In my travels through Festival and Rave Culture, I have found that there are usually two types of people you will find out there on the road, and I suppose that applies to back here at home too.
First there are the people focused on the main event, and for good reason. We buy the ticket, we pick an outfit, we listen to all the music we can find, we make plans with our friends. We take all the excitement and we prepare for the big show.
And when it’s over, we enjoy the peace and silence after the fact. Maybe go back to the hotel, get some snacks, and just lay around. This is about 90% of the people I interact with. The standard in our culture.
But then there’s another 10%, and I’ll admit to you now, these are my people. The people who are always focused on the afterparty. Now, that isn’t to say they don’t have fun at the show or festival or rave, it’s just simply that, they always have that other one on the mind. They’re always saving just that little bit for that late one. The one not everybody can make it to.
I personally change my stance on this exact situation over and over again, and I have no shame in admitting that. Sometimes I’ll go to the show, get some food and go back to bed. Only having enough energy for the few hours of music that the main event offers. It’s the old man in me.
Other times I stay at the festival all day, and then go straight to the after party, dancing until the sunrise, without hesitation. Enjoying both with all my heart, but still reserving that energy to let it all go when I finally get to that late night dancefloor. What’s worse is I have no idea which side of me will show up until I get there and then it just happens.
I wonder if I’m the only one like that.
Anyways, the reason why I say all this is because this Saturday, July 30th, you will get a little bit of both here in Albuquerque New Mexico, starting first with a 80s/90’s themed party at the Doubletree presented by House Work and Patio 201.
Coming all the way from Milwaukee, is Soul Fuel Recordings DJ, John Hawley, who has always delivered that groovy beat we love so much.
Having such a solid DJ in the building guarantees to be a great night of house music, but I’m also happy to see he will be playing alongside some of the best House DJ’s in New Mexico.
Included on the lineup are local favorites like Badcat, Chris Losack, and Beufie, who is making a return to our scene with the throwing of this show, and we are happy to welcome him back.
The show is 21+ and it goes from 6pm-10:30pm, creating a groovy start to what I know will be a fun and special night. You can get some drinks, maybe some food, and enjoy the groove.
But don’t waste too much energy because the night doesn’t end there. This one has an afterparty.
Starting at 10pm at Coat of Colors, the afterparty will be going early into the morning, with John Hawley himself playing another set, along with even more great Local House Dj’s.
On this lineup you have another chance to hear the Dope Feline DJ known as Badcat, as well as Vettaluv doing a b2b with Aimie Jane, Coco Medium, and lastly Swift Money, who will also be celebrating his birthday at the afters as well.
The show is expected to go till at least 5am, and if you are coming straight from Patio 201, the cover is only five more bucks, with it being ten if you’re just going to the afterparty. Which I know some people prefer.
What I like about this combination of events is it gives you a chance to hear great house music in two unique environments, by both a great out of state DJ who has shown his skill here before, and a long list of great New Mexico talent.
You can dance and lose your mind as the sun sets at the first show, and then chill, and maybe have some great conversations until the sunrise at the next one. A full night that leads into a full morning. Very much like the last time I saw this DJ.
The one and only time I saw John Hawley was at Sister Bar a few years ago, and it was a wonderful night of proper, funky, groovy house music, in an intimate environment surrounded by the people I grew up listening to House Music with.
It was different then. We were a bit more naïve, and innocent, I suppose. Time changes things, though. We get older. Friends grow apart. Life moves on. But House Music remains, and for that I will always be grateful and in debt to this city for the nights we had together.
No matter where you’re from, or how you got here, House Music is a family, and you could feel that on that night, as John gave us a taste of that Midwest House sound he represents so well. I’m excited for New Mexico to hear him again.
So, whichever event you choose. The main one, the afters, or even both, just make sure it’s exactly where you want to be, and show that on the dancefloor. For all the Dj’s I list, they are only half of the equation, as the dancefloor would be nothing without the people who populate it.
House music needs us to show up, just like we need House music to carry us through, and I hope you never forget that one.
Go late, stay till early, support the culture. House Culture. It will be everywhere this weekend, which is exactly the way it’s meant to be in New Mexico during the summer.
See at the Afters.
Ourdancefloor.net 