The [url=http://www.electricdaisycarnival.com/]Electric Daisy Carnival[/url] held at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino, CA on June 25th was the first rave I have ever attended. For years, I have been desiring the opportunity to experience one. My interest in raves has greatly increased in the past two years, as well, as I have become very passionate about electronic music and its culture. I must declare that Saturday's rave was nothing short of mind-blowing. It was easily the most affecting musical performance I have ever attended. Of course, the magnificence of the experience was also due in large part to having gone with Corrupt, who besides being an amazing individual and friend, is also responsible for fueling my interest in such music over the past year and a half. We are both devoted electronica fans, and it seemed as if this show was tailor made for us.
The event ran from 4 in the afternoon to 2 in the morning, and was comprised of several high profile deejays performing on four different stages. The audience was allowed to wander between stages at their leisure to attend different performances, and there were plenty of free amusement rides, food stands, and music/rave merchandise for sale. It was such a terrific venue, featuring quite a few artists performing live who we were at least somewhat familiar with. Not to mention, it was incredible how friendly practically everyone seemed to be. If someone bumped into you, they would stop and apologise, and then get wrapped up in a ten minute conversation with you about how sensational the music was and the wonderful feelings that were prevailing. Everyone seemed open, approachable, and sincere. Ordinarily, I am not one to feel comfortable in large crowds of human beings, but I actually felt at home with these people. I was quite taken aback by this, but I found it very comforting. As soon as we stepped out of the car in the parking lot, someone complimented Corrupt on his wearing a Happy Tree Friends t-shirt. We knew the evening was going to be something special. Like us, many were prepping themselves for the show by playing electronica in their cars. Before we even stepped in through the gate, I felt as if I actually fit in somewhere for once.
The two ultimate stand-outs of the show for us, though, were Infected Mushroom and Junkie XL. I remember the days of being obsessed with IM's earlier music but having no idea who they were, what they looked like, where they were from, or what they were about. Seven years later, I can safely say that I have come a long way. When we shuffled into Kinetic Field, feeling that familiar infectious beat pulsating through our bodies, I nearly orgasmed. I was quite convinced I was dreaming when I saw the two stellar deejays up there playing "Electro Panic." They played quite a few of our favourite songs, in fact. The lighting effects were spectacular, and the intensity of the music was overpowering. We wouldn't have been able to stop our bodies from moving to the beat if we had wanted to. After awhile, I absolutely felt one with the crowd. The building was packed, and I was surrounded by bodies in motion, all infected and infused with the same melodies as mine was. Some guy randomly put his arm around my shoulder and took our picture together, which I actually did not mind at all. Whereas I would ordinarily feel unacceptably violated by such an act, I instead gave him a high five. And when a girl dancing next to me grabbed my paw and waved it in their air with hers for a few moments, I felt quite ecstatic, to feel so connected with people of such similar passions. It's something I truly have never experienced in person before. It felt no less an appropriate place for my body and spirit than a deep forest draped in the twilight fog. It is my dream, though, to someday set up or attend a rave in such a setting, amongst many others.
When Junkie XL appeared on stage immediately after IM's stellar performance, I began to really feel the euphoria settling in. We managed to squeeze our way in to the very front so that only the railing and the speakers separated us from the stage. I could actually feel the air emitting from the speakers as they thumped with that beautiful rave beat and rattled my internal organs with their bass. Junkie XL has a way of riling up the audience, not only with his splendorous music but his behaviour on stage. He went wild himself at times, letting his music take hold of him as he gazed over a sea of ecstatic faces. He was no less absorbed in the music than the adoring crowd before him, and he wasn't afraid to show it.
Fortunately, I brought my camera to the event, and took not only still pictures, but 30 second movie clips as well. Following are the links to the best captures if anyone cares to take a look.
Infected Mushroom images: [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/im1.jpg]1[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/im2.jpg]2[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/im3.jpg]3[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/im4.jpg]4[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/im5.jpg]5[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/im6.jpg]6[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/im7.jpg]7[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/im8.jpg]8[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/im9.jpg]9[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/im10.jpg]10[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/im11.jpg]11[/url]
Infected Mushroom clips: [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/im1.avi]1[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/im2.avi]2[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/im3.avi]3[/url]
Junkie XL images: [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/jxl1.jpg]1[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/jxl2.jpg]2[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/jxl3.jpg]3[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/jxl4.jpg]4[/url]
Junkie XL clips: [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/jxl1.avi]1[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/jxl2.avi]2[/url] [url=http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/jxl3.avi]3[/url]
http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/killrockstars.jpg
http://images.timbershadows.com/edcrave/gate8fountains.jpg
(I'm too distracted to test all the links, so let me know of any broken ones.)
Yeah, it was nothing short of amazing... but man, I can tell ya; my entire body ached after both performances were finished, and I could barely hear anything at all, even my own voice. But it was da[b][/b]mn worth it. Plus, we had a really nice hotel to stay at afterwards, so it was all good.
When the guy said over the microphone, "You've just had a life-changing experience with INFECTED MUSHROOM!!," he was right. That was easily one of the best nights of my life, and I'm so glad we have the pictures and video clips to look back on. Raptor and I would absolutely love to do this again, and we sure as hell will.
In short, it was a night to remember. Right, Rappybby? :kirby:
It's not a rave unless you pop an E. ;)
It looks great though, the Infected Mushrooms clips especially - I'd really love to know exactly how they do all that live. And I can understand the whole 'life-changing' gig thing.
If you have time, perhaps you could try torrenting a video bootleg of Radiohead live at Glastonbury 2003. It's definitely a rave and the music is more conventional and ambient, but I really liked their performances of a few of their more electronic songs.
Corrupt told me to take a look at this thread while I was on the phone with him, so I did =D
It looks like a great time was had, and while I myself have never been to a rave or anything of the sort (even a concert), I've wanted to go to one. The pictures are nice, I especially like the first Junkie XL one. It's awesum!!!
Yep. That's my two cents. =D
