Jay gainfully employed at Besa Mi Burro

Last night I was out on the town with my friend Trish hand delivering invites to this party next weekend. And we went by the place where my friend (and former roommate - you met him in Boston that one time) Jay Murray works, this really cool Mexican restaurant called Besa Mi Burro. I hope it stays open. They had about four customers in there besides us and nine employees including Jay running around trying to act busy.

It's ultrafunky on the inside, you sit at the bar in these big creaky chairs, there's weird Mexican shit hanging everywhere, like right in your face, crazy dim colored lights everywhere, obscene hand-lettered Spanish signs, you drink the margaritas out of gigantic, heavy glass bottles, there's a guy dressed like a friar sweeping the floor, and everyone else in the place is wearing funny hats. We also know the bartender, and he's crazy.

- e-mail to Carolina

Anyone can be a raver!

Sender: Quynh Tran
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 1998 16:51:21 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Rave story (fwd)

Hey Erik,

This is the story, sorry I couldn't have mailed it to you sooner but unbeknownst to me, it's DTH policy that we don't email our stories out before they're approved by our editors and that's when they're about to be printed. I hope this does some justice to the material and if you have any questions or comments...including complaints, feel free to get back to me. Feedback, no matter how good or bad is always useful. Again, thank you so much for all your help. I now feel a little less clueless as a result of our chat.

-Quynh
933-3294

Daily Tar Heel, 4/27/98

by Quynh Tran

Staff Writer

When most people think of a rave scene, Chapel Hill is not the first place to come to mind.

Though most think of big cities and underground music, Chapel Hill has played host to a happening rave scene for the past six years.

"There is a rave scene no matter where you go," said Erik Ose, co-owner of the Lost City Music and Video store on Franklin Street. "As long as you have people who enjoy the music, you've got a rave scene."

The scene in Chapel Hill began with small private parties thrown at houses and apartments, which accommodated 100 to 200 people.

As popularity grew, so did the parties which can now be found all around the state at dance clubs, music halls and occasionally warehouses where attendance can mushroom well beyond 3,000.

The type of music found at raves go beyond the better known techno sounds of Prodigy and the Chemical Brothers.

Most raves encompass a broad range of underground music such as jungle, drum'n'bass, hip-hop, house and happy hardcore.

Happy hardcore is a high energy blend of straight and happy beats with a break and back beat behind it, described Uzi, Ose's business partner at the Lost City Music and Video.

Accompanying the music are themes which heighten the body-groovin experience of every party, said a frequent raver.

From names like Tunnel Vision, Neutronik, Sunshine Beats and Afrika Bambaataa, party goers get an idea of what to expect before buying tickets at prices ranging from $5 to $35.

"At the bigger parties, you can find something like six rooms with six separate themes all playing different kinds of music," said Thomas Khanz, a 19 year-old raver from Carrboro.

The featured DJs are also a big, if not the main attraction to most parties.

"People go for the DJ's, that's how you know if it's going to be good or not," said Brian Williamson, a 17 year-old from Raleigh.

Artists such as Steven Mccreery, DJ Sandy, Terry Mullen and Brownie are a few of the popular DJ's who draw big crowds due to their unique mixes and solid reputations in the scene.

Along with the slammin' beats the DJ's provide, it is common for party goers to find eye-catching advertisements for upcoming events, free mix tapes, t-shirts, candy and smiling faces which often accompany friendly hugs.

"I recently went to (a rave) at the Cat's Cradle called the Vegan Vibe where they were handing out fruit to promote veganism," said UNC sophomore Stephanie Crane, a psychology major from Charlotte.

Contrary to popular belief, the rave scene is not about rampant drug use and out of control teens jumping to loud chaotic music.

"You can find drugs anywhere and I'm sure there are people who go to raves looking for a fix," Khanz said. "The scene is really more for feeding off of everyone's positive vibes and forgetting about the past week's problems."

Many parties have age specifications requiring 18 and older, but others are all-age parties where drinking laws are enforced.

"It's just like a typical club where you have to be carded and wear bands if you're under-age," Crane said. "(Drinking) is generally less than what you would find at the other clubs."

Unlike regular dance clubs which begin at 8 p.m. and close by 2 a.m., most raves open their doors at 9 p.m. and don't wind down until 6 a.m. or after depending on the party's energy level.

"Anyone can be a raver as long as you're into the music and develop an understanding of PLUR" (an acronym for peace, love, understanding and respect), Ose said.

When asked for his thoughts regarding the rave scene in Chapel Hill, Uzi said, "It's exciting to see the scene growing."

Khanz added, "You don't normally find the really big parties in Chapel Hill. You need to go to places like Greensboro, Winston-Salem or big cities like Atlanta to find the really big crowds."

Raves have gotten so popular in recent years that it is no longer uncommon to find people traveling across the country to attend them.

One such party which attracts people from the east coast is Beyond, a rave held 2 to 3 times a year at the Millennium Center in Winston-Salem.

The Beyond parties are the biggest in the state with around 4,000 people, Ose said.

Sometimes raves mean more than just crowded dance parties. As a member of Rebate, a non-profit organization which emphasizes education in technology, Uzi is doing his part to stimulate more growth by exposing others to the scene for a good cause.

"We're throwing a party May 1 on the parking deck on Rosemary Street," he said. "It's a free event but donations can be made to raise money to provide underprivileged children with computers."

But most ravers agree the parties are just a great way to have fun.

"If you want to experience a great time without pressure for sex or even drugs, rave parties are really great for that," said Khanz. "You can be whoever you want to be and have an awesome time doing it."

Reliving the madness

Sorry we didn't get to hang out for dinner or whatever when I saw you down here the other week. I thought we were going to chill after 10 pm, like you told me when we saw each other on Franklin Street, so I didn't even get home until around the time your flight left.

Oh well, just wanted to say hi, that it was good to see you, etc., and you need to call me in advance the next time you come to town! Okay? Dana just spent the weekend with N'Gai and myself, reliving the madness of college life.

Good luck with the rest of your semester. You're almost done with law school! Can you believe it? Wow. So what's next on your life roadmap? Make sure to keep your fans informed.

- e-mail to Rashmi

Clearly before she was famous...

What's the story, hon? Where is you? I have a time-sensitive questiion I need you to answer for me! I'm trying to get in touch with this girl that your friend Tift knows, and can't remember Tift's last name. So that or her (Tift's) phone number, assuming she's still living in Pittsboro, would help me out immensely.

Help! I'm going crazy trying to locate this girl. Talk to you soon...

ps - Boogie Nights came out on video yesterday. Have you seen it? You need to. It's the bomb!

- e-mail to Mel

Guess who has a quasi-starring role in Deep Rising?

Guess what I just heard? You need to go check out this flick that recently opened called Deep Rising, about some underwater aliens or similar wackness.

Why? Because a fellow knucklehead has a quasi-starring role (well, he's at least got speaking lines, so that makes him something more than an extra, definitely. I haven't seen it yet). Yes, it's Clint Curtis!

Deep Rising cast photo

Damn. I need to get back in touch with that boy before he becomes the next freaking Leonardo DiCaprio and forgets all the little people who helped sculpt him into the great actor he is today.

- e-mail to Dana