Once upon a time I was a raver. I wore ridiculous cargo skirts and platform sneakers, and had my hair in tiny little braids laced with bright pink. (For the record, I did not suck on pacifiers!) I only left the house for deep house, minimal techno, and drum and bass. I went out solely to dance. My inner-raver-self takes a look at the Convention 101 Fest put on by Robtronik in Downtown L.A. this weekend and feels warm and fuzzy inside.

For three days, music, not bottle service, not celebrities, not see-and-be-seen lookie loos, will rule. It's not the kind of music you will hear in most clubs, either. It's major Detroit techno: Robert Hood. Serious Swedish techno: Joel Mull. It's legendary: Juan Atkins. If these names mean nothing to you, you probably shouldn't go. They will not be playing Jay-Z, and their beats would make Lady Gaga cry really hard. They are hard, fast, furious, slick, crisp, funky, and hard (did I mention hard?). The three days of techno start out in Hollywood before the main event in Downtown L.A., and winding up at the Standard's Rooftop party; given the inebriated state of the patrons after just one day of partying, we can't begin to imagine what they'll look like this weekend. Proceed at your own risk. Friday through Sunday, various venues. Check here for more info.

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