|
Posted: 05/06/2001
|
advertisement
What is absolutely free, completely legal, and is the best high sweeping the club and party scenes across America? That's right, it's sober partying. To party sober means to party without the aid of hard "club drugs" (E, K, Coke, Speed, etc.), and to stay high and energized on the vibe and experience alone. For many clubgoers, this is a newfound enlightenment, for others it is a way of life that has always been...
Relax, get comfortable and let us meditate for a moment on the club scene. Sit back and forget the drugs, the lights, the lasers, the disco ball, the massive turbosound speakers, the candy, the flashy wardrobes...and what is left? You and the music. The music is what commands you to move, not foreign substance that you must put in your body. It comes from within. Let us journey back in time to a distant and primitive place, where an ancient tribe member is beating out a single drone on a drum, commanding all in the tribe to move to a simple beat that accomplishes similar, but multifaceted goals. Religion, praise, tribal unity, and release of the stress life brings, these are all things celebrated in unison with the drum.
Each tribe member experiences different things individually, but they all share in the experience together. They respond and become one with the beat by chanting, singing, clapping, crying. One can find these same feelings in a complex orchestra piece, a free jazz improvisation, or even a simple pop tune with a catchy hook. They all hold a similar response to the individual listener by moving them not only physically, but mentally as well. A well orchestrated piece of music regardless of the genre can take you from the organic sounds of the forest, to the reverberating depths of the ocean, through the crowded urban streets of the concrete jungle, and on into the undiscovered reaches of space.
Music can help you meditate and unwind after a long day at work. Music can help you discover things you did not know existed in the world, and even in your own mind. These are all the same things that drugs may provide for an individual, and yet many hardcore partiers dismiss the idea of sober partying. Some believe that he or she cannot fully experience the music and vibe on the same level as one who is chemically enhanced. As people burn out on the scene however, they realize it might not be the music and scene they are burning out on, it is the drugs.
Here is a quiz to determine if you should consider partying sober:
When you party, is it...
A) To see your old friends, meet some new ones, hear some good music and shake your rump off kind of night?
or
B) A mind bending, Hunter S. Thompsonesque, journey to heaven, talk to god, weekend from hell, stay up for days, sleep for a week and get fired from your job kind of night?
Do you remember what happened? Who the DJ's were? If not, how do you know if you had fun or not?
Is the music really good and something you respect, or would you be just as happy listening to your pocket change going 'round in a laundromat dryer?
Allison Kayser has never gotten to that point. Allison is 20, and from Norfolk, VA. She has always partied sober. "Music is my ecstacy. Because there is nothing in this world other than being in love, that fills me with such complete and utter joy. Because closing my eyes while that one incredible song is playing, and feeling all the people dancing around me, gives me a good enough high to last a lifetime. There have been too many times that I've thanked God that I was sober so that I could fully enjoy that one moment. There is one moment at every party I have ever been to, that the DJ will be spinning, and you will look up and it seems that everyone in the place is dancing, and every single one of them has this look of utter joy on their faces...and that one moment is the reason I party sober."
Jenn Bennett, 23, is from Columbia, SC and parties also parties sober. She went to her first party in 1992 when she used to live in Atlanta, a party epicenter in the South. "I think it is a good idea to party sober, it gives you a much deeper appreciation for the music. Unfortunately with the rise in popularity of our scene, a lot of people have go into it specifically for the drugs. I also see a lot of people who would not even bother going out without drugs. I actually never did any kind of drugs at parties until I had already been going for about four years. Once I did them regularly, I saw the differences in my experiences and realized that partying sober was the way to go. One word... music. The news media never mentions our amazing devotion to our music, instead they only focus on the kids who are there for the wrong reason in the first place. There is nothing like hearing your favorite track with the bass so hard the air moves! I love the energy, when the whole crowd moves and the music is so intense you can't even imagine standing still. To see so many people united by sound is a great thing!"
Anyone involved with dance music has felt the repercussions of public scrutiny as more and more media attention is being directed towards drugs in our party scene, sparking even a cover story in a recent URB magazine asking ourselves, "Are we too high?" English party veteran/former promoter/DJ DB mentions a few of his opinions on the subject in the URB story. "My pet peeve...with the American dance/rave culture is that kids burn out on the drugs and then consequently on the music. People do as many drugs if not more in the UK as they do in America, but when they stop the drugs, they don't stop going out, and don't stop being consumers of dance or electronic music." Later in the article, there is a suggestion by the author that "it is useful to look to the UK, not necessarily in admiration, but simply as a culture in which electronic music has made a much smoother transition from youth culture to pop culture."
A seasoned and experienced partier is Jen from North Carolina, 29. She has a few choice words to say about the subject. "Unfortunately our world has been exposed and become mainstream. Complaining will do nothing. There will always be young people. There will always be irresponsible people. I can't see the scene as it was 10 years ago ever existing again... I, personally, party sober. I do everything sober. I'm a drug virgin. It is not a decision I make because I think drugs are bad, I just have no interest. I have a plethora of reactions to my sobriety. Many people choose not to associate with me. To each his own. But then I have the few that respect my choice, just as I do theirs. They are the best, and *they* are what make this scene positive."
Leigh from Alabama, AKA DJ Devil Girl knows plenty about sobriety and electronic music. She is 27 and has been attending parties since late 1992 and DJing in the Midwest since 1994. She doesn't drink alcohol, smoke, or do drugs, but has remained involved in the scene for close to 9 years. "From the beginning, I was intoxicated by the sounds of techno and house, from the crunchy distorted 909 kicks and deep rumbling 808's to funky shuffling house beats. The music is what keeps me coming back, even when many of my friends have 'grown up' and dropped out. Do I think that drugs are ruining our scene? No, it's not the drugs, but the irresponsible actions of those who abuse them that is threatening to destroy the musical outlet of every dj and producer in the United States."
All the media attention is not in vain however. It is holding up a mirror to our scene, no matter how biased, and giving us a good hard look at what negative things are going on around us. Regardless of how careful you are as an individual, the fact remains, if a person leaves the party on a stretcher, it has a negative impact on your ability to return to the places that house the music you cherish. Many national organizations such as DanceSafe have been formed to promote a safe party experience, through education and awareness. Another organization is Future Tribe Project, a non-profit organization from Florida that has come together to try and bring the spotlight from the negative to the positive. One of their many goals is to "preserve our underground culture by demonstrating responsibility through harm reduction programs and educating people about the true ideals of our scene that are rarely spoken about". They also hope to "promote spiritual awareness through the universal values of peace, love, unity, and respect". A few of the things they are doing to promote this positive attitude are throwing parties profiting charities and participating in community service work, such as helping with Habitat for Humanity.
Two friends helping to pass the good vibes along are friends Gabriel Bishop, and Matt Warner, both from Roanoke, VA, and both 18. Gabe and Matt spread love through the party in a positive way by handing out stickers, sporting shirts reading "free hugs" or just passing smiles along. One of the many things they agree on after partying for the last year together, is sobriety. Gabe explains. "I don't feel a need to take drugs to experience the magic of parties. When people we know come down at two in the morning, Matt and I are still on the dance floor. Our friends are amazed that we could be up so late without any illegal substances, but it's like we told them, music is our drug." Matt agrees: "I think sober partying should definitely be experienced. The last party I went to, I got there at 10:30, stayed until 5:30 am, and have to say I danced five hours out of the night. I like the music and the atmosphere. People for PLUR should also practice another 'R', responsibility, and should just use their head more!"
So far, we have only spoken about people who club in the Southern reigon of the United States. The sober choice is considered also by Lindsay and Jaime, both from New York State.
Lindsay is 19, and parties in New York City, a Mecca for parties and a place where drugs are almost commonplace. "Sober partying. Almost seems like that is non-existent these days, or at least most people think." Lindsay elaborates: " A drug doesn't make the vibe inside the party any better than not being on a drug to a true partier. I think the people who use drugs carelessly and people who only go to parties to do drugs or push them are ruining the scene. I think moderate drug use is existent, and smart people take care of themselves when under the influence. Overall though, the drugs aren't what make the party, it's the music. And that is what keeps the vibe alive."
Jamie Clark is 17, and lives in Buffalo, where she frequents a lot of upstate parties. "Overall I think that partying sober is a good idea. Why would being sober ever be a bad idea? People who think this really have no love for the party. Once you can't remember a party because you were too messed up, there is a problem there... It is all about the music! To be able to feel the beats on the dance floor flow through my veins is just breathtaking! Not too many people get to realize this because of drugs. Being sober or doing drugs is up to the individual. Only one day I hope all party kids of the world will realize it is all about the heart, the soul, the unity and the beautiful music, not the drugs."
Speaking of party kids of the world, one person helping to spread the sober vibe worldwide, is Heather Ivey. Heather is 19 and currently stationed with the navy in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. She has attended parties all over the South until her move, and now parties faithfully in Hawaii. "I think partying sober is the best idea. It helps you to appreciate the music better and to truly feel the vibe of the party. I know that there are people that only go to the parties for the drugs and that makes me sad. I feel that everybody should go to parties for the music, dj's, vibe, and the people you meet. I plan on hitting some raves overseas while in our liberty ports so I can see how they do it overseas. I party for the love of the music and love of the people."
What does the future hold for electronic music in the US? Is there any hope for our beloved scene? Will it return underground, or be piloted into a black hole by people who are partying for the wrong reason? Only we as an educated collective can answer that. It is our responsiblity to add something postitive to the scene we love, and not continue to let negative media imagery and poor examples of self control bring us down as a whole. We return to Jen from NC for our parting thoughts to those jaded older clubbers, or newer inexperienced "ravers:"
"Go listen to 'The Better Days' by Danny Tenaglia... then shut up and dance." Sage advice...
|
< < back to article list
|
|
