‘Adventure Club: A Superheroes Halloween’

           Electronic Dance Music, or EDM for short, is a corner of the music industry that has created a world of millions of followers. Every day, around the world, there are many events that showcase the reason behind this genres sensation. These events display artists and the projects that they’ve created or are promoting. There are live musicians, djs and artists that provide visual aesthetics as well.

            For a Halloween celebration this year there was an event held called ‘Adventure Club: A Superheroes Halloween’. The world-famous dj duo Adventure Club headlined this event on Friday, October 26th, 2018 at Buffalo Riverworks. Eptic, SubDocta and Dirt Monkey were the other opening acts that warmed up the crowd starting at 8pm. “There’s nothing quite like the arena of electronic music today. Everyone has their favorite things in life and coming to shows like this one is mine” says James Turner, an attendee that shared his perception on the sensationalism of the EDM industry.

            Adventure Club specializes in the genre known as Dubstep. Dubstep is bass heavy, computer generated sound that runs at around 140 beats per minute. Many patrons find themselves dancing around during these shows to these sometimes slow but heavy beats. There are many hundreds, if not thousands, of djs that can be seen on any given night across the world but finding the genre that most intrigues you is a start to figure out which event you’d be the most happy at. 

            When entering Riverworks, the bass of the music could be heard from afar and was inviting by its rhythmic tones. Stepping inside the doorway provided a warm relief from the outside crisp October air and the sensation of the sounds were enticing. Scanning the tickets and getting bags checked was all that stood between us and the venue filled with hundreds of people.

            Like zigzags on a screen, people were already buzzing back and forth with excitement and energy from the music. Bass beats permeated from the stage, which was set back against a wall and built high on a platform so as to look out at the growing crowd. Laser lights rocked back and forth from the hardware that was built into a portion of the platform. The lighting continuously bounced off the faces in the crowd and, for seconds at a time, would highlight the patrons emotions to all.

            Riverworks is a venue that often holds major events and offers plenty of space for any level of organization with a capacity of up to 5,000 people at a time. One of the great features of this venue is the upper level which provides additional viewing and an alternative angle to being in the middle of the crowd below. From this higher angle a patron can see most of the space set out below and it gives for a great perspective of the crowd. The light show displayed on stage can also provide for an additional experience and is often another type of talent that is showcased.

            Another aspect of this event that added to its uniqueness was the Halloween costume concept that many patrons participated in. Hippies, gangsters, cartoon characters and superheroes alike were spotted throughout the night. Many smiles were traded with the acknowledgement of their alter-egos being shown through creative costumes, face-paint and a lot of glitter. Going to an event where you can trade in your ‘regular’ clothes for those that emulate a different side of your personality can often help to free some anxieties and apprehensions that a person may have.

Turner, a regular patron of EDM events, considers himself to be an unofficial expert in the music arena based on the hundreds of shows and festivals he’s attended over the past 10 years. Turner explains that through many difficult times in his life, the music ‘scene’ helped him to face issues with a more steady hand. “Sometimes the things you’re most passionate about are the things that can heal your most darkest places. These events are my passion. Songs like ‘Youth’ by Adventure Club really hit a soft spot for me and help to motivate me on some off days”.

There are many forms of art expression that are offered at EDM events. The music itself, light shows, and dancers just to name a few. Lisa Peacers, a well-known WNY performer, has spent the last few years developing the love that she has not only for the music but for the environment of freedom that the music offers. “The EDM scene is known to be a safe space for people to creatively express themselves” and Peacers does just that when dancing or performing to her favorite artists, including Adventure Club. “I loved high fiving fellow Spiderman impersonators and especially loved those who took the time to create their own super hero character!”

            There were about four and a half to five hours of music and the night was packed with a massive amount of bass, neon lights and dancing bodies. The night was over faster than anticipated but the memories will surely last a lifetime.  No matter the genre, EDM has a place inside for just about anyone that is looking for a space to belong to.