07.02.08 — YOUNGSTOWN, OH — The first time I sped past Youngstown, Ohio’s post-industrial landscape it struck me that this is the kind of landscape which EDM emerged from, and in some ways, represents. The rolling rust of bombed-out looking warehouses and steel plants nearly screamed for the steady beat of dance music.

For a year or more, the warehouse in my head remained mostly beatless, lifeless. I had to drive at least forty-five minutes from Youngstown to see a show. I later found a flier for a weekly dubbed Fever at the Fahrenheit Lounge in Wedge nightclub. And better yet, it was right down the road from me.

That first night walking into the club I was immediately greeted by the ominous bad production of club rap. Confused I looked around. The place was huge and filled with people, but I didn't hear what I was listening for. I approached a bouncer, and simply asked, “Where’s the techno?” I was directed away from the main room of the Wedge to the cozy Fahrenheit Lounge and found the beat I’d been searching for.

Beer in hand, I took a seat at one of the cocktail tables as a house DJ was finishing up his set. No more than five minutes later, as I bobbing my head to the music, I was approached by a smiling couple that introduced themselves as Ed and Abbey, the owners of Fever.

Soon enough I was introduced to the entire Fever Productions crew. Over the months that followed any Fever crew member who wasn’t playing that night would hang out with me at the venue. I formed fast friendships and had found my new Saturday night family, but to accomplish this, it took more than a flashy flier and DJs playing the kind of music I preferred. It took family — a continually friendly space surrounded by interesting people who were focused on the music and making friends with others of like-mind.

After a year and half at the cozy Fahrenheit Lounge, Fever immediately found a new venue and started shaking out the beats.

At Michael O’Mally’s, the home of Fever Productions’ new monthly, familiar faces greeted me with smiles and hug. I immediately felt right at home in a bar — with dull- eyed patrons and beer signs — I’d never been to before. It felt like home again because of the Fever crew and the people who follow them. Fever had filled a stale space with new life.

“Fever is about family,” Ed, co-owner of Fever Productions said. “We want to create an atmosphere that is about friends and not about 'cool,' not about the party lifestyle, and not about genre bashing.”

Ed had told me to watch a YouTube clip called “The Hipster Olympics” to prepare for the interview. The actors in the skit reminded me of the kind of people that had made so many events and clubs places I dreaded — those interested only in the business of cool and in making the scene pure egoism.

“That’s not what we want to be about. We want to promote events that are about familiar faces, good times and great music in a variety of genres,” Ed said. “And not just for ravers or dance music fans. We'd like to introduce electronic dance music to those unfamiliar with it.”

Over the last year or so, I've seen the Fever crew at events all over Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York both as booked DJs and party-goers. They’re always looking for DJs from the surrounding areas to come out and spin at their events. Fever regularly books DJs from Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus, Buffalo and beyond.

This is part of the Fever philosophy.

“We want to focus on the Youngstown area, and work to set the scene here in Youngstown apart from the stereotypes of rave and electronic music culture,” Ed said.

“This why we want to bring DJs and fans from other places, to promote our philosophy of a family/friendship setting, and to have them take this with them when they leave. We want to develop more than a business, cash-changing-hands relationship with everyone and put Youngstown on the map with this fact.”

Fever Productions Events:

Every Sunday at Mickey's Bar and Grill, Market St., Youngstown, OH

Every 3rd Saturday at Michael O’Mally’s
Four Mile Run Rd, Youngstown OH