In Bass We Trust: 5/23 - Pow Wow, Chop Shop, Charlotte, NC

SPENT Promotions, run by promoter Mikie Tookie, put on the biggest Native-American themed rave on the east coast over Memorial Day Weekend at the Chop Shop in Charlotte, NC. After a successful first Pow Wow in 2013, the event returned. After a long work week in NYC, we rushed down the east coast to make it to the Friday night spiritual gathering or artists, performers. People were spinning glowsticks and fire rings as random folks dressed as bananas, gorillas and the lovely Chaotic Cupcake dancers graced the two stages.

Like the Washington Redskin namesake, the ‘Pow Wow’ event was surrounded by scores of press over the moniker usage. First local press in Creative Loafing, then national, then international coverage when DJ Mag picked up the story. A small group of local protestors were upset with the rave for using classic Native American imagery in their event title and for people dressing in Indian garb.

While the press coverage was enormous, the actual protest consisted of less than a half dozen people standing in front of the venue holding badly written signs that most homeless people would have been embarrassed to display. Clearly they didn't plan their protest well and as hundreds of people filed in they were apparently upset fort being ignored, as one went inside and pulled a fire alarm in a desperate hail Mary attempt to end the event. The effect was the opposite as all the punters gathered together at the outdoor stage which continued to rage uninterrupted; But now with the bonus of flashing red lights to go with the music. Eventually the firefighters left, and the protestors disappeared and the main room reopened.

The music on the night was killer and the crowd was decked out in bright colors and glow stick paraphernalia. The local troop of sexy dancers, the Chaotic Cupcakes were on hand. Burnt Canvas created live art on the side of the main stage. Burn Gang was on hand for fire spinning. Live drummers graced the stage on several occasions. The DJ’s on the lineup were from around the NC area, some in from as far as Fayetteville. ‘Team No Sleep’ raged the outdoor stage. The number of DJ’s on the lineup was massive and included KIiNG Boo, Sean T, Moodswing, Ampacity, Low End Co, Osirus, Vexation, Thrillian, Killtrak, Freaky, Daniels Jack, Danny B & headliners Shouse and DJ Dirty.

Some of tracks played:

Drop Top – Flosstradamus feat Travis Porter

Crackin – Bassjackers (Martoin Garrix mix)

Destroid 7 Bounce – Excision & Space Laces

Aciid – Moguai

Rocket – W & W & Blasterjaxx

Unspoiled Perfection – Deorro, Madeleine Jaybe & Adrian Delgado

Bonfire Heart – Jasmes Blunt (Flatdisk mix)

Mammoth – Dimitri Vegas, Moguai & Like Mike

Bubble Butt – Major Lazer

I Can’t Stop – Flux Pavilion

All Me – Drake