This is gonna be a long post so bear with me.
I am a 31 year old former raver. I went to quite a few parties in and around the Toronto area from 94-97. I had been emailing with a local DJ who, like me, liked Happy Hardcore music a lot but didn't hear it at events as much as he wanted. He was planning a party, one with an 'old school' vibe, and a goofy name. I offered to design a flyer for him and he took me up on it.
The DJ was Anabolic and the party of course was Hullabaloo 1. Two weeks before I left Toronto to move to Los Angeles, I went to that party and had the single best rave experience of my life. 100% sober, I danced for hours nonstop. The vibe was phenomenal, like no other party for me before or since.
Years went by, and I drifted out of the party scene. Went to some desert raves in California, but the last one of those for me was in April 2000.
But tonight the magic was back.
I danced my ass off in a way I haven't since.. oh, the last time I went to a Hulla.
The people were mostly new, but the same as Hulla 1. Friendly, cool. Accepting. Instant family. Like no other party I've ever gone to. Words like unity and respect aren't just empty catchphrases, but a real philosophy that you all work towards and create every time. It's really not like other parties.
A few nights ago I played one of the H2bHC CDs for my boyfriend, Peter, the classical pianist, the English PhD, and he wanted to come to the party. He's never been to an event like this before. He had a BLAST. I think he had more fun than I did. He was the big guy with the beard and the orange shirt that looked like he was rolling his ass off (he wasn't.
Our only drugs were a double espresso beforehand. We drank only bottled water. I'm still buzzing. I could never do drugs at a Hulla party, it's just totally unnecessary. I want my Hulla experience unadulterated by chemicals.
This was going to be a last fling with this stuff. Screw that, I had way too much fun. I'll be back.
BIG BIG BIG BIG Thanks and hugs to Anabolic, and all the Hulla people for making us feel welcome. Rock on.