The Marriage of the Goth and EDM/Rave Scenes

The intersection between the goth and EDM scenes is nothing new, and does not seem to be going away. From the onset of rave culture and tours, which really began in the UK, the artists and DJs who were involved had the tenacity, energy and rebellious attitudes that are also characteristic of the modern goth subculture.

Among the most notable of these artists are The Prodigy. If you look at the themes of the very first series of NYC “Club Kids” parties, Michael Alig’s Disco 2000 nights, put on at The Limelight, Peter Gatien’s then-notorious nightclub, a pattern emerges. The commonality among those events (besides copious drug use), was their hosts’ and guests’ individualistic, expressive costumes, which often crossed into the gory, dark and freaky realm.

In the mid-to late ’90s and into the 2000s, raves began to incorporate similar themes. Today, it is not unusual to see partygoers sporting gothic attire and accessories, or even straight-up frightening getups. In the local club scene, for 15 years Providence’s Club Hell was a beacon of joy for alternative nightclub enthusiasts, both for its solid array of dance and rock music, and its S&M-inspired vibe. Hell was a place where you could participate in flogging (or sensual whippings) on stage, if you so chose. If you weren’t into that, however, that was totally cool, too. In fact, when it closed in late 2011, the club was praised for its acceptance of people of all ages, backgrounds, sexual orientations and styles of dress. It was a place where you could indulge in your inner freak (seeing women dressed in nearly nothing but nipple tape was common, for example).

Fortunately for us, the void created by Hell’s closure has been filled with other goth-inspired clubs and club nights in the area. One of the biggest is the latest installment of Fetish Nights at club EGO Providence. Every Wednesday, EGO boasts a night of kinky fun, including a few colorful DJs and dominatrixes. The dress code is black or fetish attire, which encourages guests to be creative and let their freak flag fly, so-to-speak. In a few weeks, Fetish Night becomes “SinistR”-themed when the weekly will move to The Spot Underground. SinistR nights will feature two rooms, two DJs, and two dungeons.