My thoughts on HARD Summer 2009

I woke up this morning and had to ask myself if last night really happened.  Had I really spent over three months eagerly awaiting the arrival of HARD Summer only to have it get shut down by the LAFD and the Inglewood Police before the night had even really begun?

We got there before doors even opened at around 7:15 because we really wanted to see Busy P open the night at 8 PM.  Why they chose to open doors the same time they slotted Busy P to open the show, I still cannot even understand.  On top of that, the crowd control and line system to get in was SO unorganized that we didn't even reach ticket scanners until close to 9:00 PM.  It was the first time I had seen a two-phased entry system, where they would only let about 15-20 people go to the ticket scanners/security at one time, and would leave the rest of the line standing behind a barricade.  It was also the first time I had been to a show where kids were so angry and so eager to get past this barricade, and inside, that a giant pit of pushing and shoving occurred.  Pushing, and shoving, just to get IN to a venue? 

By the time every single person in our group was in the Forum and settled, Crystal Castles was ending their set and I only got to see them perform one song.  As disappointed as I was, though, I wasn't going to let it ruin my night.  There was nothing but good vibes in the venue and I was optimistic about everything to come.  But stuff just kept going downhill.

We tried to make our way down to the actual ground floor after CC and before Chromeo, but security wasn't letting anyone down.  Long backups were forming at each staircase, and I could tell things were getting hostile as kids shouted at unresponsive Event Staff to let them down.  I was pissed, too.  Did I really pay $75 dollars to have some rent-a-staff tell me, without reason, that I couldn't go down to the stage and dance?  Only half of the capacity of the floor was even full -- it was an even BIGGER hazard to keep everyone waiting at the stairwells, fidgeting to get downstairs.  We got over trying to get down there and decided to just stand in the loge section and enjoy the show from above.

The next two hours went by so painfully slow, but I remember each moment vividly.  I think it started when a few kids began to hoist themselves down to the first floor from the second floor railings.  Instead of addressing this TOTAL safety hazard, Event Staff just stood with their arms crossed at the staircases like bouncers, assuring no one could walk down.  Soon enough the music was killed, and we were all told to be quiet and sit down.  Stairwells had to be cleared and everyone sitting in the first 2 - 5 rows of the loge section had to move.  The first half hour or so, people were remaining fairly positive.  At one point, the crowd did a wave along the entire arena.  But, soon enough, chants of "We Want Music" turned into "Fucking Bullshit" and "Refund".  From across the arena the crowd had become so hostile that guys were pushing through Event Staff and JUMPING down to the second floor -- throwing their bodies over the railings.

The entire time, I wanted so badly for the event to just start again, and for everyone to be happy.  But I knew it was over around midnight, when I saw FOH starting to pull out wires from the soundboard, and ultimately pack up.  More lights came on, people began leaving the stands, and the Riot Squad had come in to the ground floor with their helmets on, and batons and mace in tow to get people out.

Small dance parties were starting outside in the parking lot, but those got broken up soon as Inglewood PD stormed around on their motorcycles shouting at people to go home.  Helicopters had arrived to wave their spotlights at any groups not getting into their cars.  It was a devastating night, and I ended up back home with nothing but disappointment to remember what was supposed to be an amazing event for electronic music.

So, who's to blame?  I think people want to first say, the riot squad, Inglewood PD, and the Fire Department.  You always want to point the finger at the higher authority that comes in with their badges and guns and breaks everything up.  Unfortunately, if they hadn't stepped in last night, things would have been way worse.  Next, up event staff.  Why did they just stand back and do nothing while people threw themselves over the second floor railings?  Well, you can't really blame them.  There wasn't enough of them, and I doubt they were ever prepared to handle such a volatile crowd.  That leaves the promoters.  Screw the promoters for only thinking about reaching capacity and wanting their cut of pie, right?  Wrong.  I don't think the guys at HARD saw for the night to turn into this.  But I do think that they should have been prepared with MORE event staff and MORE security -- how else do you think 15,000 people are going to react when they've all purchased $75 GA tickets, and you're not going to let them down to the dance floor? 

There's still one group left to consider, though, and it's some of the people in the LA rave scene.  Don't get me wrong, some of my best friends are a part of that scene.  It's not the culture I hate.  I don't mind the beads/the candy and the outfits.  In fact, I love the entire concept of PLUR, and of strangers joining together as friends for the love of music and good times.  What kills me though, and what I think is what killed the show last night, is when a bunch of heavyweight ravers show up at Electronic events like HARD not truly giving a shit about any of the bands or DJs billed for the night.  They show up just to do their thing -- to drop some e, and enjoy some tunes.

I know it sounds selfish of me.  All music should be shared and so should good vibes.  But when you're going to come with all of your gear, your fancy gloves and your glow sticks, and back up the security line for the rest of us that just have our car keys and maybe some gum in our pocket, that's a problem.  It's a bigger problem when I see you walking around with all of this stuff and I hear you shout over Crystal Castles and complain "What is this noise?! This is terrible."  Maybe you shouldn't have showed up in the first place, because you're ruining the night for the rest of us that actually care. 

What I especially don't respect about the rave culture is how its recently turned into a scene where the drugs come before the music.  So many times I've come across a conversation where someone has asked, "Why would you want to go to [insert rave here], if you're not going to drop?"  It's a simple answer really, for the music.  Because you ravers would have nowhere to go right now, if it wasn't for cats like Tiesto or Benny Benassi, who at one point, started their careers playing small smoky clubs to kids who danced around simply because they loved the music these guys were spinning.  I guess it's fine if your mind-altering drugs will allow you to enjoy and elevate music you already love to another level, but it's a completely different thing if you can ONLY enjoy that music, if you can only go to a rave, with drugs in your body.  For people in that latter group, I'd ask you to seriously consider what music means to you, and politely ask for you to stop showing up at events like HARD, because you're killing it for the rest of us.

With that said, I'm so sorry for everything that happened last night, Destructo.  HARD Summer was supposed to be epic, and it turned into nothing but an epic fail.

Comments

[monique]

Hello, Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the evening. You made some valid, true, interesting points.
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Best Regards,
Monique

[Slo]

Monique,

Thanks for reading! It was definitely a long post, but I had to get all out, haha.

[monique]

I understand, may I ask your name?

[Slo]

Haha, absolutely. Steph Lo, Slo for short. =)