I started going out at the very beginning of the 90s, to "normal" provincial nightclubs, then london clubs playing rave, hardcore, techno, and some underground raves. Since then I've been playing and attending clubs and festivals where techno, house, electro, jungle etc were played.
I will always love this music.
This week I went to a kind of 50s club where they played old RnB, ska, soul and rock n roll.
Some of the music is great but it's not really my taste. But what was amazing was everyone was friendly, they were talking, people were dancing in couples, not necessarily romantically involved but just dancing together. I made new friends. Everyone was open even though I obviously wasn't from their scene, just from the way I dress.
It made me realise how solitary it can be going to electronic clubs. The music's too loud to talk and everybody dances alone. It's almost impossible to meet new people in these places. It suddenly seems like quite an unhealthy thing, you're in a place with loads of people but there's no real interaction. Even at the peak of the rave days, you might get a hug and "where you from mate?" but not a lot more.
Perhaps I am a bit twisted in my perceptions of things because as a DJ I very very often am in clubs where I don't know anyone and I'm leaving the city or country the next day. So clubs have become extra-solitary places for me. But still.... it was an eye-opener.
I won't be selling my Transmat records but I might learn some basic dance steps...
I will always love this music.
This week I went to a kind of 50s club where they played old RnB, ska, soul and rock n roll.
Some of the music is great but it's not really my taste. But what was amazing was everyone was friendly, they were talking, people were dancing in couples, not necessarily romantically involved but just dancing together. I made new friends. Everyone was open even though I obviously wasn't from their scene, just from the way I dress.
It made me realise how solitary it can be going to electronic clubs. The music's too loud to talk and everybody dances alone. It's almost impossible to meet new people in these places. It suddenly seems like quite an unhealthy thing, you're in a place with loads of people but there's no real interaction. Even at the peak of the rave days, you might get a hug and "where you from mate?" but not a lot more.
Perhaps I am a bit twisted in my perceptions of things because as a DJ I very very often am in clubs where I don't know anyone and I'm leaving the city or country the next day. So clubs have become extra-solitary places for me. But still.... it was an eye-opener.
I won't be selling my Transmat records but I might learn some basic dance steps...