November 5, 2002 THE RETRIEVER WEEKLY FEATURES Page 23

Tales of the City By: R. Eric Thomas Buzz without the “Buzz”: Civic Duty

…meanwhile, in far off Baltimore, to vote. I was like, What is this, Tiesto Amazes Crowd there seems to be some sort of election Communist Russia that the government GREG LOWE Tiesto began his set a little on the going on. Normally the business of is making you stand in line for two Retriever Weekly Contributing Writer darker side, playing hard progressive tech- which poobah sits in what office and hours? I mean, really, it’s the electoral no, continuing where Hunter had left off. bangs which gavel would be of little con- process, not Space Mountain. When Buzzlife Productions After a few minutes however, Tiesto began cern to me; there’s, in my humble opin- But I’ve been in college for a little announced that their hugely popular Friday putting down tracks more akin to his sig- ion, far more exciting things going on in while now and I realize that some day, night dance event, Buzz, would no longer nature Dutch-style trance with lush Mob Town. But ever since I moved back presumably, I’ll be out. And I’ll think be held at Nation nightclub in Washington, melodies and sweeping rhythms. When he home after a three-year stint in New about things like property taxes and mar- D.C., thousands of people were shocked, dropped his own remix of Paul York—the City with a capital C—I’ve riage penalties and worry that the public upset, and in disbelief, myself included. Oakenfold’s wildly popular anthem been unable to ignore the desperate need schools don’t have enough money to The announcement was abrupt and did not “Southern Sun,” the crowd cooed and a this town has for real leadership. When provide a good education for my chil- leave fans of the rave event a chance to say mass of hugging and jumping ensued. The my parents have no problem with me dren. And I’ll care about who is banging goodbye to the spirit that was Buzz at crowd responded like I had not seen in a traipsing around Harlem at 3 a.m., but the gavel. Nation. The opportunity to say goodbye long time. Glowsticks swirling, thousands caution me about walking from our Truth be told, I care now. I go to a recently came about Oct. 25 at Nation dancing, people from every race, sexual house to Rite Aid after dark, we have a state school and live in a drug-infested without the Buzz name. orientation, and nationality united as one problem. area, so you’d better believe I have World-renowned Dutch trance DJ under the power of Tiesto’s music. There I’ve never really cared for Baltimore something invested in who the mayor is Tiesto performed with guest Andy Hunter was a lot of P.L.U.R. – Peace Love Unity and I’ve never really cared for politics. and who the governor is. On this past hailing from Britain. Despite the absence Respect (the raver’s mantra) - in that room. Frankly, I find them both increasingly Sunday my pastor celebrated 19 years at of the Buzz name, which was rated the #1 All 20,000 square feet of Nation’s main distasteful and vaguely boring. So, why, our church. As he gave remarks on club in America for several years, Hunter room were put to good use. I asked myself upon receiving my Sunday he also mentioned that after a and Tiesto brought back the emotion and Like all good things, a world famous Maryland voter registration card, should long, draining illness he had decided to unity that made Buzz a great party. I DJ set must come to an end. Tiesto did not I bother? accept his daughter’s kidney. The rea- arrived at Nation at about 10:00 p.m., and let the audience down lightly, however. I asked myself the same question soning he gave was as follows: “I Andy Hunter was already making spectac- Playing the Way Out West track when I received my second voter regis- believe,” he said, “our best days are ular use of Nations EAW Avalon sound “Mindcircus” he kept the energy going tration card a week later. It seems not ahead of us. And I want to be there to see system. Ah, the smell of chemical fog, the until closing with deeper, more rich tones. only can I now vote in Maryland, but I them.” flash of the lights, the bass pounding in my Finishing around 4 a.m., (early closing could do it again if I enjoyed it. Now I I’ve never really believed this is heart; I was home. Throwing down a set of time compared to Buzz) the audience voted for Tamyra Gray nearly 30 times true, in a general sense. I’ve always had edgy progressive house, Hunter set the seemed more than satisfied. I had a world- over the course of the summer. The race trouble considering bringing children upbeat tone for Tiesto. Concluding his set class night of electronic dance music and for the American Idol-ship was some- into the world because the world that I with such crowd favorites as “Days Go many ravers, including myself, were able thing I cared about deeply. But Mrs. live in is bad enough, surely the one they By,” the crowd was jumping up and down to give our goodbyes to Nation, arguably Kennedy Townsend? Or, Bobby Ehrlich? will live in will be worse. But if my pas- and screaming for Tiesto. Hunter wouldn’t the best club on the East Coast and the club Maybe if one them got crazy highlights tor can believe, truly believe, that there let go quite yet though. Extending his set we had called home to Buzz for nearly in their hair I might be swayed, but until are better days ahead, then I suppose I for about 45 minutes, he really got the seven years. Having bid farewell, we now them I fall into the admittedly embarrass- can to. And though I know his faith crowd ready. When Tiesto finally came on look to the future of Buzz’s new events to ing pool of college-aged apathetics. comes not from politicians, not from any at about 12:45 a.m., it was like Madonna be held at Trust Nightclub right here in I know Ice-T wants me to vote; I saw person, but from God, I also know how had just stepped in. Baltimore! him on my MTV. And I do believe in vot- important it is to show up and to be ing, and in the electoral process. I even counted. changed my registration to New York I don’t believe that KKT or Ehrlich while I lived there so that I could do my have the ability to lead Maryland into Salsa with SASA better days. So I’m not going to vote for part to get Hillary into office. And per- from AJOOBA, page 18 haps that’s where my current civic ennui them, not for the reasons they want me extensive choreography of the dances, both comes from. to. I’m going to vote because I care and this year than last year,” said Rohini Batra, making this year’s Ajooba another success See, I wasn’t able to actually cast my voting is not so much about turning the performer in one of the hip-hop dances. for SASA. vote for Hil. In that big election—you wheels of the country, one grassroot at a “Overall it was a great time…once it final- The after-party wasn’t as crowded as know, the same one that signaled the time, as it is about signaling that you ly got started.” the show, but kept the same energy that was beginning of the Apocalypse?—I didn’t believe that things can better, you “Ajooba,” whose name is the Hindi present throughout the evening. The crowd vote. Like an eager little Cub Scout I was believe that what you want and you have word for “wonder,” celebrated its fifth year was a blend of UMBC students and people all set to do my duty when I got to the to say counts for something. That is our at UMBC on Friday and, like the last few from off campus, such as students from special polling place in my school’s stu- duty as Americans, especially today. years, left many distraught as they were University of Maryland-College Park. dent center and decided that the line was Regardless of the merit of those who turned away at the door because the The Ajooba tradition will continue in much too long. have landed on the ballot, we must vote. Ballroom had reached its capacity. The the future at UMBC, especially with the Now, before I am hauled off to a For to switch a lever is to say: “I have sense of wonder was present in many ways, success that it has had as an on-campus secret military tribunal for my extremely not lost hope.” from the exquisite sequenced fabrics to the event for the past five years. unpatriotic acts, let us consider that a R. Eric Thomas lives in the 44th friend of mine waited from 1 o’clock to 3 District… he thinks. He can be reached o’clock in the student center for a chance at [email protected] Jamming with Batboy from BLACK, page 18 name in true hard rock fashion. Joining The band has a much harder and loud- Batboy on stage was Alice Cooper on gui- er sound than Better Side of Chaos, and tar. Between one of the songs, the Alice features a lot of screaming and head bang- Cooper costumed guitarist recited the ing. Wayne’s World scene featuring the hard After Compulsive Behavior left the rocker word for word. The crowd reacted stage and a brief intermission, the costume with laughter and applause to Swath’s contest was held as well as a drawing for a humorous rock antics. Squire guitar. It was a hard decision Swath’s set also lasted about an hour between a flapper, a member of Run DMC, and consisted of mostly original material. a hospital patient, and Batboy, but in the They did play a cover of Alice Cooper’s end Batboy won the coveted bucket full of “Feed my Frankenstein,” as a Halloween candy. Batboy, Carl Gehrman, graciously treat. Overall, Swath was the most pol- threw his candy into the audience, and ished of all the bands. then took his position as lead vocalist of At the end of the night, the crowd left Swath. entertained, full of candy, and ready for the Swath took the stage complete with a next SORTS sponsored event, Eve of the red Christmas light sign displaying their Bands, held in February.