Fourteen years ago, a group of promoters, producers and DJs came together in Pittsburgh to found Hot Mass, a weekly underground party that would evolve into one of America’s foremost queer nightlife institutions. Drawing inspiration from the heyday of disco, but welcoming in a sprawling cohort, Hot Mass became an essential bastion of adventurous music, DIY culture and LGBTQ+ liberation. Today, the core collective includes Hocho, Detour and Plot Twist, three parties that represent, each in their own way, the best aspects of the US underground. To celebrate the anniversary, we’ve invited some of the artists most associated with each project as well as longtime affiliates. Derek Plaslaiko makes his BASEMENT debut. One of the earliest residents of The Bunker NY, Plaslaiko was a key artist bridging his birthplace of Detroit and adopted home of NY in the mid ‘00s. Plaslaiko was there at a time when techno was undergoing a metamorphosis and Detroit was riding a fresh wave, capturing the moment with his signature slow-burn approach. On a good night, his sets can sprawl for over twelve hours, offering up an extended masterclass in DJing as limitless storytelling. Lauren Flax is no stranger to BASEMENT, and though she made her Hot Mass debut only earlier this year (“fiiiiiiinally” in the organizer’s own words), she moves through the same fertile underground as its organizers. Like Plaslaiko , Flax is Detroit-born, NY-honed, and her work continues to set the standard for classically full throttle, grooving techno. Gusto & Naeem are two of the primary movers behind Detour, one of Hot Mass’ longest running nights. Rooted in forward-thinking techno, both artists embrace the sprawling, futuristic musicality of Detroit, while representing the particular grain that makes Pittsburgh such notable hub. For the first time ever, the full Honcho crew comes to STUDIO. Honcho is, of course, Hot Mass’ most notorious party, and the seed from which the beloved Campout of the same name has sprung. But in addition their community organizing, Aaron Clark, Clark Price and d'Adhemar have made a substantial impact on the dance music underground. Like their comrades Wrecked and Honey Soundsystem, Honcho are proud inheritors to a definitive, boundary-pushing lineage of queer DJ culture. But even as they pay homage to the innovators of the form, they carve their own path. For Honcho, dance music isn’t a sound - it’s a way of being. Scotia returns to the room. Heavy on the acid, Scotia has been blazing a trail across the country over the last year. Her “Take, Release” EP on The Bunker is a barn-burner that fully embraces the wild-eyed potentialities of the TB-303. S4M23 completes the bill. Rooted in the feverish intensity and uncompromising ethos of the Midwest’s ‘90s rave heyday, S4M23 delivers with full impunity. ■ No photos or videos ■ Ticket purchase does not guarantee entrance ■ No phone use on the dancefloor ■ The dance floor is for dancing, not conversation ■ No glowing/flashing clothes or items ■ Respect other people's space, no shuffling ■ Consent is mandatory ■ Zero tolerance for racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism or any form of discrimination ■ Take care of each other, alert our staff if somebody isn't feeling well ■ Violating the house rules will result in removal PLEASE REVIEW HOUSE POLICIES AT LINK BELOW