The REAL American Techno Scene Thread.

[Dustin Zahn]

It's true...much of the U.S. scene ends up becoming a dick-measuring contest. There are some serious attitudes and egos in the way of things but I feel that everyone gets what they deserve in the end depending on how you look at it. I've been saying that the techno artists need to unify for the past few years and it's finally beginning to happen.

Infrastructure and Friction Detroit are great examples. They're all really fun guys who are more or less looking to have a good time and throw a good party rather than doing things to simply get ahead. The last couple one-offs they've done they have allowed Abiotic to be a part of it and it has been nothing but good and fun results everytime. I think a few of the pockets of techno resistance throughout the country are finally realizing its time to start working together, and are working to overcome the geographical problems of the country.

Hopefully more of this will happen with other groups included. If it keeps working like this things could really fun.

[Internal Error Records]

i dunno. i see so many people from america on the BOA forum busting their asses to get stuff done, i have a hard time believing USA techno is suffering at all.

its all a matter of perspective. almost all of us in this thread appear to live in cities with much larger techno than harcore/gabber scenes for example.

i wonder if its a part of the techno mentallity to feel like we exist in a position of inferiority.

its time to admit that the last 3 years in america have seen techno strongest since the early 90's.

[S/E]

i personally find that europeans are alot more friendly towards each other than the americans

That is true. I have met some cool people here in the US since I have moved here, but the majority of people are not that way at all. Having recently moved here from Toronto, Canada(where people are much friendlier generally speaking), I really notice the difference. People don't look at each other while walking down the street here. It's kind of weird. That is just the way a lot of people are in the northeast of the US.

The people in our small dance scene seem to be a friendly, dedicated bunch however. Its a cool crowd to chill with, we just need more of them!

[audioinjection]

hmmm, to say most americans are not cool is a bold statement

how long you've been living here?

[S/E]

hmmm, to say most americans are not cool is a bold statement

how long you've been living here?

I have been here two months right now. I have met a fair amount of cool people, I apologize for wording it the wrong way. Perhaps its just a different culture and I am still getting used to it. I am from Canada, where strangers are generally friendlier to each other than they are here. I am referring to the random people that you would see and interact with while taking a bus or at the airport. That is what I should have said. My apologies. Maybe that is what makes the two countries different?

My mistake for not being terribly clear about my statement.

[audioinjection]

its all good, but then again you're on the east coast, i've never been there but from what i've heard, a lot of people on the east coast aren't the nicest people

[S/E]

its all good, but then again you're on the east coast, i've never been there but from what i've heard, a lot of people on the east coast aren't the nicest people

I've been told that by my wife and she was born in Pennsylvania. :lol:

I am also undoubtedly dealing with a bit of culture shock.

[tocsin]

its all a matter of perspective. almost all of us in this thread appear to live in cities with much larger techno than harcore/gabber scenes for example.

Amen to that. But, I was including hardcore/gabber under the whole "techno" umbrella. I really haven't seen any big growth of techno in NYC. Clubs have shut down that catered to it. Crowds have thinned in a number of ways. This is of course a completely different perspective in that it is "scene" related and not so much "music" related. I still thik NYC has some good artists that are doing something different. As I said, I'm cynical right now but also optimistic. Once the right spark hits in NYC, things are going to change for the better. It's how it always works. I think people have grown more than sick of the interference of the state in nightlife over the past 8-10 years and are going to shake it off in one way or another in the near future. That will definitely make me happier since, as you've mentioned, hardcore/gabber has been having dificulty in my surroundings for years and I'd like to be able to play it out in public more often. :)

[The Overfiend]

It's true us east enders are not the friendliest people.

[The Overfiend]

its all a matter of perspective. almost all of us in this thread appear to live in cities with much larger techno than harcore/gabber scenes for example.

Amen to that. But, I was including hardcore/gabber under the whole "techno" umbrella. I really haven't seen any big growth of techno in NYC. Clubs have shut down that catered to it. Crowds have thinned in a number of ways. This is of course a completely different perspective in that it is "scene" related and not so much "music" related. I still thik NYC has some good artists that are doing something different. As I said, I'm cynical right now but also optimistic. Once the right spark hits in NYC, things are going to change for the better. It's how it always works. I think people have grown more than sick of the interference of the state in nightlife over the past 8-10 years and are going to shake it off in one way or another in the near future. That will definitely make me happier since, as you've mentioned, hardcore/gabber has been having dificulty in my surroundings for years and I'd like to be able to play it out in public more often. :)

:clap: :clap: :clap:

[xfive]

hmmm, to say most americans are not cool is a bold statement

how long you've been living here?

I have been here two months right now. I have met a fair amount of cool people, I apologize for wording it the wrong way. Perhaps its just a different culture and I am still getting used to it. I am from Canada, where strangers are generally friendlier to each other than they are here. I am referring to the random people that you would see and interact with while taking a bus or at the airport. That is what I should have said. My apologies. Maybe that is what makes the two countries different?

My mistake for not being terribly clear about my statement.

DC is almost worse than NYC as far as snobbyness/eliteism goes...
And besides... Richmond is becoming more of a techno hub than DC as time goes on. They lost all decent record stores... and now all those kids are coming down here to buy records.

[Joseph Isaac]

When I lived in Oregon, there was always a party going off in the woods somewhere
which, if a policeman (usually a forrest ranger) happened to roll by, they'd just wave or check to make sure the
fire pits were safe and then leave.

One of the benefits of Oregon... :clap:

[mek]

The northwest seems pretty laid back... I played at a party in Seattle this summer, an approved and permitted party on a federal airstrip!

[Joseph Isaac]

The northwest seems pretty laid back... I played at a party in Seattle this summer, an approved and permitted party on a federal airstrip!

Yes, it is true, we are REALLY laid back...probably has to do with the herb 'round here...

The problem here is that so many folks are so close-minded when it comes to techno because

1) People think the rave/dance scene here is a spiritual "church" to bring together "temporary" members for spiritual enlightenment which means they only listen to shitty breaks and trance.

2) Most openly admit that they dont' "get it".

3) Are wacked-out hippies.

Now, many will reply with, "Well, you need to expose more folks to the likes of techno music." Been there, done that, and have the receipts to prove how it doesn't work...Lost waaaay too much dough in throwing techno events in the NW. Jay Denham 2.5 years ago yielded 60 people (half paid). Billy Nasty in 2001, people complained that the music was too repetitive. Its truly frustrating here....That's why I'm glad to hear that shit is going down in places like Minneapolis and what not...

[djshiva]

i dunno. i see so many people from america on the BOA forum busting their asses to get stuff done, i have a hard time believing USA techno is suffering at all.

its all a matter of perspective. almost all of us in this thread appear to live in cities with much larger techno than harcore/gabber scenes for example.

i wonder if its a part of the techno mentallity to feel like we exist in a position of inferiority.

its time to admit that the last 3 years in america have seen techno strongest since the early 90's.

we like to be the underdogs...riles us up! ;)

i do think american techno is at its strongest point i have seen it in years...

the producers are dope, the music is hot and the camraderie is definitely there. while there is always competition, i have felt nothing but love and support from the US techno community at large, and i think as small as the scene is here, it's BECAUSE it's small that we all stick together...

[anx]

Yes, it is true, we are REALLY laid back...probably has to do with the herb 'round here...

The problem here is that so many folks are so close-minded when it comes to techno because

1) People think the rave/dance scene here is a spiritual "church" to bring together "temporary" members for spiritual enlightenment which means they only listen to shitty breaks and trance.

2) Most openly admit that they dont' "get it".

3) Are wacked-out hippies.

you just described my scene to a T

hilarious

[Joseph Isaac]

Yes, it is true, we are REALLY laid back...probably has to do with the herb 'round here...

The problem here is that so many folks are so close-minded when it comes to techno because

1) People think the rave/dance scene here is a spiritual "church" to bring together "temporary" members for spiritual enlightenment which means they only listen to shitty breaks and trance.

2) Most openly admit that they dont' "get it".

3) Are wacked-out hippies.

you just described my scene to a T

hilarious

Hahaha......

[viagratek]

techno needs more breakdancing bears :clap:

[S/E]

i do think american techno is at its strongest point i have seen it in years...

the producers are dope, the music is hot and the camraderie is definitely there. while there is always competition, i have felt nothing but love and support from the US techno community at large, and i think as small as the scene is here, it's BECAUSE it's small that we all stick together...

It seems that way to me after being here for a while as well. The people who are into techno stick together and seem to make a genuine effort to build some sort of scene instead of stepping all over each other to get ahead. Their shared interests bring them together and since they realize that there aren't many people who are a part of that community, they see that it is best to work together instead of being competitive.

[tocsin]

It seems that way to me after being here for a while as well. The people who are into techno stick together and seem to make a genuine effort to build some sort of scene instead of stepping all over each other to get ahead. Their shared interests bring them together and since they realize that there aren't many people who are a part of that community, they see that it is best to work together instead of being competitive.

Actually, that is what I don't see in my area. People play that idea a lot of lip service but, when it comes down to it and you are possibly in a slot that someone else wants, the same type of petty bickering and backstabbing comes up. I got so tired of it that I, and the others I make music with, went completely nomadic and won't affiliate with any crew. In fact, I find that the people who talk about the unity and support they have for everyone in my backyard so much to be the biggest liars. To put it simply, their actions do not live up to their words and I've seen my friends andmyself get dicked as a direct result which, later, the people won't even have the balls to come straight with. Rather, they try and blame it on you. It's even like this to a degree at a number of the outlaws. Everyone wants their timeslots and perception of stardom in the immediate area which naturally results in them stepping on the toes of others. For those of us who don't give a shit, it's not even worth playing the
game. I don't really bother sending demo mixes around to anyone anymore unless they ask for one and am much more happy working on my own music at home. I've found the whole game surrounding the techno scene in NYC to be as annoying as entertainment related stuff when I lived in Los Angeles. Nothing that I physically see in NYC speaks to any unity or support from one another in a techno "scene" and that will largely contribute to keeping it stagnant. Hell, when you have crews calling the cops on free park parties, it's a great reminder that it's not all good amongst the techno crowd. But, as I said, I'm still optimistic. However, the people who will be responsible for bringing the spark back to NYC, in my opinion, will probably come from out of nowhere and be completely unknown to most of the people playing the game in the city right now. It will be interesting to see if my guts are right and those people become swallowed up by the old game or create a new one. There were a number of crews a few years
ago that I thought had the momentum to bring this about. But, for multiple reasons, the energy faded out and they fell to the wayside.