So Many Parties, Such Little Time

Fall is finally here!  'Tis the season of hoodies, hot chocolate, and… wait, house music? Yes, house music. Tons and tons of sweet, sexy underground sound is coming to a club or warehouse near you sooner than you think. Although the weather is growing colder, the event roster is teeming with hot new events. Here's a quick list of the parties that I will not be missing (and that you should definitely check out) this fall.  

Stacey Pullen & Tony Rohr at Coliseum Nightclub, White Plains, NY

Okay, so Westchester may not be known as your typical go-to party destination. Although this is true, Fridays at Coliseum always deliver. The venue is generously sized, the crowd is always good , and the talent is even better. This Friday, Detroit legend-in-the-making Stacey Pullen will headlining the event.  This will be Pullen's first time in Westchester, so it's sure be a treat.  Also, vinyl purists can rejoice--this guy always kicks it old school.   As if Stacey wasn't enough, the Drumcode label's most talented newcomer Tony Rohr will be in the building as well. Along with all this talent under one roof, you get to beat steep New York City prices.. entry will be $20 and the party goes until about 4 AM.  Not bad, not bad at all. 
  

                              Pullen pulling no punches at the Detroit Music Festival last May!

October 3, Dance Here Now presents Joseph Capriati at Cielo (Meatpacking District) New York, NY 

I think I've died and gone to heaven. Joseph Capriati, one of the Drumcode label's newest up and comers, is by far one of my favorites in the game.  I must admit, I'm biased… it doesn't hurt that he hails from the same area of Italy (Naples) as my mother is from, but that's not the only reason why I love 'em! Capriati is super passionate about his craft… watch any interview he's done and you will know. This guy doesn't play his music for recognition or to show off, he does it because he eats, lives, and breathes the stuff. His dedication and love for music really shows when he plays a set. I saw him last May in a grungy basement club in New Haven, CT (don't ask.) Now, this place wasn't the hippest, most trendy of places, and I've seen many a well-known DJ end a set early or not live up to expectations at the club in question. Not Joseph Capriati. Once he got on, everyone around me went nuts. Since he is a techno DJ, some house music aficionados (like myself, admittedly) who were initially might have been concerned about the techno sound as not being soulful, having no rhythm, and being excessively monotone were proved wrong.  His set could be likened to a musical journey.  Capriati's style of techno was not at all overbearing, hard, and fast, but rather could be described as deep, funky techno style (which definitely had house, hip hop and electronica influences) to keep things interesting. Although it wasn't the best venue the guy's played at (it wasn't a "Music On" party in Ibiza, that's for sure,) Capriati put his heart and soul into the set. It was amazing. 
On October 3rd, Capriati will be at Cielo, one of the top rated night clubs in the city. Combine an incredible venue with Capriati's amazing passion and talent, and you've got yourself a real party. 

                            Capriati ripping Sullivan's Room, NYC a new one last May

October 31, UNION Halloween: Carlo Lio, The Junkies, Nathan Barato at Studio Square, Queens, NY

This is something I'd like to call "Torontopia." Some of the Toronto Scene's top talent will be making it to Queens this Halloween and it's sure to be a night to remember. First up, we have Carlo Lio. From humble beginnings in Canada's house music seen, to gracing the spacious dance floor of New York City's Marquee Nightclub, Carlo Lio has quickly become a crowd favorite among New York Underground listeners within the past few years (and for good reason.) Lio's style incorporates an eclectic mix of funky, groovy, and deep tech house that effort. He has New York Club-Goers constantly coming back for more.  Next, we have The Junkies. Also hailing from Toronto, Canada, this duo has recently become more and more recognizable and popular throughout the dance music scene here in New York City and throughout the world. The group has a real talent for command a crowd by pumping out everything from tech house, something deeper, to heart-pumping techno.  I'll be honest, I've never really followed Nathan Barato until recently. However, I'm so glad that I did.  His sound is quite versatile and not restricted to the norms of generic tech house and monotone techno. He is all about everything four to the floor.  He's an old school soul with a new school flare.  Also, the guy usually answers when you comment on his Facebook posts. Put all four of these guys in the booth together, and you'll be going no the musical joyride of your life all Halloween night long. 

Yes, we'll miss Governor's Island's outdoor parties, Neptunes Beach Club will be closed until next Memorial Day, and there will be no more late nights of dancing on roof tops overlooking the city skyline. Now, it's time for the underground sound to return back to its roots and how it's meant to be enjoyed. Humble warehouses and clubs where you don't have to "dress to impress" and you can come as you are simply for the music. Maybe it's just me, but I know I much rather rock my flashy Jeffrey Campbell kicks or even the sneakers I wear to the gym (that's if I'm feeling REALLY lazy) than squeeze myself into a tight Bebe dress and slip into my dreaded black leather pumps so I can meet a roof top venue's dress code requirement.  It's fall, and it's time to let your hair down, stay a while, and enjoy what the season has to offer.

Tech House Takeover

If you haven’t already heard, Neopolitan music maestro Marco Carola will be heating up the dance floor at Marquee Nightclub. TECH YES!! The NYC Underground has been buzzing all day about Marco’s new residency that will begin October 25th.  

Only a a single question remains: Who else is Marco going to bring along for these new musical journeys we are about to embark on?  We can only wait in fierce anticipation...

Nothing to "Rave" About

Time to address a topic that everyone and their mother have been dancing around for weeks.  I'm talking about drugs, more specifically "Molly."  It seems like it's been the topic of many conversations from the internet to your office at work because of the events that occurred at Electric Zoo Festival a little less than a month ago.

So, just in case you've been hiding under a rock for the past month, let me quickly break down the situation for you.  Two people, both aged 20 and 23,  died at the popular New York festival due to a supposed overdose on "Molly," (might I add that I say supposed with great emphasis.)  Molly is a pure powder form of "MDMA,"which is commonly known to all of us as ecstasy.  In the 80s up to the early 2000s, ecstasy was commonly found in pill form, and it was recognized as a risk to users. These pills were pressed and it was hard to tell if they were laced with other unknown substances.  Fast forward to today.  Pressed pills are hardly being made anymore and now have been replaced with "Molly." Molly is usually found inside a capsule.  Taking Molly allows users to feel a little more at ease than they did in the past with ecstasy pills simply because of the fact that users can see the white powder moving around in the capsule.  People believe that the white powder they see equals to pure MDMA.

                                             

But let's think about that for a moment. Are drug dealers really that trustworthy? That question is an oxymoron in itself. Hey, I'm not one to judge, but if we're being honest here, the aim of drug dealing is to make quick, easy money. If you honestly think a drug dealer is going to sell you a 100% pure MDMA, if you seriously think that a dealer won't lie to you about the quality of the substance that he or she is slipping into your hand for a cool $20 a pop, I hate to burst your bubble, but you are living in a fantasy world.

Here's a little-known fact that had appeared in the New York Post a few weeks ago.  This aspect of the Electric Zoo deaths wasn't plastered across the internet and newspaper headlines as much as "Molly" was but it's something that everyone should take note of.  Of the 23 year old young man who passed away after Electric Zoo, "Law-enforcement sources said he also had crystal meth in his pocket when he died." Yes, the kid could have been also doing crystal meth… but also it is very probable that the substance that was found is his pocket was fake "Molly," probably what he had taken before he died. So does "white powder" determine the "safety" of the ecstasy you're putting into your mouth? Wouldn't say so.

It's important to note that in the drug trade, there's no quality control.  I've heard it all. Blame the War on Drugs for being unfair, cry that MDMA "should be legalized because the drug proven to be helpful in couples therapy and for post-trauamatic stress," but that won't save you.  MDMA is a Schedule 1 Drug, meaning it's ILLEGAL. When you take it, you take it at your own risk. It's not like you've taken a bad batch of aspirin. You're on your own here if you want to mess around with the stuff.  The substance that you're holding in your hand could be powdered poison for all you know. So, case in point, if you take the drug based on someone else's word, you are threatening your own life.  I might sound blunt, but it's the honest truth.


Let me end with this. I hate to be preachy, I really do. Some of you may be asking why I even care. I hear very often "if you really love the music, you don't need drugs to enjoy it." I totally agree.  However, no one, and I mean NO ONE can deny that House Music (Underground or Mainstream,) just like every other musical genre in history (pick one, any one) has a drug culture aspect to it.  People are going to do drugs no matter what. That fact has been proven time and time again. People who try to be unrealistic about it just push the issue under the rug, which is a problem in itself. If you don't want to do drugs, I think that's awesome and I wish others will follow suit. The fact is some won't. However, turning a blind eye and having a strict, firm attitude about them isn't going to help others from harming themselves. It's going to be detrimental, just as we have seen with the two tragic deaths at Electric Zoo. Some of you who perhaps use or have used drugs may be rolling your eyes at me.  You may think too you're "smart" or "experienced." Perhaps you've heard this speech before. I get it, you're invincible! But just hear me out. I'm not one to judge, and no one else is either. However, if you're going to put yourself at risk--at least be careful. Know the risks. Buy a test kit.  Think twice, or it may be your last time thinking at all. Don't let the two deaths be in vein. Sober or not, keep yourselves safe.

In the Beginning...

When I talk about "House Music," I'm not referring to Swedish House Mafia, David Guetta, or anything electro-esque that you'll find on a Top 40 radio station's playlist. I'm talking about the Underground. 

The Underground House scene has been around since the beginning of the 1980s.  Contrary to popular belief, House Music was NOT originally a European export--it was created right here in the good old USA (Chicago to be exact.)  Some of the features of the original, Chicago House music sound were 4/4 time, drum percussion with low frequency, and heavy bass lines.  This new style of music was soulful, it was danceable, and listeners couldn't get enough.  The name for the new genre, "House," actually came from the venue where it was played--The Warehouse. 

                                "And from this groove came the groove of all grooves."  "Can You Feel It" (1986) 
                                           is one of the most iconic tracks from the 80's Chicago house music scene.

Underground House Music continued to grow in popularity throughout the 80s and 90s. From the Warehouse and Clubs of the Chicago where the music was first born, the new genre had reached New York City, and ultimately streched even farther to places in Europe like London and Ibiza.  House exploded, and could be heard throughout the world by the early 90's.  In New York City's Underground Club Scene in particular, the music had become a full-fledged powerhouse.  House could be heard booming throughout NYC Underground venues such as Limelight, Tunnel, and Sound Factory throughout the 90s and early 2000s.  Unfortunately, the momentum and growth of Underground House Movement in The Big Apple slowed in the late 90s and the beginning of the 2000s after the city of New York had begun to crack down on it's nightlife. "This initiative introduced rigorous inspections for fire safety and sanitation, created pressure to root out drug use in nightclubs, boosted the cost of various entertainment-related permits and licenses, and most famously revived a cabaret law from 1926 that banned three or more patrons from dancing without a specific permit."

                              Underground Dance Music boomed throughout New York City Nightlife in the 90's... 
                                         check out this video from NYC's Limelight Nightclub, circa 1991. 

Now, let's fast foward to 2013. Despite the immense popularity of the "EDM" craze that has recently swept the nation within the past year or two, Underground House music is still very much alive, and is currently rebuilding itself again, slowly but steadily. You just need to know where to look (if you're seeking to get down to some the latest sounds of the House Music Underground at Paris Hilton's latest gig, you're doing it wrong.)  

The main purpose of this blog is to turn away from normally commerciality that comes with mainstream "EDM," to something more grassroots. We are not trying to disrespect that which is mainstream, but the truth is that our loyalties lie elsewhere. Our aim here is simple: to embrace the Underground House Music Culture, a scene has a rich, vibrant history and culture.  How are we going to do this? First of all, we're going to provide you with quality music... lots of it.  We're also going dish out information on the latest events/ parties in NYC that you should be checking out and why you should be checking them out.  We're going to comment on current events (and no topic is too sacred.)  Wether you already know the deal, or you're totally new to the scene, things are about to get interesting, weird, and even a little controversial.