If Paxahau has finally done something to address the truly awful
acoustics of the underground stage then I'll be impressed, but I don't
have high hopes that that space will sound any less horrendous than it
has every time I've gone down there.
The fact that "Detroit techno has always been underground" does not
justify knowingly and repeatedly putting DJs in a space in which
everything sounds murky. If the goal is to feature the music, then it
is important that the acoustics aren't a major obstacle to actually
being able to hear the music with reasonable clarity.
Warehouse parties are makeshift and grab bag by default. You don't walk
in the door and expect the room to have acoustically engineered for
crystal-clear sound. The underground stage is like being in a
warehouse, except that DEMF is a planned festival with corporate
sponsorship, so it is reasonable to expect better sound quality
especially when the underground stage is a known sore point and has been
for years.
Why couldn't they use that amphitheater-style area near the waterfront
stage, or set up a large tent somewhere else?
{}0+>|
On 5/1/2010 12:02 AM, John Sokolowski wrote:
Has anyone seen the setup of the Detroit stage this year? Has anyone heard the
sound? Let's reserve judgment until we see/hear the results shall we? And
looking at the line up I see real Detroit artists on all of the stages.
Personally, I kind of like that the Detroit stage is underground. Detroit
techno has always been underground even within the city itself. I grew up
hearing the artists who have played the Detroit stage over the last few years
in smokey, sweaty, concrete venues that were far from safe. It feels fitting to
me. This is coming from someone who prefers to hear techno and house outdoors
as of late too.
I can't argue the acoustics issue, which is far from good. I feel like the
Paxahau guys know what they are doing and are really trying to make it work.
----------------------------------------
From: chaircrus...@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 11:45:25 -0500
To: 313@hyperreal.org
Subject: (313) Call to action with respect to putting Detroit Artists in the
concrete dungeon at DEMF
The underground stage area at Hart Plaza is an awful place to hear
music. The acoustics are irredeemable, and the place frankly stinks,
especially after 2 days of sweat, smoke and god knows what. If it is
actually full, it's a serious hazard to human life, as it holds more
people than could exit safely all at once.
Our irrepressible friend Tom Cox is asking people to contact Paxahau
and try and get them to stop using it as a stage area, and ESPECIALLY
to stop using it to hide the real Detroit artists from festival goers.
http://infinitestatemachine.com/2010/04/30/dear-paxahau-this-is-not-okay-no-more-underground-stage/
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