I attended one rave for about 30 minutes back around 1998, and it's only because a friend and I did the media promotion for it.

It wasn't for me.

I was always impressed at how peaceful these thing seemed to stay. And the only time I went, it was cool to watch people have a good time -- but I was there fairly early, then bolted. I can't imagine being in that raucous environment all night with non-stop music blasting, an intoxicated shoulder-to-shoulder crowd, and the growing stench of countless sweaty bodies.

Lammastide said:

In all cases, raves like THAT^ lasts until wake-up morning hours. And even then, that crowd is slow in leaving the place!

Glitter. Glow Sticks, and people twirling flags are three of my least favorite things.

I miss dancing all night.

I haven't been to a rave in over 10 years. I went to some of the first raves in Minneapolis, starting when I was 17 and only went for a few years. By age 21-22 they made me feel old.

I had a great time when I was going, but I can't imagine attending now. I can't stay up that late anymore.

Either in 1994 or 1995, probably.

I don't miss anything like that at all. Sure I've gone to dance music clubs later on, but it's not exactly the same of course. In the electronic music circles in general, it has always amused me how different the individuals who are responsible for the music are from the people who attend the parties.

God, at least 10 years now

But I used to go to Miami's Ultra Music festivals up until 2005/2006-ish I think. It's essentially like a giant festival/rave.


Some part of me misses dancing till the wee hours of the morning. There's nothing like leaving a club drenched in sweat and watching the sun rise over Florida . Dancing can be a very spiritual thing when people connect or 'plug in' to that experience.

The problem is that I'm too old now (look, if you're older than 30, you have to ask yourself whey you're always out at the clubs ) to go out to wee hours of the night and still maintain a day job--or for that matter, still be worth a damned on weekends or rejuvinated by Monday. Also, I'd rather save my money for travelling, outdoor adventures, etc.---nobody looks back on their lives and says, "Man, I used to rave!" as something worth writing home about .
Now, sitting in a classroom of 25 kids in Thailand and listening to a ladyboy rework the ending of "treasure island" where Captain Black decides to renounce violence so he can go shopping for expensive Gucci, Prada, and Louis Viton cloths with his treasure --- that's worth writing home about.

Gawd, I am old.

I kinda always liked certain kinds of trance, but never got into it, as I already attended the burial of house music in, I think it was 1990 or 1991...

Trance was already there of course, bastard child of house, but ever since it got big I never got into it.

I loved the sweaty bodies during the house periods, but what was good about it was that it was in small clubs here in Amsterdam. Trance parties were for the masses and the soul was taken out of it and it just got mindless and dumb.

Gawd, Lammastide, the sweaty bodies were a part of it, but I admit, so were E. and coke and lots of vodka/OJ's, what probably made it bearable. (grin)

The only time I ever got back to THAT kind of euphoria, without the chemical nudges, was during a The Knife concert a few years ago.

CarrieMpls said:

Don't be bad at all. I was age 28 during the time of my last rave. But I also remember seeing a mother & daughter duo that was at this specific rave that night at well. They were dress like sister kittens and all! The mother look like she was in her late 40's at the time.

TheVoid said:

It's tough for the age 30-somethings. We're too old for the hip-hip/rap & electronic rave crowd. But we're also too young for the blues & classical crowd as well.

Meh, that's what free jazz was invented for.

TheVoid said:

I haven't been to or even used the word rave since around 93-ish...the only thing I miss about it is the music but I still keep up with club/dance music and associated djs...

novabrkr said:

.....and jazz fusion.

also, PROG:

Do I miss the rave culture? HELL, NO

I have always liked electronica for the icy, isolated feel it has, I mean, one or two guys, building strong rhythms and melodies with their drum machines and synths and other stuff, all ALONE in their studio or even in their house...

I never got the point of those mainstream electronic parades, full of hipsters or stoned fellas...

But I still enjoy listening and dancing to Goldie or any other 90's electro artist in a retro club...

I never thought I'd live to see the day anything from the 90s would get called "retro". Let alone jungle.
[Edited 2/22/10 11:25am]

novabrkr said:

It's been, at least, 16 years. Time to move on...

I've never been to one. I had no interest hanging out with a bunch of under aged, sweaty slimy, candy kids that were drunk and high on e and the older gross men that hung around them. Gurning people make me wanna puke.

Raves still happen around these parts now and then...

novabrkr said:

That's interesting. Could you say more about that? Different in age, scene, appreciation of music -- in what ways do you mean?

They don't usually dance themselves.

The electronic musicians I've known myself - even those who do straightforward dance stuff - are usually rather introverted and are just interested in their gadgets. The DJs might be different in that regard, but the muso types aren't the ones that like to party themselves. I know it varies, but that's just how it goes according to my own experiences. Of course I tend to gravitate towards the IDM / progressive house -end of things, rather than some run-of-the-mill -trancey stuff.

novabrkr said:

That's interesting.

That hasn't been what I've seen - in several electronic music scenes that I've been surrounded by for several years now. Or maybe it's just the djs/artists I know. They are all extroverts who like to party themselves.

novabrkr said:

DJ's are indeed often introverted. Cute geeks that live for the right crossover from one song, more interested in getting a party started, grooving on the music. Drugs would muddle the music.

HamsterHuey said:

Often, AFTER the set, though...

I have had very good times at raves, and one of the worst nights of my life, as well.

I don't think I could ever enjoy it again in a carefree way without thinking of the bad one

NDRU said:

And there you have the reason I stopped going out all together at one point, somewhere in the early 90s

HamsterHuey said:

What happened guys??? C'mon, tell us...

the music is pretty much all the same to me. unlikable. I only went to a few when I was younger. Not really my thing.

Once, I left a rave LITERALLY 15 minutes before Hillsborough County's finest came and arrested 100's of people.


Another time, I think I got with a chick that was hopped up on ecstacy.

JoeTyler said:

In my case it was a combination of a few 'lost' nights, a few bad trips and realising how shallow it all was. Sure, had great adventures, but all them people went into convents or got married or moved to France or became huge addicts or died.

Like house music, that lifestyle was over for me. Getting out of it was one of the hardest things I've did.

JoeTyler said:

I never went to raves regularly, but what happened to me was an insanely strong reaction to exctacy.

It was one thing to have a bad trip, but I actually suffered anxiety afterward for the better part of a year.

I only did it twice in my life, I just didn't have the right chemistry for it. But that scene makes me feel anxious because of one terrible night and the terrible year that followed it.

Guess I've mostly socialized with musicians who do more artistically ambitious material as well. They're much closer to the geek crowd than being party-goers themselves. The guys who are simply DJs and don't do seriously music themselves are more often there to party, I think.

The "dance musician who doesn't dance himself" -thing has been more common as far as my acquaintances in the real world or on the internet go.