attending Project Z, it was fascinating to see how many totems and candies were dedicated to the show—it made us feel like we belonged. We happen to be glove enthusiasts, and so we had to sit down a few times to get some shows from a few different glovers. The interpretive dances of their hands illuminated by LED lights entranced us, making us feel a wide range of emotions.  We spotted a gang of roving go-go dancers dressed as bunnies that looked like they were from Alice in Wonderland moving their way through the crowd and stages—their sole purpose to trip people out. They did an excellent job of doing that. Another area which always caught my attention as I passed through had a projection of ticking clocks that were scattered and moving over everything around it.

Project Z dancers
These characters danced like creatures throughout the night, moving from stage to stage.

Once we discovered all three of the stages and key locations, we were ready to enjoy ourselves. The first stage we experienced was Bassrush. The sounds of riddim and dubstep sent waves of happiness and aggression throughout the crowd. One of the main highlights of the night was JoyRyde, who murdered the stage as if the crowd had taken Liam Nieson’s daughter. The intensity of the music matched with the crowd’s ability to scream and move their bodies to the raw rhythms were enhanced by lasers and intense visuals, all contributing to a feeling of euphoria and loss of self to the moment that gripped and captivated parts of our souls that had not been there before. It was hard to leave that feeling behind, but we HAD to check out the next stage known as…. Basscon.

Basscon turned out to be my favorite stage at Project Z. The music caused a chaotic physical manifestation of the emotions I felt conveyed in my dancing that only need be described with two words, “going hard”. The DJs almost  seemed as if they were controlling the crowd with their mixer. I felt like i was in a trance. The breaks and the drops flawlessly blended together into a musical roller coaster I could ride. Explosive bursts of energy that were followed by entrancing melodies gave pauses in perfect increments to where I could dance and get enough rest in between intense parts of the songs. I danced so hard, I felt like my heart was about to explode. We decided to stop before we both felt like we were going to collapse.

Going Hard! at the Basscon stage!
Screenshot of me dancing at the Basscon stage and a cameo of the candie my girl found.

When we started to get hot and thirsty, we found that Project Z provided a filling station where water was  distributed for FREE! The fact that Project Z provides free water separates Project Z from most other events or venues, as water is usually very expensive.,

We went on to find a place to chill and before experiencing the third and final stage known as Area Z. On the way there, my girl found her first candie ever, a geometric pattern that wraps around your arm.  Before “rescuing” it, we looked around to see if it belonged to anyone, because it looked as if it had taken hours of time to make. We pondered where it might have come from, and how many times it might have been traded from person to person. We questioned what kind of stories it has had, and how much it must have meant to someone. I hope whoever lost it reads this article, because the candie found a great home and is being loved and cherished!

The painter at Area Z
This artist painted to dubstep.

At this point, we needed to rest, and Area Z was a perfect place to do just that. If i could describe the music at Area Z. It was mellow dubstep, a style you could go either go hard to or just relax and listen to. A nearby painter captured the creative energy of the night and sounds into an image on canvas.

At the end of the night, we were handed fliers to upcoming events and underground shows in the nearby area. Although I may not go to all the events that were promoted, it is cool to think that at the end of every event like this one, someone can find an underground party and perhaps discover new music, new friends, and new adventures.

See you next year, Project Z!

Scene Report: Northeast Ohio & Southwest Pennsylvania

Growing up in Akron, Ohio, I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by a great music scene. Whether it be The Black Keys & The Pretenders from Akron, or heavy metal mainstays like Mushroomhead, Chimaira, Marilyn Manson, or Filter from Cleveland, drawing inspiration from home was easy. However, it wasn’t until my late teens that I began to hear some of what the region’s underground dance music scene had to offer.

My first ever show was a small weekly booking at The Vortex, a popular local club in Akron. My buddy Nate Woodruff, whom also comes from an instrumental background, booked me for this gig. I had been producing a few years prior but I felt it was my time to give DJing a go. Sadly, there was a steady learning curve I had to endure. As time went by, I not only began to learn the nuances of DJing, but also learned the lay of the land. Akron is an interesting city when it comes to underground dance music. First, you have many young bucks looking to take on the scene, promoting parties that tip the cap to modern dance music, with breakneck bass and steady aggressive sounds. But when one takes a step back, they can see that Akron is also a scene of thriving vintage and avant garde producers and promoters alike.

When an outsider asks of Akron and dance music, the first thing many people will tell them about is an event series called Contrive. This series has been around for years and showcases some of the best local DJs the scene has to offer. Primarily centered around the house genre (although other four on the floor sub-genres have been featured), these parties take you back to the nostalgic sounds of Brooklyn, Chicago, and Detroit. Ran by Mark Roscoe, these shows have a cult following of both new and old heads from the region. Featuring great DJs such as Justin Bailey, Joshua Gilliland (of Rubber City Promotions), Ricky Spanish and more, integrity is an abundant trait at this event.

Live set up for Contrive in Akron, Ohio. Credit: Rubber City Promotions

If house isn’t your taste, that’s ok. Another event that has popped up in the scene in recent years has been one of my own, Audio Arena. Once an outsider of the rave scene, it took a long time for me to comprehend what all of the fuss was about. When I would go to metal shows, it was an experience. People didn’t just stand and watch, and if they did, the band always gave it their all to keep everyone entertained. From there to watching one, or sometimes two people DJing…it was a tough transition. Because of this, I wanted to host parties that weren’t just a basic rave environment. In some way, shape, or form, these parties had to keep the attendees involved.

My first rule about Audio Arena is always featuring DJs of many different sub-genres on one bill. I have always believed that music variety is paramount in appreciating your own strengths, so whether it be house, trance, breakbeat, trap, dubstep, drum & bass, UK hardcore, hardstyle, or anything else that engages the mind, there is a place for it at my shows. But what makes my shows more unique is the location. Albeit stressful and expensive, we have been able to pull off three parties at laser tag arenas. They all went seamlessly, yet, I still wanted to break more barriers. In January of 2017, I threw the regions first ever trampoline park rave at Sky Zone in Boston Heights, Ohio. I was worried about many factors, but we ended up breaking an attendance record and by the end of the night, many were saying how it was one of the best parties they have ever been to.

Audio Arena 4.0 – Trampoline Park Edition, Boston Heights, OH. Credit: Maddeax Khole

But enough about me. Let’s continue. There are other promoters I want to give a shout out to, including Nick Baker of Kosmik Kahuna and Joseph Ryan of Druidic Productions, who throw events with style. I also want to make sure I mention two prominent local labels who have made huge imprints on the national and international scene. First, Sweetdrop Digital is a label ran by Justin Hachat AKA Justin David. This label specializes in the sounds of progressive trance, as well as working with other melodic sub-genres. Second, Crowsnest Audio is a label ran by Tyler Swan AKA Lord Swan3x, whom actually attended my high school alma mater. This label is known for its heavy bass music and has amassed great street teams in Canada and even overseas. Also worth mentioning is Crankdat, who is a rising star out of McDonald, Ohio by way of Kent State University. He rose to fame almost overnight and is now touring the country.

Before we move on, we would be remiss to leave out our neighbors to the north. Cleveland, Ohio has always had a vibrant scene, and it’s dance music scene is one you would expect from a major city. In the center of it all is Cumulus Entertainment, ran by Eric Weinart and Shaun Malone, respectively. This duo puts together phenomenal productions multiple times a year that rival most major events in places like Miami and Las Vegas. Their hallmark shows, Winter Warm Up & Radiate Festival, are thrown at the legendary Agora Theater & Ballroom and draw thousands of people every time Cumulus has an event.

Winter Warm Up 2016, Agora Theater, Cleveland, Ohio. Credit: Cumulus Entertainment

Another household promoter in Cleveland is Tru Events, headed by Michael Mellon. Tru Events would be the company known for bringing in all of the A list DJs on their major North American tours. Their venue of choice is Liquid, a club on West 6th Street in Downtown Cleveland. This venue is one of the best the city has to offer, with a 21st century feel, 360 bar, and industry-standard sound. It is very clear that if you find yourself in the confines of Northeast Ohio, and you feel the need to dance, you will most certainly find what you are looking for.

This is not where the story ends; not by a long shot. Only a short 111 miles away is the metropolis of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a melting pot of some of the best underground music in the United States. By nature, Pittsburgh has one of the oldest rave scenes in the nation, and as The Hard Data Founder DJ Deadly Buda can attest to, is still going as strong as ever. Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s, a group of DJs were inseparable, and little did they know that they were all destined for greatness. Turbo Zen Records was the name of the game, and these DJs ruled the land. Known then (and some now) as DJ Deadly Buda, +FX (now DJ Virus), Dieselboy, Richie Hawtin, and a few others, these performers took part in some of the more legendary parties in midwest raver lore, including Soul, High Voltage, and Power Rave 92′. Also in the house scene came a DJ who is still very much in the game. Known as Euphoria, Eric “DJ Strobe” Cohen was one of the leaders of the house movement in the city.

Fast forward to today and not much has changed, which is a very good thing. Pittsburgh is thriving with tons of promoters and DJs, all whom bring their own special signature to the scene. Let’s begin with Hardstyle Family, which is ran by Eric Wade. It’s not difficult to figure out what kind of parties that this company throws, but if you are THAT dense, they organize some of the better Hardstyle and Hardcore parties in the region. Although their long running series Rave So Hard is wildly successful, nothing can match the pure ferocity of Fantasyland Festival. This open air festival has been held in Ford City, PA for the last couple of years and features a main stage which is designed to visually jaw-drop each attendee. When the night gets darkest, a separate stage is open for silent disco, a very popular trend in the scene.

Fantasyland Festival 2016, Ford City, PA. Credit: ArcaneRaver23

If harder styles isn’t your thing, feel free to check out an event by 1UP Productions. This company is mainly ran by Ron “Rizzo” Gianfrancesco. These events are generally as multi-genre as you will find in the scene and include some of the most creative themes in the region, making for an always entertaining experience. Head down to their home venue, The Braddock Elks, for a great underground feel. Another great promoter is BC1 Productions, manned by T.J. Harris, whom like myself, gathers inspiration from the old school and brings it to the new. Although they don’t throw many shows annually, when they do, they pull out all the stops.

One of the more paramount promotional companies in Pittsburgh would have to be 1337. This company is fronted by the duo of Robert Burton and Justin Doverspike. Generally throwing a handful of events a year, they pride themselves on a well-executed marketing plan, outstanding visuals, and a lineup that is bested by very few. Over the years, 1337 has become the front-and-center company of Pittsburgh underground raving, and their promotional efforts don’t go unnoticed by anyone.

1337 “Era” NYE 2016 Party, Pittsburgh, PA. Credit: Jeff Poole

Last summer, I was fortunate to be a part of Shipwrecked Festival, which was held at Club Changes just north of Pittsburgh in New Castle, PA. This was the second Shipwrecked Festival and was ran by G.O.D. Audio/Visual Productions, in conjunction with Dirty Ramen. These companies are ran with loads of experience by Ben Bridegum and Sean Lush, respectively. If you are looking for that essential variety we all crave, both of these promoters know what it’s all about and bring it to the masses.

Last but not least, we have some fresh promoters in the business, although one would not know it at first glance. Bass Technology is ran by Sammy Padgett and has thrown some of 2016’s most memorable events. Leading this is the event series, Invaders of Outer Bass, which in the Fall of 2016 was thrown at Cruze Bar. With some of the best club sound I have heard in Pittsburgh, this show drew hundreds of people and reminded us that the Pittsburgh scene will be thriving for generations to come. Also relatively fresh to the scene is Bassburgh Promotions, ran by the three-headed monster of Kevin Petted, Seth Hoover, and Chris Stankay. This trio throws events more frequently than some of the aforementioned promoters, and they still manage to do so with superb precision, locking down headliners and a very solid supporting cast.

Although these seem to be the names to remember in the underground, there are still many other niches in the Pittsburgh scene. For instance, 2step Tuesdays is a weekly get together at the Tiki Lounge, which is one of the most unique bars I have ever been to. Headed by Miaa Rigby, this weekday party is a nice change of pace, generally featuring more downtempo music that still gives an electronic edge. Hot Mass is another major gathering of likeminded folks. This nightclub in the heart of Pittsburgh shows that techno, house, and other smooth sounding rhythms are very much welcome in the scene. Some of the DJs featured at this club are of legendary reputation. If you want to see a true art form, this is where you would go. Last but not least is a show series called Lazercrunk, which is organized by Geoff Maddock. This event series focuses on avant garde genres, specifically breakcore, and is currently hosted at Belvederes Ultra-Dive. National and international acts come from all parts of the globe to participate in this one of a kind party.

There are so many other people and places I am leaving out in this midwestern gold mine of music, but I have run out of time. I will leave that for you to discover. After all, some of the best treasures are found, not given. So if you are looking to breakdance to breakbeat, shuffle to hardstyle, twerk to trap, or do whatever your heart desires, you would be foolish to find yourself out of options in this Mid-American masterpiece.