Girl About Town 6.24.2008

June 24, 2008 4:55 PM
by

Hurricane season is just around the bend and yet it feels already as if I've sunk into an endless whirlwind of rain and lightning storms, temporarily relieved by bouts of intense humidity and scorching heat. Oh yeah! That's just every single summer in Miami since my birth. You'd think as natives we would've developed some kind of immunity to said meteorological misery - but no, every year it sucks as much as the last.

I suppose this is the price you pay for paradise. Lately the heats been building up on the scene as well. With clubs closing left and right (Dek23, Karu, Studio A...) and new parties and venues making debutante whores of themselves, things keep getting more and more interesting in the neighborhood.

But enough with the cheap thrills, to kick my weekend off right I had to make it to my standby and catch Modernage performing at Fridays at the Vagabond. While their set was a little short, it gave me more time to revel in the joy of the return of a musical Vagabond near and dear to my heart - Mr. Sam Friend. Hailing triumphantly from the bitter Seattle cold, it was good to see the curly haired boy with the curious smile. Rumor has it he'll be returning to Miami soon with a debut welcome home performance at the Vagabond.

Meanwhile inside, Mike Deuce was tearing things up like the mad man he is. The bar room was practically impossible to maneuver in, but the spillover to the main room was about the same with a bunch of indie youngsters, natives and locals all cramming together for their regular Friday night shake down. I've been catching more new faces around the place in the past few weeks and it seems the burning bush gospel that is good music and no bullshit is spreading.

I'd say that I headed home early but I'd be lying. It would be a little more honest to illustrate the fact that I hit on and off sleep until around 6pm Saturday evening. Yes, it was that serious. I rose in time to collect myself for the Paul van Dyk Experience. While I'd love to sit here and scrutinize trance music, nit-picking at the jokes that we consider "artists" in this genre, it's a little tough to talk shit about Michael Jordan, even if you can't stand basketball.

As is to be expected, Cameo was a mad house. Flush with people of all ages and walks of life. It seems that the $50 ticket prices didn't deter any of his fanatics from getting through the doors. While Paul van Dyk made the observation himself that Cameo was a bit too "handbag" for his usual taste in venue, I heard that the show at Space amounted to even more mayhem.

After sticking around to photograph our CoolJunkie contest winners and catch PvD play the keyboard while mixing, I headed out and promised myself I'd get into bed early to save energy for Sundays adventures. I, of course, found myself at the Vagabond 15 minutes later, checking in with the slutty one. Back Door Bamby is still pulling in the usual freak show and hipster darlings alike, every weekend more becoming curious than the last.

Things were winding down and so I headed to what was once my weekly watering hole to catch a CoolJunkie favorite - Jay Meletiche. This guy forever remains a laid back dude and DJ near and dear to my heart. Playing Beastie Boys and Yackity Yack in the same set and considering heading to Paul van Dyk at Space after work. There's hardly anyone as versatile or humble as Jay and Circa 28 is still the perfect home for him. I'll definitely be dropping in more often from now on. It's a nice escape from the 14th street crowd every now and again.

Sunday found me on my worst behavior once again, dropping in to Bella Rose for their special Black and Red party on Sunday nights. Owned by a pair of nightlife veterans, Bella Rose looks like it might be a home for natives and locals hoping for a respite from your typical beach crowd. Johnny the Boy was performing his usual ADD musical antics but he kept things interesting, genre crossing without making any obvious connections or losing his flow. It was a little difficult for those of us who had already had a bit much to drink to follow, but nonetheless, I enjoyed it.

The wee morning hours rolled around and I ducked out of the Rose garden for a date with two frenchies at Sundance. With the opening of Aerobar to turn up the heat, SET has been a little more forgiving at the door lately - no asshole rope holder bitching at me because of my Converse in the past few weeks. Pretentious door guys aside, every time I walk into SET it's like falling in love all over again. While admittedly, happy house on a Sunday night when I've got work in the morning isn't typically my scene, SET is hands down the most beautiful club in Miami. Whether you care for the crowd or not, aesthetically, the place goes above and beyond. The champagne display cases, flame pools caged in glass, elevated DJ booth, gorgeous lighting set up, medium size floor lay out.

Also, they pay guys just to sweep up the napkins people throw after every build up.

The DJs themselves while perhaps not the most daring in terms of musical selection, were more animated than any resident DJ I've seen in Miami in quite some time. Which as they say isn't everything, it certainly is what pays the bills. We live in an age of performance value and in a city like Miami, jumping up and down, singing along and being generally...well, pretty, while tweaking the mixer, goes a long way for the crowd.

What seemed like five minutes after hitting the bed the night prior, I awoke on Monday morning for a date with Paul van Dyk at the Mandarin Oriental. CoolJunkie got up bright and early for the chance to interview him about his musical development, VONYC world tour, upcoming 20-year-anniversary and love of Cuban culture. Stay tuned to your CJ frequency for a special video and article feature.

While the German may be gone, the party continues around town. See you at this weeks picks, animals.

Weekly Picks

Tuesday 6.24 - O'HellNah Tuesdays @ Purdy Lounge
Damn, Son is no more, but! Behold - a new Tuesday night beach party that kicks dance music in a non-discriminatory, non-bar mitzvah style. Spinning the best in Mashup, Nu Rave, Electro, Hip-Hop, Top40, Retro and Old School - Contra, DS and Mike Deuce are keeping you happy with everything you want in motivation for ass shaking and $4 Tequila and $4 Corona specials all night long. And by the way - the video promo saga continues.

Wednesday 6.25 - Book Club: Snuff @ Sweat Records
If you didn't pick up Palahniuks new Porn industry inspired gem "Snuff", try and rush through it tonight and tomorrow. Book Club convenes at Sweat Records on Wednesday evening to mull over the filth.

Thursday 6.26 - Shop Miami @ the Moore Building and
The lovely ladies of GenArt will be unveiling the fashion-fest that is Shop Miami this Thursday at 6pm. Non-members can start sliding through the doors at around 7pm and a $20 ticket at the door will get you free drinks all night and tune selection by Poplife's own DJ Induce. This event is 4-stories of fashion from up and coming designers and boutiques. Things wrap up early so try not to get too plastered and end up face-down in some gutter in the Design District as all your fashionable friends walk-by, shaking their heads in disapproval.

Friday 6.27 - Homebass @ the White Room
This week DJ Craze Presents Bass Sessions at Homebass - the White Room and Culture's new Friday night party. Craze is a hometown hero - World DMC champion three years in a row, official DJ for Kanye West and an all around turntable bad-ass. Get in early - no cover before 11pm, $5 from 11-12 and $10 after.

Saturday 6.28 - CoolJunkie Presents Nic Fanciulli @ the Vagabond for Back Door Bamby
This weekend Ms. Bamby if you're nasty presents Nic Fanciulli for a one night limited engagement. Over the years the naughty one has hosted huge DJs - Danny T, Sasha, Morillo, Josh Wink, Dee-Lite and many more. With the Funktion One system in that place, Fanciulli will be another unforgettable night to tack on to her list of conquests.The CoolJunkie, Vagabond and Saved Records families are coming together to give away free pairs of tickets to three lucky CJ members out there if you > for our giveaway. If you'd rather not try your luck, pick up tickets here.

Sunday 6.29 - Patrick M @ the Space Terrace
Week in and week out, Sunday morning rolls around and you're either stumbling home at 4am or crawling on hands and knees to 11th Street, with a thirst that can only be quenched by a few shots of Jager and Church with the Housed ones. This Sunday, I'll be taking communion with my favorite Argentinian - Mr. Patrick M. He is always having a good time in the booth, sweaty as he may be, he helps me to forget I haven't rested in a few days.

Monday 6.30 - Exposure @ the White Room Bar
Next Monday Exposure gets indecent all over again at the White Room Bar with Johnny Strokes, Robot Unicorn, AL B Rotten & Johnny the Boy for one of my very own CoolJunkie darlings - Barbie Bertisch's Birthday.

For Live Music Junkies - 6.28 - Otto von Schirach live @ the White Room
Poplife gets a little crunk this week for the release of Otto von Schirach's new album Oozing Bass Spasms. Fresh off of his latest tour - Otto will probably draw an interesting crowd to the white room and his performances are anything but dull.

I can't stop spinning...

In my iPod: Lykke Li - Little Bit. I'm such a sucker for these Scandinavians. Lykke Li has been half whispering her cute indie butt all over Europe for almost a year now. Produced by Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John, her new album Youth Novels has just recently been released in the US and the UK. This sweet and sexy single "Little Bit" is a great selling point for Lykke Li - it's a clutch hook up song, perfect for sweaty summer evenings with cute Swedish girls that barely understand the lyrics to the song they're singing.

For Literary Letharios: George Carlin - Napalm and Silly Putty
In the span of his lifetime, George Carlin managed 14 HBO specials and 5 books. He passed away this Sunday at the age of 71. Nothing was sacred to Carlin, he didn't just poke fun or reflect on things in a humorous way - he devoured them with his cynical and nihilistic perspective, getting you to piss your pants in the process. While Braindroppings is the typical favorite, Napalm and Silly Putty was the first Carlin book I ever experienced. A derivative of much of his stand-up material, the book opened my eyes to the wonderful world of humanity's bullshit that I had been missing out on. It was a New York Times Bestseller for 20 straight weeks when initially released and garnered him his fourth Grammy when the Audiobook came out. Pick it up to familiarize yourself with this comedic legend.

On Celluloid: Wanted
So I've a few confessions before I can in good faith recommend this film to you, my trustee reader.
1 - I have an undying loyalty and love for Angelina Jolie. She could make a film about pasteurizing cheese and I would be the first in line to see it.
2 - I am also guilty of a fixation with guns. I've decided I can never own one but any movie where there's a hot girl playing with guns - much less curving bullets around cow carcasses and driving 12 cylinder cars around...
and
3 - I'm something of a graphic novel fiend. I devour them at a rapid rate and with alarming voracity.
While the Wanted film has been steered away from it's original comic book miniseries origins, what I've gathered from the trailer is this...it's badass. Morgan Freeman plays Sloan, Common is The Gunsmith and James McAvoy is cast as a meek and nerdy Wesley Gibson. It's pretty obvious that Fox was rewritten and tailor made for Angelina Jolie - but I can't really get mad about that. Without giving away too much about the film know that you won't come out of it enlightened about life or humanity, but if you're anything like me, you'll be smiling from ear to ear, high on eye-candy visuals and ridiculous action sequences.

See you around town junkies.

peace love and music,

chipi

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