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Tuesday June 26, 2007 - 11:51 PM
TIMEBOMB REVIEW
First of all, I have to thank everybody that lent their efforts for this party. Its amazing to see how many people can come together to try to pick something up that was in risk of completely failing. Apparently the word has not spread, and I count on other people ( YOU GUYS!!) to spread it out that at the last minute- we had to change this party to a 19+ event.
The bottom line is that I refuse to use venues that are over packed, crammed, in risk of getting shut down from a STUPID minor violation. (I have worked in the Fire Protection industry, apprenticing as a Sprinkler Fitter part time- as a side bar. I am VERY familiar with the Fire Code, as well as Health Code). Another reason why the Police target 'RAVE' promoters is because of our unsavory record of putting people inside venues that pose serious health risks.
Lack of Fire Exits, Emergency lighting, and the standard room the breathe. Our doing things like throwing a party in a parking garage filled with latent Carbon Monoxide and oil by products ( remember Death-a-balloo-??!) as some of you may remember it. Another reason why wholeheartedly despise even hearing the name Hullabaloo. As a vast majority of partiers fail to realize the significance of what that meant for our scene.
It created a huge shift and a breaking point that finally caused the Police and Media to fully concentrate their efforts on ruining these events and pressuring venue owners into shutting us out. It made our then Mayor Mel Lastman look completely retarded on TV, as he described what his speech writer obviously forget to turn on the internet and do some research. But people listen to the Mayor. As he signs paycheques and tells everyone what to do.
Fast foward to now. We looked for a venue and found a 150 person art gallery on the Danforth and Greenwood. Considering that we lost half of our all ages crowd, We would have at least got that many all ages. Considering we ended up with 150 19+. That creates a math equation that Police would fully exploit. It would be stupid, people would have a terrible time.
Im not going to spend $3000 Dollars on the Big Bop Flop Plop, that building is about to fall over and its been overused more times that Jenna Jameson. Fun Haus wanted $3000 as well. El Mcambo and the other 3 or 4 venues that are friendly to all ages and 19+ were booked.
What the Police are doing right now is serious. They are pressuring club owners to shut down. They have HAND HELD EMP (Electo Magnetic Pulse) Devices that are the size of a Pop Can. They walk in to a venue and tell you to turn down the music. If you dont, they turn off the Music by using that device by temporarily blinding anything electronic and disabling it. They also have routinely harassed ENTERTAINMENT (Djs) - which was something they NEVER did at all. Rarely at most. Including shutting another Party down on Friday because the Dj didnt have id, 100 patrons were sent packing.
So do we cancel the party, risk loosing money and face? No. I dont give up. We pulled together and recreated it. For the sake of the people - I always try everything I can to avoid cancelling an event. I never have. I do feel very bad for the all ages crowd that we werent able to do this for them. It was specifically aimed at both 19+ and all ages. Some people are upset about it. I understand and I care. But realize that not everything is easy when your trying to do things like this. FULL REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN AT NUMB FOR THE UNDER 19 CROWD- WE HAVE NOT COLLECTED ANYTHING FROM THEM AND WILL GIVE PLENTY OF TIME FOR REFUNDS- If anybody has problems, they can contact me on here, or lairdriver13@hotmail.com.
For those who did attend. I have to say that I really did actually have fun at the party despite the fact that our performance at the door could have been better. However, we did flyering specifically at Pride with last minute made flyers. The Second Floor volume had to be turned down to a certain volume because of the Gestapo. They showed up twice the night before and that night to tell the Security. Mind you..all the DJs pushed it anyways..lol But not to crazy.
We rented 2 Full Color lasers, one on each floor. We had 4 Track spots , 4 UV Cannon Blacklights, 4 White Lights, Discoballs, Disco Mirror Balls, we also brought enough sound to collapse the building. But we didnt need it because the Venue allready had sound. Which was funny because 2 days before they DIDNT upstairs.
Somebody actually left his system behind, and then came to collect it last minute. Just before the doors open, he DIDNT EVEN care!! He said he would come back at 2 after the Bar upstairs closed.
All the sets were great. Navigator kicked ass and showed why Chicago needs to get played more often. Cynex showed alot of diversity and kept the crowd pumped. Mike Conradi, totally owned the crowd. He kicked some fucking ass with Techno. His partner in crime absent for Rex Manning was absent because of Food poisining.
Whatever he compensated for it worked!!
Then the Darklord of all things Espace -Paladin 5.1 came on. He actually unveiled his latest upgrades at the party. Lets just say he looks seriously evil without the helmet on. The Dancefloor totally ate up his set. The space to Dance became an issue as for some reason people like to STAND AROUND on the floor- DANCE or Move!! haha..
He honestly pulled out alot of tracks I hadnt heard before. He had the full attention of the crowd the entire time.
After he went outside for about a half hour and almost stopped traffic literally. There must have been 100 people that came up and were directly in awe, then the rest of the club next door - amazingly the Cops didnt drive by. We have pictures of the entire event that will be posted shortly, courteousy of Jammcat and Harddtripp.
Dizmoe is a serious talent, he THREW DOWN a bumping Techno set that kept the floor going right till the end. We actually gave up OUR set so that he could play as - playing for 15 minutes upstairs was simply not going to do. Both Harddtripp and myself were just to tired and busy running things - it worked out for the best.
Dynamic opened the night upstairs, Happy Hardcore isnt my thing - but for some reason he played it in a way that even I didnt mind it - and that is saying ALOT. Not to mention Tim is one of the nicest guys I have met in a long time. Miss Blyss came on after and my favourite type of Jungle- Jungle that I like. Not Massive Anthems, and Congo Natty over and over again, not Bup Bup or Boh Boh.
She plays tracks that not alot of people have, and has a deep understanding what she plays. She played the whole time feeling under the weather too, I am happy she came. Ken Finch and Opel - as far as I know hadnt officially played together at a party as they told me. Im not sure why not, They pounded it out and through down a variety of NRG sounds.
For those of you who missed DSP, im not going to get into complications - whatever it was, lack of communcation and stubborness- Im not going to divulge the personal details. As it happened it wasnt clear whether he was going to attend the day of the event. Therefore we adjsusted accordingly. I want to have him at the make up date, allthough Im not entirely positive that would happen now.
We had alot of good fortune at the party, not financially. I can tell from the reviews that alot of people enjoyed the party, despite all of the stress we had dealing with last minute transformations.
[b]This party kind of just re-affirms my beleif in the ability of 19+ events, showcasing 'rave' sounds- that arent heard in clubs, but ARE in a club atmosphere. All the stuff that is being played in clubs is 130 BPM max, if its what we play 4/4 or 3/4. I like Electro and House alot. But there are ALOT Of other sounds. When Guvernment has their special 'high energy nights'. People freak out like its the second coming on the Dance floor.
Monday June 25, 2007 - 4:25 PM
Killer night, I feel like part of the SYREN FAMILY! All the DJs were on point, venue was killer, a few mixer issues that I solved right away! Who ever puked upstairs, well that was a big one.
Hi to all the DJs I was chillin with, big ups to UNDUN mc!
Can wait till the next on for sure!
Monday June 25, 2007 - 3:52 PM
I had a great time, thanks guys for havin' me. I hope everyone enjoyed the track selection.
Monday June 25, 2007 - 2:12 PM
Had a great time playing with Ken, and the suprise extended set made it all the better!
Thanks Marie, Erik and Chris for the fun times. 
Monday June 25, 2007 - 11:25 AM
So much fun was had. I was worried that the last minute 19+ change would hurt our attendance, yet there were still enough people who came out to make it just right. We proved the bartender wrong who esimated only 80ppl showing up. haha in yo face.
So much good sets (atleatst the ones i remember hearing... i think i got pretty smasshed at some point... Most memborable sets:
-Navigator...omg hardhouse sounded so much better coming out of his set then out of my ipod...I coudlnt stop dancing.
-Mike Conradi KIIIILLLLED it!!! hoooly shit. He made the whole downstairs sweat....i rememeber i couldnt even get by the dj booth at that point..
-Opel And Ken Finch had the whole upstairs dancing when i came up to look...which was a miracle cuz everyoen just wanted to stand around and drink beer, spit at the clubbers on their lil red carpet from our patio belcony, and stare at the Trippy CN Tower light show. lol
-Then Paladin showed up and evvveryone got to see what they came for. He threw down a maaad set. Then he even stayed around and mingled. Stopped a bunch of cars when he went out on the street. Hahhaa...pure jokes.
- Cynex was great too, he got people on their feet on the first floor and they didnt sit down from that point on..
Thnx for everyone who helped us make it happen. We couldnt have made this party without you. Much love and see y'all next time
4 stars for fun and one blank for future improvements.
Monday June 25, 2007 - 10:01 AM
Great night, other then Ian puking all over the venue.
Good job guys, keep em' commin.
Sunday June 24, 2007 - 7:28 AM
Regardless of what anyone says...this was a 4.5 star party. ya things we a bit chaotic and some unforseen things happened... and yia there were alot of changes near the end, but these guys have their hearts set in the right place, and I for one had a blast seeing everyone who did show...Chris, Erik and the rest of the Syren boyz n gurlz...A++++ for effort guys...truly good times for while i was there. respect.
2 Tips of the hat for the night tho:
- Conradi : Man, loved the set, off the hook.
- Paladin 5.1 : 1 word. Dope.
For all the rest of you who didnt show you missed a few amazing performances...I know all to well 19+ events are hard to do....but for a last minute switcharoo...things were a.o.k. BIGUP SYREN CRU!
Sunday June 24, 2007 - 5:54 AM
I give this one four stars. It was simply an amazing party. Every set I heard last night was superb. Paladin's was the top of the night. The only flaw from the party was there was little no dance floor and too many people standing around on it, couldn't dance for shit. And what's with the party ending one hour early? Still, four stars! Kudos!
Sunday June 24, 2007 - 5:39 AM
Paladin was Fucken amazing. We missed you Unabomber .
Sunday June 24, 2007 - 4:40 AM
The venue may have been in the club district, and there may not have been a lot of people at first, and some guy may have puked in his hat and all over that leather couch, but every set that I heard this evening was freaking excellent, and Paladin 5.1 was certainly a force to be reckoned with. The lights were also really great! <3
Just because there isn't a big crowd at a party, it doesn't mean that the party is bad. The sudden 19+ killed much of this party's crowd, but in all honesty who wanted to trek out to etobicoke for an all-ages party? I would have hated missioning out there, and especially missioning home.
Lots of fun, except for someone stealing HardTripp's needles/carts.
Come on people. Don't steal DJ gear at raves. 
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10 reviews