Dear recent Orlando transplant:

Ok, so you just moved to Orlando from New York / Philly / Chicago / San Francisco / et al. You feel lost, uprooted, misplaced -- you're starting to think Orlando might suck. Eager to find some nightlife in this town, you go to Lattitudes on Church Street, Slingapour's on Wall Street and that mega-club on Orange Avenue owned by one of those Backstreet Boys (Orlando's finest celebrities). Maybe you even think International Drive, Citywalk or Downtown Disney is where everyone hangs out in this town. Now you really think Orlando sucks.

Well, you're wrong. There is more to this city than theme park "nightlife" and crappy clubs with guys wearing shiny shirts, but you have to know where to look. Instead of complaining about how lame Orlando is compared to your city of origin, why not get out there and support your new scene -- it's a lot better than you think! After all, you moved here for a reason, right? (I'm guessing to escape the cold weather.) So you can do one of two things: either 1) move back to the city you think is sooooo much more awesome or 2) quit bitchin', check the events below and DON'T SLEEP on the shit that is happening!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Bienvenidos a Miami

Time to head out for the weekend. If you're taking the road trip down, here are some awesome parties to check out:





Since there's waaaaaaayyyyy too many to post, check out the full WMC list.

Tonight - Kissy Sell Out in Orlando

I am super, duper, ultra, mega, hardcore bummed that I am going to miss Kissy Sell Out tonight. But while he's rocking Firestone, I'll be watching Boys Noize on the beach. I guess that's an even trade :)



For more KSO mixes, check out his official podcast.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

F-I-R-E-I-N-O-R-L-A-N-D-O

As our mini-conference week continues, I'm trudging through the 9 - 5 job while daydreaming of mojitos on the beach. Luckily I head to Miami and the WMC tomorrow, and Digitalism is throwin' it down at Firestone tonight. Joining their tour is Guns'N'Bombs, who completely killed the club last summer. Not bad for a Wednesday (and no work on Thursday = WOO!).



If you haven't downloaded these already, get on it!

Digitalism Essential Mix (via newmixes.com)

Digitalism and Cajuan Guest Mix (via Kidz By Colette)

Guns'N'Bombs Mixtape #2 (Via Shot Callin')

Guns'N'Bombs Mixtape #3 (via MissingToof)

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Pase Rock + Strippers = <3


Leave it to Pase Rock, the mastermind behind the song about Lindsay Lohan's coochie, to DJ at a strip club. I'm pretty sure tonight will be a first in Orlando's history -- I just hope Dancers Royale is ready!

Monday, March 24, 2008

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)

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Kool's Gang vs. DIZ vs. Balls to the Wall

For most Orlando-ites, the versus factor this weekend won't mean a damn thing. But if your musical taste is as eclectic as mine (read: ADD... ooooh, shiny!), then the options should have you pretty stoked. The decision basically comes down to this -- do you prefer:

A) Disco + beads, + theme parks
B) Chicago-flavored house music + tater tots + hallways(?)
C) Heavy metal + Aquanet hairspray + leather



Answers:

A) As I have mentioned before, sometimes it's necessary to visit the theme parks to see awesome performers 20 years past their prime. If funk/soul/disco is your forte and you don't mind rubbing elbows with tourists or shelling out $40 - 50, then check out Kool and the Gang at Universal Studios Mardi Gras. It's unclear if the band will break out such gems as Open Sesame or Be My Lady, but you can bet a million dollars you'll be singing Celebration and Ladies Night with middle-aged drunk tourists wearing Bermuda shorts and Mardi Gras beads. If I wasn't flat-ass broke, I would sooooo be there.  Thankfully, Earth, Wind and Fire is coming in April!

Here's another one they won't play -- Steppin' Out -- check the video for one of my favorite songs ever.

B) If you prefer the thumping beats of discofied house music, Chicago's very own Diz will be DJing at Crooked Bayou with Latenight Society and Bill Gold. When I was unhealthily obsessed with Chicago house music, Diz was one of my idols -- right up there with Derrick Carter and DJ Heather. He's definitely one of the city's finest, and while his counterpart Iz (also known as Joshua) has played in Orlando numerous times, this will be Diz's first.

Sadly, it's rumored this party will be held in the hallway between Crooked and Suite B, rather than inside the bar itself. Why the sudden change of venue? Because Orlando's (sucky) sweetheart, Baby Anne, decided she wanted to play at Bayou instead. If I was bringing Diz, I would be PISSED. Hopefully this won't ruin it for the promoters.

Anyway, here is a video of Diz dropping a dope remix of Prince.

C) If options A or B didn't sound appealing, then C must be what you're looking for: a balls to the wall, 80's hair metal party entitled "Turbo Love Machine" at the Peacock Room -- hosted by Andrew Spear and Angry Asian. Anyone who witnessed Spear's Prince tribute party or any of his infamous art shows, knows they are in for a treat (not to mention the flyer is totally awesome!!!). Break out the Aquanet, leather, leopard prints, fishnets and black eyeliner, it's time for a fucking metal party.

To get in the proper mood , here is a 10-minute (plus) video of Eddie Van Halen doing a guitar solo. \m/

 

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Last Minute Addition - Omega Watts at Cleo's Tonight


Good news for the broken beat/ nu jazz/ neo soul/ hip hop lovers in Orlando. According to a Myspace bulletin posted by DJ Y-Not, one of Ubiquity's golden boys, Ohmega Watts, will be playing for FREE at Cleo's tonight.

This event appears to be confirmed on Mr. Watts' Myspace page as a DJ set. And even better news is that he will be playing again this Friday with Stereo 77 at the Eola Wine Bar in Winter Park.

Ummm... why weren't these gigs promoted at all??? Thank goodness for Myspace, I guess.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Don't judge the party by its horrible flyer

The party at Crooked Bayou on Saturday was totally dope. Here's what I remember: Stoli, tater tots, Irish car bombs, break dancers ruining the dance floor, Jaeger, playing awesome late 80's-early 90's hip hop from 2 am 'til close, Irish car bombs, Armand Van Helden's remix of Hustler by SMD, K.I.M. is totally sick, One Thing Leads to Another by The Fixx could quite possibly be the best song ever made, and Jaeger.

Tonight the amateur Irish antics will continue to ensue (we <3 green beads!) and I would suggest going to The Peacock Room to see DJ Nigel and Think Different.



Note: this is the worst flyer ever -- sorry.

Here's the Armand remix of Hustler to make up for it.
Simian Mobile Disco - Hustler (Armand Van Helden remix).mp3

Friday, March 14, 2008

Crooked Bayou vs. Wall Street

Thanks to the Orlando Sentinel's Kelly Fitzpatrick writing about St. Patrick's Day party on Saturday in her column today (woohoo!!!), there seems to be a bit of a turf war due to the name we made up ("We Hate Wall Street St. Patrick's Day Party" to be exact). Crooked Bayou, the quaint, friendly neighborhood bar we all know and love (aka the David of the story) VS. the big, mean, corporate conglomerate of bars known as Wall Street (aka the grumpy ol' Goliath of the tale).

I think the whole thing is completely hilarious and astounding at the same time. For one, we haven't printed out a single flyer. Nope, we decided to be as low budget as possible, using only our offline and online networking skills. Second, the party's title (which was vodka-induced, I'm sure) is not even printed on the web-only flyer. See?



Just crazy cat lady references and a leprechaun doing a wheelie. Word. The only place you will find the Wall Street-hater name is on a Myspace event invitation with a less-than-overwhelming response. I mean, no one reads those things anyway, do they?

So how did this controversy spread so quickly? How did the Sentinel even find out about it? More importantly, why are the big guns at Wall Street so upset? They will still draw thousands of overly drunk college kids and shiny shirt guys who are into Staind or Slightly Stoopid or whatever band, just like they do every year. There will be green beer and beads and boobs and fights and puke.

And the outnumbered people in Orlando who are not into all of the above will come to Crooked Bayou and have an awesome time with us :)

The End.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Photos from Justice and DJ Medhi

Photos are up! Unless noted otherwise, all photos are by Kevin Collier, of KCollDesigns. Check the full set - they are dope (as are all of his photos)!!!

The visual effects of the show were amazing -- no other DJs are doing what Justice is. True Rockstar Status.



Photo by Jennyhearts


It was mobbed and sweaty, so I was upstairs with the older kids. My view:



DJ Medhi:


Xavier:




FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you, Myspace Music Tour :)

Monday, March 10, 2008

The Official "We Hate Wall Street St. Patrick's Day Party"

(Even though it's not on St. Patrick's Day and has nothing to do with Wall Street).

This party brought to you by the founders of the Worst Music Party® -- That would be Andrew Spear and Yours Truly. Come out this Saturday and pretend to be Irish, pretend you can handle your liquor in the way the Irish can and puke green the next day! Sounds like fun to me!!!


(You know you love this flyer!!!!!!!!)

So, to recap, this Saturday:

Andrew Spear
Becky Kinnear (ME!!!)

Awesome music, no Wall Street bullshit!!!

- Wear Green
- Drink too much
- Wake up next to a stranger
- Swear off drinking forever (or until next weekend)!

See you there!

Friday, March 7, 2008

!!! vs. The Roots vs. Foreigner

Last night's Justice show in one word: WHOA.

More on that when I can think straight.

As I type this, I'm still hungover and trudging through work. Tonight will be recovery time because I have big decisions to make. Saturday night forces me to choose between three loves as Orlando's "Feast or Famine" rule rears its ugly head:



!!! is playing at the Social
The Roots are playing at House of Blues
Foreigner is playing for FREE downtown near City Hall

Somehow I keep missing The Roots (probably because I decide to go last minute and tickets are sold out), although ?uestlove is my hero and I have seen him DJ at least 5 times.

I am a huge fan of !!!'s first album, especially the Giuliani track, and I bet they put on a killer dance party-esque show, similar to VHS or Beta.

But in my heart of hearts, I already know Foreigner will win, even though mostly everyone will try to talk me out of it. It's not often you get to see a band like them so far past their prime. Not to mention I have been on a huge Foreigner kick lately, thanks to The Worst Music Party®. And even though the band is sans Lou Gramm, the price is right and I am broke after NYC.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Justice in Orlando Tonight!!!

In the past, I would have assumed seeing Justice in Florida would depend on an expensive road trip to Miami. Thanks to Rupert Murdock and the Myspace Music Tour, they will be gracing the stage of Firestone in less than 9 hours. Super early show = waaaaay too much drinking in one night, but I'm ready.

Because I'm so hyped, here is look at awesome corporate logos throughout the years, courtesy of Justice's DVNO video:



It definitely made me appreciate the song a lot more. Can Ed Banger do anything wrong (besides Uffie)?

And here is Justice spinning hay into gold with Britney Spears' "Me Against the Music":
Britney Spears - Me Against the Music (Justice Remix).mp3

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

This Thursday - Justice invades

First things first -- Saturday night's art show was tight. The Nova 535 Gallery in St. Pete is an amazing space. I highly recommend attending anything hosted by this venue. Photos from Saturday's art show can be found at AfterTheHours.com.

Well, Orlando... are you ready for the French gods of electro to invade our city to blow our eardrums this Thursday??? I am totally stoked.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Road trip to St. Pete

Last night was off the hook!!!! ... too bad it didn't exist. HUGE thanks to everyone who made it out!!!

If you feel like taking a road trip tonight, Nova 535 Gallery is hosting Heavenly Creatures, an art show featuring works from Orlando artists Andrew Spear and Patrick Fatica.


And, of course, a St. Pete road trip wouldn't be complete without a trip to The Lobby to see DJ Mega.