Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jun 2004
Source: Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram (WV)
Copyright: Clarksburg Publishing Company 2003
Contact:  http://www.exponent-telegram.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1667
Author: Jim Fisher
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raves.htm (Raves)

GUN RALLY, MUSIC 'RAVE' DON'T WORRY POLICE

CLARKSBURG -- Area police seem generally unconcerned about two local
events, one featuring machine gun enthusiasts from across the country
and the other a two-day electronic music "rave."

"Thunder in the Hills," a chance for machine gun and other automatic
weapon owners to fire their guns, is scheduled today through Sunday at
Salerno Brothers Quarry outside Shinnston.

The event's Web site also notes that attendees will be able to rent a
number of automatic weapons to shoot. Despite the number of people and
machine guns expected, police are not taking any extra
precautions.

"We don't really have all that much information on it," said Harrison
County Chief Deputy Albert Marano. "They had one last year and there
were no reported problems."

Because there are so many federal restrictions on weapons capable of
full automatic fire, the event's organizers are working in conjunction
with a federally licensed manufacturer of machine guns.

Shinnston Police Chief Mike Secreto could not be reached for comment.
State Police troopers were unaware of the event.

Police in Doddridge County also seem nonplussed about a weekend "rave"
that is expected to draw about 5,000 people.

Phoenix 3 is a summer solstice festival planned for today through
Sunday. It features about 100 disc jockeys on three stages and a laser
light show.

The event hails itself as "rekindling the spark of electronic music
culture and reuniting the region for an unforgettable event."

"I'm sure we will make our presence known over there when it's going
on, but other than that, we don't have any extra plans," said
Doddridge County Sheriff Denver Cox.

State Police troopers weren't even aware such an event was planned,
according to a woman who answered the telephone at the West Union
detachment.

Such events are sometimes linked to drugs, although they are not
openly advertised. The festival flier specifically states "no weapons,
glass containers, alcohol, drugs. ..."

In their fliers, as well as a pre-recorded phone message, promoters
stress it's a fun-filled music weekend.

Raves usually feature electronic music, sometimes called electronica
or techno, depending on the DJ's style. Techno has long enjoyed a wide
underground following, but for the most part has not broken into the
mainstream of rock radio.

While techno's roots are in early underground rap and "sampling," many
DJs now prefer to follow in the style of European technopop that was
extremely popular in dance clubs there in the late 1980s and early
1990s. Techno tends to have driving bass beats overlaid with heavy
guitars, electronic sampling and digital sounds.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin