Girl About Town 4.22.2008

April 22, 2008 10:19 PM
by chipi [email]

Buckle up industry peoples, it looks like we're all in for a very long summer. The economy being what it is, it seems like nightlife has reached an earlier stalling period than usual. With no end to our communal financial distress in sight, promoters, DJs and club owners alike will have to bring their A-game every time at bat if they expect to get people to show up.

My week started early with a trip to Jazid for DAMN SON! Quite possibly my new favorite party. I got there early, around 10:30 while the Deuce Crew was still setting things up. I ducked out to meet a friend for some drinks and when I got back, it had reached perfect party status. The room was full but not slammed and the crowd was all quality. There were delegates from every clique - Beach, Midtown, Downtown, Kendall, the College Crowd and even a couple out of town-ers that were forwarded there by knowledgeable locals.

The Deuce Crew could not have picked a more fitting name for their night. I caught myself glancing over at Mike Deuce or DS363 multiple times over the course of the festivities muttering 'Damn, Son' to myself. The music was approachable, yet aggressive and highly dance-able. The pace was kept at full-throttle and industry friends and foes alike came out to show love. That vibe combined with the incredibly reasonable drink prices made for a sloppy, let-me-rub-up-against-you mess of a party. Definitely a weekly stand-by.

I managed to catch the final showing of Federico Nessi's "Wire Wire Wire" on Wednesday night, but decided to rest up for a throw down of my fancy footwork. The Chromeo show at The Fifth was a cramped and sweaty mess, and a damn good time. Besides the fun show these boys put on, the photo booth upstairs was the hit of the night. Professional grade lighting, props and backdrops had people acting a fool for the camera. After my close-up I ducked out to the Vagabond for the Money $hot afterparty. Dave 1 and Flosstradamus made appearances late in the evening and all the usual faces trickled in after their trek from the beach.

At around 4am, I somehow convinced myself that wandering Love Hate for the Apt. afterparty would not be detrimental to my health in the morning. Ultimately, the trade off wasn't so bad. Love Hate was still pretty full when I got there, not to mention I had the luck of serious rock star parking right by the entrance. Inside, the boys from MAP magazine were tearing it up. Jason and I cut a mean rug until I had to drag myself outside and stop living in a fantasy world where I didn't have work in the morning - which at that point was T-3 hours away and counting.

Friday night caught me back at the Vagabond, catching once again the tail end of Lolo's set in the side room. Out back the great lounge vibe continued with some extreme skating videos playing while a live drummer accompanied the toned down DJ. Jessica Who took control of the main room as I was walking in and played her usual set. Looking damn good while doing it, I might add.

I left my CJ family at the Vagabond and hopped over to 11th street to check on the Stereo party. This is the juncture in this weekends story that got me to worrying. Stereo, usually a slammed party filled with all the Miami mainlanders you can find, was practically vacant. Maybe people have lost interest in the venue after a few of it's incidents with Fire Marshall's and unexpected shut downs. Maybe they're concerned that they'll show up to a closed club. Maybe they don't even know that it's been opened again. In any case, Stereo will need to pound the pavement and get the word out that they're back in business and doing things better than ever. You can throw a terrific party, but if nobody shows up, who will spread the word later?

I eventually made it back to the Vagabond and found my family working it out in the main room. It seems like weird programming caused a lot of the side room crowd to find themselves more comfortable on the other side of the bar in the main room. With Lolo off the decks, some unknowns that seemed like they were getting their first hand at the wheel were making the room so cold it was giving me the shivers. Maybe shifting around DJ's, getting Ray in the side room and Mike Deuce in the main would keep things a little more interesting for the regulars.

Saturday rolled around and while a few throw downs may have been popping off around the city, I spent my early afternoon helping out at Sweat, setting up for the Sweat Third Anniversary party. Sweat's Third Birthday coincided with the first official Records Store Day and garnered a slew of cool CD, LP and swag giveaways. All of the local notables showed up and DJs Mike Deuce, Induce, Hottpants and Otto Von Schirach played that good stuff for the people to sway to while they had their wine and birthday cake. Miami music legend Nil Lara also played a charming set, complete with crowd sing-alongs and his rendition of "Dance, Monkey Dance".

At around 2am, the Sweat crew booted the last of the stragglers out and I traipsed to the White Room Bar to keep me entertained until my departure to Space for early morning Terrace fun. When I walked into the White Room two things were apparent - everyone was a little toasty and the night had been a slow one. Usually there is barely enough room to breathe at Poplife - where the indie kids were remains to be seen but they certainly hadn't come out that night. This however did nothing to change the fact that the line to the ladies bathroom was 7 hours long.

I spent the night chatting up Corie and after getting the boot for the second time in one day, I wandered over to Space. The Yoshitoshi CD release party had drawn an obscene amount of people. It was refreshing to make my return to the terrace and the smiling faces on some of my regular subjects made me feel at home again.

I won't be around this week to document the debauchery. I'll be keeping tabs from a distance in LA, keeping you updated on Coachella and the West Coast side of nightlife. Though I'm not around, heed my advice and check these parties out. I expect full reports.

Weekly Picks

Tuesday 4.22 - Damn Son! @ Jazid
Upstairs at Jazid gets a revamp this Tuesday with the arrival of Damn Son! DJ's Mike Deuce, DS363 and Obi will be spinning the best in dance music at the jump off.

Wednesday 4.23 - Michale Graves of the Misfits at Can you Rock at Little Softer @ Churchills
This former Misfits front man will be joining Raffa and Rainer in an attempt to Rock a little Softer for the regulars at Churchill's.

Thursday 4.24 - The White Room Bar - Unofficial GenArt Deception Screening Afterparty
After catching the GenArt screening of Deception at the Regal on Lincoln, bounce to the White Room Bar for some live tattooing with your indie-electro dance party.

Friday 4.25 - Nicole Miller Fashion Show @ SET
It is the golden age of the Ultra Lounge and until Dolce opens up, SET is the uncontested king. Check out their Friday night party and enjoy an exclusive Nicole Miller Fashion Show with your bottles.

Saturday 4.26 - Back Door Bamby Reunion @ the Vagabond
Bamby is back and waiting for you this Saturday night at the Vagabond. If you're too young to have gone to this party, like yours truly, don't miss out on the best freak show in town.

For Live Music Junkies - Thursday 4.17 - Kingsley Album Release Party @ the Gibson Showroom
With free drinks courtesy of Bombay Sapphire, CD Giveaways and Celebrity Cameos, the Kingsley boys will be playing to a packed house as they celebrate the release of their new CD "These Frequencies". You can find the Gibson Showroom in the Design District at 180 NE 39th Street, the party runs from 8pm-11pm.

I can't stop spinning...

In my iPod: Portishead - Machine Gun
My life will officially be complete when I hear Beth Gibbons' screaming whisper on 'Roads', but this new single from their 10 year long anticipated release aptly titled Third, is exactly what we've all been waiting for.

Stay safe and if you miss seeing me around the club, just take a flashlight and shine it directly into your pupils 10 times fast. It'll be like I never left at all.

peace love and music,

chipi

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