Being part of the “EDM” Culture since 2007 has really opened up my eyes to a whole new world. Now that I consider myself a “veteran,” I could care less what the arguments are about who is the best, what is EDM, and where it is going. I like what I like, and that’s that.
For the past two years or so I have steered away from “mainstream” and have found a love for Deep House, minimal, Chicago house, funk and other things that have terms that nobody cares about. In other words, I like to “get weird.”
I have been trying to attend Output for quite some time and I finally was able to catch Hot Since 82’ there this past Saturday.
Approaching Output, you would tell yourself, “This is going to be just like any other night.” It looks like any other warehouse club from the outside, with façade walls and a line wrapped around the corner. Little do you know…
The security was stern but impressive. I remember seeing them everywhere throughout the night, which made me feel safe. Luckily we were on a list so we passed the line, and once we entered, all bets were off.
The inside was very big, and very dark. This was perfect for the Get Physical Crew. There are three rooms- the main room, the chill room/bar to the right of the main room, and a smaller panther room with a second DJ. There is an amazing rooftop view as well. This was very tiered with relaxing areas and an unobstructed view of Manhattan. There are unisex bathrooms with no mirrors, but that was not a problem because the crowd is so chill nobody cares what you look like. These people were not here for “bottles and bitches,” they were here for the music, it was awesome.
The main room is reversible (ala Pacha Ibiza). The big DJs set up on the larger than life stage (far side from the entrance) and for more underground nights the booth can be set up at the end of the room near the entrance at audience-standing level, with the second floor wrapping around the booth for an awesome intimate feel. The entire room is set up for music. There are minimal lights and simplistic decoration; there is also a no policy rule for pictures. This keeps the crown focused on the music, which is a brilliant idea.
There is sound padding on the walls to compliment the latest state of the art Funktion One dance speakers, with the DJ raised behind them. These speakers are huge, loud, and perfect to allow you to lose your mind.
“Output is open to anyone, but is not for everyone. Output welcomes individuals who value the communal experience of music over cameras and bottle service. […] The club will be the new North American showcase room for Funktion One, featuring some next generation equipment you wont find anywhere else.”
— Output
This venue is open to everyone, but only the strong survive. If you are lucky enough to play at this venue, God bless you. This venue is a little taste of music heaven in the most unexpected way. If you are an avid festival and concertgoer, you need to attend Output, it will change your perspective on many venues and will 100% have you coming back for more.
