By Liam Pointing
I used to be a big raver. Pre COVID times, underground events were abundant. They seemed to be flourishing. I was never one for going out to mainstream clubs in the city; something about them just never appealed to me.
Since the pandemic, my going-out activities diminished. Of course, the lockdowns played their part, but internally I felt like I had to take a step back. Going out and moving on with my life were mutually exclusive endeavours. But lately I have had somewhat of an epiphany regarding those beliefs. Isolating myself to loneliness at times was not the solution. I missed the community of underground events.
On the night of Saturday the 18th of November, one of those events was held. Trigger Happy 3 at Tokyo Sing Song in the depths of the Marlborough Hotel was an awesome night of expression and talent.
Trigger Happy is a queer-led intelligent dance music (IDM)/breakcore rave group led by @noneless. While this is the first of their events I have attended, it keeps in line with the ethos I have witnessed in other parties. That being inclusion, acceptance, and tolerance for all varieties of people. I think that is what I love so much about these spaces.
As they say on their events: “As always, Trigger Happy is a safe space for self-expression!” Speaking to some people in the scene, you note that at times they had trouble fitting in with more commonly enjoyed communities and groups. Underground events provide a space for them.
While I do not want to adulate every aspect of the underground network and pretend it has never had its issues (or continues to do so), I do believe it provides an awesome space for people wanting something a little different.
The music may be grating for some, but music is such an inherently subjective thing I do not think you get anywhere by debating the merits of so-and-so a genre. For me, the social and cultural contexts in which the music embeds itself is more important; why do people congregate in such a fashion, why do they reject mainstream venues and styles? Theoretically any group of people can meet under any musical form, but why some music and communities attract certain groups is what I find interesting.
Trigger Happy 3 had an eclectic mix of artists. Personal favourite was LÜdic, whom I first came across in psytrance but has always been experimenting on the periphery. Bija was a nice surprise, describing themselves as “ethereal breakcore”. And of course, Trigger Happy’s catalyser Noneless’s epic combination of synthesised waveforms and live violin was a sight to behold. All in all, a great night, and personally I got to catch up with many friends, some of whom I had not seen in years.
It is interesting to hear as we get older that some people grow out of going out. But over the years, I have met many people in their thirties and forties still raving on a semi-frequent basis. And they all have stable jobs, stable lives — breaking the stereotype for many that you cannot combine the lifestyles.
Everyone has their own methods of feeding the social aspect that is so integral to us as humans. I am glad to have found these spaces, to engage with community and reflect on the crazy world we find ourselves in. Sometimes in these moments is when we find ourselves most at peace.
Featured image: Bija captivating the audience with her live vocals over sonic soundscapes. Photo: Liam Pointing