I’m a pragmatic motherfucker who doesn’t like to raise my hopes overly high or adjust ’em too low. Overall, though, 2012 was a very good year for Data Breaker-y happenings. Decibel Festival alone provided enough highlights to keep even the surliest curmudgeon buzzin’ for weeks. But as this is The Stranger’s annual Regrets issue, we’re obligated to accentuate the negative. So here are the things that harshed my mellow this year (remind me never to use that phrase again.) Data Breaker regrets the following things:
Ill Cosby departing Seattle for Washington, DC. As regular readers know, Cos was an integral figure in Seattle’s electronic-music scene, running the globally renowned future-bass label Car Crash Set, DJing various forward-thinking nights around town, producing his own excellent tracks, webcasting on sub.fm, and promoting shows by artists who rarely made it to Seattle. You could argue that one’s residence doesn’t matter as much in the 21st-century world of interconnectedness, but Cos is also a contender for nicest guy in the world, so his presence is missed.
Decibel Festival lasting five days. This might be one of those cringe-worthy first-world problems, but it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Decibel seemed optimal at four days, and even then, the last night’s crowds looked like extras from a disaster movie. As Decibel appeared to have its most financially successful year yet in 2012, scaling back likely isn’t up for debate. Still, let’s plant that seed in Sean Horton and company’s collective brains.
The absence of certain local musicians from Decibel’s schedule. Of course, not everybody can play one of the world’s most prestigious electronic-music fests, and Decibel does tap a lot of local talent, but some glaring omissions have come to our attention. Here are some Seattle artists Data Breaker would like to see get booked by Decibel: Panabrite, Brain Fruit/Patternmaster, Black Hat, TJ Max, Airport, Relcad, Naturebot, and Splinters.
Judging the Laptop Battle at Lo-Fi in January. It was super-stressful, and after each round, I and the other two judges had to crush the hopes of genuinely talented musicians after much agonizing debate. Never again.
Motor City Drum Ensemble failing a second time to play Seattle. This excellent German techno producer can’t seem to get his visa game together.
DJs still spinning “Billie Jean.” Please quit the business now. That song was played out before Reagan exited the Oval Office.
People who feel compelled to make noise—any noise—during a live show’s quiet moments. What are you, 3 years old? 
