Current 95

Houston techno had an amazing run of events in the mid 90s. Crews like Matrix, Purrin' Lion and Scooby Doo put on classic large warehouse parties that would rival the best of the east and west coast rave scenes. Hundreds of people would cram into otherwise empty warehouses on Commerce street or other abandoned parts of town (before the law and fire marshals got wise to crack down). And while those events had a classic vibe of their own, nothing compared to the music and atmosphere of the free beach parties.

In Houston, these storied events were called "Current" and were mostly thrown on Bolivar island (30 miles south of Houston near Galveston). These were parties that people would mark on their calendars months in advance. Just getting there had an air of adventure. You had to drive down I45, past orange skies lit by forbidding refineries. You had to jump on the ferry from Galveston to Bolivar. And then travel down unlit farm roads to get to the right spot on the beach.

These were the ultimate community events: people chipping in for Ryder trucks, all equipment donated, flyers printed for "free" by the raver who worked the 2am shift at kinkos. And djs spinning for the love of it. And the djs battled hard for the *right* to play their 1 hour slot, and then would pull out the sickest tracks for the occasion.

It was at Current '95 that I first heard Didgeridoo. Talk about the perfect song for the setting: A full moon with sand under your feet. People dancing around their bonfires and tents. Waves crashing ashore only 50 feet away. And then this track dropped in the middle of that madness (was it Abiel?).

My favorite all time memories of the Houston scene.