Event Review: Lucky Pierre Update

The boyfriend, J, our friend Victor from Seattle, and I stopped into Lucky Pierre on Friday night and found that, after going for over a year, the scene is still hopping. It was Charisma Glitterati's birthday party, and the dance floor was going from 10.30 until we finally took off after 1. DJ6 and Donimo kept the beat rather poppy through the first part of the evening, but then reached down into their bags for some harder tracks with the sawtooth bassline growl that I love later in the evening. I also have to give props to Lucky Pierre for the best integration of drag performance with music and the dancefloor that I've seen in San Francisco; no stopping the dancing to make everyone watch, no MC, just the DJs mixing in the tracks and the girls getting out there to strut their stuff, taking the energy up a notch higher than bringing everything to a screeching halt. With the weather warming up finally I think the boys are going to warm up as well, so when you're feeling frisky next month head out to Lucky Pierre for some great music, fun drag, and sexy strip poker.

Upcoming Event: Timo Maas with Hercules & Love Affair and Honey Sound System at Mezzanine, Friday April 11

From some of the flyers I've seen you'd think that Hercules & Love Affair were the headliners for this event, and while I'm certain they hold higher stature in the minds of some than Timo Maas, I think it would be a serious mistake to underestimate just what the man will be bringing to Mezzanine on Friday night. It's been a while since I heard anything new from Timo, but "Pictures," with Brian Molko of Placebo, was one of the scariest, sexiest tracks I've heard in a long while, and the fact that it was about boy-on-boy action (no matter how depraved), made it stand leagues above the pop dross being spun by his contemporaries, and "First Day," remixed by the likes of Adam Freeland, gave dance floors a much-needed dose of revolutionary sentiment. "Music for the Maases 2," arguably his best dance mix, shows a DJ who is willing to tread into darker, harder territory than label mate Paul Oakenfold, and I've anxiously been waiting for him to appear someplace other than Ruby Skye for a long time. So, get there early to check out Hercules & Love Affair, go get gay groovy with the boys from Honey Sound System upstairs, but don't miss out on what is sure to be an interesting set from Timo Maas.

Upcoming Event: Christopher McVick's Fancy Circus Disco Cabaret, Wednesday April 9

Christopher McVick is one of the impressarios behind Ferrari at Deco Lounge, so I'm sure that this will be an equally fabulous party, featuring, as it does, hosts Sylvester McMillions and Crystal Chandelier, and DeeJay PeePlay on the decks. And, even better, there's the promise of monthly themes and variety acts. I give extra bonus fabu points for having a kitty in a top hat and bow tie on the flyer. Best part of all, it's FREE!

10PM - 2AM
FREE
The Make-Out Room, 22nd and Mission

500 Posts!

A memorable milestone, 500 posts as of Saturday! That's roughly a post a day for the slightly longer than a year that this blog has been running. Seems like a good time to take a moment and reflect on what a year this has been. I've certainly made some new friends through writing SFScene, and gained the enmity of a few people as well (I've been really quite surprised at how seriously people take the things I write, since I'm really not anybody special). It has given me good excuses for going out on the weekends ("I have to find something to write about for the blog") and has also, at times, been a real drag going out on the weekends, simply to find something to write about. I'm happy that San Francisco nightlife seems to have been gaining strength during the time I've been writing this, but also somewhat disappointed in the general lack of vitality that permeates the club scene - at best it seems that there's only enough of a market for nightlife to sustain two or three events on any given weekend evening. I still think that there's lots of room to develop the gay scene, especially when you look out and realize that there are only a small handful of people responsible for most of the gay nights in the city, and often they are only reiterating one of an even smaller number of themes or musical genres.

There have been a couple of times when I've considered giving up this blog - after the furry incident, for example, when I learned the error of taking on an entire Internet-enabled community - but I still like to think that I'm doing something, in some small way, that has an influence on San Francisco's cultural fabric, even if it's just by making other people aware of what's going on and what might be worth checking out. So, I think I'm going to try and tough it out for another 500 posts, taking some of what I've learned from the previous 500 to make this blog something that even more people will want to read. To those of you who've sent me emails, subscribed, and commented, thanks so much, I hope you'll continue on with me in this excursion into the San Francisco demimonde.

Your Saturday Guide for April 5, 2008

Weeklies and Bar Nights

Drunk and Horny
Sorta like those high school parties you'd wished you'd had. Get drunk, flirt with boys, and dance to good-time party standards. Reliable, easy-going, and a short stumble home, but beware that it can get claustrophobically crowded. Check out my reviews of Drunk and Horny.
$5
9PMish - 2.00AM (with maybe an afterparty)
Underground SF, 424 Haight Street x Webster

Frisco Disco at The Transfer
Every Saturday night they're lined up on the street for this party; haven't made it past the sweating crowds myself yet, but this looks like one of the hottest things going right now. Check it out yourselves and let me know what you think.
No cover listed
9.00PM - 2.00AM
The Transfer, Church at Market

Hot Mess at The Stud
A Gus Presents production with DJ Kidd Sysko spinning a little disco punk, a little hip-hop, and a lot of club. Check out the link for his Top 20 and decide for yourself.
10PM - 3AM
$5
The Stud, 9th x Harrison.

Bistrotheque with Ken Vulsion at Cafe Flore
I've been remiss in not previously mentioning Ken Vulsion of Honey Sound System's Bistrotheque at Cafe Flore on Satuday evenings. A great place to go have a bite, warm up with a couple drinks, and groove along with Ken.
6PM - 12AM
NO COVER
Cafe Flore, 2298 Market Street x Noe

Bearracuda at Deco Lounge
For bears and those who love them. With DJs Boyshapedbox (Viva La Basket!), and Underdog.
9PM - 3AM
$6
Deco Lounge, 510 Larkin x Turk


Monthlies and One Offs

The Jaded Gay DJ Recommends:Kontrol at the End Up
With guest Pan-Pot. Check out my recent review of Kontrol.
10PM - 6AM
FREE before 11, $20 after
The End Up, 6th x Harrison

Trans Am at Club Eight
Rock/punk/indie music from resident Dirty Knees, usually with a band performing as well. Check out my review of Trans Am.
10PM - 2AM
$5
Club Eight, 1151 Folsom x Eighth.

Autchere with Massonix and Rob Hall at Mezzanine
Glitch pop legends performing live, something well worth checking out.
9PM - 2AM
$20
Mezzanine, 444 Jessie Street x Mint

Your Friday Night Guide for April 4, 2008

Cosmic Gypsy Happy Hour with DJ Mak at the W Hotel
Get your lounge groove on with DJ Mak in this swank hotel bar.
6PM - 8PM
NO COVER
W Hotel, 181 3rd Street x Howard

KillSwitch Happy Hour at UndergroundSF
Techno happy hour, this week with Tasho (Mothership, Stompy).
6PM - 10PM
NO COVER
UndergroundSF, 424 Haight x Webster

The Jaded Gay DJ Recommends: Charlie Horse at the Cinch
Best place to go out and have a cheap drink while being entertained by drag queen antics. Recently voted Best Drag Show in San Francisco by the SF Weekly! Music by DJ Dirty Knees and Bearzbub is more rock and new-wave oriented, but at least it won't interfere with your conversation. Check out my reviews of Charlie Horse at The Cinch.
9PM - close
NO COVER
The Cinch, 1723 Polk Street (between Clay and Washington)

GhettoDisco at The EndUp
With residents Vince, Hawthorne, and Jim Hopkins.
11PM - 11AM
FREE before midnight, $20 until 2AM, $30 after 2AM
The EndUp, 6th x Harrison

Sick! at The Matador
Just found out about this techno night that started up in November in the location of the old Arrow bar. Residents D Spurlock, Jeffrey Allen, Jonathon Neil, Kuze, and Meekrob. Check out my review of Sick!
9PM - 2AM
FREE
Matador, 10 6th Street x Market

Monthlies and One-Offs

Garth and Jeno Back2Back at Club222
San Francisco house legends Garth and Jeno in one of the best intimate dance spaces in the city.
10PM - 2AM
$10
Club 222, 222 Hyde Street

Club Loaded at The Rickshaw Stop
With the live band debut of Lady Miss Kier from DEE-Lite.
10PM - 2AM
$12, $15 for 18-21
The Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell x Van Ness

The Jaded Gay DJ Recommends: Lucky Pi$erre at The Stud
Charisma Glitterati's birthday bash, with DJs Donimo and DJ6!
Check out my review of Lucky Pierre!
10PM - 3AM
$5 before 11PM, $7 after
The Stud, 9th x Harrison

Evil Breaks 4th Year Anniversary at Mighty
Oh so many breaks DJs, check the link for the full line-up.
10PM - 4AM
$10 before midnight, $15 after
Mighty, 199 Utah Street x 15th

Event Review: Techno Tuesdays/Lil Brthr at 222 Hyde

One of the great benefits of being laid off is that now I have the time to check out all those weekly events that would normally keep me up past my bedtime. In a celebratory mood after attending the Entertainment Commission meeting on Tuesday, I decided to go check out Auralism Record's lil brthr at Club 222 Hyde, one of the rotating events in the club's weekly Techno Tuesdays. It was an unexpectedly active event for a Tuesday night, with some great minimal techno that, while it might not necessarily move you into a long session of sweaty dancing, is certainly great for head-nodding and getting plastered with your friends on absurdly cheap drinks while munching on some fine, homemade, thin-crust pizza.

OK, let's get to the drinks: $2.00 for a vodka tonic! Yes, that's right, $2.00! The first time I paid I thought I misheard the man, then counted my change. A better bargain in San Francisco I don't know of, but I should point out that if you really want to blend into the crowd here, order yourself a Pilsner Urquell tall boy.

I arrived right around 10 and shortly thereafter ran into David Peterson and his partner Jose Mineros, who is starting a new urban house night called Collide at Club 222 on Saturdays. We chatted in the upstairs bar for a while, during which time I found myself nodding along to some easy-going minimal techno with a consistent shuffle beat from resident Roman Stange. When I went back down into the dance area there were about 25 heads hanging out, listening to a female DJ who I think was Dima, with a few folks doing the jerky spazz dance, but mostly just bobbing along. I liked her set quite a bit, varying as it did from Outhud's "Put it away, put it away, put it away, dad" (which made me laugh when she put it on) to a remix of The Rapture's "W.A.Y.U.H.", to some fairly dark stuff that bordered on minimal psy, winding up, just as I was leaving, with Sammy Dee and Guido Schneider's "Styleways" (I think this is right, I recognized the track from Ricardo Villalobos' "Blue" disc in the Green&Blue compilation, but my audio memory is little fuzzy this morning). Overall a darker, deeper set of the sort that I appreciate, and the fact that she seemed to be playing exclusively on vinyl was even more endearing.

I counted about fifty people in the whole place when I left around 12.30, a certainly respectable showing for a Tuesday night; Alland Byallo even popped by to drop off flyer's for this Saturday's Kontrol. If you've got a free Tuesday night and an even freer Wednesday morning you should definitely come by and check out what's happening at Techno Tuesdays, you're bound to hear some good tunes, get plastered on cheap drinks, and maybe sober up with some tasty pizza after the aroma of it baking compels you to try some.

Update on Promoter Permit Legislation: Rejected Unanimously at Entertainment Commission Meeting

At Tuesday's meeting of the Entertainment Commission over fifty members of the public, including a wedding planner, representatives of non-profit and fundraising agencies, two members of the Board of Supervisors, venue operators, and promoters all stood up at the podium to voice their opposition to the new promoter permit legislation. At the end of the meeting, all five attending commissioners also opposed it, and the President of the Commission, Audrey Joseph, said that when the review of the legislation was moved from discussion this week to an action item at the next meeting of EC, they would tell the Board of Supervisors they did not support it. Since no one spoke up in support of the new legislation, including anyone from Sophie Maxwell's office, which introduced it, this appears to be dead in the water. To drive the final nails in the coffin, everyone opposing this should still write to their supervisors and let them know how you feel, since, with this much opposition, few Supervisors would be willing to buck against their constituents to support it.

I went into the Commission meeting with a real sense of anxiety over how this could turn out, though I knew that at least Commissioners Alan and Joseph were sympathetic to the opposition. There were only a few people in the room when I showed up at 4.45, including several people I had contacted personally, so I was afraid we would be a minority voice, but then the room began to fill up and soon reached overflow capacity. I had planned to speak, but it really wasn't necessary, as every point I would have made was brought up by someone else. It was very gratifying to see how the whole entertainment community, with clubs and promoters and non-profits from across the musical and sexual spectrum, could come together like that. When I was talking with David Peterson of Fag Fridays and Temple later, he said it reminded him of 2000, when the SFLNC came together to deal with the club crackdown from Captain Martell of the Mission District. It made me think that we need to have a greater sense of solidarity among the nightlife community, because we really are all in it together, and we need to come together more often, and more effectively, to restore San Francisco to its rightful place as a center of world-class nightlife.

I was also thrilled to see Supervisor Bevan Dufty come in and state, in unequivocal terms, his opposition to the legislation, including the possibility of amending it. Dufty has taken a lot of heat over the Halloween debacle for the past couple years, and has been pilloried as a representative of the bourgeouis gay class that has "ruined" the Castro, but I've seen Dufty out clubbing, and in our discussions with him a few weeks ago, I was impressed that he clearly understood the implications of this legislation and would have nothing to do with it. He might be guilty of being more of a pragmatist than the ideologue that many people seem to want in their Supervisors, but I can't really fault him for doing what a politician is supposed to do, which is to seek out compromises that can work for everyone, and come down hard on those things that make no sense for anyone. I was happy to join in the very enthusiastic applause he received after making his comment.

Gerardo Sandoval sent his legislative aide, Luke Klipp, to represent him. Sandoval seems more equivocal, according to Klipp's statement, since he recognizes the problems with this legislation but is "willing to work" with Supervisor Maxwell on it. If you happen to live in Sandoval's district, you might want to shoot him an email and let him know that there's no way that this legislation can be made to work.

By my count, there are at least four Supervisors who will oppose this legislation, either wholly or in party, leaving only two more to find to get it killed. My feeling is that, if Sophie Maxwell is smart, she will withdraw it, rather than face political embarrassment over having it defeated in a Board vote, and come back to work directly with the entertainment community to deal with the issues that brought this about in the first place. And shame on the Mayor's office for setting her up with this ill-conceived bit of political theater.

Minutes of the meeting, including video, will eventually be up on the Entertainment Commission Meeting Information webpage.