I have gone to various festivals, including regional burning, for about 20 years, yet none of them compared to my experience at Burning Man 2018. I was lucky to have many friends who are veterans and was able to join a camp through an art grant. One of the folks who helped me plan gear, mentally and psychically was Don Gentry. It was not an issue of what to pack (I have the best gear), what to wear (I dressed like I was at the beach during the day and in the Andes mountains at night), or what to eat (nutrient-dense meals since this was extremely physical)… what I have an issue with is how much I miss my life live on the playa. Once back I decided to be able to enjoy anything that was out there in this default world – so now you can dance to Don Gentry if you didn’t get a chance to.
This set was recording at the Celtric Chaos camp. I was listening to again this week and messaged Don how this still sounds as good as the first time I heard it. A dope set that really had everyone (READ: around 500 burners) dancing and this happened again at Project Ai a couple of weeks ago. Even the insane amount of lasers in that club just added to the wow level. I MEAN HOW MANY LASERS WE NEED? All. Of. Them.
I’ve know him since I was a teenager when I started getting into the rave scene, before the RAVE act. Now he is STILL DJing bumping sets in warehouse, private parties and clubs. His sets always get a crowd going but there is really nothing as amazing as partying on the playa. It is a combination of an eccentric responsive crowd, timeless of the event and IT IS THE LARGEST PARTY ON EARTH!
Ever since the burn, I’ve done what I can to keep aspects of that experience in my daily life. One way fun way is to keep hearing the music from the playa till I come back in 2019. Don played a funky set at Project Ai, opening for Clyde P. On January 25, 2019, Don will open for GRECO – Rawsome, NYC Cover is $5, parking is free across the street and the staff is friendly. Even security is on point and will remove anyone who is disrespectful.
I had a blast the last time I heard his set at Project Ai, the lasers are insane and $4 wells till Midnight. That is the cheapest price for a club in Dallas, anything cheaper than that is you slipping a bag of booze between your titties. Just going to head out and experience that taste of what was the best week of my life in 2018.
