It didn’t feel like it we attended Trauma Oldschool for the Headstrong just this time in August 2015. However just this past Saturday marked the one year anniversary for Trauma’s return (formally TR-99) and saying we celebrated accordingly would be an understatement. I started my night off early already knowing what to expect, well at least I thought I did….
The night began with a unique set from LA’s own Deadly Buda,whom played a hard electronic set for his first hour. This would be my first time hearing it live, but when guy’s like Lenny Dee are pushing this style, I guess I couldn’t ignore it. The best way I could explain it would be “Subground style with an industrial soul”. It wasn’t easy to get into at first, but the industrial heaviness paired with the clashing effects of modern electro is definitely up and coming. The doors opened and kids dressed in their handmade fur and kandi attire, to throw back T-shirts started to fill all the rooms at Union gradually. It seemed like the music only got louder as more people filled the floors. Deadly Buda had the chance to fill the second slot after him, in which he transitioned into a classic/mainstream hardcore set which set the pace for the whole night. (Well at least till Tim Shopp hit the decks but we’ll get to that later)
By the time he was done I had already been freely moving between the venue, sometimes getting lost, but it wasn’t hard to pick out who was playing in the different rooms. I found myself gravitating towards definitely the main stage and the smaller downstairs for separate reasons. The main stage was pumping out the best production and sound with the largest crowd, but there was something special to be attributed to the smaller room. I caught a good portion of Demigod early in the night. I was surprised when I was outside and I saw someone bust out “United States of Hardcore” cassette tape for him to sign. After that I knew it was going to be sweet classic satisfaction every time I curved that corner to hear the sound that caught me in the first place. It wasn’t long till almost all rooms were packed, bars were busy and there wasn’t a time when people weren’t busting out a fat hakkuh. (Including myself)
Although I live for hardcore, I would occasionally have to side step to the sounds of Drum n Bass & Jungle as I moved between downstairs and main stage. I can’t recall a time where I would walk by and not have the urge to stop. Not being an expert on the subject matter, it didn’t take a jungulist to look to the small side stage to see the same dedicated fans dancing their hearts out.
I returned upstairs to prepare for the last half of The Pitcher but over the years my ear for Hardstyle has been getting worse. That didn’t stop myself from jumping to the absolute Rawstyle and Old-school he was throwing down. I’m even sure the crowd never missed a beat as he slipped in a couple Hard House hits from the origin days. I’ll have to admit I was itching for some faster pace at that point but I may have tried my luck a shuffling again, poorly.
I migrated downstairs for a while because I kept hearing rumors that Ron D Core and DJ Dan we’re still playing a tag vinyl set together. I did some quick thinking and realized that they were already almost playing for 2 hours, some say 3 but regardless I showed up that weekend to hear some classic Hardcore and I left only wanting to hear more. I simply couldn’t get over the attachment everyone had in that room to the music. Even to some of these native west coast hard heads, this music is blood to them. The sweat and tears was only reinforced my thoughts. I hope to experience that again soon.
Between the familiar faces from people traveling all around for different acts, and the nice weather, it was hard to prevent myself from going outside. Not once did I hear a shred complaints (Except the unplanned absence of Kevin Kaos, sorry Lisa). I wasn’t really sure why I didn’t buy a taco once while I was out there but, who knows? I got into a couple conversations and I was surprised that to some this was their first Hard Dance event. I assumed the line-up and anniversary title would bring out a specific older crowd. I guess the theme of the night was how much I could be proved wrong. Anyhow, the newcomers were stoked to say the least and in their reaction I only knew that wouldn’t be the first time I’d see them
Oh man, I haven’t even got to good part yet. I returned to my rightful place at upstairs main stage, some would call it entitlement but if you’re not causing damage, well you might be in the wrong place. Decipher took the decks and I could’ve swore the floor almost went down under. The tall shadowy Ozzy stepped up for his first time in LA and makes you wonder why only the first time? The ground was shaking, fists were pumping, and you would be wrong if you thought there wouldn’t be a pit for the angriest. It was a mix mash of some of the best hardcore mixing I’ve heard in awhile and I hope that people will notice what kind of unique talent he brings to the decks.
As Decipher ended his set you could already tell by looking around the room who was next to take the stage. The room went black, the strobe hit and before you knew it you we’re in Noize Suppressor’s world. The look on people’s face went from cheery to hard frowns and ugly grins. The madness had arrived. Being a fuge fan of Noize Suppressor for a long time I was more than excited to hear my favorite tracks and from the way the crowd was screaming the lyrics without a care for having a voice the next morning, I wasn’t the only one. For a good while there the solo strobe combined with a violent mosh made for a experience I thought only existed at concerts but the music had people feeling a certain way, and not in the typical loving way at most events. The highlight was easily the successful crowd surf which apparently is a once in while opportunity. He smashed out the ending with well preparation for was about to be in store…
Everything went silent, the room filled, and all you could hear people screaming for and calling one name, america’s own Tim Shopp. An abnormal BPM took over if you aren’t too familiar with the name but that was a good night to learn, and easily one of the best sets from the man in my opinion. Although we didn’t see him in his usual bomb vest, that had nothing to do with how he had the crowd to their knees. Well at least most of them, it almost as he felt he was challenging the crowd. How fast and hard could he go? Turns out this is the future and no one was missing a beat. Being the number one talked about hard dance upcoming producer in the US since his release of “Terror Squad” hitting top charts on Hardtunes it wasn’t difficult to see why. The ante kept climbing with the murderous kicks and faster tempo, the weak one’s feet began to slow down but not a soul went anywhere till the sound shut off. The party continued downstairs but by that time I had barely enough in me to go on but also wanted more at the same time.
The next morning the posts keep flooding my newsfeed and from everything I saw and heard the following night it was the first I actually got what I expected during that weekend. Ever since my interaction with Trauma Live and their staff it’s been nothing but good intentions and even sicker parties that aren’t just catered to the usual hard head, and for that reason I will always respect what’s to come next from the Trauma crew. The inside jokes and mixed memories will live on in the legacy of Trauma events. The mayor of Hardcore has my vote.
-Jarred M
