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Scene Report: Northeast Ohio & Southwest Pennsylvania

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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.

Articles, Events, Reviews

Basscon presents Angerfist, Radical Redemption, Minus Militia and The Hard Data Ballroom Takeover Event Review

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December 23 was the return of Basscon to the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles. Unlike previous Basscon shows however, this promised to be very different. Insomniac managed to bring out a very special lineup featuring exclusively raw hardstyle and hardcore acts, a first for Basscon! In the main room, Basscon featured Angerfist, Radical Redemption solo set, and the US premiere of  Minus Militia. In the Ballroom was The Hard Data’s very own Ballroom Takeover, featuring The Hard Data DJ Team – DJ Deadly Buda, Mindcontroller and Lost Boy. The hype for the US debut of Minus Militia, along with the return of Angerfist, brought a larger than life crowd, even selling out the show in the last few days of ticket sales. It was raining hard when many of the partygoers arrived at Belasco and many were getting drenched while waiting for security, but as I watched people get checked in, the excitement on their faces was palpable. Everyone knew they were in for a good night!

Belasco’s two separate rooms allowed the crowd to wander around the venue between the two stages easily and get a little taste of all the artists playing that night. I was reminded of many fond memories from previous shows at this venue as I walked in hearing Darksiderz playing one my favorite hardstyle tracks, TNT & Audiofreq – Screwdriver, as I made my way to the Ballroom.

The Ballroom was packed full of loyal hardcore heads for The Hard Data DJ Team and I felt like I was immediately surrounded by friends from all over coming up to say hi. Mindcontroller was on the decks when we walked in, and we made our way over to see The Hard Santa. My friends and I told him to check his list, and he said despite us being very naughty this year, he still had a present for us – The Hard Data Ballroom Blitz CD – a special CD mixed with everything from raw hardstyle to happy hardcore to hardcore and uptempo. I always love receiving CD’s at shows and I knew we would be listening to this on the drive home!

The Hard Santa passing out The Hard Data DJ Team Ballroom Blitz CDs

We bid Santa farewell and did a time check; there was just enough time to grab a drink at the bar and make our way to the dancefloor before Radical Redemption. As we walked to our ususal spot we had the pleasure of running into Chain Reaction and Crypsis! I had a short conversation with them and Chain Reaction told me that he was very excited to play for the US crowd for the first time. Crypsis added that it was exciting for them all to finally bring Minus Militia to the US.

I looked around the room and it was packed as Darksiderz finished his set. The anticipation for Radical Redemption to begin had built an immense amount of excitement from the crowd. When Radical took to the stage his powerful baselines and melodies echoed throughout The Belasco! Radical’s set was a whirlwind of raw hardstyle and his set included a great mix of some of his popular tracks, including Smack Bitches, HardBass Tribute, Suicide Baseline, and a collection of his iconic Brutal tracks including: Brutal 3.0, as well as crowd favorites Brutal 5.0 and his brand new Brutal 6.0.

As Radical Redemption finished his set it was time for a short intermission while Joey (Radical) ran to get his wardrobe changed for the Minus Militia set. In the meantime while the crowd waited, a live vocal female singer alongside Darksiderz kept the corwd entertained. As we waited, I looked over to the bar and I noticed Angerfist standing nearby. I went to go talk with him and he also mentioned to me that he was excited to play. He said that it was amazing to see so many people come out for the night and he couldn’t wait to play some hardcore for us! It was at this time I saw Crypsis, Chain Reaction and Radical Redemption take their place crouched behind the decks in their flack jackets and preparing for their US assault. Finally, it was time for the US debut of Minus Militia!
What happened next is hard to put into words. The lasers created a web of light over the crowd and powerful kick rolls and screeches brought so much energy to the crowd, I thought the barricade fence at the front of the stage was going to fall over from the force of the crowd that raged behind it! Their set included Obey and Arise (Official Militant Mayhem 2016 Anthem), Cracking Your Ribs, The Genesis (Supremacy 2014 Anthem). To complete the Minus Militia experience, Chain Reaction stood at the edge of the stage waving the large red minus Militia flag over the crowd before finally throwing it out to one very lucky fan.

Last but certainly not least, it was time for Angerfist to unleash hardcore upon the crowd. The mosh pit that had formed for Minus Militia grew as people dug deep to finish the night with hardcore. Angerfist pounded the crowd with his track selection, including classic tracks like Incoming, The Depths of Despair, Streetfighter, The Voice of Mayham, Strange Man In Mask and Just Like Me. I was also very excited to hear (and from the cheers of the crowd so were they) when Angerfist crossed over into dropping several frenchcore tracks, including The Sickest Squad ft. Lenny Dee -Minimal is Criminal, Radium – Rocking Fire, and his collabs with Dr. Peacock – Caveman and Inframan.

Overall I thought that the night was a blast and I hope that this show opens the door for Basscon to throw more exclusively raw hardstyle and hardcore events! Relive the night and check out some of our photos here. Up next for Basscon – Check out 15 Years of TNT featuring TNT aka Technoboy and Tuneboy, Audiofreq and Mekanikal on January 21, and Atmosfears’ North American GATE Tour featuring Atmosfears, Code Black and Tuneboy with a ‘Classics’ set on February 24th.

In closing, I would just like to take an opportunity to say a very special thank you to my friend Elise Valiquette aka DJ unicorns for her help with this article and for the continued adventures we have together, Joel Bevacqua and The Hard Data for continuing to allow me to contribute, and thank you to all my friends (too many of you all to name) who continue to come out to shows and create such great memories with me! 2016 was epic, have a safe and happy New Year and I hope to see you all in 2017!

– CabZ

Articles, Events, Reviews

Winterfresh Music Festival 2016 Event Review

Saturday, December 3 was the return of Fresh Entertainment’s winter-themed festival to Los Angeles – Winterfresh Music Festival. The night promised to host a variety of styles in separate rooms throughout the venue, from hard dance, house, trance, dubstep and drum and bass -all of which I fully intended to check out at the beginning of the night- but, like a Siren luring unexpecting sailors to their doom, the Hardstyle Arena stage sucked me in at the be-ginning of the night and I remained until the end of the show.

The day had been marked on my calendar since the announcement of Partyraiser’s return to LA and DJ Thera’s US debut at the end of Hardstyle Arena: Raw and Disorder, and my Facebook timeline seemed to be teasing me and building my anticipation for this show. The complete lineup for the Hardstyle Arena stage featured
artists Non Toxic, Eni, Alex Kidd (who unfortunately was unable to perform due to visa issues), DJ Thera, Partyraiser, Lady Dammage, and was to be hosted by the legendary MC Ruffian. I was excited for potential of the night ahead – 2 US premier arists and especially uptempo hardcore!

I walked into the venue and I caught up with some friends from AZ I hadn’t seen in awhile, grabbed a drink at the bar, and then proceeded to the Hardstyle Arena stage where I caught the end of Non Toxic’s set. I looked around and noticed the room had been converted into a winter wonderland to enhance the winter theme of the night. There were snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, large snow covered trees on the stage, Christmas lights, and Fresh had even thought to add a custom Winterfresh Snapchat filter! When Non Toxic finished with their final track my friend DJ Eni took to the decks. I had just interviewed Eni before the show, so I was excited for his performance and was really entertained by his track selection of reverse bass and oldschool to get the crowd warmed up! Approximately halfway through his set, Eni brought up a special guest, DJ Hauyon, and together they premiered their DJ team, the Druglordz, and even premiered their first collab – Dominator (Druglordz Reverse Bass remix).

Following Eni/Druglordz’s performance, MC Ruffian stepped up to the crowd and introduced DJ Thera for his US debut. Chances are if you’ve been a fan of hardstyle or hardcore for awhile you have heard Ruffian’s voice; he was the legendary voice of Qlimax until 2015 and can be heard in countless aftermovies and livesets from shows overseas. Ruffian’s familiar tone of voice paired with the cadence of his speech were instantly recognizable and I was exciting to hear him right in my hometown. Before Thera could perform his first track however, there was a special pause in the action- a marriage proposal! One of the dancers was called to the front of the stage, and the crowd created an opening. Her boyfriend stepped up to her and a banner unfolded behind him asking if she would marry him, she said yes! It was a very special moment in their lives and it was touching to be apart of it.

It was then time for DJ Thera to take the spotlight. Anyone familiar with DJ Thera’s music, or his Theracords label knew that his set would feature a variety of classics as well as raw hardstyle. It was exciting to see him perform and I thought he represented himself and his style well for his US premiere. A few of the tracks that he performed included MYST – Man Bear Pig, The Sexual Thrill, and of course the Winterfresh Anthem ft. MC Ruffian.

By the end of Thera’s set people getting wild, the laser production was on point, drinks were flowing, and looking around I could tell people were having a great time. I also had a feeling that everyone there had prepared themselves to go harder for DJ Partyraiser, and I knew moshpits were inevitable. Partyraiser’s high energy DJ style took the crowd to the next level, and his set include one of his most acclaimed tracks – Sound Becomes One with Destructive Tendencies, as well as his new track with F. Noise under their alias Scaphase – Enter the Snakepit (Snakepit 2016 anthem), but one of the most unique reactions from the crowd that I got to witness during his set was when he dropped F*ck It by Lunakorpz and American uptempo/terror DJ Tim Shopp. I was so proud of not only the recognition of the crowd to Tim’s track, but at the conscious effort of Partyraiser to play it and give a subtle nod to American hardcore during is set.

Finally to end the night, it was the US Premier of Lady Dammage, and I will say I don’t think anyone was prepared for what she had in store for us! Hardcore, uptempo and terror were all the menu and Lady Dammage serve it up relentlessly! I never thought I would get to see Lady Dammage perform, much less in the US! I don’t know if some partygoers even knew what hit them, and for anyone who may have missed it, check out her track with Broken Minds Thunder God (240bpm edit!!), and Fear Me Bitches that she played that night.

In closing, I would just like to say that this night was incredible! Fresh’s attention to detail and the quality of their events should put Fresh events on anyone’s “must attend” wishlist. Ruffian added an element to the party by interacting with the crowd’s energy, and along with the lasers, sound quality, and the banging lineup, I know Thera, Partyraiser and Lady Dammage will confirm that California knows how to party! I really enjoyed myself very much and I look forward to their next event, which will be sooner than you think- Fresh has just announced of the resurrection of another one their retired themes, Fresh Days… stay tuned for more info to come!

Articles, Interviews

Eni – Interviewed

Eni is a Freestyle DJ from Los Angeles, CA and has played at parties such as Arizr, KTRA LA and Hardstyle Arena, and will be playing at Winterfresh Music Festival on December 3rd. Freestyle is one of the fastest growing genres and is relatively new to the American scene. With Hardstyle and Hardcore getting much of the spotlight nowadays, Eni’s Freestyle sound brings much needed fun and freedom to the party. Freestyle by definition means ‘playing without restrictions’, and Eni regularly combines Subground, Jungle Terror, Tekstyle, Jumpstyle, Hardstyle, and any other variations of the hard dance styles, mixed with classic breaks and hard trap.

I know a lot of people ask, so let’s set the record straight- is Eni your real name or is it an alias? How long have you been a DJ?

Eni is actually my real name; it’s a family name from my dad’s side. I’m actually the third- it’s on my birth certificate! I started DJing under the alias Audiofallout back in 2012-2013, but when I started a sound company under the same name people were getting confused. I also had changed my style from strictly Hardstyle to Freestyle so I decided to change my alias to fit my new style and create some separation between my company and myself. I started practicing and learning in 2009 when I bought a pair of belt drive Numark TT1700.

Can you tell us a little bit about how you got into Freestyle and about what your biggest inspirations in this style are?

I got into Freestyle basically by getting bored of just DJ’ing Hardstyle, hahahaha! For a long time I had been a die-hard fan of Hardstyle and could not get enough, but as time went on I felt things get a bit stagnant and needed some variety. I had always loved the dub-style tracks and cross genre stuff so I started to look for that kind of music more and more. I stated finding really cool crossbreed, some sweet trap influenced stuff, and things that broke down to funky house drops for a bit and I fell in love. I wanted to find the coolest most unknown hard dance and bring that up to all the people here in the states.

Eni at KTRA, LA
Eni performing at KTRA, LA

How does Freestyle tie together with your slogan “Eni Kind of Music”?

Well with Freestyle I like to play the spectrum from hard house and Jungle Terror, to Terrorcore and Speedcore… thus my slogan- playing Eni Kind of Music- nothing is off limits. I’ll mix in a lot of random hip-hop and trap influenced stuff, some Cumbia (dance music popular in Latin America), and other genres just to keep it fun and interesting.

You recently played in San Francisco, how did that go? Is the American crowd receptive to the Freestyle sound?

San Francisco was absolutely incredible!!! I had an amazing time out there. It was my first time playing in San Fran and I couldn’t have asked for a better first show. I had a great set and lots of fun. I really love the energy that the Northern California Scene has, it is very reminiscent of the feeling I used to get when I first started going to raves when I was 16. It’s very vibrant, colorful, and youthful. I also got a chance to work with J-Rod, Kriss, Keiji, Kreation, and Hauyon while I was up there. Leading to some really interesting new projects.

As you mentioned, you have a few projects going right now- you been starting to produce, collabs with other American artists, and you’ve been involved with the Hardroadz Media podcast- what can you tell us about those and what can we expect in the future? Anything else we should be watching for?

My trip up to San Francisco inspired me with quite a bit and I have recently started working on a new collab alias with a good buddy who just moved to California from Chile. We have 2 tracks just about finished and I will be dropping the first one at Winterfresh tonight. I haven’t had enough time to really work on many solo projects but I do have a bootleg in the works. Besides that I have been working with another friend of mine as the new host and engineer for the Hardroadz Media podcast. With the podcast we try to focus mostly on American based DJs and producers. It comes down to the fact that Europe and all of their DJs are already established and set, and for the American scene to grow we need to start supporting and showing up for our homegrown talent. For this reason my friend started this podcast. Each month we feature 30 minutes of hand picked tracks and then a 30-minute guest mix. Recently we got lucky and now the show is streamed live on the Department of Hard Dance every third Wednesday of the month, as well as putting it out on SoundCloud.

Anything else you would like to tell the readers of The Hard Data?

I just want to say thank you to everyone who has given me support over these past couple of years. I have been so lucky and blessed to be surrounded by these amazing support structures. I’m very excited with my Dabscouts sponsorship and collaboration. Their designs are pretty awesome and I have been blessed to have their graphic designer and photographer at my disposal. I’m hoping to do some really cool merchandising with them coming out eventually with a fully Eni Kind Of Music clothing line.

Catch Eni at Winterfresh on December 3rd at Union Nightclub in Los Angeles- get your tickets here