My first Dirtybird rave was the essence of underground. Like always, news of the party spread by word of mouth. You could keep the Facebook event page unsearchable. Your profile wouldn’t rat you out. Still, there was a physical vetting process, a practice we would do well to bring back.

Throughout April and May, Robot Heart has held a residency at The Loom, a 5.5-acre historic series of warehouses turned creative hub, artist studio, and event venue in Oakland. Their diverse events encompass speaker series, children’s activities, dance showcases, and electrifying DJ sets extending into the early weekend hours. I