The third and final day of Movement featured grey skies, rain falling to the ground, and fans, drenched but encumbered by the weather. The thunder was not from the dark clouds hanging overhead, but from the heavy bass that filled the air, fueling the crowds to dance harder and throw their hands up high, as though they were challenging the rain to come down harder.



Many came ready for the elements, wearing plastic ponchos. In the slick silhouette of the Ren Cen, umbrellas sprang up like mushrooms bursting through the forest floor. A shiny silver track suit made its way around the festival grounds, appropriate attire for a dreary day such as this. The furry boots that are a festival staple, began to take on the appearance of wet puppies.



But they danced. 



They danced through the day and into the night. They got down in the rain. The crowd sang along or pounded their fists in the air to the beat. They were into it.



It was perfect. Nobody cared that it was raining. The musicians performed amazing sets. The array of artists that performed represented a wide range of influences - from 70s soul and late 90s gangsta rap to disco and punk influences. 



And the fans took it all in and threw back an infectious energy that propelled the artists to perform in a relentless fury of inspired passion. The music drew in the crowds and held their attention, providing a colorful and frenetic backdrop to the idyllic scene surrounding the festival.



River boats and speedboats barreled down the river, while passengers aboard the vessel threw their hands into the air in support of the crowd, encouraging fans to scream louder with unabashed excitement. 



Water collected in droplets on the locust trees as the music drifted through the leaves, then crashed in waves over unsuspecting people. Buildings creating the city's iconic skyline stood steadfast, watching silently over Movement as it does every year at this time.



And as the M Machine sang "No, I can't stop the rain from coming in..." the crowd bobbed their heads in unison- it didn't even matter that the rain pummeled the concrete, falling harder with every word.

Diverging music punctuated the air at Movement, as I sat down to speak with an innovator who helped launch the scene surrounding us- Kevin Saunderson himself. It was an amazing opportunity to speak with one of the people who has been involved with making Detroit the epicenter of techno.

Sitting alongside him were his sons Dantiez and Damari, and his nephew Kweka. We talked about his role as a creator of techno and its evolution, performing with Derrick May in Detroit, and how Kevin saved Movement from collapsing.

Kevin Saunderson is a humorous and personable guy, who, for starting an entire genre of music, is pretty laid back about it all. Under the tents, away from the stages where musicians performed to crowds of over one hundred thousand- Kevin spoke about the techno scene as it originated, so close to where he was sitting this evening.

CREATING TECHNO
As one of the indisputable creators of techno, Saunderson has accomplished a feat only a handful of artists will ever know- to create an entire genre of music. Yet when asked about how it felt to be known as one of the creators of techno music, he was nonchalant and humbly responded that it was a "gift that was given to me," a gift that he was "thankful" for, and that he "embraces it" fully. He ended with the sentiment that he felt "happy to give back to the people" with the music he created.

When the conversation delved into what led to him creating techno music he credited it to "being around Derrick May" who he had been spending a lot of time around in Belleville, where they both grew up. Kevin said his interest grew as he watched Derrick as he "created his first record and I was inspired by the technology." Saunderson found that he could produce sounds himself, using electronic equipment, and he excitedly continued- "I could use technology and do it myself with a machine" without the need to play an entire group of instruments. He then stated of that experience: "it was seductive."

THE EVOLUTION OF TECHNO
When talking to Saunderson about the beginning- his continuous enthusiasm even today, is apparent; the excitement he felt in the 80s can still be heard in his voice as he talks. He stated that where techno music began 28 years ago has evolved to something very different from its original roots.

He noted his surprise that techno now reaches an entirely different fan base than it had initially. He went from creating music for small groups of students to inspiring massive crowds of people. He said "we were playing fraternity parties for black urban kids" and it took off and went in an entirely different direction. He continued that the "black audience abandoned it and went to hip-hop and the white audience embraced it."

SAVING MOVEMENT
Kevin Saunderson has been openly credited as taking the helm of a sinking ship when the electronic music festival was struggling, saving it from impending disaster. When asked about saving Movement from ending for good, he casually replied "somebody had to take it over." He continued "the city begged me and I got it to the where they could charge." Saunderson could boast about this feat, but again, he played it off as no big deal, something that is all in a day's work.

The crowds that are swarming around the festival grounds tonight may be unaware of how close this festival came to being canceled years ago, but would certainly be appreciative if they knew that one man single-handedly kept it going. He left it in the hands of a company he had worked with closely previously- Paxahau, eventually growing Movement to what it has become today.

SHARING THE STAGE WITH DERRICK MAY
Kevin speaks with high regard for his friend Derrick May. When he talked about performing at Movement on Monday with his childhood sidekick he said "we've done it before, but there is still some anxiety." Saunderson said he is excited to perform and that he is looking forward to the "great crowd experience" that always comes when performing at Movement. He ended that his set with Derrick "go down in the history of Detroit."

Watch the event that will go down in Detroit history- Kevin Saunderson performing live on stage with Derrick May on Monday May 26. This performance is one of the most anticipated acts at Movement this year and will take place on the Red Bull Music Academy stage at 10:30 p.m.

Framed by the circular sculpture, "Transcending," danced a modern Snow White, with a silver sequin headband and a pair of sunglasses.

Movement Electronic Music Festival kicked off today at Hart Plaza in Detroit. This marked the first day of the three day festival, which is in its 14th year. Musicians and fans from around the world gather together to experience the best in electronic music.The festival is held over Memorial Day Weekend on May 25 through May 27, 2013.

Snow White wasn't the only one dancing. People in the crowds knew how to get down right. There was dancing everywhere- on the concrete steps, under the trees, while waiting in line.

The crowd was a mix of Rainbow-Brite inspired ensembles and everyday attire. Viking hats peppered the skyline, interrupted occasionally by a gold lame jacket or disc-ball inspired mirrored vest. Everywhere you looked- everyone was having the time of their lives. Smiling, laughing, dancing; there was an excitement that is indescribable. The energy of the entire festival was like an off-the-chain house party. It was a bunch of different people coming together to have fun in the city.

There was deep bass and scattered frenetic beats that hit simultaneously. With five stages of music, there was a huge amount of music to check out. Musicians repped their cities around the United States and the globe- NYC, Paris, Chi-town, LA, Oxford, and of course, Detroit- where it all began.

The music was as varied as the crowd and spanned from a hardcore punk inspired-sound to a symphonic blend of orchestral interludes blended with some Snoop. Subdued girls with sweet oversized bows bobbed their heads to the music. Shigeto's militant beat was exhilarating; he added live drums to his set, causing the crowd to roar with excitement.

As the day progressed, the crowds grew, pouring through the gates; later they swelled to capacity, a massive explosion of people having unabashed fun. At the Electric Forest Stage, people were two-stepping in their kaleidoscope of kicks, while the crowd at the beatport stage went wild for Miguel Campbell. Onra tore it apart at the Red Bull Academy Stage, enticing the crowd to dance their hearts out.

Don't miss this amazing event which continues tomorrow, Sunday the 26 through Monday the 27. Tickets are available here.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was Blowout.

Blowout was held in both Hamtramck and Ferndale for the first time ever, and each city had an entirely different scene. Bands in both cities got down and dirty, but Ferndale managed to hijack the vibe once exclusive to Hamtramck alone.

Ferndale blew it out to the core and left its co-conspirator of mayhem in the dust. In Hamtramck there was no mayhem- I took notes. The word in bold was "uninspiring." Something was missing in Hamtramck- that indescribable "blowout" feeling that permeates through you as you walk around the corner to the lounge, excitedly anticipating how the next band will sound. And then they play, and it may or may not sound good- but it doesn't even matter- it is fun.

Hamtramck had bikers and punk rockers, and an eclectic group of fans, but the melting pot atmosphere was MIA. Never the twain shall meet sums it up. There was no noticeable intermingling of different genres of people, something truly awesome in years past.

The desolate streets, paired with the lack of crowds in Hamtramck, changed the scene entirely from years past. It was unrecognizable. Everything Blowout could have been, it wasn't. Hamtramck was deflated.

Instead of glorious reverb, the sound of the death rattle could be heard, faintly in the distance, prowling around the alleys of Hamtramck. The unabashed excitement in Hamtramck was gone, maybe left for dead before the event even kicked off.

If the scene in Hamtramck was dull, in stark contrast, Ferndale came ready to rumble. The Ferndale Public Library rocked it out. One witness of the Rogue Satellites performance- after Detroit Party Marching Band blasted through- emptied out of the venue exclaiming "that was so badass!" And it was.

Ferndale was in your face. People were screaming "Blowout" at the tops of their lungs- from the sunroof while rolling through town, while walking down Woodward, from the mic as they performed on stage at the WAB.

Lively banter hit the streets. An opera singer randomly joined pop-up band St. Zeta for a session, someone dressed up in a Grizzly bear costume, people complained about Jack White. Now that is the Blowout I remember.

And as I saw the neon light of Kowalski's glowing in the rearview mirror, I wondered if next year the gigantic polish sausage would be replaced by a star- the star found on the neon sign at Como's.