Photos/Review! Fool’s Gold Scion CD Release Party @ The White Room (miami) 10.21.08
Review by MGAP
A four hour drive to Miami is never fun, regardless of how many times you make it or how used to it you are, and you rarely have an excuse to be excited about it. Unless, that is, you hop in your car knowing that four hours is all that stands between you and a showcase of amazing Fools Gold artists ready to show off their stuff…FOR FREE. This past Tuesday marked the first of four parties dedicated to the release of the new Fools Gold Scion Remix Album, a two CD collection of the biggest Fool’s Gold tracks.
Nick Catchdubs was amazing, Treasure Fingers kicked ass, Jokers of the Scene killed, and Nacho Lovers sorta blew my mind, a lot. Each artist brought their favorites, played tracks off the new album, and shook the shit out of the White Room on an otherwise boring Tuesday. Seriously. If you live anywhere within 250 miles of either Philly or Baltimore, and you are not delivering a child, on house arrest, or hooked up to an iron lung, you have absolutely no reason no miss these events.
Now, I’d like to share with you a letter that I wrote to the city of Miami, immediately after my latest visit.
Dear Miami,
You were cooler when I was 15. You were cooler when staying out past 2 at a nightclub to watch a group of musicians kick ass was actually the thing to do. You were cooler when we used to go out to the car at 3, drunk and stumbling, to find the last few coins stuck somewhere in between the car seats with the hopes of buying another drink, if not at least add money to the meter.
Now, I know you’re mad. I left you without a lot of notice, for Orlando, but that’s not reason to act like a baby and leave a club at 2am. That’s no reason to greet artists with distracted conversations and leave them performing to empty dance halls.
Miami, you have a responsibility you may not be aware of. People think you’re cool. They look at you in your little bikinis, your pastel colors, your famous beaches, your lights and your stars, and they think you’re the shit, so they come visit. And then they get there and you don’t care. You ignore them.
What makes you think they’re gonna keep coming back?
Ug. Anyways…Kevin (kcoll), Evan (e.strange, Orlando Crush DJ), and I were one of the very few people (there was like five audience members in total) remaining at the end of the night at 4am…hell, even at 2:30am. Nacho Lovers were essentially playing for us and the rest of the Fools Gold crew. I have to give them credit for still spinning some tunes even though they could have closed up when Miami left. I think they appreciated us sticking around, because Nick is throwing up an “O” in one of the last pictures in the set. Ha! Reminds me of the time everyone was chanting “Orlando! Orlando! Orlando!” at the Flosstradamus show in Tampa!
If there are any readers out there in Philly or Baltimore, even one, go to one of the remaining two shows!
Tuesday, 10/28/08 – The Barbary – Philadelphia, PA
w/ Nacho Lovers, Treasure Fingers, Trackademicks, Sammy Bananas
Wednesday, 10/29/08 – Ottobar – Baltimore, MD
w/ Jokers Of The Scene, Trackademicks, Nick Catchdubs, Sammy Bananas
RSVP at http://www.scion.com/avrelease
Click any to peep the full gallery!
The man himself, Nick Catchdubs
Jokers of the Scene, overlooking the crowd getting down
Jokers of the Scene, B&W style (i love b&w)
Orlando’s E.Strange feeling the vibe
Nacho Lovers, mixing business with pleasure
Me, Nick, Treasure, Jokers, and a random Miami girl I don’t know, repping the O!
Review! Atmosphere @ Revolution Live (Ft. Lauderdale) 10.03.08
Atmosphere w/ Blueprint, Abstract Rude, and DJ Pure Groove
@ Revolution Live (Ft. Lauderdale) 10.03.08
It’s hard to explain what happens at an Atmosphere show. It is a hip-hop show, at its purest essence, complete with hip hop classic medleys, break dancing circles and freestyle ciphers, and cardboard boomboxes that serve as relics of the past.
It has been ten years. Ten years since the inception of the band that’s made history. There have since been new artists that have risen to glory and old groups that have fallen from grace, but Atmosphere, and a couple other crews from their time, has stuck around, and almost singlehandedly shaped the underground hip hop scene. I mean, when did anyone ever expect to see two skinny little white kids out of Minnesota make a difference in hip hop?
Opening first for the band is abstract rude, a man who, along with the Hieroglyphics crew and Pigeon John spearheaded the LA hip hop scene. With DJ Pure Groove behind him, Ab performed a great little set, hitting on both new songs, off his upcoming album, Dear Abbey. Quick and entertaining, Abstract Rude is sort of the perfect opener for this show. Oozing California cool, Ab led the audience through Sublime tributes, urged them to register to vote, and showcased a little something for everyone.
If Blueprint had failed as a rapper, he could’ve most likely created for himself a successful career in comedy. His side project with former Def Jukie Rjd2, Soul Position, earned him national recognition amongst hip hop enthusiasts. Hailing from Colombia, Ohio, his goofy toothy smile and stories make his performance almost feel as if you’re simply just participating in story telling time with just a lot of your good friends.
Throughout the opening performances, DJ Pure Groove expertly maintained the crowd. Backing each artist with both beats and vocals, Groove even kept it going while there was no one performing at all, making sure heads were always bobbing.
When you’re surrounded by what seems like at least a thousand people, the underground aspect of Atmosphere’s popularity can be argued, doubted, and disputed. With kids shouting song lyrics at the top of their lungs, there is a definitive grimy, down home feel to an Atmosphere performance, and while the Paint the Nation tour is in support of Atmosphere’s latest album, When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint that Shit Gold, the band still performed their old school hits. Accompanied by a live band, which includes Sean (Slug)’s little brother Nate on the guitar, there is a new dynamic and depth to their live performance. The band performed for over an hour, making up for the 3 years they missed since the last time they came to Florida.
I remember ten years ago, I was a little git growing up in Miami. I remember forming memories out of these songs, forming my identity. I remember three years ago, having to miss Atmosphere the first time they came. It’s needless to say that I went to their Ft. Lauderdale performance with very high expectations. It’s now safe to say that everything I wanted was given to me, and then some. In fact, the performance was so engrossing I seriously didn’t even notice a girl having a diabetic seizure right behind me (for real, I’m serious, RIGHT behind me).
Atmosphere will be performing tonight at Club Firestone, here in Orlando, and even though Slug assures the fans that it won’t be another three years before they return here again, you can never really tell. Missing them, even if you only have an inkling of an idea of who they are, is inadvisable for anyone who misses a true hip hop show.
Concert photos, performance videos, and video of my interview with A.N.T. on the trunk of my car coming soon!
But, just a small photographical taste:
Kissy Sell Out @ Club Firestone 03.27.08 – Review by MGAP
WMC Spring Training Day 4: Kissy Sell Out @ Firestone
March 27, 2008 – Orlando, FL
by Melanie Gapany
The day for Kissy Sell Out must’ve started out rather poorly. For starters, the airline lost Kissy’s luggage. Getting by with nothing but the clothes on his back and some flip-flops on his feet, an undoubtedly annoyed tall lanky man made his way to Firestone. Thankfully, Kissy had his CD’s with him, so the show could go on.
This Thursday began like any other at Firestone. Ge3on was manning the tables upon our arrival, and while this particular Dj is often overlooked, or missed by the fashionably late crowd, he still constantly churns out an incredible set, always starting the night off in high gear, and never ceasing to amaze me. Miss Fit and Justin Scott, formerly Bodywerx, kept it going, getting the floor moving with house favorites and showcasing their emerging, different styles.
Kissy took the stage in his flip-flops, poor guy, wearing sweat shorts and a wife-beater. He looked a little worn, and beaten, a side-effect of being on the road which is, unfortunately an occupational hazard for traveling Dj acts. He still killed it with his high-powered catchy songs, and fed the audience just what they wanted: a myriad of recognizable songs that we could all sing along.
Dancing comes naturally when the music is good, and people seemed lost in movement, covering the dance floor. It was a strange night though, with so much going on in Orlando, the overall turnout for the night could’ve been better, but these things are always win/lose. The people that were there made the best of the night and it was enjoyable, and entertaining.
‘Kissy kills’ was the catchphrase for the day. That Thursday, despite having no typical dj clothes and killer shoes and the pj-clad DJ definitely delivered, Bringing Orlando’s Spring training to a close.
Riot In Belgium @ Crush 03.24.08 – Review by MGAP
WMC Spring Training Day 1: Riot In Belgium @ Crush – Backbooth
March 24, 2008 – Orlando, FL
by Melanie Gapany
Miami’s annual Winter Music Conference brings the biggest and the best of electronic music to the south. But for those that don’t want to or can’t make to the drive/flight/train trip to the sweaty way south, good news! Orlando got lucky this year and is blessed to serve as a pit stop for a few of the finest making their way down. The result: The week of WMC, Orlando is a party destination like it’s never been. No mouse, no theme park, no movie studio could make for a bigger load of fun.
A regular Monday night, for most regular people, usually involves television and rest to prepare oneself for the week, de-stress from returning to work. These are the kind people that wake up extra early to clean their house and the kind that coordinates their shoes with their belts. These are the people who have big IRA’s, who don’t drink, who don’t raise their voices above a three, who don’t own dancing shoes. To spice things up, they drink a glass of wine with dinner, maybe. But Every Monday night, for the past two years, Backbooth opens its door for Crush, and anyone who wants to break the mold of regularity and party like rock stars at the beginning of the week is invited.
Crush on this very special week was no exception, and for a select hard headed, dedicated group of individuals, the perfect start to 6 days of total non stop action in two cities. Day one of spring training, the semi-official name for the aggregation of a week’s worth of amazing parties, was a kick in the balls delivered by Beni Single, one half of Australian dance music sensation Riot in Belgium.
In 2006, the duo sprung onto the scene with the release of their album “The Acid Never Lies” on Relish Recordings (formerly known as Relish Records). If you’ve gone to an indie dance night anytime in the past year, you know Riot in Belgium. You’ve heard their song “The Acid Never Lies“, or their powerhouse hit “La Musique“. You’ve no doubt also been privy to their remix work for the likes of Yelle, Surkin, Sneaky Soundsytem, K.I.M. Headman, and Chromeo.
The duo is made up of Joel Dickson & Beni Single. Individually, Joel also puts out fantastic music with Tim from Cut Copy as Comets, and Bennie is one fifth of the banging (pun intended) Sydney based DJ collective the Bang Gang Deejays. Regardless, of whether they are playing alone or not, both the boys have the experience they need to back up their talk with impressive game.
Beni’s set was amazing, he comes on all of a sudden, full throttle with a noticeable and very audible warning. “Oh my God, there’s a riot in Belgium” and the entire crowd wants to be a part of it. Beni makes his performance look easy. He is dancing, throwing his hands in the air, wooing the audience and passing out stickers while tweaking the knobs and buttons that make his characteristic funky electro noise. He even has time to put a bandana over his face to look extra cool for his photo ops. It is action from beginning to end from this man, and the slew of drunk 20 something’s and underagers (your humble reviewer included in the former group) are shaking and moving to his music, and don’t seem to care to focus on what individual songs he mixes, because the overall effect is just too strong. The entire set is electric and everyone moves with every single drop and pound of his bass heavy sound. People seem drawn to him, there are almost more people on the stage than there are on the dance floor. It almost broke out into a Riot, but they all just want to get as close as possible to the source.
All in all, The Aussie delivered from start to finish and sent us home reeling, pumped and ready for the sleep-deprived week ahead.
Justice / DJ Mehdi Orlando Club Firestone Review
JUSTICE / DJ Mehdi – MySpace Music Tour 08
Club Firestone & Saturday/Thursday – 03.06.08
by Melanie Gapany & Kevin Collier
If it weren’t for high tech cell phones and digital cameras, a typical Thursday night at Club Firestone would have most people running to check their calendars to make sure that they haven’t somehow traveled into the eighties. Surrounded by latex, sequins, and hairspray, it’s easy to get confused. Filled to capacity (around 1500-1600 people), however, this Thursday was different. The day-glo was still present and the pants were just as tight, but it was the only Florida stop on the Myspace Music Tour, and the club felt distinctively different.
On a regular basis, there are plenty of musical acts to get the crowd going (Residents Pauly Crush, Miss Fit, Justin Scott, Ge30n, and Y-Not along with international acts and DJs such as Flosstradamus, Kid Sister, Girl Talk, Tommie Sunshine, Felix Cartal, and Boys Noize just to name a few), but with a lineup that includes international sensation DJ Mehdi and electro-superstars Justice, there seemed to be a particularly intense amount of energy inside Firestone.
Two of Saturday/Thursdays residents, Justin Scott and Miss Fit (formerly Bodywerx) started the night, soon followed by Mehdi, who took the floor by surprise, quickly fueling the floor with energy, spinning tracks that are both recognizable to the usual S/T crowd and some previously unheard. With the dance
floor completely covered, there were still a few brave souls who did their best to dance where they could. While everyone appeared to be enjoying Mehdi’s selection and mixing for the evening, it was obvious; the crowd was there for Justice and were aching to turn their feet and ears to the main stage behind them…waiting for that big black curtain that hid Justice’s impressive stage display to open up.
The curtain opens; a giant cross adorns the middle of a huge sound board with stacks of giant amplifiers on both sides. The main act rightly deserved that attention. Looking at the stage, anyone could easily assume they were about to witness a great rock band blow their minds. The DJs, Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay, collectively known as Justice, walk out and immediately whip the room into frenzy. There is barely standing room, but everyone is dancing. As they play the songs that have made them popular, including “Waters of Nazareth”, “We Are Your Friends”, and Grammy nominee for electronic song of the year “D.A.N.C.E.”, you can barely hear yourself think, but the entire room is singing along. The room is electric, the people are ignited.
They finish their set and perform their encores, which included various remixes of their hits (everyone sang along to each and every one no matter how many times a remixed song was already played).
Justice (Xavier, at least) moved away from the giant stage to the turntables back on the other side of the room. Mehdi, once again enters the VIP-area-turned-DJ-booth, to tag team with Xavier until almost the end of the night with Pauly Crush hopping on to close the night out and send everyone home with memories of a pretty freaking amazing night!.
Thank you Firestone, Saturday/Thursday, Pauly Crush, Mike Feinberg, and all else involved for bringing in one of the biggest current electronic acts right now for their only FL tour stop and for putting on a perfect production and awesome show!
Art Basel in Miami Review by MGAP (Moby / Princess Superstar @ Studio A) for URB MAGAZINE
View article on URB here or just read it down below 
Posted Wednesday, December 19, 2007 @ 02:22 in Events by Melanie Gapany
- Presented by Music Loves Fashion, theCompany, Jeff Duke & Adam Frankel Productions and Going.com -
Tucked into a city block in the heart of downtown Miami, Studio A is your typical Miami nightclub, with a decently sized dance floor and an impressive display of liquor gathered around a circular, freestanding bar, modern decor, and a large stage. The bartenders are well apt in entertaining their crowd with fire blowing and bottle tricks. Unlike Miami nightclubs, there is no line to get in, its nice and cool inside, there are people dancing and the lineup for the evening is incredibly diverse.
It’s midway through the night and the entire room is a thriving mess of sweat and movement, packed with an eclectic mix of people that you can only find in port cities. Holy Ghost!(www.myspace.com/holyghostnyc) and Princess Superstar (www.princesssuperstar.com) have both finished amazing sets, and pumped the crowd full of energy. But now there is a small framed DJ wearing a large brimmed blue sunhat at the tables, casually sipping what one must assume is a screwdriver. He dances almost as intensely as the people on the floor. He is the man behind everyone’s current state of madness: the reason why no one can really stop dancing. He is Moby (www.moby.com). The same Moby that has released pop chart hits such as “South Side” and soothing lullaby melodies such as “Porcelain”, behind the decks, expertly wooing the crowd into frenzy.
Moby’s biography is a timeline of incredible achievements almost as diverse as the pop star himself and if this performance was any kind of a preview of what listeners can expect from Moby’s new release Last Night, due out in March of 2008, then listeners can expect something that is much more dance oriented than any of his previous releases. Much more indie, way less pop.
Despite the high price of drinks and lack of parking, everyone seemed incredibly pleased as the night ended with the Afrobots (www.myspace.com/afrobots) who, much like Princess Superstar, were able to effortlessly mix rhyming skills over intense beats. At the close of the night, Studio A cleared out quickly, and it was back outside for more downtown Miami traffic and heat.
For exclusive pics from the event, by Kevin Collier, check out http://www.urb.com/media/images/art_basel1
Art Basel in Miami Review by MGAP (MSTRKRFT / LA Riots @ The Pawn Shop) for URB MAGAZINE
View article on URB here or just read it down below
Posted Tuesday, December 18, 2007 @ 03:56 in Events by Melanie Gapany
- Presented by Music Loves Fashion, theCompany, Jeff Duke & Adam Frankel Productions and Going.com -
Miami is a strange and beautiful city. The people are unique, the buildings are deco, and there is a certain “je ne sais quoi” that lingers in the air at all times. Downtown, with the recent birth of its newest addition, The Center for Performing Art, is changing slowly but surely. The angles keep getting sharper, the buildings grow taller and taller, and the houses become more expensive. Still in the face of all this change, is a lone yellow building on 13th Street. The pawn shop, at first glance seems an unlikely place to be a lounge. It looks, in fact, exactly like a pawn shop…dilapidated, yellow paint, and metal roll down doors. Once inside, though, everything changes.
The night started early with local DJ, Johnny The Boy, who pumped the crowd, led by a very animated group of Chicago dancers and attentive bartenders, into a frenzy of dance and sweat on a dancefloor surrounded by odd, old items that you would expect to find in a pawn shop; an old scoreboard, bikes, an airblower, even a school bus?
Aptly named Los Angeles locals, LA Riots (www.myspace.com/lariotsofficial) then took over inside the DJ booth, which was uniquely constructed inside the cab of a flatbed semi truck that also served a dual purpose as a VIP area. The crowd immediately tripled, responding faster than teeny-boppers at a Timberlake concert. Even with the minor audio glitch, which temporarily forced LA Riots to perform with minimal bass, the DJ duo (Daniel Le Disko and JOB) had hopped into their drivers’ seats to rev the engine of that monster truck. Before they were through, everything in the room was in third gear.
And then MSTRKFT (http://www.mstrkrft.com) was there to guide us all into a sweaty utopia, a feat that was accomplished with relative ease by the pair of Canadians. DJs AL-P and JFK gave Miami exactly what is was asking for: enough bass to start a pacemaker, hip-possessing beats, sounds that would put even the sorest of feet into a dance frenzy, and the style to keep it going well into Miami’s famously warm night, where the only thing white that covers the ground in winter are the napkins on the dance floor.
Check out pics from the show, shot by Kevin Collier, exclusively at http://www.urb.com/media/images/art_basel2
- Banaboogie
- Bougie on a Budget
- Crush Orlando
- Defame: Orlando
- Local Level
- Miami Nights
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- Party Foulz
- Penned Madness
- Personasauna
- Pulp @ Czar
- Styxxx and Clones
- The Music Ninja
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- Big Stereo
- Brooklyn Vegan
- Discobelle
- Discodust
- Electrorash
- Fools Gold
- Hipster Runoff
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- IHEARTCOMIX
- Kesh (designer)
- LA Friendly
- Mad Decent
- Music Ninja
- My Other Computer is a Sunset
- Ohh! Crapp
- Palms Out Sound
- Redthreat
- Seek Sick Sound
- Seek Sick Sound (france)
- Stoney Roads
- The Music Ninja
- Trash Menagerie
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- White Folks Get Crunk
- Winnie Cooper
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