What is killing the rave scene in America?

[tambourine-man]

Arguably the Sydney scene is headed in that direction however it is not that far gone. No one is being stabbed (yet, or at least with no reason) but plenty of people are fighting and stealing and can't handle their gear. Over here, the problem is often being blamed on 'gabber', however I strongly disagree as the true hardcore followers probably aren't at the raves in which trouble arises.

I don't think you can blame any particular music style or drug for the death of rave. Every scene blames its more aggressive sub-scene and/or its poison of choice. For you it's DnB and PCP. For Sydney, it's hardcore and methamphetamine. For Melbourne it's GHB. There's always a scapegoat.

Good point.

The reason this sort of trouble occurs at parties is because the parties are not promoted as peaceful gatherings but rather hard, fast and nasty assaults on the senses. Here is a snippet from the flyer of one of the more troublesome parties that has happened this year:

What happened at that party? Fights and theft in the arena, at the train station before and after the event, in the chill area, young kids running around on drugs, you name it.

Not sure I buy that though. Bangface and other UK events have been (and are) advertised with the same "in yer face", "skull-cracking", deep and grimy attitude that you've quoted... and there's relatively little bother in the way of nobheads beating people up. Indeed, perfectly level-headed people are attracted to the genre and the premise of no-nonsense music events.

I think, as others have stated, subcultures only have a limited shelf life. After a few years, the community begins to wane, people move on - both originating artists/DJ's/promoters and punters - and they are replaced by a wider variety of people... perhaps people with a differing outlook on life. As such, things often begin to take on a parody-like quality, where the sub-culture becomes more of a hollow imitation of what preceded it.

The 'scene' doesn't move as such (in that people don't suddenly say: "fuck this, we'll set up camp elsewhere"), but the need for acceptance amongst peers just takes another form in the next generation of ravers/music lovers. If I was 18 again, I'd be looking towards psy-trance for that community feeling and respect.

Subcultures come and go, but the need for community is always there.

 

[Akoto]

We should all get together and throw an invitation only rave to keep all the riffraff out.

Hand ex and acid at the gate to a large field in late summer, complete with lazers and 10000 watt speakers.

Whos in?

 

[staypuft]

^^^you've just described teknival here in ontario...except instead of invitation only it's so far out of the city that only people that are serious into the music/scene make the trip out

 

[sciencedj]

crystal meth killed the rave scene dead

I agree with Staypuft, DRUGS killed the Rave scene. Drugs were responsible for the start of the Rave scene and ultimately have killed the Rave scene.

I think it is kind of ironic that this is happening.

I really do not know for sure , but this is just my opinion.

There are probably many other factors leading to the demise of the Rave scene. Many people have listed a lot of good suggestions in this thread.

 

[Ximot]

died in the late 90s already... maybe i just think that cos I started in 1994 though. maybe what you believe is what you see, I dunno.

edit. oops I was talking about Europe...

 

[axl blaze]

I think it's funny how you guys blame DnB. drum and bass is what got me into the scene a couple years back.

the rave scene is dead because PLUR is dead. am I fitting that jaded, angry, gangster, stereotype now?

 

[Vivid]

i think there's lots of reasons that contributed to the death of the scene including a lot that where mentioned. I think after raves had been around a while and weren't as underground as they once were you got a lot of people going because it was a cool thing to do and not because they loved the scene or the music. People that didn't understand plur, that thought it was just like a club, going just for a night out and to hook up with someone or whatever.

 

[gher]

Not sure I buy that though. Bangface and other UK events have been (and are) advertised with the same "in yer face", "skull-cracking", deep and grimy attitude that you've quoted... and there's relatively little bother in the way of nobheads beating people up. Indeed, perfectly level-headed people are attracted to the genre and the premise of no-nonsense music events.

I'd like to add I've seen flyers to that party at the World Bar in Kings Cross. Considering the patronage for many places in the Cross is drunken bogans and other filth, promoting in places like this only brings in people who go for the wrong reasons. These people don't care about hard dance, they would only go because they know raves are good places to score and take drugs. The more commercial operations are practically indiscriminate about their patronage. Again, this has the effect of attracting many newcomers to the scene and fills up arenas, but these promoters don't really care who they attract as long as they get the $$$.

 

[Jackal]

Come to the UK. Afterparty's at mine

 

[Endless Night]

ecstasy killed the rave scene, with meth bombs and bunk pills, and dealers getting pills for like 4$ and getting away with selling them for 25 to stupid people at raves

 

[staypuft]

^^^ i think you're getting confused...ecstasy (mdma) started the rave scene...ecstasy being criminalized and the black market taking over the sale and production of pills killed the rave scene

 

[antithesis]

I've noticed at a local club I go too the nights where they have big name DJs, light shows, and advertise a whole bunch really don't have that plur/community feel as it does on a non-event night with just local DJs.

On event nights you get an assfuck of people going to roll and pick up girls

Also some drunks, which I fucking can't stand.

 

[alasdairm]

if you're going to ask what's killing the rave scene in america, you have to put forward a reasonable case that the rave scene in america is being killed.

i don't see it. if you think it's being killed, what are you (2nd plural) doing to solve the problem?

alasdair

 

[AudioXTC]

drugs and the other crowd that comes along with them, gangsta dealers and con-artists, kids in polos and dockers coming for drugs, shady ass promotors and fights, mainly over drugs and bitches. the PLUR was sucked out of the scene around here years ago.

 

[donkeyPUNCH]

ITS ALL MEEEEEEEEEEE! thats right I'M KILLING RAVE!!!


hahahahaha

 

[rm-rf]

age...

and fuck all you haters, its all about the MOTHAFUCKING DRUUUM ANNND BAAAAASSS

 

[Akoto]

^^^you've just described teknival here in ontario...except instead of invitation only it's so far out of the city that only people that are serious into the music/scene make the trip out

Damn really? I live in Ontario...I should look into this.

 

[-Guido-]

age...

and fuck all you haters, its all about the MOTHAFUCKING DRUUUM ANNND BAAAAASSS

I like to get down to the dirty Drums and Bass sometimes and have a wicked stompfest but I have encountered to many fuckwits at raves and events that are exclusvely DnB or have a DnB room. More specifically I have had to fight far too many fuckwit DnB heads than I care to mention.

Its just those assholes who give that scene and the people in it a bad reputation. Fuckwit Guidos make true Guidos such as myself look bad and so on and so on. Im sure people such as youself WOOD, and you Axl Blaze contribute to the scene and arent evil DnB heads lol. :D

 

[-Guido-]

ITS ALL MEEEEEEEEEEE! thats right I'M KILLING RAVE!!!


hahahahaha

You.... You... You bastard! The rumours were true... Son of a bitch.

 

[I Liquor All Night]

yea i second the motion that PLUR died so the scene got paralyzed

paralyzed in the sence that it doesnt move emotionally liek it used to , here in Miami 75% percent of the people that hit up our yearly massive (ULTRAfest) are just there for getting fucked up.