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St. Cloud State University
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Diversions
Rox comes alive during rave
By Amanda Degen
Published:
Thursday, January 30, 2003
Media Credit: Jason Risberg
Tyler Wilson, right, a.k.a DJ Solo, and Thai Tran dance with the crowd Wednesday during Rave Night at the Rox Nightclub.
Wednesday the Rox premiered a 'Rave Night,' an 18+ night featured dance music and styles typically seen in the Twin Cities.
The Rox, like other local nightclubs in the area, has recently been promoting more 18+ events, giving underage locals a chance to experience St. Cloud's nightlife. With the introduction of Rave Night on Wednesday, the Rox now provides three 18+ nights to locals, as well as providing a unique night of music, typically only found at the Quest or First Ave.
The concept for Rave Night came from Tyler Wilsey, a.k.a. DJ Solo who has been spinning for the Rox for a few months.
"I realized that the trance culture is not really represented around here at all so a friend and I came up with the idea of introducing it to the area," Wilsey said. "I've been doing regular hip-hop and bar nights, but I'm really into trance and techno and I want to give people who want to hear alternative music a chance for that to happen."
DJ Solo starts spinning around 9 p.m., there is no cover for those 21 and over, and a $5 cover for those 18 and over. There were drink promotions and free water available for all the dancers. The main genre of the music is trance, progressive, hard house and some break beats. DJ Solo will also have friends walking around and interacting with the crowd.
"For me, interaction is really important," Wilsey said. "I really feed off the crowd and what they provide."
Rave night will run for a few weeks, and if the night proves successful, it will continue as a weekly event throughout the spring and summer.
"Other 18+ techno venues have been really successful in the cities, and so it will be interesting to see how successful it will be up here," said Sean Workman, bar manager at the Rox. "No one else in town is really providing it, and we want to spice things up and provide some variety."
The Red Carpet is offering some techno music, but on a more limited basis. On Friday and Saturday night, DJ Sauce performs in the pub area. His focus is mostly trance, house and some remixes.
"I'm doing all I can to spin some of this (music) in the St. Cloud area, but I'm not sure if they're ready for it up here," he said.
This event is strictly 21 and up. There is typically a $1-2 cover charge depending on the night.
Although the title, 'Rave Night' can garner some negative connotations, it doesn't worry the Rox, or DJ Solo.
"Every form of music gets some negative feed; go to any concert, be it rock and roll, hip hop, R&B, and there will always drug issues," Wilsey said. "That's not what we're about. The rave culture has really cleaned up now, and it's more about the music than anything else. Plus we have great security here, some of the best, so it should be a great night."
DJ Solo sees Paul Van Dyke as a source for inspiration, as well as one of the biggest icons for trance and techno.
"He said that progressive music is really 'a coming together of different cultures,' and I really believe that," he said.
"It doesn't matter who you are, where you're from, or what language you speak, since there are no words. It's all about the music, just the straight beats."
