There was a bit of criticism among the fans when the lineup for the 2010 Ultra Music Festival seemed too heavy on the trance and hardstyle. The criticisms turned out to be misdirected in the final hours, when everyone was clearly enjoying themselves, and the festival once again won the praise it always gets, and always deserves.

A little bit of negative buzz is about as aggressive as the festival ever gets, and most fans of techno have come to realize that their community is about as calm as any community ever was. This festival is one of the brighter spots in a league that has many bright spots already. The field of techno music is one that is very well-tread, from the Love Fest forward.

One of the most exciting things about this particular one, however, is not simply because it’s won so many awards for being the best dance music festival in the world. The genre is one that speaks to a very European sensibility, and that continent had it down in terms of music promotion and dissemination. Having one of its great moments happening here, where guests from all over the Americas can check into a Miami hotel and see it first hand, means that the global trend is actually quite global, and Miami is one of the centers.

There’s exciting things in the future.

Miami Ultra is a post from: Chocolate Rave

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Home to Lee Trevino, Dallas has always been an important part of my imagination, and sometimes when there are events happening, I will make the necessary arrangements to get to town.  If this gives me a chance to get closer to the truth of Lee and his life and legacy, then there is no reason to fight the need.  It’s a fascinating place, one of the largest cities in the country, and there are so many spectacular things to do.  This city is also the birthplace of Buddy Holly, and Nora Jones, so it’s not just about golf, but also lots of music.  There are golf courses, of course, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy that kind of sunshine, and when the day turns into night, I like to go see shows.

This link will show you some great hotels, so you can find a place that’s exactly where you want, and with great amenities.  If you happen to get to town in February, my money is on the show in Grand Prairie, where Davy Jones and David Cassidy are going to be joining forces for a rare night of musical fun, along with a lot of musical history.  At least for this rock and roller, because I saw some of my most favorite life events when I was listening to their music.  I have to admit, I have a very strong pull toward Davy Jones, and I’m not sure exactly what it is.  It could be the English accent.

When I was growing up here, any accent that wasn’t local just made me feel better, and his was interesting, because he also sang with the accent on when he was singing with the Monkees.  I do like David Cassidy, too, and I used to wonder why his accent wasn’t like Davy Jones, because when I was a kid I just assumed all singers had accents.  Then I found out that Cassidy is from Hollywood, so that made perfect sense.  However, for this daydream believer, all my pleasant valley Sundays come with memories of the Monkees, and a Monkee in Dallas sounds like a barrel of fun.

Dallas Monkees is a post from: Chocolate Rave

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Jimmy passed by the Gallo Center for the Arts and imagined his first performance with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. This was a future projection imagination, not a memory, as he hadn’t even had his audition yet. He arrived in town early that morning and was staying in a hotel Modesto that night. He would fly back to Utah the next evening after his audition. He paused for a moment in the parking lot of the Gallo and thought how easily this could be the beginning of his career or he may never see the place again, or at least for years to come.

He imagined how major life changes and events can be determined by one hour on a single afternoon. He then considered all of the minor factors such as the one vote that could mean he would be hired being sick in bed that day and not making it to his audition. Or, the alternative, perhaps the person before him might have been horrible and he was the best violinist they heard that day and just out of frustration with the alternatives decided to hire him on the spot. All of these and of course many other possibilities wandered through his mind as he gazed off in the direction of the Gallo’s marquee.

Well, that kind of thinking led to the conclusion that life was nothing but a series of chance occurrences and their consequences. He had worked too hard and practiced and studied and performed the violin most of his life to believe that his future was strictly left to chance. And instead of being comforted by the fact he had no control over the decision made by others he was greatly relieved to be reminded that his future was in fact in his own hands. He stopped in a local diner and had meatloaf and mashed potatoes before heading back to his hotel for a quick run through of his concerto excerpt. He would practice again tomorrow morning after he warmed up after his morning coffee.

Modesto Symphony Orchestra Performs at the Gallo Center is a post from: Chocolate Rave

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