House Scene Buzzes with Valley Event
The Valley House Call event in San Fernando Valley returns this Saturday with a strong lineup for house heads, promoted as a haven for the genre in the 818 area. Meanwhile, debates rage on house vs. tech house distinctions, with events like Defected/Glitterbox noted as true house parties while tech house draws "5000 dudes on molly" crowds at spots like Teksupport and Stussy.
- The "Valley House Call" is a recurring monthly event held at the Dark Horse Tavern in Tarzana, aiming to provide a consistent hub for house and tech house music in the San Fernando Valley. Past lineups have featured local DJs such as Gerard Groove, Media Noxche, and Carlo Key. - House music, which originated in Chicago, is generally characterized by its soulful, disco, and funk roots, often incorporating vocals and a more organic, groovy feel. Tech house is a hybrid genre that emerged later, blending the foundational groove of house with the harder, more mechanical, and repetitive beats of techno. - Defected Records is a highly influential British house music label founded in 1999, known for releasing soulful and uplifting tracks. Its sister event, Glitterbox, promotes an inclusive and flamboyant party atmosphere inspired by disco, featuring live performers alongside DJs like Honey Dijon, Derrick Carter, and The Shapeshifters. - In contrast, promoters like New York-based Teksupport are known for large-scale events in industrial and unconventional venues, such as navy yards and subterranean ballrooms. Their bookings often lean heavily into the global techno and tech house scenes, featuring major international artists like Carl Cox, Solomun, and Marco Carola. - The establishment of a dedicated house music scene in the San Fernando Valley is notable as the area has historically been a suburban region. Its growing population density and cultural diversity have fostered more localized nightlife options independent of traditional Los Angeles hubs. - The distinction between genres is often blurred by DJs who play across the spectrum. For example, Dutch artist Chris Stussy has built a following by blending house and techno, securing residencies and bookings at major Ibiza parties like Paradise and Circoloco, which are known for showcasing a range of electronic music.