Bars and Nightclubs
There is nothing like a neck hangover.
Have you ever walked into a heavy metal Bar or Nightclub on Halloween wearing 15 centimeters pink high heels and a frilly dress? Have you ever done this while covered in fake blood pretending to be road kill for Halloween?
Didn’t I have a good time!
Except when the morning light showed up. No, not because I am a vampire who cannot stand the sunlight – or a mentally frustrated boy in front of his playstation. But because, morning light means morning, morning means waking up and waking up means hangover – a neck hangover.
Head banging is a skill. And if you are planning on hitting some of Sydney’s craziest heavy metal Bars and Nightclubs be warned it is a skill you MUST learn. Well at least if you do not want to wake up feeling that your neck is a small tree branch onto which you have just attached a coconut (all this plus a dying brain from too much alcohol consumption).
Unless you are a yoga master and your head is the ‘stretchiest’ around, waking up with a neck hangover is inevitable. So what do you do when you have one? Or what are the tricks to avoiding it?
Some say easy stretches before you start rolling your head like crazy to insane nightclub sounds give you a head start in the ‘avoid extreme neck pain the next morning’ race.
My advice would be: don’t drink – but isn’t that a killer.
Taking it slow won’t help you. Once you start, it is over. Head banging is after all a drug – one twist of the neck and you are addicted. At least until your neck holds up.
Heavy metal nightclub lovers will tell you, a neck hangover is so painful you will have to head back into the night scene to forget the pain. Since it is muscle pain though, Tiger balm is always a good resort. Massage it into your neck for a while and hope for the best.
Pannadol and fresh orange juice might help with the dizziness – but let us be realistic. There are no cures for major neck strain, all you may do is stay in bed, call your boss with a dying voice, and most of all DON’T LOOK DOWN. Coconut, coconut, coconut…
After my Halloween head banging in the nightclub scene to a hard core live band, while trying to stay up in heels, carrying my head off outside in both hands and hyperventilating, I say head to the Ivy and dance a slow and get yourself a chilled mojito.
By Amarande Chauvet
A List of DJ Scratching Techniques
If you, like many thought that scratching was just a random act of moving the record back and forth whilst twiddling a knob, holding the headphone against your ear and trying to look slick then think again. This technique that DJs use is far more than just playing with the record, it is an art form that takes months and years to perfect.
As one of the more well known techniques that a DJ uses, scratching has evolved from what it once was to incorporate a huge number of styles, that are used depending on the genre of music, be it trance, house, techno, RnB or hip hop.
Baby Scratch
This is the technique that most people associate with the DJ. This is when the DJ moves a record back and forth quickly with one hand. If you are on dance floor, you will probably note this is one of the opportunities a DJ gets to salute the crowd and look cool.
Chirp Scratch
This is hard to explain to a non DJ, but it is a variation on the baby scratch however also uses the crossfader (the crossfader is the thing that determines which of the two records is heard by the dance floor and to what intensity). When you see the DJ scratching with one hand, and moving a knob left and right he’s using this technique.
Hydrophonic Scratch
This is when the DJ scratches the record in one direction whilst using his or her thumb to moves the record in the other direction. Sounds pretty complicated.
Flare Scratch
Too hard to explain… perhaps ask a DJ or Google it.
Transformer Scratch
To the non DJ, appears to be one of the more complex forms of scratching and is when the DJ scratches with one hand and rapidly moves the cross fader back and forth with an intense look…
Scribble Scratch
This involves the DJ tensing his arm and kind of making it vibrate (try it it isn’t that hard).
Other
Other techniques a DJ uses to mix the music you love are the Euro scratch, orbit scratch, crab scratch and tweak scratch, however I can’t be bothered to explain them all it is just too hard. If you’re still interested then watch this video.
By Ben King
The History of the DJ
Whilst everyone knows what a DJ is, few people would know the rich history regarding the rise of the DJ over more traditional forms of live music and entertainment. Once more, the what readers definitely wouldn’t be aware of is that the history of the DJ goes back to the 1800’s before radio’s were even invented.
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Trance Music Festivals From Around the World
If your reading this article then chances are you like trance music about as much as we do… which is heaps. The genre of electronic music that is trance, is a relatively newcomer to the music scene however despite this, trance music is still the focal point of some of the biggest festivals in the world.
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The Biggest Selling Hip Hop, RnB and Dance Music Singles of All Time…
Have you ever wondered what the biggest selling tracks of your favourite genre are? We have, so we decided to investigate exactly which tracks have sold the most and found that in the world of music… NOTHING IS WHAT IT SEEMS…
So without further adieu, below is the official list on number 1 tracks of all time from all the major music genres that this website cares about.
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A History of Techno Music
Irrespective what end of the spectrum of techno music, whether you love it or hate it, chances are you don’t know a thing about its history and even less about what has made it one of the most popular forms of electronic music today.
Whilst techno is without doubt most popular in Europe today, techno music in fact originated from a Detroit Michigan during the 1980’s. Although Detroit is far more famous for exporting cars rather than music, the vast array of techno music genres we listen to today are variants on the original style of “Detroit Techno.” (Ironically Eminem, one of the 2000’s biggest names in rap music who openly hates techno music also comes from the same city)
The pioneers of techno music are without question the Belleville 3, given that label by adoring fans because they all attended Belleville High School, who’s first 3 albums popularised the fledgling genre of music.
However the main reason for the growth in techno music during this period was the fact that synthesizers and sequencers required to produce techno music became increasingly affordable. As a result, experimentation with techno music became increasingly popular within Detroit, in particular by those not wishing to follow the mainstream music of the time.
It wasn’t long before the techno music genre started to make inroads into Europe, with Germany and England becoming early adopters of this new style. When the Berlin wall fell in 1989, techno music exploded in German bars, nightclubs and underground venues, the most famous of which was UFO, hosted by DJ Westbaume and DJ Maute. This underground venue would be the first steps to founding the most epic festival of techno music being The Love Parade.
With the growth in techno music, various genres started to make a name for themselves and create their own following. He various genres of Trance music (hard trance, progressive trance, acid trance, uplifting trance) all have their origins in Detroit techno. Mainstream music also became heavily influence by techno, in particular with “techno remixes” of pop, hip hop, RnB and rap music.
Today techno music is without question the most popular genre of electronic music, so much so that it is often mistaken by newbie’s as the name for electronic music itself with DJs and groups such as the Aphex Twins, Basshunter, Daft Punk and DJ Rush pushing techno music into the mainstream.
By Ben King
Today’s Recommended Brisbane Bars:
A Beginners Guide to Trance Music
With the never ending and continuing changing list of electronic music genres, undoubtedly there are budding clubbers out there a little bit confused about what’s what in the world of trance music. Whilst trance and electronic music “haters” will tell you that all music that emanates from a computer falls under the category of “doof,” there is a huge number of variations and styles of trance that make it one of the most well known styles of electronic music.
The godfather of Trance music is a German guy by the name of Klause Schulze, who’s first album Transfer is believed to have been the origin for naming his style of music “trance.” Although trance music only started becoming semi mainstream during the mid to late 1990’s, he is widely credited for pioneering this style of music.
Although originating in Germany, the home of trance music today is without question the Netherlands, with 3 of the Worlds top 10 DJ’s hailing from this small European nation including DJ Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren and Ferry Corsten.
If the Netherlands is home to trance music, then Ibiza would be its living room. The famous clubbing Island of Ibiza without doubt the epicentre of trance music. The best DJ’s in the world and the most avid lovers of trance music flock to this small Spanish island to party during the northern summer.
So if you are looking to educate yourself on trance music, below is a beginner’s guide to set you on your way to become a trance music expert.
1. Classic Trance
2. Progressive Trance
3. Hard Trance
4. Acid Trance
5. Uplifting Trance (also known as “Anthem Trance,” Stadium Trance” and “Euphoric Trance.”)
By Ben King
Today’s recommended Melbourne Bars are:
Who Are The World’s Best DJ’s
It’s a topic discussed by lovers of techno, trance, house and electronic music around the world… who are the best DJ’s in the world? Whilst differing tastes in music dictate who might be your favourite DJ, there is undoubtedly a group of DJ’s out there that are a cut above the rest.
So in an effort to answer this question, we did a bit of research online to suss out which DJ’s are the most sought after and came up with this list of the top 3 DJ’s in the World.
1. DJ Tiesto
Tijs Michiel Verwest (DJ Tiesto) is largely credited for revolutionising trance and hard trance music. The 40 year old Dutch DJ’s fame started in 1997 when he founded Black Hole Recordings. In 2000 he hit the big time with his remix of the Delirium and from 2002 – 2004 was voted the best DJ in the world by the bible of Dj’ing, DJ magazine. As resident DJ at Privilege nightclub, officially recognised as the world’s biggest nightclub, few would argue DJ Tiesto is the top DJ in world today.
2. Armin Van Buuren
The 2nd Dutch DJ on the list, AVB can also lay claim to moulding trance and euro-trance music into what it is today. Hailing from Kouderkerk Ahn Den Rijn in the Netherlands, AVB it wasn’t uncommon for this preeminent trance DJ to perform 6 – 7 hour sets at the Nexus nightclub. His 2000 compilation CD “A State of Trance” sold 10,000 which led to a vast number of top compilations mixing progressive, trance and techno. AVB is currently the host of one of the most listened to radio shows in the world with over million listeners also called “A State Of Trance.”
3. ATB
André Tanneberger comes in as the number 3 DJ on our list. Most known for his number one hit in 1999 (and a track some would say epitomises the dance music of the time) Till I Come, ATB is also known for an epic list of hits, ATB regularly release his ever changing style of dance/trance music in his native country of Germany. A DJ known for his ever evolving style, ATB’s release in 2005 of the compilation CD “7 Years” featuring all his hits received critical acclaim around the world.
By Ben King
Todays Recommended Sydney Bars are:
What Type Of Nightclubs Guy Are You
Guys in bars and nightclubs are always a mystery to the girls. One minute guys can be all over you, and the next minute he will run to another girl or leave you without asking for your number. The trick to help avoid getting totally confused, lost and helpless in situations like these is to recognize the different types of guys in bars and nightclubs so that you know which ones to avoid and which ones to invest your time in. To help save you time and effort with guys, here are a few more types of some guys you will come across in bars and nightclubs.
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What Type Of Girl Are You In The Club
The different types of girls you encounter in bars and nightclubs can have a very different influence on how good your night out is. For a guy, it can be difficult to spot the differences in types of girls (much like it’s difficult to spot the difference between Asians) until it’s too late and your evening has already been ruined or the mood changed. To help avoid this, here are a few more types of girls in bars and nightclubs.
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