Partygoers?

Here’s the deal... back in the day, we had Abbey Road Studios. It was the one program you could actually count on to deliver something killer every single Saturday. Once they shut that down, I feel like the whole party scene in LA just lost its edge. The vibe started getting watered down, and honestly, finding real tech-house anywhere became a total mission. You'd go to some lame dive bar or a mediocre club and it was just garbage—sure, there were occasional good nights at the big venues, but nothing like that authentic Saturday night energy we used to get from SS. Look, obviously when Mills hits the decks at a major club, it’s gonna be fire, but that happens maybe once a year. That’s not enough for true partygoers—and I’m not talking about those posers with the split dyed red hair who pop five energy drinks and think they're legends. I'm talking about the people who actually lived for the music. If any of the old guard was at those last sets by Nasty or Mills, they know things are a mess now. It’s just not the same. Maybe we all just got old, or maybe it really did just go downhill fast......

/edited: Seriously, give it a rest—stop dragging everyone down in every single thread you jump into. It’s exhausting. 😉

Just like every scene that came before it, this one had its golden era, its peak, and now it’s just circling the drain. There’s zero fresh blood, zero new ideas, just the same old crew dragging themselves along... You have to wonder when we'll see some kind of revival to actually breathe some life back into this thing, you know? It happens periodically. And yeah, let's be real, everyone's getting old and the people who actually give a damn are becoming a tiny minority. For everyone else, it’s just a habit because they don't know anything else, or half of them just got married and started families... But I'm telling you again, it’s the exact same cycle as every movement before this one. When you're right in the middle of it, you honestly feel like what you're doing is totally groundbreaking and unique. But man, it really isn't.

Look, the whole scene just followed the classic arc—it had its meteoric rise, hit its absolute peak, reached a point of maturity, and then just completely cratered... and that’s really all there is to it.

hahaha, oh man, stormyviper11 😁 😁

There’s just zero variety here; it’s always the exact same crowd. At first, you think it’s great because everything feels fresh, but eventually, it just starts to piss you off. You see the same names on the lineup every single time, and if someone actually new shows up with a different sound—suddenly fifty people show up for the party (DJ Food). Honestly, the only two gigs that actually felt worth it to me over the last two years were Carl Cox and LTJ Bukem.
I agree. After LTJ, I was almost sick of the scene because of those DJs playing that aggressive, terrible 800bpm drum and bass sound that’s been clogging up every single D&B party for years. To hell with a scene like that.

Honestly, you wouldn't find a single sane person hanging out at that warehouse. And that’s coming from someone who’s probably spent about 80% of their life inside Abbey Road Studios. It was just gross.

I mean, there were some seriously sketchy parties at that venue—seriously, DJ Food, don't even get me started.

But, to be fair, there were also some absolute gems; some of the most incredible techno nights I've ever experienced happened right there.

At the end of the day, it's all subjective.

But objectively? I can't stand the sweat, the fog machines, and all those other human fluids dripping off every surface cold enough to catch condensation. Plus, the beer was total garbage.

The clubs at the factory were always pathetic gatherings for me. You remember Abbey Road Studios? 🤮 Honestly, even Best was better than that garbage.
It was the most uninspired music paired with the most convincing, bottom-tier DJs. That was Abbey Road Studios for you.

The scene is dead. The golden age of techno is over and 🙂
Nowadays, people are either picking at pizza to electro or drum and bass, or they're just drinking 🙂. I don't know. Personally, I wouldn't have the energy to go out anymore anyway. And where would I even go? To some kid playing a single DJ deck? Please.
Besides, Zachary Thompson2 said it himself: when something new actually drops, maybe fifty people who heard about it show up. Everyone else stays home to save their money because they’re too busy obsessing over Invaderz—as if that's the only thing worth listening to while they sip their drinks. A few weekends ago, some guy bought his ticket for Jabbaton before I could even get mine. Then you walk inside and wonder: is anyone actually here? Is there going to be any drum and bass? Sure. Great. You can buy five tickets. What's the point of going to a party just to be surrounded by idiots like that?

Zachary Thompson2 said:There’s just zero variety; it’s always the same crowd. At first, you think it's great because everything is fresh, but eventually, it just gets old. You see the same names on every lineup, and if someone actually new shows up with a different sound, there are only like 50 people at the party (DJ Food). Honestly, the only two sets that actually hit for me in the last two years were Carl Cox and LTJ Bukem.
To be fair, after LTJ, I almost started hating the scene entirely because of all those DJs playing that aggressive, terrible 800bpm drum and bass that’s been played at every single D&B night for years. Screw a scene like that.

Saying there were only 50 people at DJ Food... unbelievable😕 this guy is a legend
And that's why whenever Morales🙂 and his crew show up, the whole vibe goes straight down the drain.
It's bad, bad, and just plain bad. It’s all going to end up being nothing more than local filler😠 so please, God, strike this scene with lightning or just some rotten fruit...

It’s actually pretty great seeing people who are on the same wavelength as me—thanks, guys. Honestly, I’m just sitting here reminiscing about the legends like the original Mills, Umeka, Kanzyan, Carl Cox, and Nasty. These kids today? They can go ahead and listen to that weak, watered-down electro or that brain-melting 360 BPM techno garbage. It’s exhausting. And man, I’ve heard rumors about Retroscope being back, or maybe even some new Roland gear hitting the clubs, but I’m low-key terrified to show up. If the vibe is trash, I might actually just end it all right there. Please tell me it won't suck.

Hey everyone, I guess I finally found someone who actually gets what I'm talking about, and honestly, I'm on board with all of you. It feels pretty pathetic, though, that we're stuck hanging out in the park tonight just because guys like Morales and his commercialized DJ buddies are completely ruining the scene for the growing number of true partygoers by pushing this fake, overly polished, mainstream version of techno. It’s just not right, I suppose, but hey, whatever—as long as we remember how good it used to be when we were really tearing it up, it was fucking legendary.

Zachary Thompson2 said:LTJ Bukem.

That’s exactly why Bukem was playing sets in both New York and LA this year👍
and I somehow managed to miss out on both of them. 🙂 🙂

We really ought to start a thread: True partygoers vs. total trash 😬

I mean, we really should be playing the old-school stuff, but I guess what's the point when there's maybe ten of us actually listening while everyone else just plays garbage?

boldjackal10 said:It’s honestly refreshing to see people who actually get it—thanks, guys. And man, the memories of the early days with Mills, Umek, Kanzyan, Carl Cox, and Nasty just hit different. These kids today can stick to their weak-ass electro or that brain-melting 360 BPM techno if they want; it’s not for me. Anyway, I heard there's a new Roland setup coming to the club, but I'm low-key terrified to show up—if the vibe is off, I might actually die. Please tell me it won't suck.

Look, things are only going to suck if you decide to make them that way. Sound evolves—thank God it does—because what we used to blast is basically ancient history now. Imagine if we were stuck listening to the exact same thing forever? That'd be a nightmare. Either adapt and find some new sound that hits right, or just stay home. I don't know what you're expecting from Roland, but the guy spins incredible electro and I heard he’s bringing a bunch of vinyl, so expect a solid block of pure Detroit electro.

Are you really planning on heading to some amateur poser's mediocre set at Retroscope? 😬

@Joseph Price7/">@@Joseph Price7: What does Morales have to do with techno?!? 😕

Benjamin King2 said:It might actually work against you if you approach it that way. Sound evolves, man (thank God), and what we used to listen to is basically a thing of the past. I mean, where would we be if we just listened to the same stuff forever? You should probably just adapt, find something new that fits your vibe or just stay home. I'm not sure what you're expecting from Roland, but he plays incredible electro and I know he’s getting a bunch of new electro vinyls in, so you can probably expect a solid block of pure Detroit electro.

Are you really going to go to some weakling's mediocre set at Retroscope? 😬

@Joseph Price7/">@@Joseph Price7: What does Morales even have to do with techno?!? 😕

That’s pretty much true, I guess; I once went to a party assuming it was going to be terrible, and when you go in with that mindset, it ends up being bad even if it actually turns out okay. Don't ask me why I went, it was just because my crew was going and I didn't want to be the one killing the vibe. I don't really know if Roland plays electro, though—it's been a long time since I've heard one of his recent sets—but what I usually play at home is more minimal techno, and the last and only time I saw him play at Best, which was that Night of Jaguar event, it was also minimal and it was honestly amazing.
As for Morales, I really don't feel like getting into it because I just can't stand that guy.
Oh, and Dundov never actually played at Retroscope because that show was just carried over from the old station.

I was talking about that upcoming Retroscope set that boldjackal10 brought up back in January—you know, the one featuring Peter, Komlinovic, and Helen. Anyway, the Retroscope crew used to play at the Staples Center or the Madison Square Garden depending on their schedule, and they actually did those first few sets over at the Staples Center back around 2001/2.

That guy playing the Roland gear at the Staples Center was way too much for me—he played "Jaguar" like seventeen times, plus every other hit he could dig out of his bag. Honestly, it was gross, sounded just like listening to Darryl.😁

Joseph Price7 said:Finally, someone who actually gets it. I’m with you guys on this. It’s honestly pathetic that we’re stuck hanging out in a public park tonight just because some shallow, commercial hacks like Morales and his crowd are ruining the scene. They’re killing the momentum of the real partygoers by pushing this fake, over-commercialized techno sound on everyone. But whatever, screw them—back in the day when we were actually out there, it was fucking legendary.

😕 😕 😕

Wait, you’re telling me you don't quiz?
Morales - techno
Roland - minimal
😁

Benjamin King2 said:How can you say you don't get it?
morales - techno
rolando - minimal
😁

How on earth do you claim you don't understand the vibe???? MORALES PLAYS HOUSE, PURE HOUSE, NOT TECHNO, and that is the only objective truth here.