autumn tactics

Rave + bicycles + unexpected encounters = fun

In Tokyo, the deciduous trees are shedding their locks, and the evenings have grown cold with the hiding of the sun. Open air party season is over, but it seems there are always a few surprises in store for the lucky raver.

Before.

Originally I planned to go to Ueno via bicycle, with the intention of stopping by a fragrance importer in Ameyokochou, and then proceeding up to Sendagi where earlier this year I experienced a couple drops of insight. However, the tumultuous situation of apartment living has shaken up my normally astringent domestic quarters, and a lack of cleaning caught up with me. This collision of priorities pushed back my departure time and ultimately I just decided to go to Yoyogi Park and lay in the sun with a beer.

As it happened, while taking the trek up the slope along the south side of the park, I came across an impromptu DJ session along the path. Two decks were set up under a small tent, with a generator powering some fairly good size speakers. The master humbly spun some Ibiza-like lounge anthems, while one of his friends milled about and another sat on a pile of coolers, selling “Drinks” for five hundred yen. We randomly met one of our friends, who sold pitas at the Sagamiiko rave back at the beginning of October. He’d just come by himself to spend the afternoon spacing out and relaxing in Yoyogi Park, but the bass had drawn him to the event as well.

After.

We ran out of beer and needed to do some shopping at Omotesandou, so we packed up and left around two. By the time we came back a little after four-thirty, however, the DJ was spinning (significantly louder) psytrance and there were close to a hundred and fifty people in front of the makeshift stage: cramming the brick path, flowing over into the garden, hanging on the fences, and crawling through the landscaping wire. It was pretty neat to see something come together like that and go off smoothly. But that is the crux of traditional raving: parties just appearing unscheduled, and the rushing tide of spirits, drawn together with growing momentum and energy, like an uncontrolled fusion reaction.

[This is my 500th post, hurray for me!]

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 9th, 2006 at 10:29 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.