The '90s may be a mere flicker in the rearview mirror, but the energy of the Phoenix rave scene from that era is gearing up to pulsate once more. The Phoenix New Times recently dusted off the cobwebs from the archives to remind everyone that, over 25 years ago, locals were regularly congregating in the gritty enclaves of warehouses and venues like The Icehouse, letting loose to the throbbing basslines and kaleidoscopic beats that defined a generation.
This nostalgia trip is not about to stop quickly fade away. Instead, veterans of the Valley's underground dance parties are slated to come together in a sort of reunion at The Dark Side TFM in Tempe. According to the Phoenix New Times, the event, fuelled by Step Up magazine's community spirit, will feature the likes of Emile, Gary B, Morley, SkuTech, Soloman, and Jane Vanderbilt behind the decks, channelling the same effervescent vibes that marked those heady days.
Icons of that vibrant time like Z-Trip, Pete Salaz, Markus Schulz, and CL McSpadden, have all been reminisced upon as titans of turntables who helped to firmly implant the local EDM culture into Phoenix's historical narrative. As this era has become canonized, the visual journey through the lenses of local artist Ramy Hosseinie and historical photos sourced by the Phoenix New Times, adds layers to the already rich tapestry of stories from revelers and beatsmiths alike that once dominated the scene.
And it's not just about looking back. The legacy continues through events like Mary Xmas, an enduring rave that stretches its roots back to 1999, and according to Chisto, is staging its latest edition at Club Endgame in Mesa. A cue for those who once sported JNCO jeans and kandi to dust them off and mingle with new-age ravers to weave new stories into the old fabric. It's a way to, once again, wholeheartedly embrace and to live the rave new world of the Nineties, set against the backdrop of today's landscape.
