I was born in Pittsburgh, DJed my first rave in Pittsburgh, and when asked where I am from I always want to say Pittsburgh, even if I haven’t had a mailing address there in decades. So it was with keen anticipation that I looked forward to the Pittsburgh edition of the Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016, and it lived up to the hype in my subconscious.

Every stop on the tour has its unique flavor, and the stop in the Steel City could be best described as one of child-like enthusiasm and fun. Being the least populated city on the tour, that was reflected in the attendance, however, for those that made it out in the 20 degree Fahrenheit cold, it was a life changing and transformative event that most will recognize a few years from now, and one that I see now, simply based on my past experience in this realm.

There was a crowd of old and new last night. There were a few attendees, such as Dario Kenning, who attended Pittsburgh’s first rave on December 13, 1991, the Psychotronic Slack Rave. Dan Mross and Colby Newton, veterans of the Turbo Zen days, were also in attendance. They were joined by a new breed of ravers, getting a taste of hardcore for the first time, or at least the first time live.

In fact, that was the interesting thing, all along the tour. In the early rave days, we were introducing a hodge-podge of music to the crowd, blending it together and making something new. Hardcore EDM, or techno if you like, harkens back to that pivotal moment in rave history. It was the point where the ravers made their own sound. That sound is an alternative sound to the mainstream, so that in many ways the evolution of hardcore is unrecognized in the mainstream, and why it feels so fresh and exciting when the curious party-goer stumbles upon it, or searches and finally finds it. It feels different when you are there, and you know it.

I started off the night playing some new tracks created by Subterranean and Nickolai, remixes of my old “Playing Echoes in Your Head” EP from 1996, a 20 year old record that still sounds fresh today, and now even fresher with the updates. I was followed by Buzz Fuzz, SRB, Meccano Twins and then Tommyknocker. Tommyknocker really knocked it out of the park last night, his set was spot on, tight and driving. No disrespect to myself, SRB, Buzz and Meccano, we all played nice sets, but the crowd finally arrived during Tommy’s set and he made sure they got their money’s worth once they stepped on the dance floor. Up next was the crowd favorite, hardstyle heroine, DJ Stefanie. She had the crowd bopping away, and was probably the most popular last night.

Dr. Peacock was up next, and played what might have been his best set on the tour so far. I didn’t think he could surpass the Denver show, but his sweet melodies and international flavor really enraptured the crowd last night. I might be tempted to say he had my favorite set of the night, but it would be a close coin-flip between all the stars. Let’s put it this way: last night I started to understand what all the buzz was about Dr. Peacock. He’s doing something different, and the crowd is getting into it.

Rotterdam Terror Corps assaulted the stage next with their trademarked brand of chaos. Huge kick drums, terror noises, scary make-up and gabber strippers whipped the crowd into a frenzy. Then, as has been the tradition on the tour, Rob Gee wrapped up the show with his recent tracks, and then ended with a classic, “Ecstacy, You Got What I Need,” which is coming up on its 20 year anniversary. Apparently there is going to be a number of remixes coming out this year by top hardcore artists. The icing on the cake was when Rob made sure to do a final encore for the fans.

I hurried up to the door, and passed out the last few copies of The HARD DATA, and then kicked it with some of my homies from back in the day. Next up, the home of USA hardcore, Brooklyn, NYC. Until then, remember…

The rhythm is life and death!

-Deadly Buda