While being smothered in a smoke and laser enhanced atmosphere waiting for DJ act Pretty Lights to come on, I overheard a bewildering conversation between two “fans” who had been bragging about their intoxication. With eyes rolled back in sockets and teased hair clinging to their sweaty bodies, they blabbed about how they couldn’t name one single song mixed by Pretty Lights.

The EDM (Electronic Dance Music) as a movement has recently gone through a vast identity shift in its evolution. “People think everything that’s even slightly synthetic sounding is ‘rave’ music,” freshman Fiona Mosser rightly said. There is not nearly enough appreciation for the music, the foundation of this culture. Sadly but truthfully, this draws the conclusion that the “underground is bigger than the surface,” as Will.i.Am noted in the Electric Daisy Carnival movie, and that the scene no longer holds any unique value.

Everyone should be able to experience this exhilarating, transformational, and passion filled culture without the pollution of false pretences.

Pretty Lights was awesome, and I’m sure the rest of Tam’s attendees can attest. The crowd, however, was not.