It's been many months since I've run across any music worth featuring on this site. Wallowing in the fetid waste runoff called club music, toxic side effect of commercial and industrial processes too horrific to even mention, I felt lost and alone, unsure I'd ever hear anything to get excited about again. Until this:
It's has what makes house work: minimalism, honesty, a touch of inner-city sadness, the haunting waft of emotion. Not self indulgent or embellished, just music driven by feeling.
Once upon a Wednesday night some time ago, I remember attending a random event at Vagabond. Something about Quinceanera party wherein some bright young things of Miami came together to do what we do in the 305... set off a booty bass dance party. This was my first introduction to the likes of AFROBETA. I have since become a quite a fan of their repertoire, though due to scheduling conflicts have been unable to catch their act since that faithful day.
Nearly 3 years later the little 305 duo that could are off to Europe, but before they travel off to spread the 305 Sazon all over Glastonbury and Ibiza, they're giving us un tremendo show. If the set is anything like what they did at Ultra... olvidate... it's going off.
This Friday "non-suck summer" continues courtesy of POPLIFE, Do It Entertainment & Grand Central as they present AFROBETA along with Dances With White Girls, resident DJ's MIKE DEUCE & JESSICA WHO? and in the garage DJ Laura and Stravinsky.
The bass drops Saturday at 11. Grand Central is located at 697 North Miami Avenue in Downtown Miami.
SIDEBAR re: "non-suck summer" I have always said (and will continue to say) that the summer in Miami is when the party really gets down. Season shmeason, give me a by locals-4-locals throw down anytime. I mean... HELLO... Miami getty's have always been where it's at.
In my opinion this is clearly the best WMC closing party. With an incredible lineup set this is the place to be for your final drunken cracked out binge. Lackner and I have visited the the past few Sunday Schools and they never disappoint. There is nothing like seeing a mass of zombies still able to function completely. This years sunday school is taking place at Ice Palace as our beloved Pawn Shop is no longer in existence.I wonder if this years event will be outdoors like the past. Anyhow I attached some tracks for Onur Ozer who will be spinning an exclusive set. This guy is spreading like herpes in Europe with his very unique style of minimal. If anything it's worth going for just this dude.
Sunday School tickets will be valid for the full 24 hours and include a re-entry wristband. Get the party started right: Come by early to pick up your wristband and have a Degenerate drink on the house during the early OPEN BAR (11pm-12am). The Ice Palace is located close to the nightclub district, so you can make the rounds. Or, like a true Degenerate, stay for the duration as class will be in session all night and day, with a line-up that is sure to school you.
As part of Miami Nights New Years resolutions we decided to increase our participation in the local blogosphere. Until now I lived in a self loathing bubble of booze, fast women, dirty techno and tunnel vision when it came to blogs. Lackner on the other hand lives in something all together inexplicable. No more however! Expect a bit more effort this new year to highlight our fellow bloggers brilliance when our site lacks anything near intelligence. Enough self deprecation you think?
So let's start the year with what we love dearly at MN, good fucking EDM. We were recently sent a link exchange email regarding something called The House Depot. Generally I delete these without hesitation, but the preview of the email showed it was from a Miami based gaggle of bloggers who wanted to spread the word on House music to Miami denizens. I know what your asking, "We Miamians know plenty about house muzic, nigga please!" But need I remind you there are plenty of those in Miami who still like DnB, Rave, progressive house and The Dave Matthews Band. I shit you not they still exist.
The House Depot posts near daily with link to great new track everyone should check out. We decided to reach out and ask a few questions to the site creators to get a better idea of who they were and where they wanted the blog to go. I hope you come to gain an appreciation for all the work that goes into blogging and finding great music cause the people at The House Depot are doing it daily.
The House DepotQ: Who are you and what is The House Depots mission?
A: The House Depot was founded by Brett Hammel and Sean Ballent, two Miami natives and lovers of House music. Our mission is to produce, promote,interview and feature the best names and events in House Music both locally and in the world.Q: When did you start doing this and what was your motivation?
A: The House Depot initially launched August 4, 2008. For the last 5 years we have been fine tuning our ears to the point of being able to criticize, critique, and certify the worlds best house music. Because we grew up partying at places like SET, Mokai, Suite, Mansion, Glass and Pearl plus living it up at Ultra and the WMC every year we know what drives a crowd and what doesn't. After awhile it only made sense that we put our golden ears to good use so that the world could appreciate what makes the cut in the choicest of Miami clubs.Q: What are you planning to accomplish with The House Depot, considering Miami is a mecca for EDM what is it exactly you are trying to establish?
A: We are trying not only to establish a Globally and locally recognized brand, but want our name to be synonymous with quality House Music. At the same time we want to take no-name DJ's that produce incredible stuff, and give them the recognition they deserve by putting them in the limelight. In the future, The House Depot will be more than just a place to download good tracks; it will be a label, a booking and production company and a gateway to nightlife and promotions, it will be a culture and a movement. Watch out!Q: Are you involved in the Miami club scene, specifically do you host party's or plan to in the future?
A: We live and breathe the Miami club scene. The founding fathers of The House Depot are regulars at the clubs that pump out the dopest House Music. We're in the process of finalizing WMC events that will include names such as Donald Glaude, J. Dadon from Starry Eyed Music, Afrojack, and possibly Chris Lake. We've got the night events on lock, but are still looking to find a pool on South Beach, if anyone can help us book it we will hook them up with percentage so holla at us (promotions@thehousedepot.net).Q: WMC 2009 is just around the corner, what are your plans, if any? Also do you have any hopes this year for particular artists to come to Miami?
A: We will be collaborating with aPRODUCTIONdotNET and Starryeyed Music for our events. Look for our events at Heathrow Lounge, Purdy, and Tantra Lounge. The House Depot will be at Ultra, enjoying the likes of Dirty South, Carl Cox, Steve Lawler, Donald Glaude, Chris Lake, and Eric Morillo. The one person we are dying to see come to Miami is Eddie Thoneick cause he's has incredible talent.
I don't really care much for the new name, but I always liked the venue. The venue formerly known as Circa28 returns as the Electric Pickle with a pretty interesting all day event brought to you by the fun loving people of SAFE. The daytime to evening party will have the likes of LEE CURTISS, RYAN CROSSON, SHAUN REEVES, MARCASHKEN,DROOG,MATT TOLFREY,WOLF + LAMB spinning. The event takes place from 10am - Midnight. That's right you cracked out fiends. You can party from the time you wake up till you run outta drugs. Limited early bird tickets available here. Click thumbnail for larger image.
p.s. WHAT THE FUK IS WIT THAT NAME?!?!?!?!
pps: Lil Lackner brings up a good point in the comments. This is during WMC. Specifically March 25th. Happy??!!!
After a long hiatus for the holiday breaks were back again with our weekly Wednesday music post. For those of you who are uninitiated there several things we try to accomplish with this weekly music post. For starters we want to bring you great music that you more than likely have never heard. Secondly we want to highlight either local DJs or musicians in addition to spotlighting talent that will be in town that we think you should check out. And thirdly we assume our musical likings are better than yours, no offense intended, it's just a fact in our psuedo Utopian world that is Miami Nights.
This week we bring you some minimal goodness from the DJ/Producer Tony Rohr. Tony started out as a scratch DJ inspired by Grand Master Flash, believe it or not, before being sucked into the rave scene like so many of us. The good thing however is he escaped that crap known as Rave and has been true to his love for minimal tachno by being a hard touring live DJ since 1997. He's played such notable events and clubs as I Love Techno, Nature One, Awakenings, Chris Liebing's Spinclub, Kozzmozz, FUSE in Brussels and even the closing of the famous La Real in Spain.
Tony Rohr will be at White Room this Friday January 9th, brought to you by the kids at PLOT. Doors open at 10pm, No Cover before 11pm with 2-4-1 drink specials till midnight, 18+ welcome. For more info on the event click here. For musical reference check the tracks below including a pretty amazing video of his performance somewhere in Switzerland. Them some hard beats from the video if you ask me.
Every year Art Basel opens up with a free performance on Collins Ave between 21st and 23rd St on the beach for art goers. Last year Iggy and The Stooges brought out all the old timer punk rockers and young hipsters alike for a memorable evening and the year before that Peaches put on a good show. This year Duran over at Crossfade has the inside sources telling him that Yelle will be back in town to perform for all the yuppies (myself included). Check out Crossfade for more details.
Late as usual, banging non the less. With all the depressing economic news lately I have reverted to my old hermetic ways of introverted anti-social personal reprehension. I'm not sure how my friends tolerate me really, perhaps because I still have a job and actively buy them drinks when someone manages drags me outta from under my house. But all that is for my livejournal and perhaps my support group.
I'm sure you all remember Ed Banger Records right? I can remember a few years ago when they crashed into the scene with their wonky, noisy electro that made the kids hoot 'n holler the moment one of their tracks banged on the system. It seems though lately that those days are long over, leaving us with fleeting memories of Justice glory, or infamy, should you believe in DJs who mix with MIDI controllers unplugged. Regardless this is about the Ed Banger-ite who always seemed to break from the mold. Senor Oizo recently released his latest album Lambs Anger and one track stands out as return schism from what we normally expect from Banger tracks. That one track is Gay Dentists. The name doesn't invite one to listen but once you play it you get the hint, it's pretty uber. Taking some vocal disco and chopping the fuk outta the track gives us a house dance floor banger. This isn't a complete track but you get the gist that Oizo is gold. Enjoy.
This has been one hell of a season thus far. With acts streaming through Miami as if it were March the good people of Subversive and Heathrow have landed the only east coast appearance of the golden boys from Italia, The Crookers. This is kind of a coup for Heathrow, considering this type of "blog house" or ghettotech usually finds it's way to the heart of Downtown Miami. But honestly the venue makes no difference, its all about the music right? Many of you have heard the classic Crookers remix of the Chemical Brothers Salmon Dance, and even their "mainstream" remix of Kid Cudi's "Day N Night" but we wanted to bring you some of the lesser known gems the duo produces.
Also on the decks Nov. 8 will be Orlando magnate playboy Pauly Crush (Crush & Pulp), lady killer Danny Daze (Discotech)and former Miami Nights blogger Jessica Who?. It's a veritable who's who of South Florida DJs in addition to the headlining Crookers. You can catch the Crookers at Heathrow Lounge this Saturday, Nov 8th. Tickets will cost you $15 and can be purchased here. Doors open at 10pm, 21+, I suggest you arrive early.
I'm not sure if we can classify Jason Tyler a local anymore considering he moved to Chicago about a year ago, but we never forget those good transient DJ/Producers talented enough to leave a mark on our jaded selves. Jason has surprisingly and graciously stayed in touch with us through his travels keeping us up to date and hooking it up with his new tracks he produces. About a month ago Jason sent us his latest music video Run Around to check out. This latest track takes a different path from his CD Model Tested Rockstar Approved, edging away from the hard gritty, crunchy beats but still keeping a nice deep electro sound with a lovely deep, reverberating bass line. And of course no track would be complete without Jason's trumpet skillz. The tandem bike with Dustin on the back gave me a good laugh.
Directed by the same guy who brought you the Cool Kids Black Mags video, GL Joe. This is a video about running around the streets of Chicago. Check out the animation of the Chicago "Goon" graffiti character, performance artist Jo Jo Baby, a bicycle group called the "Rat Patrol", and much more. Enjoy the video and leave some feedback.
Editors Note: A day late maybe, but not a penny short.
By now many of you know the record label Fool's Gold, along with SCION A/V, will be throwing a free party at The White Room to showcase some of their artists. The lineup for this coming Tuesday, October 21st, includes: Jokers of the Scene, Nacho Lovers, Treasure Fingers and Nick Catchdubs. The free event runs from 10pm-4am, 18+ welcome and bring dancing shoes. Some of you may recall the free Fool's Gold event at White Room during WMC. In as few words as possible, that shit was off the heezy. This is basically a do-over for all those who missed out in March, so make sure your calendar is free Oct 21st and pencil this shit in. You must RSVP to get in (as with all Scion events). Hope to see you there, Lackner and I will be in full drunken and badgering glory as we curdle the evening with our MN antics.
Friday Nights Yelle event at the Polish American Club (PAC) was a success by any standards. A packed house, overly excited crowd and booze tend to have that affect. This was my first visit to the PAC which, as a venue, didn't impress me much at all. It's like a dilapidated Hialeah banquet hall (lol "Where magic Freezes in Time") but with white people dancing to French Electro pop rather than butchered quinceanera father/daughter dances. But honestly who cares about the venue when the energy in the room is palpable, the music is fantastic and even the lights and sound are pretty damn good. You can get a more vivid and feminine review of the event from Duran over at Crossfade. Picture gallery available at thepopnessparty.
LoyalReader yellowpez posted a video of the event in the comments for song Les Femmes. Enjoy:
I'm not certain if we spoke about this show but in the case we didn't here is your reminder. Yelle, "The French Sensation", will be performing live this Friday at the Polish American Club. Brought to you by non other than the Poplife crew. On the heels of her first US tour Yelle will be giving South Florida a little of that French Electro pop goodness this Friday. I'm pretty excited, I don't speak a lick of French or know their customs very well but the French women turn me into putty (especially the ones who dress in crazy bright colored outfits). I can't explain it, it just happens. So expect me in the front row, a boneless mass of skin and guts being trampled on with no remorse by all the indie kids who will be in attendance.
Oh also, if you don't have your neon/lycra/plastic outfit from the cleaners back then you can do what Duran is doing and make yourself a silly dog mask. Even if you don't know French or who Yelle is watch the videos below and enjoy the unique style and music and think about checking it out, I highly recommend it. Advanced tickets are $15 and can be purchased at epoplife.com. The Polish American club is located at 1250 NW 22nd Ave Miami, FL 33125. The show starts at 8pm with guests Funeral Party and KAP10KURT. See you there.
Editors Note: It's Thursday, I know. Bite me. But since Lackner only pays me in peanuts and gin I gotta do my thing in the real world and that's why this is your delayed WAO.
Tomorrow night we have a special event for you at Fracture @ The White Room. We tend to liken our party to a hodgepodge of people, music and energy. In one room you will be sweating to the open format of your Fracture resident DJs and in another you will be dancing to the smooth minimal techno and house that the PLOT cohorts spin.
This Friday, Oct 2nd, we are happy to welcome from Argentina two very talented DJs on their first US tour, Gurtz and Dilo. Here is some bio material and also some tracks to warm you up for tomorrow night. Hope to see you there. You can RSVP for reduced admission all night by emailing rsvp@theevanhood.com. The White room is located on 1306 N. Miami Ave and the night is 18+.
Dilo::[Igloo / Einmaleins / Esperanza | B.A. ARG]
http://www.myspace.com/dilo8
http://www.myspace.com/elephantpixel
Living high among a forest of skyscrapers in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Franco Di Lorenzo (a.k.a. Dilo and Elephant Pixel) works diligently in his home studio. His musical tastes and influences include IDM, abstract hip-hop, indie rock, folk, minimal techno, click and electro -- all of which are represented throughout his various music productions. Nowadays he spends his time between Buenos Aires and Berlin; working on his projects and playing live/dj sets.
Gurtz, from Buenos Aires, Argentina has been releasing his music on labels like Einmaleins, Igloo, Telegraph, Alphahouse, Adjunct, and more. His live and dj sets have been heard in Argentina, Spain, France, Germany, Belarus, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Denmark and Italy. During the last years he remixed or was remixed by names like Ryan Crosson, Seph, Dapayk, Mark Henning, Dandy Jack, From Karaoke To Stardom, Franco Cinelli, Seuil, Dilo, Funzion, Easy Changes, Agaric and more His current direction is combining sounds and textures of experimental music with the groove and energy of fat minimal tecno to shake the dance floor.
PL0T presnts Dilo vs Gurtz, Fase Music Sender, and Basti Oct 3rd at FRACTURE @ The White Room.
Minimal Goodness, or as I like to call it minigoo. Seriously, I go around calling it that and that's what I'm gonna tell Lee Curtiss when I see him this Friday night @ Fracture at The White Room. The good lads over at PLOT bring us this booking along with their sexy crowd. I've never heard Lee spin live so I'm intrigued and excited about this Friday. Here's a little biopic for your enlightenment and some of Lee's productions for musical reference:
Growing up between the two poles of Chicago and Detroit organized Lee's approach to production squarely between the grooving, deep house sounds of artists like Derrick Carter, and the mindfreaking work of techno producers such as Ricardo Villalobos, Zip (aka Dimbiman), Matthew Dear and Richie Hawtin.......
Curtiss was recently named by Matthew Dear as one of they key figures of emerging talent in URB magazine's next 100, but Lee would rather you quit reading this bio and either book him, buy his record, or come see him melt you and your friends faces at a club near you.
Marc Romboy, ever the underachiever. Everywhere I read is the same statement, not quite a breakthrough but pretty good nonetheless. For this weeks WAO we bring you the single Karambolage off his release Contrast. While the album itself was deemed a disappointment I personally like the below track in addition to Sonora. Romboy is the creator of Systematic records in Berlin, Germany. For good measure I also included the darker and seemingly more effective Oxia remix. ENJOY!
Editor's note: yes, I know it is no longer Wednesday, but fucking Comcast has an outage in my entire building and they are a bunch of cocks and I've been without internet for 20 hours -- shuddering from withdrawals and picking at invisible bugs -- so I'm posting this late in addition to everything else I'm doing late. AND IT'S 9/11!
Those of you that have the misfortune of having to speak to me on a daily basis know of my newest obsession: Foamo. This 21 year old fresh faced producer from the UK churns out tracks that are full of both booming electro blasts and refreshingly retro chopped up vocals. I think he has a lot of future as a crossover act, able to pull in the interest of a general audience, as opposed to someone like Russian electro tyrant Proxy who is the equivalent of Slayer in the world of dance music (Raven gives me seizures).
Here is one of my favorite remixes of his: Primary 1 - Hold Me Down (Foamo Remix). It's a jaunty vocal number with a shuddering, bubbling bass line that drops in at about a minute in.
Interested in hearing more? Check out his summer mixtape here, courtesy of Pelski.
If you missed out on last Friday's Fracture and PLOT collaboration then you will not want to miss it this week. Every first and last Friday of the Month the PLOT crew will be joining us to bring you a veritable mix of music from every genre through seperate rooms the way clubs should be. This week we bring you Lusine from Seattle, Washington. Lusine is the brainchild of Jeff McIlwain who spins a melodic, abstract style and ambient/experimental techno that harks back to the era of classic early-'90s British techno. Having released more albums and EP's than I could possible list or remember we bring you a few tracks below to get you in the mood for Fracture and PLOT this Friday at White Room.
This Friday, traveling techno party Plot (picture illegal warehouse parties) comes to Fracture at White Room and they bring with them a special guest: minimal techno maestro Reverse Commuter (otherwise known as Kenneth James Gibson) from Los Angeles. If you haven't heard of him, you can check out a mix of his here (right click and Save As to download), but I can summarize it for you: deep, throbbing, and sick.
We're giving away a pair of tickets for the show. Even if you don't win, you get reduced $10 admission just for entering the contest. Even losers are winners at Miami Nights. Except me, I'm still a loser. Click here to enter the contest.
And for the hundreds of Fracture regulars, fear not: your favorite DJs will be banging away in the red room as usual. You know when two dogs have sex and get stuck together? It's like that but with turntables.
