This week....Get Ready

We begin to prepare ourselves for the upcoming week. Since i know that most of you don't know the first thing about time management, I decided to give you an early heads up of this week's amazing events.

First of all, here is your list of things to remember:

• Many people love to conserve gas, so call out of work a few days this week so you can get yourself around to all the cool shit going on.
• get plenty of sleep, take naps frequently throughout the day, sneak a snore in your office bathroom, learn to sleep with your eyes open
• start a multi-vitamin regimen. Believe me, you'll need it.

This week, ladies and gentlemen, get ready.

Tonight, Monday November 3:

Pauly Crush has a big heart, really he does. He acts all tough and cool and whatnot, but hes really just a nice guy. And he's proving it tonight, cuz All profits go to the Orlando's Creative School for Children. This is a great time for you to get sloshed for a good cause, so prepare yourself for an other wise frugal and take a few extra dollars with you for the benefit of some kids, yeah?

Get in FREE before 11 by signing up on the CRUSH Guest List before 8pm every Monday. Free Beer and cheap shot specials all night!

Wednesday, November 5thTotally Michael and MC Chris tear it up at The Social, along with Whole Wheat Bread. Doors at 8:00PM, $12.00, All Ages. If youre like me and can't really stand MC Chris, shut up, buy some earplugs and drink heavily. Totally Michael is totally Worth it.

Tickets available at the Social Box Office, the door, and Ticketmaster locations.

I should have an interview with him, so check back for more info on that. Attend the show, rock out, go home and get some sleep (Thursday would be one of those opportune days to call out of work - tell them the you're having manic depressive episodes and you think its because of the election, then sleep all day.


Thursday, November 6th

Remember being 15 and thinking you were the coolest shit in the world cuz you knew the words to peaches? yeah, relive your golden adolescence tonight at the House of Blues with the freaking Presidents of the United States of America and appropriately celebrate the conclusion of the most fucked up election ever (regardless of who wins)

tickets will run you $18.50 - $53.00 and doors are at 7:00pm. All Ages welcome, check the website for info on where to buy tickets.

Friday, November 7th
Now, all that sleeping and not driving yourself to work pays off. Because Friday, you should drive your happy ass over to my hometown to hang out with the I Heart Comix crew at the Vagabond. Franki will once again roll through town with Toxie and Clayton in tow pretty much guaranteeing a night of debauchery for the rest of us.

Remember last time they were around? You do, vaguely. Maybe you shouldn't get so trashed at parties. Or maybe you should since it makes for entertainment for the rest of us.

See past Franki and Toxie galleries Here, Here and Here.

Saturday, November 8th

I strongly advise you sleep till at least 3 or 4 pm, eat a good nutritious meal (La Caretta and Taco bell are NOT considered nutritious) like around 5:50 and then get ready to head to Heathrow at 10 for MotherFucking Crookers.

Hosted by Bronques (yeah, that last night's party dude) and featuring our very own Pauly Crush, its bound to be a freaking fiasco, since a good chunk of O-town seems to be making the trip. Look for a write-up from Smile Contributor Vegas coming soon!

As always, KColl and I will be out and about, and for updates, interviews and whatever the hell else i feel like posting, you can always go check Smile For Camera! And come back later for updates on more Orlando Events from Becky, who I'm sure will give you passwords and info on all the fun nights for you local minded individuals.

So for now, let us share a moment of silent reflection, while we prepare ourselves for a fun fun intensive week!

The King's Bday + Organic Oil Wrestling + Pumpkin Beer + Designer Drugs

Today is a very important day in the world of pop culture because the king himself has turned 50. Although I prefer to remember him in his pre-surgery heyday of late 20's to early 30's, the day should still be given its due credit. In celebration of his birthday, and another regular club patron (also conveniently named Mike), the password for Get Mental this evening is Hey, Mikey! He Likes It. I'm hoping last week's effects of Fay haven't turned Sky60 into a swimming pool but I guess we’ll have to see.

Michael Jackson - Rock With You (Daft Punk White Label Mix).mp3



Saturday night is the best hybrid of sexual exploitation and the ever-popular "going green" trend I have ever witnessed: hot chicks wrestling in organic oil. Ummm... yeah. At least it's for a good cause. The event starts at 9PM at the Orlando Brewing Company and is hosted by the ladies of The Girls Gone Green Radio Show. Guys, there's a price to pay for hot chick organic oil wrestling, of course: you'll have to fork over $10 in advance or $15 day of. Ladies wanting to support Mother Earth can also register to wrestle by emailing your info and photo (duh, no fatties!) to info@thegirlsgonegreen.com.



On Sunday, kiss the summer goodbye and say hello to autumn with your first taste of Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale. Although the weather will still be a million degrees and the leaves won't change, Crooked Bayou is hosting a Pumpkinhead Release Party at 9PM. Local bands Bughead, Mumpsy and
The Little Debbies will be on hand, along with DJ Tard, and every Pumpkinhead you buy will enter you for prize giveaways. The five bucks you pay at the door will also get you one free beer -- pretty much an even trade, if you ask me. $3 drafts and PumpkinBomb specials all night. Mmmmmmmmmm.... PumpkinBombs.... mmmmmmm.....



Finish up your weekend proper by getting wasted Monday night at Crush, where special guests will be the heavily-hyped electro outfit, Designer Drugs. Sign up early for the guestlist because I wouldn't doubt they'll be hitting capacity. Shit will be especially bananas, Labor Day-style, so you'll probably want to blow off work on Tuesday.

Flou - Les Gens Pour Ce Qu'ils Sont (Designer Drugs Remix).mp3



Have an awesome day of Labor!!!

Crush Celebrates 4 Years of Partying.

(click for full size flyer)

Every Monday night, there is a group of die-hard, ready-for-the-party kind of kids that gather at backbooth for One of Orlando's longest running weeklies, CRUSH. Its surprising that in a town occupied primarily by transients and tourists, a party like crush would've managed to survive. But perhaps the best summation of its success comes from the man behind it all, Pauly Crush:

CRUSH is special. It's a Monday night in a city whose nightlife is as fickle as its weather. How has it lasted? Why are we still here? It's because of you. It's because the people that come to CRUSH love what we do and they guide us towards becoming better DJs, more informed musicians, and unintrusive marketers. It's because our friends and fans work as hard as we do to make sure every night goes off. It's because our party is not a business. It's a party.

Now, "1,040 Hours of Partying, 2,088 Tracks First Heard at Crush, and 208 Free Kegs Later,
(but still the same F*ckin President)" Crush celebrates its 4th anniversary, which is one hell of a feat.

So come out and celebrate with Pauly, Miss Fit, Justin Scott and E.Strange and all the regulars, the occasional visitors and the new faces, as they welcome the fifth year of the party's existence. Join us in pretending that It's Friday, drinking way too much for a Monday, and waking up on Tuesday feeling like hell. I'll be there, and here's a visual clue to help you find me:Doors open at 10pm but get on the Guest List and get in Free before 11. 18+ welcome. $3 After Midnight. Photos by Kcoll and Kapoow

Heavy Metal in Baghdad + Mr. Gasper

BackBooth seems to be the hub of all things awesome in town this evening. At 8 PM there will be a free screening of the new documentary by Vice Films and VBS.tv that's so metal it hurts. Heavy Metal in Baghdad shows the struggle of Iraqi band, Acrassicauda, as they battle for freedom in post-Saddam chaos. They will also be selling DVDs of the film with proceeds donated to the band. \m/



After the movie, stay to check out LA-based DJ, Mr. Gaspar. Here is some background via a Myspace bulletin:

Mr. Gaspar is a funny little fellow with about a gazzilian wicked good remixes out of a funny town called Las Angeles. He's been featured on a dozen or so sites and here are a few of them below. My favorite remixes by him are:

Pictures (Mr. Gaspar Remix) - Sneaky Soundsystem
American Boy (Mr. Gaspar Remix) - Estelle
Love Fool (Mr. Gaspar Remix) - The Cardigans

All of which and more are available from these fine resources:
http://www.thefastlife.org/2008/04/02/gaspar
http://www.amfmpm.org/2008/02/how-insanely-hot-are-those-new-m.html
http://thelemurblog.blogspot.com/2008/01/mr-gaspar.html
http://hotbiscuits.wordpress.com/2008/02/18/mr-gaspar/



If you happen to miss the movie, you can still get in free before 11 by signing up for the Crush guestlist.

DJ Rut + Torque's 9th Bday + Kid Charlemagne

The Crush kids have a very special guest joining them tonight at BackBooth: DJ Rut. Although he's barley old enough to drink, he has co-founded Club City Records and his tracks have already been promoted on notable blogs like Discobelle and Iheartcomix. I saw him DJ at the Windish Agency party at the WMC this past year and he is definitely one to watch.

Check out a few of his remixes below and visit his Myspace page to hear his WMC promo DJ mix.

DJ Rut - U See Me Again Remix.mp3

Sara Bareilles - Love To Be Bmored (DJ Rut Remix).mp3


This party is free when you get on the Crush guestlist.



Also tonight at Crooked Bayou is the 9th year anniversary of Torque, Orlando's longest running drum 'n bass night. Any night that has made it this long in Orlando deserves mad props and support. Click the flyer for more details.



And, finally, if you're in the mood for a road trip, the ultimately awesome "driving in the car with dad" band, Steely Dan, is playing at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. Tickets are a bit expensive but totally worth it.



Happy Monday!

Lol'n through Monday

I would like to start off with a huge, tremendous, COLOSSAL, MASSIVE, HUMONGOUS (look, I can use a thesaurus!!!) THANK YOU to everyone who came out to Sky60 on Saturday night!!!!!!!!!!! Muchas, muchas gracias!!!!!!

If you missed seeing Nate Day this past weekend, I have good news and bad news. First, the bad: holy bejesus, did you miss an awesome party. If there had been a roof on the club, he would have torn it off.

Now for the good news: you have one more chance to catch him before he rides off into the LA sunset. He'll be playing again tonight at Crush, along with residents Pauly Crush, Justin Scott, Miss Fit, Ge30n, and Koolbreeze.

Even more good news: you can get in for free before 11 by signing up for the Crush guest list.

America's Favorite Mexican Holiday!!!

My liver needs a break... it really does. Unfortunately, it's going to have to hang in there a little longer because America's Favorite Mexican Holiday is upon us.



I would suggest starting off your evening at Crooked Bayou for their annual Cinco de Bayou fiesta. I'll be DJing from 6 - 10 PM and the Casa Noble tequila ladies will be pouring samples. Sorry liver.



Drum 'n bass kids should stick around for Torque, Orlando's longest running DNB night, with DJs Dyer and LT Smash.



Over at Crush, the electro kids will be losing their minds for D.I.M. Get in free before 11 by signing up on the Crush Guestlist.



Here is D.I.M. showing his skills with The Presets and (half of the Presets) K.I.M:

The Presets - My People (D.I.M. remix).mp3
Kim - Fistogram (D.I.M. remix).mp3



And, finally, if you feel like taking a road trip to Tampa, you can catch hip-hop mega-stars Kanye West, N.E.R.D., Rhianna and Lupe Fiasco at the Ford Amphitheater. I used to be a huge Kanye hater, but eventually I realized how dope he is. His ego is ginourmous, but at least he can back up all the shit he talks. Should be a sick show.

Here are two of my favorite Kanye songs, even though one is being totally played out at the moment.

Kanye West - Through The Wire.mp3
Kanye West - Flashing Lights.mp3

Tonight: Tapes 'N Tapes

It's my understanding that all the cool indie kids will be at the Tapes 'N Tapes show over at The Social this evening.



This photo is very serious.

The band has free MP3s available for your downloading pleasure on their website.

Afterwards (as with every Monday) Crush will be out of control at BackBooth. Get in free before 11 by signing up for the guestlist.

Earth, Wind and Fire Still Rules + Glitter and Gold Launch Party

Whatever joke I was trying to make about Earth, Wind and Fire in my previous post (i.e. they're past their prime, will only play the hits, not quite the show it used to be, etc.) was completely, utterly, totally and absolutely WRONG!!! Thank goodness. They may have bad hair but MY GOD, they are entitled to rock whatever hairstyle they want while we humbly bow at their feet.



The three original members of EWF are still on point: Philip Bailey's voice is ridiculously amazing, Verdine White can thump a bass like nobody's business and Ralph Johnson is a mean percussionist. The musicians they found to fill in the gaps also didn't disappoint and the show included a few jam sessions where they proved they could funk out just as well as the originals. In addition to the hits, they touched on a good portion of their catalog that I wasn't expecting to hear: among the songs were Serpentine Fire, Brazilian Rhyme, Kalimba Story, Mighty, Mighty and On Your Face.

It was definitely worth the overpriced admission fee and fighting the crowds to see them.



Tonight head down to BackBooth where the fabulous ladies of Glitter and Gold, a super dope music blog, will be hosting their launch party. Tunes will be provided by Pauly Crush, Miss Fit, Justin Scott, Ge30n and Koolbreeze. Get in free before 11 by signing up for the Crush guest list.

Wet BBQ + Art Opening + Lismore again

The BBQ at Etoile yesterday was amazing! The tarps shielded us from the pouring rain (sort of) and it was one of the most fun dance parties ever, thanks to Kittybat, Diddles and MOT. I love when DJs go all over the board and these guys tore it apart -- hip hop, disco, funk, soul, 80's, 90's, indie, mashups... unreal. Huge thanks to Katie Reynolds for throwing such a great customer appreciation party. We <3 Etoile!


And now on to tonight's festivities. The Peacock Room is hosting the artists' reception for the group show Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World from 8 - 11 PM. The show features works from Terribly Odd, Horsebites, Cathey Miller, Adriaan Mol, Mania, Robt, and Moore. Music will be provided by DJs Nigel and Cub.


After getting your drink on at Peacock, head over to Crush at BackBooth to get your second fix of Lismore. See them for free by getting on the Crush guest list. Mondays are usually insanely packed at BB, so get there early. Or, if you get there late, you can always chuckle at the paradox of the hipster entrance line at BackBooth vs. the homey entrance line waiting to get into the club next door.

Tonight: Lismore, Purple Haze, Robitussin

Oh, Miami, why do you always leave me in such bad shape? I was fine for a few days... then this monster cold gripped onto my chest and won't let go. Unfortunately (for me), tonight I will be downing bottles of Robitussin (not in the good way) while Lismore performs live at The Peacock Room alongside Orlando's own Q-Burns Abstract Message.

If I am lucky, this villainous cough will take a friggin hike ALREADY and I can catch them this Monday at Crush. Le sigh.


Also happening this evening at ex-Blue Room turned Voyage is Purple Haze, a mysterious event claiming "YOU are the star." As instructed, I checked the Myspace page for more info (there wasn't any). What I do know about the event is that Miss Fit, one of Orlando dopest girl DJs, will be playing and that's reason enough to go. She's also behind an awesome blog, Glitter and Gold, which was kind enough to drop the new Mstrkrft track a few days ago. Muchas gracias!

Oh My God, there's a Riot in Belgium!

This is a good week to be an Orlando-ian. Thanks to our close proximity to Miami, we get a sweet deal every March when world renowned DJs make a pit stop here on their way to the WMC -- a mini music conference, if you will. Tonight kicks off the stellar week with Riot in Belgium tearing up BackBooth. It's the Aussies' first time playing here and should be the perfect start to a week jam-packed with awesomeness. Digitalism, Guns 'N Bombs, Kissy Sell Out and Pase Rock will also be in effect. By this time next week, I'll be lucky if I am still alive.

Here, have some music:

Riot in Belgium - La Musique

Chromeo - Bonafied Loving (Riot in Belgium Remix)

Yelle - A Cause Des Garcons (Riot in Belgium Remix)

Franz and Shape - The Man Who Paid Before (Riot In Belgium's Bedroom Remix)

Case of the Mondays

It looks like the Dead Cruiser will not be performing in Orlando tonight. Boooo!!!

From the Myspace bulletin:

In case you haven't heard the news, Kavinsky is stuck on the US/Mexico border and has missed his connecting flight to Orlando. We are working on rescheduling the performance ... Ticketholders can request a full refund online at www.ticketweb.com or choose to hold on to them for the rescheduled performance.

Judging by the rest of his tour dates, unless they reschedule him in November, he ain't coming back.

Bummer.