> Moby, The Cool Kids, Dieselboy, Benny Benassi, Deadmau5, Girl Talk, > James Zabiela. if that isnt the definition of a pedestrian rave, i > dont know what is.
it isn't and you don't. i was a raver. i went to something like 65 raves between 1993-1994. there are many festivals all over the country that really are outdoor raves. the detroit festival has certainly headed a bit in that direction. it's an insult to the great artists who still perform in abundance at the festival (hi shake) to say it's just another one of those festivals. it isn't, yet, and while I balked at Paxahau when they took over the festival, I don't think they will ever take Detroit's legacy and Detroit music out of the equation you list 7 names out of a roster of something like 100, with how many different stages now? 4? 5? you over generalize on one hand or pick and choose in order to make your argument, that doesn't fly with me. I heard from people whose taste i respect as highly as yours that last year's festival was one of the best since the first two. they acknowledged that there were a bunch of BS performers there but said they were mostly confined to one stage. they said they bounced from one great performance by a Detroit great to another, rattling off a long and impressive list -- the only two names that I can remember right now are Shake and Three Chairs, because I slept like sh%t last night, but they convinced me that rumors of the demise of the festival's greatness have been greatly exaggerated. > then just dont do it at all. its better than being disingenuous at > best, a profiteer at worst. Gimme a break. I understand yours and MEK's stance that somehow they are being disingenuous by using the DEMF name. Are there any other electronic festivals in Detroit? Then it is going to be widely known as the Detroit Electronic Music Festival whether they officially call it that or not. I think reading insidious designs into that are ridiculous. Who cares. > i dont want that, like i said, i would be more happy for a much > smaller scaled back free thing that actually represented detroit than > some rave. Detroit is represented. American techno and house is represented. BS global DJ stars are represented too, unfortunately, but that's the state of things. Don't go to that tent. It does suck that you have to lower your expectations a bit. If you want to support good Detroit/American electronic music producers without dropping twice as much $$ to exit the country, this is your chance. Don't punish Shake because Dieselboy plays music for toolbags. > i'm so glad that corporations dictate what music matters in detroit. > sorry, but f*ck that nonsense. What music matters in Detroit? I don't understand that wording. They have control over what music gets exposure at the festival. They can't make people like it or make it resonate with Detroit. Otherwise, welcome to the world. Big events need big sponsors. That's been an element that hasn't increased at the festival, it's greatly diminished. The sponsorship was much more over the top in the first few years. Now it is hard enough to rustle up enough small sponsors to take a chance even with the addition of vetted mainstream BS. That's the state of electronic music in the USA right now. > instead of being the solution they are part of the problem. that is > going to solve a lot. Where else are you going to see all those Detroit artists (and some good stuff from Europe too, I'm sure) perform in the USA? The festival doesn't bring any money or attention to the city, really? Really? C'mon. > i would be perfectly fine for things to happen somewhere else, and i > would prefer outdoors as well as it is just more fun that way. but it > has to be in the city. the rave can go to the suburbs, thats where all > the attendees are coming from anyway. Well now you're talking politics not music. I am with you on a lot of the politics, probably, mostly. But there are also larger issues at hand to consider. Electronic music is in such dire shape in the USA that providing a platform for American electronic musicians is my primary concern.
