This is all a bit fragmented, rescued from old emails, while still in a stupefied awe.
Post #1: Did I mention DEMF was the coolest f*cking thing ever to hit planet earth? I didn’t mention earlier, but seeing TP on his home turf @ Tonic was great. It’s a very nice club and he was *on*. I didn’t watch a whole lot of his set because I wanted to check out a fellow [313] list member from Miami, DJ Nova, who was concurrently ROCKING SHIT upstairs. But what I saw of TP was amazing, per the usual.
There is presently some debate going on as to whether final attendance count was 900,000 or 1,500,000, and whether that counts repeat visitors, but no matter how you slice it, there was a huge crowd and it was non-stop insanity. I can’t really even verbalize how amazing this *event* was. I think everyone in the crowd was completely stunned that such a thing could actually happen. There was SOOOOO much energy. It was so much more than a show, and so much different than a rave. There were sometimes when I wanted to be at three or four stages at once. The mayor even stopped down to say a few words (despite a cool reception). Above all, the people of Detroit, in and outside of the scene, welcomed the event and the visitors. I saw a cop jacking (albeit casually), little three or four year old kids dancing, 60+ year old men and women dancing, etc. And there was only a minimum of bullshit. It was meant to be, with hundreds of people ensuring that it went off without a hitch.
It is a great time to be alive. Words cannot describe the talent or the crowd. I may be able to make some more sense about this in a week or two.
Post #2: Unfortunately, I had to leave a little after six o’clock yesterday, to get back to Iowa City at 2am, to get up for work at 6:30, but everything I saw @ DEMF was astounding. That was hands down the coolest thing I’ve ever seen, done, or been a part of. And if anyone tries to say the crowd was not a part of the DEMF they are foolish. I can’t believe I spent three days amidst 900,000 people, adding alcahol in the most diverse (ehnicity and age) crowd I’ve ever seen without witnessing any violence or even stupid drama. Amazing. The vibe was incredible. Everywhere I walked I heard people saying things like, “this is beautiful”, “why can’t this happen every weekend” (perhaps that was a bit naive but you get the idea), etc. I’m just in awe, and it hasn’t even begun to sink in yet.
DEMF favorites: Theo Parrish, The Roots, Derrick Plasaiko and Fucktrance, Detroit. Oh, and the old dancing hippie at the mainstage and CPOP Sunday afternoon. I’ll have to post a picture of him when I get them developed.
post #3: I couldn’t tear myself away from Mike Clark forever, although the band members didn’t do nearly as much for me as the drummer who played with Minx. That was phenomenal on-the-fly chemistry. And watching Minx laughing because she was having so much fun with the drummer was great. I’ve never seen DJs having as much fun as Minx on Friday or Derrick “Broken Seal” Plasaiko on Sunday (not to mention Derrick in the crowd the whole time :> ). Anyway, I had to check out Scion and Tikiman, which was quite a treat. I also stopped by the Motor stage for a taste of Mike Grant and D Wynn along the way. This was completely overwhelming. By the time I made it over for the beginning of Theo Parrish’s set I was very ready to stay put in one place. I didn’t even know where the undergound stage was at that point. You can’t see everything after all. I think the first hour and a half of his set (before he started playing a lot of house), was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone mix non-sequenced music continuously for that long as seemlessly as he did. It was mind-blowing. Probably my favorite part of the show, right there with the Roots finale.
Other festival reports here.