Field Report 7: Trauma Live’s Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn

The final stop of Trauma’s Harder Styles Tour touched down in Brooklyn Saturday night. As anticipated, the venue was packed with attendees bouncing off the walls. Right off the bat is was amazing to see Lenny Dee and Rob Gee on their home turf, in the borough that made them worldwide names. Rob Gee played his greatest set on the entire tour, and frankly it might have been the single most uplifting and inspiring set –of all sets—on the tour. Rob Gee has always had something special with audiences, but Saturday night in particular he hit a resonant melody with the audience who were 100% in sync with his hardcore vibe.

Dj Deadly Buda at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn
DJ Deadly Buda at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn

But, I’m getting ahead of myself, literally. Yours truly got to open up the night, and thankfully the sound-system was 100% on point, and there was already a crowd ready to rock. I got a chance to bust out some of my favorite tracks from the Next Cyclone label, which are rarely played, and the crowd was well into it. I also got to spin on 4 decks at once, an infrequent pleasure at hardcore shows where oftentimes we are lucky to even be using modern CD-Js!

DJ Stefanie at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn
DJ Stefanie at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn

After I did my stuff, Reactor and Pulsators hit the decks and rocked the crowd with some hardstyle, leading up to the night’s headliner, DJ Stefanie. Basically, she tore it up, showing the USA why she is a big favorite in Europe and even showcased one of her latest tracks. I had the pleasure of filming her live feed on Facebook for the first half hour too. Most of her set it could be seen worldwide!

Lenny Dee at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn
Lenny Dee at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn

Next up was Lenny Dee. As always, it’s a pleasure to see Lenny Dee rocking it in his own backyard. The tough industrial sounds had the ravers rocking to and fro. Hardcore historians know that Lenny Dee might be considered the original hardcore DJ of which we know in the modern era, and to see him in his element, where the sounds were heard that would later inspire the world, was truly moving. He was followed by his frequent partner-in-cacophony, Rob Gee.

Tim Shopp at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn
Tim Shopp at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn

Satronica then hit the decks and continued the holiday of hardcore that had taken over Brooklyn’s legendary club Verboten, leading to up-and-coming, Tim Shopp, who did double duty on the main stage and the second room, keeping the crowd busy the entire night. Tim tore the cap off a shaken pop-bottle of speedcore madness that drove the crowd wild, giving a sneak preview of the coming wave of American Hardcore.

Rob Gee at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn
Rob Gee at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn

Initially looking back on the tour at this early stage of reflection, I think there were tremendous gains made for the American hardcore EDM/Techno scene. Whereas the crowds were not sell-outs, they were decent and more importantly, everyone had a great, and sometimes life changing time. Dealing with music so much on an everyday basis, we music insiders often lose track of how important finding that new sound is to the concert goer… as we count the beans and talk the numbers. Sure, it’s an aspect that cannot be ignored, but ultimately life is remembered in experiences, and Trauma Live made sure to give people an experience they’ll never forget, and I can’t wait to see what happens to this scene next.

DJ Stefanie and Lenny Dee at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn
DJ Stefanie and Lenny Dee at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn

Trauma Field Report 6: Pittsburgh PA

I was born in Pittsburgh, DJed my first rave in Pittsburgh, and when asked where I am from I always want to say Pittsburgh, even if I haven’t had a mailing address there in decades. So it was with keen anticipation that I looked forward to the Pittsburgh edition of the Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016, and it lived up to the hype in my subconscious.

Meccano Twins at Trauma Live's Harder Styles Tour 2016: Pittsburgh
Meccano Twins at Trauma Live’s Harder Styles Tour 2016: Pittsburgh

Every stop on the tour has its unique flavor, and the stop in the Steel City could be best described as one of child-like enthusiasm and fun. Being the least populated city on the tour, that was reflected in the attendance, however, for those that made it out in the 20 degree Fahrenheit cold, it was a life changing and transformative event that most will recognize a few years from now, and one that I see now, simply based on my past experience in this realm.

Tommyknocker at Trauma Live's Harder Styles Tour 2016: Pittsburgh
Tommyknocker at Trauma Live’s Harder Styles Tour 2016: Pittsburgh

There was a crowd of old and new last night. There were a few attendees, such as Dario Kenning, who attended Pittsburgh’s first rave on December 13, 1991, the Psychotronic Slack Rave. Dan Mross and Colby Newton, veterans of the Turbo Zen days, were also in attendance. They were joined by a new breed of ravers, getting a taste of hardcore for the first time, or at least the first time live.

In fact, that was the interesting thing, all along the tour. In the early rave days, we were introducing a hodge-podge of music to the crowd, blending it together and making something new. Hardcore EDM, or techno if you like, harkens back to that pivotal moment in rave history. It was the point where the ravers made their own sound. That sound is an alternative sound to the mainstream, so that in many ways the evolution of hardcore is unrecognized in the mainstream, and why it feels so fresh and exciting when the curious party-goer stumbles upon it, or searches and finally finds it. It feels different when you are there, and you know it.

I started off the night playing some new tracks created by Subterranean and Nickolai, remixes of my old “Playing Echoes in Your Head” EP from 1996, a 20 year old record that still sounds fresh today, and now even fresher with the updates. I was followed by Buzz Fuzz, SRB, Meccano Twins and then Tommyknocker. Tommyknocker really knocked it out of the park last night, his set was spot on, tight and driving. No disrespect to myself, SRB, Buzz and Meccano, we all played nice sets, but the crowd finally arrived during Tommy’s set and he made sure they got their money’s worth once they stepped on the dance floor. Up next was the crowd favorite, hardstyle heroine, DJ Stefanie. She had the crowd bopping away, and was probably the most popular last night.

Dr. Peacock at Trauma Live's Harder Styles Tour 2016: Pittsburgh
Dr. Peacock at Trauma Live’s Harder Styles Tour 2016: Pittsburgh
MC RTSier of Rotterdam Terror Corps at Trauma Live's Harder Styles Tour 2016: Pittsburgh
MC RTSier of Rotterdam Terror Corps at Trauma Live’s Harder Styles Tour 2016: Pittsburgh

Dr. Peacock was up next, and played what might have been his best set on the tour so far. I didn’t think he could surpass the Denver show, but his sweet melodies and international flavor really enraptured the crowd last night. I might be tempted to say he had my favorite set of the night, but it would be a close coin-flip between all the stars. Let’s put it this way: last night I started to understand what all the buzz was about Dr. Peacock. He’s doing something different, and the crowd is getting into it.

Rotterdam Terror Corps assaulted the stage next with their trademarked brand of chaos. Huge kick drums, terror noises, scary make-up and gabber strippers whipped the crowd into a frenzy. Then, as has been the tradition on the tour, Rob Gee wrapped up the show with his recent tracks, and then ended with a classic, “Ecstacy, You Got What I Need,” which is coming up on its 20 year anniversary. Apparently there is going to be a number of remixes coming out this year by top hardcore artists. The icing on the cake was when Rob made sure to do a final encore for the fans.

I hurried up to the door, and passed out the last few copies of The HARD DATA, and then kicked it with some of my homies from back in the day. Next up, the home of USA hardcore, Brooklyn, NYC. Until then, remember…

The rhythm is life and death!

-Deadly Buda

 

Field Report 5: Trauma Live’s Harder Styles Tour 2016: Denver

Extreme turbulence courtesy of the Rocky Mountain winds greeted my airplane as it hurtled towards Denver International Airport. A portent of the sonic turbulence that would test the unsuspecting speakers of the Summit Music Hall, courtesy of Trauma Live’s Harder Styles Tour 2016 and their awesome line-up of talent: Tonegenerator, Imperium, Buzz Fuzz, Dr. Peacock, Digital Punk, Tommyknocker, Rotterdam Terror Corps, Partyraiser, Rob Gee, and Meccano Twins. The master of ceremonies was once again MC Ruffian, hosting the party in adroit fashion.

Obviously word got out about the tour. From the very beginning the crowd was present. Denver Hard Dance co-promoted the event. They walked around Boulder, Colorado, with a boom-box, blasting Dr. Peacock mixes as they passed out flyers in the home of the Buffaloes. It was great to see a… how should I put it, well… a hippie crowd, getting down to hardcore EDM. As a former resident of Colorado, this was always a bit of a dream of mine and to see it coming to reality was personally gratifying. Sometimes things just take a little time.

As with the previous stops on the tour, the crowd was treated to a once-in-a-lifetime assemblage of talent. My message is simple here, you are never going to see anything like this again. Sure, there will be big shows and festivals in the future, but to see such a solid line-up of talent in a relatively small venue only happens at the very beginning of a scene. It’s a moment when desire overtakes rational thinking, when dedication to the art is more important than practical realities and sleep is banished from the nighttime hours in favor of execution and release. Attendees will be bragging about their attendance for decades in the future.

As noted, Tonegenerator and Imperium got the crowd warmed up with their home-grown sounds, leading the way for Buzz Fuzz’s gabber insanity, followed by yet another absolutely brutal jack-hammer assault of industrial hardcore by Meccano Twins. Tommyknocker showcased the Traxtorm signature sound, once again letting the Trauma audience know, as mentioned in his excellent track, “Nobody’s Stopping This.”

Tommyknocker drops it in Denver @Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016.

Posted by Joel Bevacqua on Saturday, February 20, 2016

Digital Punk was up next, laying down the rawstyle law. At one point he did something pretty cool. Not content with simply encouraging the fans to put their hands in the air, he moseyed right in the crowd, kneeled down and stuck his arms right in there with them. It was a nice personal touch that really looked cool if you were there to see it in person.

Digital Punk and friends.

Posted by Joel Bevacqua on Saturday, February 20, 2016

Up next was Dr. Peacock and this guy was right at home with the crowd, as he played his internationally flavored hardcore to the open-minded Colorado crowd.

Dr. Peacock pumps up Denver @Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016.

Posted by Joel Bevacqua on Saturday, February 20, 2016

Instead of the usual hakke dance you see folks do at these events, the crowd was dancing in more of a jig-like fashion. Since I’m so busy bouncing around the party taking pictures, schmoozing backstage, and making sure The Hard Data gets passed out, I haven’t had the chance to dance as much as I’d like to so far on the tour. But, I made sure I got to cut a little rug during Dr. Peacock.

Dr. Peacock rocking Denver @Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016.

Posted by Joel Bevacqua on Saturday, February 20, 2016

Partyrasier hit the decks next. It was a classic Partyraiser set, and perhaps one of his best. He was mixing up a storm and really conversing with the audience via his music.

Partyraiser ripping it up in Denver @Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016.

Posted by Joel Bevacqua on Saturday, February 20, 2016

This set the stage for Rottedam Terror Corps who put on a righteous, outrageous spectacle, as is their forte. Their old school kick drums brought back that bouncy sound I remember from my raving days in the 90’s – but combined with the hard terror-filled screeches of the modern era. That, combined with basically an X-rated stage show, let’s you know you’re not in Kansas anymore. Honestly they have to tone their show down just a bit for the American audience, but even so it’s still a riot.

Rob Gee completed the night to a captivated crowd with a broad selection of his hits old and new. Rob Gee has done an amazing job at updating his sound to the modern era, and the best example of that is his recent track with Adaro, Dark Universe. I’m hoping at the next stop on the tour, Pittsburgh, he busts out my current fave of his, “Music is the Drug” that he recently did with The BeatKrusher.

Speaking of Pittsburgh, that’s the stop I finally get to hit the main stage at, and I can’t wait because I will be busting out a new track I got Pittsburgh local Subterranean to whip up: a remix of my old track Housewrecker, this time with a sort of hardstyle/dubstep combination flavor going on. You’ll hear it there first. Until then, I’m going to enjoy one more day in the Rockies, recovering from the tour so far and resting up for the last leg. This is Deadly Buda signing off, and always remember, the rhythm is life and death!

Field Report 4: Trauma in Mesa AZ

As my plane touched down on the sun-baked earth of Phoenix, Arizona, a sigh of relief and relaxation overcame my body and mind. Much like a sun-worshipping retiree, I was looking forward to a relaxing night of music and friendship in the warm cleave of the desert.

SRB and Meccano Twins at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016, Mesa, AZ
SRB and Meccano Twins at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016, Mesa, AZ

The phone rang. It was Kari. “Hey man, can you rent a van for us? My flight got messed up.” In the world of hardcore EDM, at least in America, you have to wear lots of hats: DJ, publisher, producer, promoter… and so adding chauffeur to the list was now second nature, “Sure.”

Then, look what entered the modest suburban minivan I procured: MC Rtiser! ”How the heck did this guy get through TSA Screening?” I think to myself. I then spend the majority of the night transporting van-loads of ridiculously talented Dutch and Italians, to and from the event, running on stage to snap pictures and get a good listen so I could report to the THD faithful.

Meccano Twins and Ruffian at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016
Meccano Twins and Ruffian at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016

As Kari languished in LAX stand-by, Brandon SDK made sure the party went off without a hitch. Which is good, as fans were driving from all over the Southwest, particularly SoCal, to see the leg 2 version of the Trauma line-up. It was another sure-fire killer this time with Ruffian as Master of Ceremonies: Rotterdam Terror Corps, Digital Punk, Buzz Fuzz, Partyraiser, SRB, Tommyknocker, Mrotek, Arktus, CIK, Dr. Peacock, Rob Gee and Meccano Twins lit the place on fire, as if the desert needed to get any hotter than it already was.

Tommyknocker drops the bomb on Arizona on the Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016.

Posted by Joel Bevacqua on Saturday, February 20, 2016

Mrotek and Arktus turned on the rawstyle to get the surprisingly large crowd for the first set pumped up. CIK laid down the Arizona law, showcasing that state’s great hardcore producers. They have a tough, complex sound that we have written of before in The HARD DATA (check out our interview in issue 2). Next Buzz Fuzz delivered the classic Rotterdam gabber sound to the growing crowd. SRB went off with a heavy speedcore set, explaining to me that he figured he could get away with playing it at the beginning or at the end of the night, so he ramped up the beats-per-minute to 300 and asked the terror-loving crowd if they “Had a Friend in Jesus” with his last track of the night.

Then came the first ever USA appearance of Meccano Twins. It was incredible! Tough brutal hardcore rocked the crowd and led up to Tommyknocker who fittingly “knocked it out of the park” as he laid down one Traxtorm hit after the next. Luckily, I even got a chance to interview Tommy later in show (stay tuned for that in the next issue).

Dr. Peacock in Arizona, ruffling some feathers on Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016.

Posted by Joel Bevacqua on Saturday, February 20, 2016

The most popular set of the night was Digital Punk, laying down the thick Unleashed rawstyle sound to the new breed of ravers. Then came Dr. Peacock.

Digital Punk in his first ever USA appearance on the Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016 in Arizona.

Posted by Joel Bevacqua on Saturday, February 20, 2016

I must say you should treat yourself and hear this guy live if you can. He played a wonderful, innovative hardcore live-PA that incorporates musical influences from all over the globe. Just in case you weren’t tired enough, Partyraiser stepped to the decks and resumed the all-out kick-drum assault, paving the way for Rotterdam Terror Corps.

Rotterdam Terror Corps says hello to Arizona.

Posted by Joel Bevacqua on Saturday, February 20, 2016

Honestly, I only caught the beginning of their set because I then had to go on an extended hotel run with the previously playing artists. So, I can only say the crowd seemed into it at the beginning and RTC honestly did sound scary as hell. It was one of those moments where you think, “modern existence is so completely messed up, that Rotterdam Terror Corps makes 100% logical sense.” I mean, think about it, that is kinda scary. Hopefully tonight in Denver I can give a more thorough review of RTC. Last but certainly not least was Rob Gee, the only artist on every stop of the tour. Of course he was great, and the crowd loved him. Read the past couple reviews for a more thorough description and video if you aren’t familiar with the Gee Man yet.

Partyrasier at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016
Partyrasier at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016

The only downer of the night was Alien T didn’t play. I was looking forward to hearing him play “Hammer of the Devil.” Apparently there was some screw up or miscommunication, and he didn’t come to the states. Hopefully that isn’t a permanent problem because I think the American audience would love his sound. I guess we should stay tuned for more info on that. All in all though as you can see, hear and read, it was a great night for hardcore and hardstyle in Arizona.

I just touched down in Denver where I am finishing this piece. As word gets out about the tour, each stop seems to get bigger and bigger. Apparently there is a lot of buzz in Denver for tonight so we shall see! Until the next time…

The rhythm is life and death!

DJ Deadly Buda

 

DJ Buzz Fuzz: The Trauma Harder Styles 2016 Interview

This interview was conducted back in August of 2015 by Mindcontroller when Buzz Fuzz and a few other names on this current line up of the Trauma tour first came through the US. Seeing as it is important to get to know who you’re going to go see, let this be the manifest of the legendary Buzz Fuzz so that you can pay your proper respects when he rolls through your town! Buzz Fuzz will be appearing this Friday, February 19th in Mesa, Arizona. February 20th in Denver Colorado. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on the 26th, and closing in Brooklyn, New York, February 27th! Hard en heerlijk!

Artist dates for the Trauma Tour
Buzz Fuzz is coming to a city near you! Click HERE to purchase your tickets to the Trauma Tour and receive a FREE subscription to the HARD DATA!

What year did you get into DJing/the Rave scene?
1987. I was playing hip-hop, swing beat, and R&B in a religious club.  The rave portion started in 1991 where we played Hardcore/House.

What came first DJ or producing?
DJing. Then I started producing in 1993 with The Prophet.

What drew you to the Hardcore techno sound?
My ex girlfriend, actually. She invited me out. At the time, I didn’t know anything about “raving”. I went to the show and The Prophet was playing. At that point, I said, “Yes! This is going to be it.” I haven’t been out since.

What inspired the name Buzz Fuzz? Is there a meaning behind it?
It was found in quick thinking. The guy who organizes the parties for ISB, the Hellraisers stuff, said he needed a new DJ, but I needed a name! I had this record from King B, and it said it’s the king ‘B’ for buzz and fuzz and since my last name is Vos, I decided to take those two words.

Who was your biggest inspiration in the early part of your career?

The Prophet, he was the first one to show me how everything works.

What was your first DJ gig as Buzz Fuzz?

It was in 1991 for ISB, the Hellraiser guy: ‘The Bloom Party’, and The Prophet said, “I was supposed to play with Dano, but he’s got the flu. You bring your three turntables and I’ll bring my three.”, so we’ve got six turntables and two mixers, and we connected it all together and played for six hours.

What’s the funniest moment you ever had during one of your performances?
One time I was playing in Amsterdam, and I was really fucked up; I could hardly stand. I was into vodka, pills, and stuff. Lenny D said, “Oh my god Buzz, are you going to be able to play?” I said, “Just get me to the turntables!”, and I played a marvelous set. No mistakes. Then I collapsed right at the end.

What would you consider your best DJ gig to date? Thunderdome in Hamburg, and Dance Valley.

DJ Buzz Fuzz performing for Thunderdome in Florida.
Buzz Fuzz playing in Thunderdome Florida!

What’s your favorite collaboration?
My work with The Prophet. We made a lot of tracks in his studio. When we get together it’s like magic. We would finish two tracks a day! And Gizmo of course. We made seven tracks in two days. One of them was Brand New Dance. We were really fucked up but the track was, and is, still awesome.

Hardcore has really changed since the ’90s. What’s your take on today’s Hardcore scene?
I think mainstream Hardcore has gotten too simple. Everybody’s producing the same style. And there is even more mainstream now.

Out of the new batch of DJs and producers out there, who’s your favorite? Whose sound stands out the most?
Angerfist. I discovered him. I was playing in Austria, where I received a stack of demo CDs. One was a double CD (Angerfist’s). It blew my mind. I referred him to Art of Dance. He became my protege, but that didn’t last long, he was already very good.

Any current projects?
My label, BZRK Records! It was laying low for a while, but now it’s back! I’m doing some collaborations with some new artists for it. The future looks promising.

Are you going to do any updated versions of some of your classics?
Oh yeah! Frequencies, an XTC Love remix by Deepack, and Brand New Dance.

What advice would you give to any up-and-coming hardcore producers?
Think with your heart, not your brain. That’s the main point. When you’re good enough, you can make it. Don’t try to copy. Be yourself.

 

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Catch Buzz Fuzz on the last four dates of the Trauma Tour!

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