So a few weeks ago I was talking to this guy (dating I suppose, but I decided to stay single) and we had a conversation about music. He was one of those people that was born & raised in Maryland right outside of D.C., so he apparently didn’t know too much about music outside of the usual hip-hop, gogo, and Baltimore club. Not to say that everyone that stays in one spot their entire life lacks musical diversity, but he was clearly unaware & ignorant to my passion; love for house music.
House music is my life. Seriously, I am madly in love with house music and have been for over a decade now (and I’m only 20.) So when I meet people and they ask me what type of music I listen to, I’m usually excited to tell them about house music. But when they respond with such ignorance like that guy did, and say “Oh, you listen to that Baltimore club shit. You know that shit, techno shit,” I got super offended. Number one, I can’t stand when people repeatedly use “shit” to describe everything. Eww, shut up. Secondly, the absurdity of him saying that house music is Baltimore club, and that is basically techno, really pissed me off. Baltimore club isn’t techno & it’s not “shit.” And yes, Baltimore club has some elements of house, but it’s a unique genre of music that is in a class of its own.
I don’t really blame people for not being aware of house music or understanding it, especially with so much dance music being produced in the mainstream music scene. I mean think about it, it seems every rapper or singer is stepping away from their genre and trying to make a hit dance track. So I don’t really 
blame people for being oblivious to house & the history of house, but I do blame them for their rapid ignorance when I begin trying to explain it. They just don’t get it, and explaining the history of house (which I studied when I first fell in love with house) is something that I’d rather show them than tell them. Which at a certain point involves grabbing my Macbook and going to YouTube to sit down and watch the entire documentary Pump Up The Volume: History of House.
I’m not quite sure why in the past two years of having this blog & writing so much about house music, I never posted the documentary. I’ve watched it twice a few years ago, and I love how it gives you an in-depth history of house. It features some great interviews from Paul Okenfold, Carl Cox, Pete Tong, Goldie, The Shamen, Leftfield, Underworld, Youth, Tony Wilson, and Armin van Helden . In the midst of the interviews you also get to see the the evolution of house, as well as other genres in the electronic dance music category and how they are all interrelated; one genre usually inspires another, so forth & so forth.
I highly recommend watching this entire film, especially if you’re a house music junkie. But for those of who you who don’t understand house or not quite sure why people love it, then watch the documentary. It’s a great documentary that sheds light on the history of house, why people love house, and even the social constructs that makeup house; social awareness & acceptance of all races, sexual orientations, and ages are some defining aspects of house. It’s a music of universal acceptance, which is why I love house so much.
©Jasmine McGee.ThinkSoul25. http://thinksoul25.com
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Thanks for posting this Jasmine!!
I think I saw it a while ago, but will watch it again. I grew up in the UK and was 13/14 when the House explosion occurred at the end of the 80s/early 90s… Originally a ‘Soulboy’ – raised on a diet of funk, disco, R&B and soul, I was also fortunate to have been immersed in the vibrant UK Acid Jazz scene from 91-93 and was lucky enough to have seen bands like Jamiroquai & The Brand New Heavies perform live in medieval underground live venues (100 capacity) as they were releasing their first commercial singles.
In 93′ it was off to college in Birmingham, UK – where the House scene was ridiculously good. I moved to Houston,TX in 2001 and was completely dismayed by the pervasive (trash) hip-hop scene and found myself having to go to gay clubs, just to hear some House. It wasn’t the good hip-hop that I had been used to growing up in the UK. I eventually found the underground House scene in Houston and began to get involved…then in 2003 something rather strange happened.
One night, I was leaving a really good House night and a voice came out of nowhere, asking me if the night was over. I noticed the Manchester accent, we got talking and he told me who he was…within seconds, I realized that I was talking to a piece of history. Martin Prendergast (DJ Little Martin) was one of the original House DJs at the Hacienda club in Manchester, UK. Hired in 1985 personally by Tony Wilson, Martin was one part of the DJ duo MP2 (squared) with Mike Pickering (M People). They did a ‘punk’ night on Fridays called ‘Nude Night’. Then, Martin recalls that one night some random dude comes up to the DJ booth and hands him two pieces of vinyl hot off the press from Chicago… 1) “Love Can’t Turn Around” by Farley “Jackmaster” Funk 2) “No Way Back” by Adonis. Martin says that Manchester and the world was never the same after that night.
Life events put Martin in the US within a couple of years and somehow he ended up in Houston by 2003. Within a few months of meeting, Martin and I started a monthly night in Houston called “RENT”. It literally exploded and for 6 years was an incredibly successful and powerful event which really changed the scene in the city. We raised the bar and inspired a whole new generation of young people to get involved in the House scene. Sounds a bit big headed, but that’s reality and it’s a reality that I’m extremely proud of. Why was “RENT” so special? What was different about it? Well, this leads me back to your point about why House is so special…
“the social constructs that makeup house; social awareness & acceptance of all races, sexual orientations, and ages are some defining aspects of house. It’s a music of universal acceptance, which is why I love house so much”
…we were very political about what we did and managed to create a uniquely different experience. There was no VIP because everyone was a VIP. There was no dress code either…all you had to be was 21. Attitudes were left at the door. For the first time, there was an event which was a true melting pot. All ages, races, sexual orientations, rich/poor…it didn’t matter. People loved it. House music inspires a certain peace, the vibe creates LOVE – and who doesn’t want more of that in their lives.
There’s a museum in Manchester, UK – dedicated to the history of the Hacienda and it’s important role in the development of House and the modern dance scene. Martin visited with his two daughters a couple of years ago and was amazed to see his name on the wall on one of the displays – surely a proud moment for those girls.
Anyway…thanks again for the post. Sorry for the long winded reply – I felt like writing today and it feels good to write this stuff down and share a little piece of history from my own perspective. Maybe I should start my own blog!
Jonathan
Posted by Jonathan Sewell | February 24, 2012, 12:06 pmHey Jonathan,
Thank you so much for your comment! No need to apologize for the length of the reply, I loved every single moment of it!
It must have been amazing to be grow up in the UK and be in the middle of the scene. I have yet to visit the UK, but it’s on my list of places to go. I’d love to go experience the music scene over there. The museum you mentioned in Manchester, UK sounds marvelous! Thank you for sharing that tidbit of information, I will surely remember to check that out whenever that glorious day comes when I visit the UK.
That’s really cool that you teamed up with Martin to start a night called “RENT.” It sort of reminds me of Baltimore’s monthly event “Deep Sugar” hosted by Ultra Nate. It’s amazing to see people throughout the US trying to keep the house music scene alive. I love the vibe of universal acceptance and LOVE, as you mentioned, that house promotes. A lot of genres don’t have that unique appeal, so I think that’s surely what makes house so special. Everyone can find something in it that speaks to their soul.
Once again, thank you so much for your post! I honestly think you should start a blog! I’d love to read more of your stories & hear more about “RENT” and how you bring house music into Houston. I had no idea Houston even had a house scene, so it’s great that you pioneered that scene with Martin and changed the city.
Your like a superhero for house!
Posted by ThinkSoul25 | February 24, 2012, 6:18 pmI love House Music too. But mostly because I was exposed to it as a kid growing up in Chicago in the mid-late 80′s. I used to stay up late on Friday night and listen to WBMX 102.7 (and later 92.7) and record the mixes on my boombox. Our dances on Friday nights were awesome- some deep house! We, as 12 year olds, probably just thought it was like this everywhere. Now I see just how lucky I was.
Posted by Marc | March 22, 2012, 2:50 amI love House Music too. But mostly because I was exposed to it as a kid growing up in Chicago in the mid-late 80′s. I used to stay up late on Friday night and listen to WBMX 102.7 (and later 92.7) and record the mixes on my boombox. Our dances on Friday nights were awesome- We, as 12 year olds, probably just thought it was like this everywhere. Now I see just how lucky I was.
Posted by Marc | March 22, 2012, 2:54 amis pump up the volume on DVD I MUST HAVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by mike | August 2, 2012, 9:56 amI don’t know if it’s on DVD, I don’t think it is
Posted by Jasmine McGee | August 3, 2012, 6:31 pmGreat post Jasmine. I only recently discovered this documentary, and have to agree that it is fascinating to know where dance music comes from. Over the last few years I’ve seen a few other brilliant documentaries / films on the scene – Maestro by Josell Ramos is an absolute must see in my opinion. The period I’m most interested in are the early days, pre-90′s – perhaps because I was too young to experience them myself. What I would give to go back in time to The Loft or Paradise Garage in NY! I’ll be keeping an eye out on your blog for updates, and if you make it to London and want a heads up on some good parties feel free to drop me a line. All the best, Cedric
Posted by Cedric Bardawil | November 18, 2012, 2:40 amHey Cedric! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. The documentary mentioned sounds excellent! Is it on Netflix? I will have to track it down! It would have been amazing to have been old enough to be in the scene, man I just can image it right now! Especially at the Paradise Garage. And yes, I heard the music scene in London is amazing! I have to plan a trip there.
Posted by Jasmine McGee | November 19, 2012, 5:47 pm