MG
03-Jan-01, 08:36am
This is a review which I think sums up Melb's Welcome 2001......enjoy
I have been attending raves in Melbourne for the last 9 years and have seen aspects of the music and crowd change along with the size of the events. $120 in anyone’s language is a lot to pay for a party, and with that comes the expectation of a well run quality event. Well what a RIP OFF !
Firstly, the sound in all rooms beside the Future room was disappointing. The style of the music being played in the Hardware room depends on the sound being crisp and loud, to hear the minimal changes in the sound of the music. I kept thinking to myself, “I wonder when the bass is going to kick in?”. It never did. This was seriously concerning considering I was there to see Richie Hawtin, and could not appreciate the brilliance of what he was doing with the sound. (Let me add – the special release of the balloons that was advertised on the Hardware website was too good to be true. I counted every baloon that was in the net suspended above the dance floor. There were 11. Yes 11 fully inflated balloons with another 3 half deflated. What a treat!)
I had to leave in search of another room. The music was pumping in the Hardnation room but it sounded like it was being run through a transistor radio. Very tinny, absolutely no bass, no power. On to the next mission..
In search of the Electronic Phunk Machine room. This room promised 3 international acts and a couple of live acts. IT DID NOT EXIST. It was supposed to be set up in the other half of the Hardware room. When I asked an event staff personnel of its whereabouts, he answered me with a well prepared response, “all the other rooms and stages are at the other end”. What a load of TURKEY! I along with 10,000 other punters had been ripped off and a victim of blatant false promoting and advertising.
Another example of this over promising – under delivering was the false statement in the 24 page booklet, which stated, “over 1,140,000 watts of power will be used to fuel Australia’s best laser, sound and lighting companies. This year we have over 1000 lights 200 speakers and a multitude of lasers.” What lasers??? The Future room had a kick arse laser, the Hardware room – Nothing! Someone is seriously getting jibbed, and it ain’t the promoters.
To continue the debacle, let’s talk about the as advertised Digweed / Sasha back to back from 4:30 to close situation. Sasha didn’t come on till just before 8:00, and played till 8:50, before Digweed took to the decks again. Sasha was clearly tired. It didn’t look like he had slept in days, was continually stretching his back as if wanting to sit down – not the energy and presence you’d expect of the World’s No 1 DJ. The only saving grace was the encore set which at least saw them relax and get into it, by playing to the crowd.
All in all I was embarrassed that this event represented Melbourne’s scene, and to have talked my friends into paying $120 for a night where the music plodded and the sound systems under-delivered. It was a rude awakening to see how the dollars are now driving the quality of the party, rather than the crowd’s expectations. I would rather spend my money at events run by smaller crews who inject creativity and passion into a party providing a fun atmosphere and value for money.
I have been attending raves in Melbourne for the last 9 years and have seen aspects of the music and crowd change along with the size of the events. $120 in anyone’s language is a lot to pay for a party, and with that comes the expectation of a well run quality event. Well what a RIP OFF !
Firstly, the sound in all rooms beside the Future room was disappointing. The style of the music being played in the Hardware room depends on the sound being crisp and loud, to hear the minimal changes in the sound of the music. I kept thinking to myself, “I wonder when the bass is going to kick in?”. It never did. This was seriously concerning considering I was there to see Richie Hawtin, and could not appreciate the brilliance of what he was doing with the sound. (Let me add – the special release of the balloons that was advertised on the Hardware website was too good to be true. I counted every baloon that was in the net suspended above the dance floor. There were 11. Yes 11 fully inflated balloons with another 3 half deflated. What a treat!)
I had to leave in search of another room. The music was pumping in the Hardnation room but it sounded like it was being run through a transistor radio. Very tinny, absolutely no bass, no power. On to the next mission..
In search of the Electronic Phunk Machine room. This room promised 3 international acts and a couple of live acts. IT DID NOT EXIST. It was supposed to be set up in the other half of the Hardware room. When I asked an event staff personnel of its whereabouts, he answered me with a well prepared response, “all the other rooms and stages are at the other end”. What a load of TURKEY! I along with 10,000 other punters had been ripped off and a victim of blatant false promoting and advertising.
Another example of this over promising – under delivering was the false statement in the 24 page booklet, which stated, “over 1,140,000 watts of power will be used to fuel Australia’s best laser, sound and lighting companies. This year we have over 1000 lights 200 speakers and a multitude of lasers.” What lasers??? The Future room had a kick arse laser, the Hardware room – Nothing! Someone is seriously getting jibbed, and it ain’t the promoters.
To continue the debacle, let’s talk about the as advertised Digweed / Sasha back to back from 4:30 to close situation. Sasha didn’t come on till just before 8:00, and played till 8:50, before Digweed took to the decks again. Sasha was clearly tired. It didn’t look like he had slept in days, was continually stretching his back as if wanting to sit down – not the energy and presence you’d expect of the World’s No 1 DJ. The only saving grace was the encore set which at least saw them relax and get into it, by playing to the crowd.
All in all I was embarrassed that this event represented Melbourne’s scene, and to have talked my friends into paying $120 for a night where the music plodded and the sound systems under-delivered. It was a rude awakening to see how the dollars are now driving the quality of the party, rather than the crowd’s expectations. I would rather spend my money at events run by smaller crews who inject creativity and passion into a party providing a fun atmosphere and value for money.