In a decade in which the tragedy of Kurt Cobain the tension of the Gulf War and the mysterious allure of crop tops all played out" today's UNC students began to dictate what music was popular.And tonight at Local 506"" WXYC 89.3 is aiming to bring back the nostalgia of the 1990s with the return of the station's early '90s dance at 9 p.m.
""That was our childhood"" said Lauren Brenner, WXYC's station manager. It was a breakthrough time in music"" and a lot more diverse music entered the mainstream.""
And the station wants to ensure college students have the opportunity to relive the onset of music ranging from hip-hop acts such as Public Enemy to the house music scene out of Manchester"" England.
""The '80s dances we have bring in a lot of high school kids"" Brenner said. We figured that this would be more nostalgic for college kids.""
The DJs want that nostalgia to manifest itself in the form of dance.
""A lot of the DJs are incorporating many different genres"" said WXYC's Promotions Director Steph Russ, who will be spinning the dance for one hour tonight. But we're going to keep it to where people will always be able to dance.""
Russ said she's even worked a hip-hop dance troupe into her set.
""The members are all current or former XYC DJs" she said. When we heard about the dance" we were really excited about bringing in some classic '90s moves.""
Organizers said they hope the event" which will have a $3 cover and an 18-and-up age restriction will draw students such as junior Devin Routh" who said he's looking forward to hearing music from his youth.
""I call myself a child of the '90s" Routh said. The music revolution then was starting in Seattle with Kurt Cobain and bands like Soundgarden" and it changed music to what it is today. It was the biggest musical revolution since the '60s.""
Routh said efforts to draw a college-centered crowd are appropriate since high-schoolers didn't experience the '90s to the same extent.
""We grew up with Ninja Turtles; they grew up with some other cartoon" he said. They can imitate it" but we're the ones who lived it.""
Glenn Boothe" owner of Local 506" agreed the dance will draw a college crowd butsaid that a prior commitment will keep him from most of the event.
""I was ready to go. I even made my playlist because they wanted me to DJ"" he said. I was planning on playing a bunch of early '90s hip-hop.""
Boothe is a former music director at WXYC"" and that tie is part of the reason Local 506 hosts the event.
""XYC always does a great job getting the word out about their dances"" he said. But I really don't know what to expect.""
Routh" however" said his expectations are clear.
""I'm looking forward to the bright colors and the grunge scene people" too" he said. We're going to take that part of our lives back.""
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
DANCE YOUR HEART OUTTime: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. todayLocation: Local 506Info: www.wxyc.org
