Urban Marinade

Okay, I’m taking a break from my post-Miami Music Week reviews to get us back into the swing of covering newer events and explaining the method behind my photography madness. So I’ll start by writing about a subject that’s been on my mind for a few weeks that was just begging to be exposed. We’ll call it “Old School Media Fails.” Or you could just say it’s bad dance music coverage by media organizations that pride themselves on being the keepers of the journalism guard. The biggest culprit being our very own Washington Post.

You guys know me, I like to stay positive on most things. And I get excited when I see a media organization like the Washington Post write a review of a dance music show like Armin van Buuren’s recent visit to Club Glow. But my excitement and positive energy comes crashing down when I see the media giant botch the No. 1 DJ’s title right in the headline. I present to you the article, written by Megan Buerger.



Ah, where do I begin. Well for one, his name is Armin van Buuren. He’s the No. 1 DJ in the World and has been for 4 years straight. He’s not known as DJ Van Buuren. By giving him that label ignores his incredible production work that defines him as an artist. I suppose you could call him DJ Armin, but in the industry, who does? Oh, and for the love of god, who uses the term “disc jockey” outside of weddings???

My next issue is with the writer suggesting Tiesto, Carl Cox and Paul Van Dyk are “emotionally subdued.” Seriously? I take it she didn’t attend Tiesto’s wild and over-the-top concert at the DC Armory back in April. I also assume she didn’t see Carl Cox (who is a rather large man) bounce all over the stage at Ultra Music Festival in Miami? I won’t comment on Van Dyk because I’m not as familiar with his live show. But Tiesto and Carl Cox are two of the biggest legends of dance music. It is their very emotional connection to their music that has led to the growth of dance music and to you, the Washington Post, covering a show like this. Armin is very spiritual on stage and with his crowds. But you cannot discount the connection Cox and Verwest have with their audience and their craft.

Let’s keep going… oh Christ, here we go again with the rave reference. Can a proper journalist not write about dance music without mentioning something about raves and “chemically enhanced” fans?  I smell more weed at one Weepies concert at the 930 Club than I’ve ever noticed at all dance music events combined. But you never see writers reference the woody and distinct aroma of freshly charred cannabis when reviewing the mainstreamy alt-rock concerts that seem to be socially accepted by the MSM (mainstream media). What is it about dance music that has these buttoned-up journalists so stuck on the 1990s?

The writer goes on to inject some type of opinion of the show like anyone reviewing something should. The only problem is, I get the impression she feels like she needs to say something negative about Armin because, well, that’s what a review should do. I don’t get for one second that Ms. Buerger really understood what was happening with the music when Armin extended his arms out in his signature pose. I don’t think for one second the crowd minded. If you want to be fair, I’m sure there were some hardcore trance addicts who were slightly miffed by the sudden blending of Dubstep into his set. Even I was a little put off by that. But really Wapo, do you think the audience noticed much…being that they were so “chemically enhanced?”

I’ll let this one go for now because as a true dance music fan and fairly connected photographer in the business, I know reality. I’m not dumb enough to believe there isn’t drugs at an event. But I’m smart enough to see it’s barely noticeable. I also don’t hang on to the notion that any event involving dance music is “rave.” Raves occur in dirty warehouses with unknown underground DJs spinning vinyl for candy kids with glow sticks. Armin van Buuren is one of the top music producers in the world and puts on massive concert productions in front of thousands of fans in packed clubs and arenas. Calling ASOT500 or any of his shows a rave is a gross misrepresentation of who he is and what his performance is all about.

My suggestion would be to go to a show and stay more than 30 minutes. Clearly Wapo has some learning to do!