RAVE TAPES, ZOO OWL and PURSUIT GROOVES as part of Nuit Blanche at the Garrison, Saturday, October 3. Rating: NNN
As with many exhibits at Nuit Blanche, the first thing patrons experienced at the Wavelength-sponsored Rave Tapes installation/concert was an extremely long lineup to get in. Thankfully, a little after midnight someone had the brilliant idea of opening up the larger back room of the Garrison, turning on a laser and pumping through the music being performed in the smaller front space. Most seemed happy to be able to get in there for drinks and tunes, but they missed out on the front room’s classic rave decor, 90s Toronto party museum, video projections and interactive sonic installations.
A large lineup of performers played the 12-hour event, with Rave Tapes playing semi-improvised dance music, inspired by techno, house and indie in between sets. Pursuit Grooves DJed some deep house and broken beat, although the sound system was so distorted that her soulful sounds came across much more aggressive than normal. (We’re pretty sure that wasn’t intentional.) Zoo Owl took the theme more literally for his energetic performance and reworked 90s rave classics into new forms while blinding the front row of dancers with his trademark flashlight goggles.
benjaminb@nowtoronto.com | @benjaminboles
