Girl About Town 2/13

February 13, 2008 7:22 PM
by chipi [email]

I suppose I should have knocked on wood. The perfect weather I'd been raving about the past two weeks has vanished all too quickly. While I've never been a fair weather friend to this city, its certainly put a damper on a few of my plans. No complaints though Junkie readers, we're nocturnal by nature anyway.

My Friday night was precipitation free and found your Girl About Town truly living up to her name. I set things off with a quick trip over to Cameo at midnight, the time when people are just beginning to come to terms with the harsh reality of the line they're about to stand around in. They bore the wait willingly though, and after a while I began to see the faces that were stuck outside filtering into Vice.

I hung around long enough to have a drink with the regulars and run into some old friends. While I was told a J Fish Kicks fashion show was in the works for the night, I exercised my (extremely pathetic excuse for) self-discipline and high-tailed it to Circa for Pumps!, a special DJ set with my local favorite vinyl vixens, DJ's D-Lokx, Vida and Heather Holiday.

I hadn't been to Circa in a while, but I'll say this for the place: if you don't want to be recognized, this is your hang out. That joint is pitch black! I love the ambiance it creates, especially with the bookshelves and sort of nouveau-gothic decor that lets it hold on to its sophistication without giving away too much grime. The drinks were fairly reasonable and DJ Chappy Dee was spinning a chill vibe in the main room.

Out back a few hipsters were gathered around, smoking cheap cigarettes and commenting on the Gainesville scene or lack thereof. I put in my two cents and thanked my lucky stars that I don't live there anymore before heading to the party upstairs.

For those of you who stick to the beach, Circa's second story is a comfy size lounge with enough room for a small party to dance and hang without having to squeeze up against each other too much. There are couches lining the wall to the rear-left of the space and a bar by the stairway. A small stage faces you as you walk into the room and the rest of the space is ideal to do exactly what these girls intend you to: dance, dance, dance.

DJ D-Lokx killed it in the early hours of the evening, laying it down thick with everything from Madonna to Goldfrapp and never slipping. Her two partners in crime worked the crowd while she hogged the decks and Afrobeta's lead singer, local notable Cristina "Cuci Amador" Garcia showed off her dance moves and made my night by complimenting my pumps. Maybe there's room in that DJ troupe for one more?

A parking ticket and $20 in 11th street rates later, I found myself at Parkwest for DJ Jay-You's inaugural appearance at Rehab. Grateful for the freedom to walk between Parkwest and Rehab with little issue besides human traffic, I was able to enjoy Shawn Rudnick in Parkwest for a minute before making my way into the side room. The boy I've dubbed "prettiest DJ in the 305" (much to his chagrin), had the crowd going with an energy I hadn't seen at Rehab in quite some time. With the freedom of open format, Jay-You was weaving something ridiculous together and giving the crowd that moment of unanimous surprise and satisfaction that comes with each unexpected track thats worked into a set.

The CoolJunkie family was rolling thick in the lounge all night and we kept each other going at a pretty reckless pace. Eventually I found myself making the long walk back to my car and contemplated stopping off at PS-14 before calling it quits. By this time however, it had somehow become 4am and I was nowhere near being able to crash for the weekend.

After what seemed like a hiccup in time I was back on the beach and standing behind Mansion, preparing myself for what proved to be beyond preface. Passing by on the street, the marquee was a little difficult to believe: Lazaro Casanova billed with Steve Angello at Mansion on a Saturday night. Later in the night the hipster prince of electro would recount that the sign accidentally read "Asanova" but was quickly fixed by the good people of Mansion...oh the irony.

While I was unfortunate enough to miss Casanova's set, I walked on stage just in time for the literal beginning of Steve Angello's. It was clear that the local Miami boy had done his bit to get the people going and Angello milked that energy for all it was worth, taking the crowd on a strange and singular journey through house music.

After a few hours of couch-dancing and bottle-popping indulgence, my Junkie flunkie crew and I left the vibrant people of Mansion for the dark and divey corner of the beach at the Deuce Bar.

To call this place a SoBe staple is to undermine it's relevance. The Deuce Bar has been home to vagabonds, upper class rebels and world famous artists, musicians and DJ's for decades. The drinks are cheap, the crowd is mixed and all your favorite crazy characters are there in full effect. In a sea of pretentious, overpriced and prick-filled watering holes, the Deuce is an oasis of a hideaway, perfect for winding down after a weekend of debauchery while still soaking up some sin. This is the kind of bar that Bukowski would've stood on top of and shouted Love is a Dog From Hell three nights a week in.

The jukebox was pumping Steppenwolf as we made our way to T-Mex (or San Loco in the hearts of former frequenters) for some grease before the trek home. There's nothing like Mexican to help you forget those last few drinks you've regrettably downed.

Sunday was spent indoors, watching the Heat lose and marveling at our collective disconnect with mainstream music as the Grammy's unfolded much to our indifference.

I've been working on my self-control this week, but I'm not making any promises to totally rest up for the weekend, what with the picks I'm rolling out today.

Weekly Picks

Thursday 2.14 - Mickey Avalon @ Mansion
Mickey Avalon is returning to the beach for a special Valentine's day concert. For those of you on the loose for this special day of coupling, find somebody to Vibe with while this degenerate turned rap star gets his filthy, dark, hilarious act on.

Friday 2.15 - Steve Aoki @ Dek23
The daddy of Dim Mak is bringing his show to Dek this weekend. He's been around Miami quite a bit lately, maybe doing the circling shark bit before conference hits?

Saturday 2.16 - PopLife @ the White Room Bar
This party has been it for a while now and is too legit to quit. The scenesters and the club kids are loyal to the White Room and with Casiotone making an appearance this week it should be slammed.

Sunday 2.17 - Sander Kleinenberg @ Cameo
This is...going to be pretty impressive. Cameo and Kleinenberg are a great combo, the lighting and visual equipment in the venue along with the size of the space will be the perfect compliment to Sander's infamous audio-visual, one-two punch, knock out sets.

Monday 2.18 - Presidents day!
Sleep in and hit the beach all day long. Work on your tan before conference, you'll be spending way too much time indoors that week.

For Live Music Junkies 2.15 Sam Friend @ Sweat Records.
After a rousing farewell show, the indie rock gods have been good to our town in keeping Sam Friend around long enough for the release of his new CD "Secure and Fastened For Daisy Buchanan". The show starts at 9pm and you'll be one of the lucky firsts to pick it up.

I can't stop spinning...

In my iPod: Erykah Badu - Honey. With this Hip-Hop Queens new album dropping February 26th, Badu has released an easy listen with an incredible video to enhance it. While I have my criticisms of the track itself, after a life changing experience with Badu at the House of Blues, I'm counting down the days for this LP.

If you're on that local tip: Awesome New Republic - Wheels No Engines. These local boys are what the Miami alternative scene is made of. Their music is truly visionary, full-bodied and laced with the promise of what we've all been waiting for: a breaking band that keeps it honest.

On Celluloid:
When the Miami Film Festival rolls around, good luck getting tickets to Tamar van den Dop's film Blind. The story follows a sightless young man who begins an empowering relationship with an albino. This Dutch director has built himself a reputation as a spellbinding fairytale weaver, utilizing the force of imagination to drive his romantic (and not in the cheesy sense) plots. Screenings start March 3rd.

Call me out if you think I'm slipping. Continue to show your love and share your criticisms when you catch me around the way.

peace love and music,

chipi

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