A night to remember at Cyklopen

Cyklopen turned 12 last night, and it did so with a bang. If you haven't yet paid a visit to Cyklopen, do so at the first occasion: There's community being built there, and oh boy do we need that.

What's that button for, again?

Cyklopen has something for everyone, as you can tell from the variety of people who was there. The main stage was empty when I got there, and most people were chilling in the cozy outside patio. Soon i realize though that the magic is actually happening at the second stage hidden upstairs. It's a small room, the air is stale, the place is bursting with energy.

At the console DJ Smuts and Hobby DJ are having the time of their lives, one breakbeat after the other (sometimes, many at once). They're partying harder than ayone in the room - and trust me, that's a lot. What It didn't look like they had full control of the situation (and of the console), judging from their expressions when pressing buttons, and from the music taking very weird directions at times. If anything, that made everything just more fun for them and for everyone around. You could almost touch the good vibes travelling from the console to the room and back.

Dream Boys: punk with goth undertones

I then check out the main stage for the Dream Boys' performance. A very interesting take on classic punk rock. The energy is all there, the drummer pushes like a madman, yet there's something more. Maybe the picked distorted bass that completely fills the room, maybe the kilometers of delay on the vocals. There is something dark going on here, but it's not quite the Joy Division kind of punk. No, this is the Ramones kind of punk with a heavy stain of darkness.

We're back to enjoy the bonefires outside and, while my newly met friend tells me about her mom's old punk rock bar, I slowly roll home.

Cyklopen, I already have you in my heart. Never change.