Labor Day came and went, and we shed what was left of our summer skin – and we also kissed goodbye all the summer music fests. Having no school is perhaps one of the most amazing parts of the summer, apart from it serving as the prime time for music festivals around the country, including Movement, Bonnaroo and Electric Zoo.
During Memorial Day Weekend this summer, I made a nine hour trip to a city that changed everything I knew about music. Many Americans don’t know much about this city, or have only heard about its car manufacturing, poverty and high rates of violence (Hello, 8 Mile). Yes, I am talking about Detroit.
Movement 2011, formally known as Detroit Music Festival, was a three-day music heaven for house and techno fans from all over the world. Considering the ever-growing commercialization of music festivals, Movement did an amazing job balancing big promoters such as Beatport, Red Bull and Paxhua with local commerce and artists. One of my favorite local stands was the Aptemal Detroit, a really cool clothing label that hand-silked screened original prints. Check out their gear at http://Aptemalclothing.com
The festival consisted of four main stages and held a capacity of about 30,000 people. In my life I have never witnessed people from so many places come together and take part in a “Movement” that originated in the early 90’s, electronic music. During the three days the drums and bass did not stop playing, even in the rain, from the well equipped stages that hosted the best sound systems I’ve ever heard. Among the most memorable acts was Matthew Hawtin’s three hour set that worked from minimalist vibes up to a more aggressive beat.
Seeing duo extraordinaire Soul Clap perform in the middle of storm was unforgettable. These DJs were all about the crowd and warmed us up with their catchy electro soul beats and genre blurring remixes. Another face melting performance was NYC sweetheart Heartthrob, who left everyone wanting more of his pulsating minimal techno, while Ricardo Villalobos also challenged the audience’s eardrums with his ultra-layered techno.
Although not a huge fan of Dubstep, I can’t deny the music genius of Skrillex. This 20-year-old dude has the rare gift of driving crowds completely insane with his impressive ability to combine dirty bass with pop sounds (such La Roux), while keeping the energy levels up the roof.
Movement was packed with the typical crowd that these type of concerts draw, the only difference being that most of the furry boot wearers were 20-somethings, except everyone had a huge appreciation for music. The bathrooms, unlike most festivals, were super clean and the staff was friendly and helpful finding your way around the festival. Motor City showed me one of the most gratifying music experiences I’ve had in the United States, and dismantled a raw beauty hidden under the image of a ghost city. The $80-something ticket was worth every penny.