Hollywood usually misses the mark when it comes to portraying raves accurately. Which sucks but…can also be pretty funny. “Reads by Rants and Raves” is where I share my takes on films and shows. This piece encapsulates the very first time I spotted raves appearing in pop culture.

And it was on no other than on an episode of Beverly Hills 90210. Tune in to hear what kind of kerfuffles ensue when the pretentious posse forays into their first (and perhaps only) rave.

"The dressed to the nines-0210 crew enter the rave. David, who’s flush with whiskey remarks, “it’s trippy” much to the chagrin of the group. Full stop. The gang wants to know- is he on acid?! "

"The needle on the record figuratively stops as Brenda’s black boot steps on a syringe. They glance up and see a couple smoking crack and go from horrified to mortified. Well, that’s what they said they saw. I looked closely a few times and it appears to me like a mini bottle of booze being waved near a crack pipe with no hint of smoke or flame."

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Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan

I'm joined by my illustrious guests Lakuti and Tama Sumo to discuss how dancefloor dynamics impact their sets. How the makeup of a crowd makes a party. And why a diverse dancefloor pulsating with music minded people shapes social progress. While it will always be imperative to create and preserve spaces specifically for marginalized groups, what can be gained when mixing things up?

Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform.

Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan

It seems that everyone and their mother is a DJ these days. And as a result, the partygoers' role became vastly underrated. Dancers are equally as important as those behind the decks- I mean, hello- without them there is no party. And it's apparent that some folks don't realize how important they really are. Let's break down the pros and cons for those who bring it.

Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform.

Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan

Door people often get the sh*t end of the stick, so to say. They enforce policies not of their making and deal with a lot of BS to boot- sometimes having to make split second decisions they otherwise wouldn’t.

These folks get a lot of flack, but what about credit for their skills in crowd curation? It can make or break a party.

Letting In And Letting Go

Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform.

Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan

“Testing, Testing 1,2,3.” If you haven't gotten the memo yet, it's a necessity. Fentanyl is a real and present danger that requires us to hold each other accountable to new standards of safety and dialogue in addition to learning how to properly use testing strips and Narcan. Includes resources to obtain supplies.

Testing Testing 1,2,3

Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform.

Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan

Numbers can add up, but say very little. So why do we often hear music described solely as BPM these days? A description distilled to tempo alone obscures the intricacies of melodies, harmonies, texture and tonality that moves us. Music reviews certainly don’t start and end with “the track is 142 BPM.” Summing up our feelings as digits does a disservice to the depths of our perception.

What BPM Doesn't Tell You

Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform.

Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan

Berlin and NYC. Two cities with reputations of knowing how to get down. And two very different ways of doing things when it comes to bathrooms and baggies. Just why is that? Listen in for my hypothesis.

Bathrooms and Baggies

Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform.

Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan