The first time I heard Luciano live was at Movement, in Detroit. It was the first day of my first year, and I was so excited I suppose I could’ve seen anybody that day, and it would’ve stood out to me, although, if that’s the case why aren’t I sitting here writing about anybody else? Why aren’t they the ones I remember the most?
I must’ve seen ten DJs on that day at that festival alone, and if I have to, I can probably recall each one, but I simply don’t want to. And that’s no disrespect to them or anybody else, but rather the opposite. It’s my way of saying it was meant to be Luciano. It was meant to happen in Detroit. And it was meant to happen at Sunset. Sunset in the city at least.
There are many things about life I have found are the same no matter where you go. People like to dance, and drink, and laugh- gosh, do human beings love to laugh- and they like to feel alive. I have found these things to be common no matter where I go in this world. But, one thing that is different, everywhere I go, is the sunset. Every single time.
The Sun sets different over the Pacific Ocean, just like it sets different in the Arizona desert, or in the Rocky Mountains, or even in the center of a city with giant skyscrapers everywhere. Yes, the sun will always rise and set, but will everyday be the same? And if so, does every sunset have to be as well? This would be my first sunset in Detroit, and perhaps the most memorable I’ve ever had. So far.
Sunsets in the city are different mainly because of the skyscrapers, and I suppose that’s all relevant to how far into the sky they really are. Detroit is not the biggest city I’ve been to, and yet I’ll never say its small. It’s just Detroit. Detroit is Detroit and you are going to accept it as it is. That’s something you learn by going and experiencing it for yourself, like I was doing that hot day in May maybe about four years ago. Not a young man anymore, but also not old either. Just somewhere in the middle. Always in the middle.
I had been a fan of Luciano’s all my life, but I had no chance to ever see him. In fact, I can’t think of one single time where I even heard of him playing anywhere close to me. I’m sure he’s played closer many times before, but I come from an era where we didn’t have the internet to find everything, and even after it was there, we still took years to accept that was the new form of communication. I will always be that raver kid looking for the next flyer to tell me about the next show. Nothing will change that. It’s just we simply have to adapt now. I got to Movement by adapting.
I’m a sucker for the percussions. The mellow, dreamy, rhythmic sounds that float into the air instead of flying. It just gets to me. What I like is that when I listen and dance, I don’t have to go all out. I can stand back and groove and enjoy the surroundings and how the music is altered by every place it is played. I am allowed to enjoy it in exactly the setting and environment the DJ, and the artist who made the track intended me to hear it in. It’s an alinement of the musical planets. A sign from the universe. A gift to those of us willing to make this pilgrimage to our own Techno mecca. The place we call home. But, when we get there, we aren’t just given techno, but rather everything. We are allowed to enjoy everything. Luciano was a moment where I felt, heard, and saw everything.
I suppose the first thing I remember is getting a message on my phone that Stacey Pullen was running behind and Luciano would be taking his place, with Stacey playing right after. We really didn’t mind cause we were already expecting to see them both, and we were right behind the stage they were both about to play on, so no big deal. It happens. It was our first time at the Stargate Stage. A stage that has a magical portal all by itself, with or without the music. We were excited either way.
We wanted Stacey to be our introduction, but that’s how it goes, traffic sucks, the city and the festival are madness. Small adjustments for bigger rewards. We were still waiting in line to use the porta potty so no matter anyways, but just at that moment a man in a red leather suit walked by us without lifting his head. I could see his ponytail tied back, and I think he had earbuds on, and he just rushed by us. Not running but clearly focused and here for a different reason than we were.
“I think that’s Luciano right there.” I said.
“No.” Sonya said back.
“Yeah. That’s him.”
“Nooo.”
I don’t blame her for doubting. We weren’t used to the VIP. Movement was the first time in our lives we had ever bought VIP tickets, and I can’t even say why we did it. We just suddenly said one day, if we’re going to Detroit, we better do it in style. We better do it as VIP’s. We recently had a similar situation just happen with our future trip to Chicago, but this isn’t about Chicago. This is, again, about Detroit, and Luciano.
I laughed cause I knew it was him, but why bother? He’s clearly walking straight to the Stargate stage and that focus he had was him preparing to play. It was his safe place just like it’s our safe place. Plus, I had to pee. We both did. So, we agreed to do our business then go straight to the stargate to finally hear Luciano after all these years. Finally. Then Stacey Pullen walked by as I waited for Sonya outside after I was done. Same way Luciano was walking. Same focus, same preparation. I’m grateful to have seen that side of them both. Stacey was only minutes late and still he was prepared.
“Hey Stacey.” Somebody said as he walked by, and he hardly lifted his head. I knew what I was in for. Sonya finally came out and we walked together to the dancefloor as Luciano’s first tracks could be heard. Closer and closer we got. Louder and louder, it got. We came for techno, but for me it will always be house. And this was Luciano’s house.
The stargate stage in the two years I have gone to Movement has been the house stage. I have seen my favorite house DJ’s play their best sets at that stage, and yet, they’ll all always come second to this one. The one that cemented my love for this city. It was, again, right around sunset in the city. I don’t think it was actually sunset but as mentioned before the sunset in the city is different because of the buildings that surround you. Meaning, the minute that sun goes behind those buildings its as good as set. I mean, you’ll get another hour or two of lightness, and the sun will still be there, but you won’t see it again until the morning when you’re walking out of some afterparty you went to after the festival. Detroit is a very special place.
I can still see him up there, with his hair still tied back, his jacket off now, but still wearing leather pants. Why is that a detail I remember? Leather pants? The sound was so tribal and smooth. It was just a rhythm with layers all over it. So many layers. And you could hear every single one. If he weren’t playing vinyl, he made it clear you didn’t have to if you could make layers like that. The sounds still echo in my mind now. They always will.
He was dancing too. Not as much going all out, but just gyrating a little. He was feeling the music like we were feeling the music. As the sun crept behind the giant Detroit Motor Buildings, he held his head down and became consumed with the sound he was playing. At that moment, Luciano, the music, Detroit, and I, were one single thing. We all existed together. It was an epiphany I could not expect and yet I know was why I had come all this way. He was not from Detroit, but neither was I. This wasn’t about where we started, but rather the fact that this music brought us to this moment right here and right now, and we were having it together. As he swayed and grooved, I stood in awe, then suddenly he gave me something I will never forget.
Slowly, over a subtle rhythm the guitar solo from “Shine on you crazy diamond,” slowly came in. no words, no other sounds. Just that fucking guitar. What a song that’s always been to me. What it really means. The sorrow you feel in the guitar that David Gilmour shows for his friend who was lost, the diamond they still sing about today. It makes me want to cry just trying to explain this to you now.
The stargate, the music, the sun falling behind the buildings, the DJ, the beautiful woman by my side, the city I always dreamed of. All right there. And this song to always be a memory of what it did to me on that fateful summer day. The day the music became something more than just a reason. Or an excuse. It is life.
He played for a while more, than Stacey after him, and after Stacey was Carl Craig. We’d stay in that spot for somewhere around four to five hours without thinking twice listening to those three, and frankly, I don’t think I’ll ever have a better Sunset in my life. It will be the marker by which all sunsets after will forever be measured.
Some time later in the day I found myself dancing next to an older man, maybe ten twenty years older than me. Not an old grey man, but much further in his journey than me, and there would never be any denying that. Stacey was on now and the older dude had that same look you always have when you hear music like Stacey Pullen. His head was down, and he was nodding, and moving slowly in rhythm. He was feeling it, but so was I. We stood there and danced by each other for a bit and then he said.
“That’s why I come here. Not for Techno. This is the real sound.”
And just at that moment and at the same exact time we both said.
“House music.” In complete unison without even knowing we were gonna say it.
His eyes lit up so bright when I said it too. It was like a secret he was scared was going to die, and now in me he saw someone younger than him that knew the truth.
He gave me a fist pound and nodded, and we continued to dance there without saying a word. Eventually he’d go his way and I’d go mine, but I understood the moment immediately.
One day I’m gonna be the old man dancing by himself on the dancefloor, and if I have something to teach, and something to pass on to the young man that will replace me. I’d want him to know it’s always about one thing, and one thing only.
House music. It’s about House music. Luciano taught me that. And Detroit. We’ll always have Detroit.
See You on the Dancefloor
—- Pinky Mendoza
Ourdancefloor.net 