They're burning the man for real tonight kids, so light a little flame of your own whatever you do.
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 gets claustrophobically crowded. Check out my reviews of Drunk and Horny.
9PMish - 2.00AM (with maybe an afterparty)
Underground SF, 424 Haight Street x Webster
Frisco Disco at The Transfer
This night just recently started up at this new location and I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but with tunes provided by the likes of Jefrodesiac and Richie Panic, and Lady Meleksah as the cruise director, there's some great potential for a good time.
No cover listed
9.00PM - 2.00AM
The Transfer, Church at Market
Monthlies and One-Offs
The Jaded Gay DJ Recommends: Kontrol at The End Up
This installment of San Francisco's biggest techno night includes a live set from John Tejada - whoo hoo!
FREE before 11, $15 after
10.00PM - 6.00AM
The End Up, 6th x Harrison
Trans Am with Jason Kendig
Don't know much about this night other than it's reputation as a gay hard/indie rock/punk night, and that it shares a DJ (Dirty Knees) with Charlie Horse. Tonight's installment features Jason Kendig of the Honey Sound System crew on decks, and a performance from my homegirl Frieda Laye (drag Mom for the fabulous Juanita Fajita).
$5
10.00PM - 2.00AM, show at 11.00
Club 8, 1151 Folsom at 8th
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Your Friday Night Guide for August 31, 2007
It's a three-day weekend kids, let the games begin!
Weeklies and Bar Nights
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
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 latest review of Charlie Horse at The Cinch.
9PM - close
NO COVER
The Cinch, 1723 Polk Street (between Clay and Washington)
Fag Fridays at The EndUp
Reliable, not all that exciting, typical San Francisco deep house, but it's gay and you can stay until the next afternoon. Go while you still can!
10PM - 6AM, and then Ascension starts up
$20
The End UP, 6th x Harrison
Monthlies and One-Offs
FilterSF at Club Anu
Deep minimal techno in a new groovy location. This week features New.com (ComfortNoise, Zurich) with residents Solekandi and Kontakt.
9PM - 2AM
FREE before 11, $5 after
Club Anu, 43 6th Street x Market
Weeklies and Bar Nights
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
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 latest review of Charlie Horse at The Cinch.
9PM - close
NO COVER
The Cinch, 1723 Polk Street (between Clay and Washington)
Fag Fridays at The EndUp
Reliable, not all that exciting, typical San Francisco deep house, but it's gay and you can stay until the next afternoon. Go while you still can!
10PM - 6AM, and then Ascension starts up
$20
The End UP, 6th x Harrison
Monthlies and One-Offs
FilterSF at Club Anu
Deep minimal techno in a new groovy location. This week features New.com (ComfortNoise, Zurich) with residents Solekandi and Kontakt.
9PM - 2AM
FREE before 11, $5 after
Club Anu, 43 6th Street x Market
Thoughts on the Burning of the Man
Last night my friend Kitty and I had an interesting conversation about the premature burning of the Man - his first comment, via email, was "The Burner in me is pissed, but the asshole is laughing," a comment that really encapsulated the whole incident for me.
In thinking about this and dicussing it, there are a lot of issues that need to be sorted out - the individual actions of Paul Addis, the "comment" he made about Burning Man, the attitude of the former in-crowd (as exemplified by Addis' letter to the SFWeekly in 2002, the general moanings of the Piss Clear crowd, and many of the comments on SFGate about the story), and the general rise of Burning Man from a freakfest in the desert to what has now become an institution backed by a non-profit. My own take on all of this is that a) Addis is an asshole playing through on his Hunter S. Thompson fantasies b) his action nonetheless was insightful, provocative, and an accomplished bit of performance art c) the old-skool crowd will hold him up as a hero even though his actions will not, in any way, substantially change the things that they like to gripe about d) Burning Man has not, as so many would like to believe, "jumped the shark," but it is is facing some very serious questions about how it will configure itself going into the future. Let's break these down a bit, shall we?
A) Paul Addis is an asshole playing through on his Hunter S. Thompson fantasies
Everything Paul Addis has put into the public sphere - his 2002 letter to the SFWeekly editor, his account of messing with the cops and emerging triumphant in the SoMa literary review, his one-man show about Hunter S. Thompson, his statement on the Laughing Squid blog - lead one to the conclusion that he is simply another would-be macho stud in possession of an outsize ego that leads him to believe that he's the righteous one and all the rest of us are dunderheads. I'm sure he's the sort who would read Nietzsche and think that he's an ubermensch. That would probably be tolerable, if it wasn't for the fact that he basically destroyed something that had been created by other people, and for which they had other intentions. It might be perceived as an radcial act of self-expression, in, say, the manner or the Dadists or anarchists, but, in fact, many of those people were, at the personal level, assholes as well. Let's put this in the perspective of anarchism, however, since that's what so many people associate with Burning Man. Even in that perspective, he's an asshole. In The Temporary Autonomous Zone by Hakim Bey, the touchstone work for events like Burning Man, Bey draws an analogy for the TAZ with a dinner party, an analogy set up by another anarchist writer. The idea is that you create a space for people to come and interact in whatever way they choose, but a certain degree of mutual respect governs the proceedings. Now imagine that someone came to your dinner party and broke all the plates as "an act of radical self-expression." Maybe it would be a statement, but he would still be an asshole.
B) Despite being an asshole, Addis pulled off a provocative piece of performance art
Addis has single-handedly gotten everyone, here, there, and everywhere, to talk about the meaning of his action. That's the point of performance art, and in this respect, Addis has pulled off something significant. However, it was only through the destruction of something held dear to many other people that he accomplished this. I'm reminded of Stockhausen's comments on the destruction of the WTC: it was Satan's greatest work (I'm paraphrasing). Blow something up and people will talk about it; that doesn't mean it's a laudable, or ethical, undertaking.
C)All the old-skool people will hold him up as a hero, but it won't make any real difference
As I said originally, you can burn the man but you can't burn Burning Man. For years now the "original" people have been bitching and complaining about how Burning Man is now corporate, has all these rules, is filled with "outsiders," blah blah blah, and everybody points to 1997, the year of the smiley face, as the watershed year. Well, you know, you can't keep it all closed system forever, people, and when you tap into the the unconscious of the American people and provide them with a place to live out their fantasies once a year, they're going to come in droves. And when somebody dies at your event (as has happened on at least three occasions I know of), you realize that you need to protect yourself from getting the pants sued off you; hence, you form a Limited Liability Corporation. As an LLC it's also a lot easier to deal with government entities, like the BLM, with whom Burning Man is in a constant struggle for control. As for the rules, there are ten of them, and I don't see anything in here that prevents anybody from expressing themselves in whatever way they want, save for no guns, no driving, and no dogs. All the rest of it amounts to "don't be stupid and don't fuck things up." All the old-skoolers lament that they can't shoot guns, blow things up, or drive fast across the playa anymore; in short, they can't act like macho assholes anymore. Somehow I don't feel much sympathy for that position. What is perhaps most galling, however, is that what this all boils down to is the loss of insider, special club status for these people - they had somethign exclusive, and now they don't have it anymore. Yeah, there are a fair number of yahoos who show up every year, and I don't like them either, but there are also lots of people who work all year to come out there and do something special, and to reduce them all to "weekend hippies" is just bullshit. In many ways, the event is really a catalyst that brings people together for those other 51 weeks of the year - my own camp starts working in January, and it's that experience of working togther, and creating something out there on the playa, that is the essence of Burning Man for me. You can burn the man early, but that won't take away the experience that I, and so many others, have had.
d) Burning Man now faces some tough questions about its future
I think that this may be the event that serves as the break between the BM of the past and the BM of the future. You could already see that in the attempt to bring a socially active focus to the event this year. This seems like the last attempt on the part of the old-skool to make a statement about what they feel BM has become, and after this I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see the guns, tits, and bombs crowd defect in a mass way - after all, now that one of their own has been busted and charged with felony arson, that would have to be seen as the biggest sell-out of all. It's a philosophic conundrum, and the BM organization doesn't have an easy way out; I'm pretty sure they don't really have a say in whether or not Addis is charged and tried, but they will be seen as violating their own tenet of radical self-expression when he is prosecuted. On the other hand, if Addis isn't prosecuted, they run the risk of opening the box for a beast they already barely have under control. I dunno what the solution is; it's going to require taking a very nuanced position, but I don't think the Hunter S. Thompson afficianados are really about nuance.
Meanwhile, check out the comments over at Laughing Squid.
In thinking about this and dicussing it, there are a lot of issues that need to be sorted out - the individual actions of Paul Addis, the "comment" he made about Burning Man, the attitude of the former in-crowd (as exemplified by Addis' letter to the SFWeekly in 2002, the general moanings of the Piss Clear crowd, and many of the comments on SFGate about the story), and the general rise of Burning Man from a freakfest in the desert to what has now become an institution backed by a non-profit. My own take on all of this is that a) Addis is an asshole playing through on his Hunter S. Thompson fantasies b) his action nonetheless was insightful, provocative, and an accomplished bit of performance art c) the old-skool crowd will hold him up as a hero even though his actions will not, in any way, substantially change the things that they like to gripe about d) Burning Man has not, as so many would like to believe, "jumped the shark," but it is is facing some very serious questions about how it will configure itself going into the future. Let's break these down a bit, shall we?
A) Paul Addis is an asshole playing through on his Hunter S. Thompson fantasies
Everything Paul Addis has put into the public sphere - his 2002 letter to the SFWeekly editor, his account of messing with the cops and emerging triumphant in the SoMa literary review, his one-man show about Hunter S. Thompson, his statement on the Laughing Squid blog - lead one to the conclusion that he is simply another would-be macho stud in possession of an outsize ego that leads him to believe that he's the righteous one and all the rest of us are dunderheads. I'm sure he's the sort who would read Nietzsche and think that he's an ubermensch. That would probably be tolerable, if it wasn't for the fact that he basically destroyed something that had been created by other people, and for which they had other intentions. It might be perceived as an radcial act of self-expression, in, say, the manner or the Dadists or anarchists, but, in fact, many of those people were, at the personal level, assholes as well. Let's put this in the perspective of anarchism, however, since that's what so many people associate with Burning Man. Even in that perspective, he's an asshole. In The Temporary Autonomous Zone by Hakim Bey, the touchstone work for events like Burning Man, Bey draws an analogy for the TAZ with a dinner party, an analogy set up by another anarchist writer. The idea is that you create a space for people to come and interact in whatever way they choose, but a certain degree of mutual respect governs the proceedings. Now imagine that someone came to your dinner party and broke all the plates as "an act of radical self-expression." Maybe it would be a statement, but he would still be an asshole.
B) Despite being an asshole, Addis pulled off a provocative piece of performance art
Addis has single-handedly gotten everyone, here, there, and everywhere, to talk about the meaning of his action. That's the point of performance art, and in this respect, Addis has pulled off something significant. However, it was only through the destruction of something held dear to many other people that he accomplished this. I'm reminded of Stockhausen's comments on the destruction of the WTC: it was Satan's greatest work (I'm paraphrasing). Blow something up and people will talk about it; that doesn't mean it's a laudable, or ethical, undertaking.
C)All the old-skool people will hold him up as a hero, but it won't make any real difference
As I said originally, you can burn the man but you can't burn Burning Man. For years now the "original" people have been bitching and complaining about how Burning Man is now corporate, has all these rules, is filled with "outsiders," blah blah blah, and everybody points to 1997, the year of the smiley face, as the watershed year. Well, you know, you can't keep it all closed system forever, people, and when you tap into the the unconscious of the American people and provide them with a place to live out their fantasies once a year, they're going to come in droves. And when somebody dies at your event (as has happened on at least three occasions I know of), you realize that you need to protect yourself from getting the pants sued off you; hence, you form a Limited Liability Corporation. As an LLC it's also a lot easier to deal with government entities, like the BLM, with whom Burning Man is in a constant struggle for control. As for the rules, there are ten of them, and I don't see anything in here that prevents anybody from expressing themselves in whatever way they want, save for no guns, no driving, and no dogs. All the rest of it amounts to "don't be stupid and don't fuck things up." All the old-skoolers lament that they can't shoot guns, blow things up, or drive fast across the playa anymore; in short, they can't act like macho assholes anymore. Somehow I don't feel much sympathy for that position. What is perhaps most galling, however, is that what this all boils down to is the loss of insider, special club status for these people - they had somethign exclusive, and now they don't have it anymore. Yeah, there are a fair number of yahoos who show up every year, and I don't like them either, but there are also lots of people who work all year to come out there and do something special, and to reduce them all to "weekend hippies" is just bullshit. In many ways, the event is really a catalyst that brings people together for those other 51 weeks of the year - my own camp starts working in January, and it's that experience of working togther, and creating something out there on the playa, that is the essence of Burning Man for me. You can burn the man early, but that won't take away the experience that I, and so many others, have had.
d) Burning Man now faces some tough questions about its future
I think that this may be the event that serves as the break between the BM of the past and the BM of the future. You could already see that in the attempt to bring a socially active focus to the event this year. This seems like the last attempt on the part of the old-skool to make a statement about what they feel BM has become, and after this I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see the guns, tits, and bombs crowd defect in a mass way - after all, now that one of their own has been busted and charged with felony arson, that would have to be seen as the biggest sell-out of all. It's a philosophic conundrum, and the BM organization doesn't have an easy way out; I'm pretty sure they don't really have a say in whether or not Addis is charged and tried, but they will be seen as violating their own tenet of radical self-expression when he is prosecuted. On the other hand, if Addis isn't prosecuted, they run the risk of opening the box for a beast they already barely have under control. I dunno what the solution is; it's going to require taking a very nuanced position, but I don't think the Hunter S. Thompson afficianados are really about nuance.
Meanwhile, check out the comments over at Laughing Squid.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Arson of The Man at Burning Man!
Holy shit, this is pretty messed up - according to newsblog on CNET.com, the Man at Burning Man was set on fire on Monday night by some "unauthorized" personnel. While the fire was put out, the Man was "irretrievably" burned.
This is pretty whack - while there have been grumblings for years that the Man should be burned on Wednesday, as a way aof discouraging all the "lookie lous" who show up for the weekend hoe-down, and I've even read vague threats of carrying through with this in that perpetual moan rag, Piss Clear, this is the first time someone has actually ever carried through with it.
Of course, the Board members and those involved with the man's construction seem pretty pissed. Here's a quote from the article:
I guess all the "old timer" resentment, coupled with the ongoing battle over the meaning of Burning Man (anarchist hoo-ha in the desert, or organized gathering of a tribal community), finally came to a head in all of this. I'm sure there will be significant repercussions, stay tuned and I'll post further developments as they come across the wire.
UPDATE 1: From Burners using Twitter at Burning Man:
ronjon:now reports it was electrical issue when they turned the Man off to watch the eclipse.
UPDATE 2: Photos and report on Laughing Squid.com
Conflicting information here, with reports of it being an electrical fire, and also that one person has been arrested and someone was seen at the leg of the man with a propane torch.
UPDATE 3: According to the San Francisco Chronicle it was officialy arson, with someone named Paul Addis being held and charged. Will he be deemed a hero or pariah? This should be real interesting to watch develop.
A little Google and we discover this 2002 Letter to the SFWeekly from one Paul David Addis, who apparently has quite a bone to pick with Burning Man. Here's an interesting quote:
Ah, I love Google - here's a story written by Mr. Addis, published in the SoMa Literary Review, about fucking with cops. Hmmmmmm. Like most anti-authority stories it's mostly an ego trip exercise about how he gets power over The Man. I can hardly wait for the statements to the press. In his bio he describes himself as a "writer, poet, and performer," so I can fathom some guesses about what they will be like.
It just gets better - he also co-produced a one-man play entitled Gonzo: Brutal Chrysalis about Hunter S. Thompson this past Spring. Check it out, the photo credits are for Scott Beale of Laughing Squid, showing just how incestuous all this really is.
And now, the perp photo. Self-satisfied looking prick, isn't he? I guess the rule about not having firearms was finally just too much for him and impinged too much on his radical self-expression. Based on this photo I'm pretty sure he portrayed Hunter S. Thompson in the one-man play he produced. Maybe the acid just really kicked in and he decided he WAS Hunter S. Thompson:
Here's my final take, kids (well, not completely final, but my last word for this post):
You Can Burn the Man, But You Can't Burn Burning Man!
Perhaps we owe Paul "I REALLY wish I was Hunter S. Thompson" Addis a thanks for demonstrating this to us. Great job, Paul!
This is pretty whack - while there have been grumblings for years that the Man should be burned on Wednesday, as a way aof discouraging all the "lookie lous" who show up for the weekend hoe-down, and I've even read vague threats of carrying through with this in that perpetual moan rag, Piss Clear, this is the first time someone has actually ever carried through with it.
Of course, the Board members and those involved with the man's construction seem pretty pissed. Here's a quote from the article:
. . . Crimson Rose, one of the six people on the Burning Man board that runs the event and the person in charge of the Man, said, on Com [the communications network used as part of the Black Rock infrastructure], "I want that asshole arrested....And I want the first shot."
I guess all the "old timer" resentment, coupled with the ongoing battle over the meaning of Burning Man (anarchist hoo-ha in the desert, or organized gathering of a tribal community), finally came to a head in all of this. I'm sure there will be significant repercussions, stay tuned and I'll post further developments as they come across the wire.
UPDATE 1: From Burners using Twitter at Burning Man:
ronjon:now reports it was electrical issue when they turned the Man off to watch the eclipse.
UPDATE 2: Photos and report on Laughing Squid.com
Conflicting information here, with reports of it being an electrical fire, and also that one person has been arrested and someone was seen at the leg of the man with a propane torch.
UPDATE 3: According to the San Francisco Chronicle it was officialy arson, with someone named Paul Addis being held and charged. Will he be deemed a hero or pariah? This should be real interesting to watch develop.
A little Google and we discover this 2002 Letter to the SFWeekly from one Paul David Addis, who apparently has quite a bone to pick with Burning Man. Here's an interesting quote:
Then there's Burning Man's control over both its participants and the expression they're allowed to realize. One by one the rules have risen since 1997, and not just to protect the participants from themselves. Those rules and judgments, such as what art is permitted in BRC and radical free expression's outer limits, are determined in line with what will make the most money for BM and generate the fewest potential controversies in the media. As such, Burning Man's overall relevance is kept safely within the realm of harmless diversion, quietly under the feet of the same elements that tame all other aspects of society.Well, I guess we can count Mr. Addis as part of the "old-school" crowd. I hope Adrian and the rest of them over at Piss Clear are happy now, they certainly got what they wanted.
Ah, I love Google - here's a story written by Mr. Addis, published in the SoMa Literary Review, about fucking with cops. Hmmmmmm. Like most anti-authority stories it's mostly an ego trip exercise about how he gets power over The Man. I can hardly wait for the statements to the press. In his bio he describes himself as a "writer, poet, and performer," so I can fathom some guesses about what they will be like.
It just gets better - he also co-produced a one-man play entitled Gonzo: Brutal Chrysalis about Hunter S. Thompson this past Spring. Check it out, the photo credits are for Scott Beale of Laughing Squid, showing just how incestuous all this really is.
And now, the perp photo. Self-satisfied looking prick, isn't he? I guess the rule about not having firearms was finally just too much for him and impinged too much on his radical self-expression. Based on this photo I'm pretty sure he portrayed Hunter S. Thompson in the one-man play he produced. Maybe the acid just really kicked in and he decided he WAS Hunter S. Thompson:
Here's my final take, kids (well, not completely final, but my last word for this post):
You Can Burn the Man, But You Can't Burn Burning Man!
Perhaps we owe Paul "I REALLY wish I was Hunter S. Thompson" Addis a thanks for demonstrating this to us. Great job, Paul!
Monday, August 27, 2007
The End of Fag Fridays at The End Up
On Saturday I got the scoop from a reliable inside source that the venerable institution of Fag Fridays, which has been running for something like 14 years, will be having their last party in mid-October, with Fridays now being given over to major DJ parties.
Though my own description of Fag Fridays has long been "gay, reliable, but not that exciting," the passing of this event will mark a milestone in the history of the San Francisco gay scene. Perhaps most significantly, there will no longer be a weekly gay dance event that focuses on house music, and this is what I see as the real significance of this milestone; the deep house sound that once served as the bedrock for the gay dance scene has now fallen so signficantly out of fashion that parties based around this music no longer have the ability to pull in the numbers like they used to.
In some ways, this is not so surprising; go out to any club in the Castro and you'll hear more hip-hop and contemporary dance (in the vein of 92.7) than you will house music, and tribal diva house now rules the big dance scene. The progressive sound, like what you hear at Honey Sound System parties, is more based in techno than house, and the other successful nights focus either on rock and electro, or retro disco/Italodisco. House just doesn't have the cultural currency that it once did, nor has it been the soundtrack for so many coming out and clubbing adventures that it once was. People are generally loyal to the music that was a part of their sexual awakening, and for younger gay guys that music usually has more do with MTV and 92.7 than it does with deep house.
Though it's been a long time since I went there (I think the last time was probably two years ago), I will be kinda sad to see Fag Fridays go away. It was a fun time in a cool space, and always made me feel a connection to a history of the San Francisco scene that was special. If you enjoyed Fag Fridays, go out and have one more twirl on the dancefloor before it's gone for good.
Though my own description of Fag Fridays has long been "gay, reliable, but not that exciting," the passing of this event will mark a milestone in the history of the San Francisco gay scene. Perhaps most significantly, there will no longer be a weekly gay dance event that focuses on house music, and this is what I see as the real significance of this milestone; the deep house sound that once served as the bedrock for the gay dance scene has now fallen so signficantly out of fashion that parties based around this music no longer have the ability to pull in the numbers like they used to.
In some ways, this is not so surprising; go out to any club in the Castro and you'll hear more hip-hop and contemporary dance (in the vein of 92.7) than you will house music, and tribal diva house now rules the big dance scene. The progressive sound, like what you hear at Honey Sound System parties, is more based in techno than house, and the other successful nights focus either on rock and electro, or retro disco/Italodisco. House just doesn't have the cultural currency that it once did, nor has it been the soundtrack for so many coming out and clubbing adventures that it once was. People are generally loyal to the music that was a part of their sexual awakening, and for younger gay guys that music usually has more do with MTV and 92.7 than it does with deep house.
Though it's been a long time since I went there (I think the last time was probably two years ago), I will be kinda sad to see Fag Fridays go away. It was a fun time in a cool space, and always made me feel a connection to a history of the San Francisco scene that was special. If you enjoyed Fag Fridays, go out and have one more twirl on the dancefloor before it's gone for good.
Friday, August 24, 2007
The Minimal Bible
Wow, and I thought I was a bitch. From the Machines are Funky blog, which credits John Hassay (apparently the Managing Director for Colonel Blimp Video and the producer of many fine music videos) for the original:
1. If you have some money to spend, feel free to bring lots of cocaine and ketamine. Don't splurge it all on the actual party , as the after party is where you drugs count - expect to be feeding your favourite minimal DJ's with tons of nose candy until late the next day. Be sure you can hang.
2. If you have a nice big flat and don't mind it being temporarily used as a crack house, be sure to offer it to your favourite minimal DJ before he or she leaves their respected party - be aware that you will most likely have no say on who actually attends the after party, but rest assure you are on your way to becoming a minimal hypster.
3. The haircut is very important, although it is very important - you must not let this be the DEFINING aspect. For tips on hypster haircuts, check on the internet for the latest pictures of Magda - be sure the photo is hot and up to date, as this commandment rotates about every 2 weeks - by that time there is thousands
with the same haircut.
4. Underrated but very serious in your quest to minimal hyperstardom is the minimal scarf. Normally used by French artists say to the world "hey I am an artist, shuchameblah" this is now a sure-fire way to let everyone else know - hey I am down with the minimal sound. Current minimal hypsters who sport the minimal scarf include Luciano, Ricardo, Richie, Magda, Troy and Marc Houle.
5. If you ever have the chance to meet Rich Hawtin, when talking with him - make sure you agree with everything he says and most importantly REPEAT. If you do not have the pleasure of meeting him personally, but have a friend who has - just repeat to everyone what your friend has told you he said. If they are a true
minimal hypster they will surely repeat their whole conversation anyway. With people such as Troy Pierce, Magda, Ricardo Villalobos, Luciano, this same rule applies to a lesser degree, but still enough to get you on your
way.
6. This one is very important, forget about your health and live for the moment. You must be willing to take as many drugs as your favourite minimal superstar DJ. As long as your are willing to party until the last moment on a broad combination of drugs all at the same time, such as Ketamine, Mdma, lots and lots of cocaine, speed, LSD and the occasional mushrooms you will surely be accepted and furthermore run the possibility of
being admired. You can never imagine the power of totally ruining your body and mind in the conquest to being a minimal hype star.
7. This one is simple! Keep it superficial. Under no circumstances should you have a conversation with some depth or meaning. Recommended topics of discussion are haircuts, the newest minus record, how cool magda is, how much drugs Ricardo took the night before, how cool the current party is, and how amazing of a musician Luciano is. Just tell yourself over and over, this is not actually being superficial - it's just being minimal.
8. Sex, Sex, Sex - in the minimal hypster world you should never expect to get laid before 48 hours of straight partying. Even if you have a special liking for that certain someone, keep in mind that if they too are an aspiring minimal hypster like yourself they will most definitely be at that after-hours, and where better place to get down to sexual business. (This is the time when taste, memory and morals are all flushed down the toilet) if you are a
female, this is the time where you chances are highest of scoring with your favourite minimal superstar DJ, therefore immediately catapulting yourself into minimal stardom. (most of the time you will just settle for someone who knows Rich Hawtin).
9. Be sure to constantly read the writing of PHILIP SHERBURNE - he is the man who will always keep you informed on the newest and best hype on the internet. DO NOT EVER QUESTION HIS INTENTIONS OR MENTION THE FACT THAT ALL HE WRITES ABOUT IS HOW COOL RICARDO, RICH HAWTIN, MAGDA, LUCIANO, ROBAG WRUHME AND MUTEK CREW IS. He is literally the man to go to if you want to be fed with the minimal hype. Although it seems as if he is desperately trying to fit in and be accepted, everyone should realize HE HAS ALREADY BEEN ACCPETED. He just loves his role as minimal hypster so much that he wants to spread the love. As with Rich Hawtin the same rule applies to Mr. Sherburne, everything he writes or says AKNOWLEDGE, AGREE AND REPEAT.
10. THE MINIMAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD BERLIN! If you wish to be a minimal hypestar, one of the easiest ways is to come to Berlin with no plan and frequent places such as the famous drug spots like bar25, club de
visionarie and panoramabar. It is these locations in which your minimal fantasies become realities - expect to see people like Rich Hawtin, Matt John, Konrad Black, Troy Pierce and Magda totally out of their minds and much more easy to approach. It is here that you can forge those life long, superficial - I mean minimal relationships.
These rules are meant in no specific order - ONE MORE GOLDEN RULE! Don't forget minus is the best label
to surface in the last decade with its revolutionary stance on music. Almost as if they coined the term minimal.
1. If you have some money to spend, feel free to bring lots of cocaine and ketamine. Don't splurge it all on the actual party , as the after party is where you drugs count - expect to be feeding your favourite minimal DJ's with tons of nose candy until late the next day. Be sure you can hang.
2. If you have a nice big flat and don't mind it being temporarily used as a crack house, be sure to offer it to your favourite minimal DJ before he or she leaves their respected party - be aware that you will most likely have no say on who actually attends the after party, but rest assure you are on your way to becoming a minimal hypster.
3. The haircut is very important, although it is very important - you must not let this be the DEFINING aspect. For tips on hypster haircuts, check on the internet for the latest pictures of Magda - be sure the photo is hot and up to date, as this commandment rotates about every 2 weeks - by that time there is thousands
with the same haircut.
4. Underrated but very serious in your quest to minimal hyperstardom is the minimal scarf. Normally used by French artists say to the world "hey I am an artist, shuchameblah" this is now a sure-fire way to let everyone else know - hey I am down with the minimal sound. Current minimal hypsters who sport the minimal scarf include Luciano, Ricardo, Richie, Magda, Troy and Marc Houle.
5. If you ever have the chance to meet Rich Hawtin, when talking with him - make sure you agree with everything he says and most importantly REPEAT. If you do not have the pleasure of meeting him personally, but have a friend who has - just repeat to everyone what your friend has told you he said. If they are a true
minimal hypster they will surely repeat their whole conversation anyway. With people such as Troy Pierce, Magda, Ricardo Villalobos, Luciano, this same rule applies to a lesser degree, but still enough to get you on your
way.
6. This one is very important, forget about your health and live for the moment. You must be willing to take as many drugs as your favourite minimal superstar DJ. As long as your are willing to party until the last moment on a broad combination of drugs all at the same time, such as Ketamine, Mdma, lots and lots of cocaine, speed, LSD and the occasional mushrooms you will surely be accepted and furthermore run the possibility of
being admired. You can never imagine the power of totally ruining your body and mind in the conquest to being a minimal hype star.
7. This one is simple! Keep it superficial. Under no circumstances should you have a conversation with some depth or meaning. Recommended topics of discussion are haircuts, the newest minus record, how cool magda is, how much drugs Ricardo took the night before, how cool the current party is, and how amazing of a musician Luciano is. Just tell yourself over and over, this is not actually being superficial - it's just being minimal.
8. Sex, Sex, Sex - in the minimal hypster world you should never expect to get laid before 48 hours of straight partying. Even if you have a special liking for that certain someone, keep in mind that if they too are an aspiring minimal hypster like yourself they will most definitely be at that after-hours, and where better place to get down to sexual business. (This is the time when taste, memory and morals are all flushed down the toilet) if you are a
female, this is the time where you chances are highest of scoring with your favourite minimal superstar DJ, therefore immediately catapulting yourself into minimal stardom. (most of the time you will just settle for someone who knows Rich Hawtin).
9. Be sure to constantly read the writing of PHILIP SHERBURNE - he is the man who will always keep you informed on the newest and best hype on the internet. DO NOT EVER QUESTION HIS INTENTIONS OR MENTION THE FACT THAT ALL HE WRITES ABOUT IS HOW COOL RICARDO, RICH HAWTIN, MAGDA, LUCIANO, ROBAG WRUHME AND MUTEK CREW IS. He is literally the man to go to if you want to be fed with the minimal hype. Although it seems as if he is desperately trying to fit in and be accepted, everyone should realize HE HAS ALREADY BEEN ACCPETED. He just loves his role as minimal hypster so much that he wants to spread the love. As with Rich Hawtin the same rule applies to Mr. Sherburne, everything he writes or says AKNOWLEDGE, AGREE AND REPEAT.
10. THE MINIMAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD BERLIN! If you wish to be a minimal hypestar, one of the easiest ways is to come to Berlin with no plan and frequent places such as the famous drug spots like bar25, club de
visionarie and panoramabar. It is these locations in which your minimal fantasies become realities - expect to see people like Rich Hawtin, Matt John, Konrad Black, Troy Pierce and Magda totally out of their minds and much more easy to approach. It is here that you can forge those life long, superficial - I mean minimal relationships.
These rules are meant in no specific order - ONE MORE GOLDEN RULE! Don't forget minus is the best label
to surface in the last decade with its revolutionary stance on music. Almost as if they coined the term minimal.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Your Saturday Guide for August 25, 2007
Tumbleweeds roll through the streets of San Francisco this weekend and next, until the return of the dusty and delirious travellers who have departed for the Nevada desert. Those of us still here can relax and enjoy the lack of crowding on MUNI, and the ease with which we can get a drink at the bar or maybe even a taxi.
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. Check out my review of Drunk and Horny. This week it's the birthday of bar owner and bartender Cip!
$5
9PMish - 2.00AM (with maybe an afterparty)
Underground SF, 424 Haight Street x Webster
Frisco Disco at The Transfer
This night just recently started up at this new location and I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but with tunes provided by the likes of Jefrodesiac and Richie Panic, and Lady Meleksah as the cruise director, there's some great potential for a good time.
No cover listed
9.00PM - 2.00AM
The Transfer, Church at Market
Monthlies and One-Offs
The Grind
The Official Hairrison Opening Night - hmmm, well, don't think my skinny hairless bod will be much appreciated then. With Hawthorne (Inferno, Ghetto Disco) and resident Sean Greene (Dirty).
$10 before 11, $15 after, FREE with Charity Bear tag
10PM - Late
The Cat Club, 1190 Folsom x 8th
The Jaded Gay DJ Recommends: Underground Chicago Techno Party at The Compound!
This just in - Siteholder records from Chicago presents an underground techno party at the infamous Compound with ILLY DALESSANDRO VS. JASON EMSLEY (TAG TEAM DJ SET) : EXPANDER : BRIAN FFAR : DANIEL MNOOKIN : ALLAND BYALLO : TIM MCCORMACK : COALITION OF THE KILLING - LIVE
$12 Pre-sales (with $2.25 service charge, hit the link above), $20 at the door
10PM - until the last dancer drops
Directions the day of the event at www.siteholder.net
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. Check out my review of Drunk and Horny. This week it's the birthday of bar owner and bartender Cip!
$5
9PMish - 2.00AM (with maybe an afterparty)
Underground SF, 424 Haight Street x Webster
Frisco Disco at The Transfer
This night just recently started up at this new location and I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but with tunes provided by the likes of Jefrodesiac and Richie Panic, and Lady Meleksah as the cruise director, there's some great potential for a good time.
No cover listed
9.00PM - 2.00AM
The Transfer, Church at Market
Monthlies and One-Offs
The Grind
The Official Hairrison Opening Night - hmmm, well, don't think my skinny hairless bod will be much appreciated then. With Hawthorne (Inferno, Ghetto Disco) and resident Sean Greene (Dirty).
$10 before 11, $15 after, FREE with Charity Bear tag
10PM - Late
The Cat Club, 1190 Folsom x 8th
The Jaded Gay DJ Recommends: Underground Chicago Techno Party at The Compound!
This just in - Siteholder records from Chicago presents an underground techno party at the infamous Compound with ILLY DALESSANDRO VS. JASON EMSLEY (TAG TEAM DJ SET) : EXPANDER : BRIAN FFAR : DANIEL MNOOKIN : ALLAND BYALLO : TIM MCCORMACK : COALITION OF THE KILLING - LIVE
$12 Pre-sales (with $2.25 service charge, hit the link above), $20 at the door
10PM - until the last dancer drops
Directions the day of the event at www.siteholder.net
Thoughts on the San Francisco Mayoral Race, or, The Problem with Chicken John
It's coming up on election time here in the City, and, for all intents and purposes our incubent, Gavin Newsom, is running unopposed. Oh sure, if you read the papers there are a handful of fringe candidates, like a taxi driver and a nudist, who are running against him, but it's not like they have a chance in hell. Two candidates, Chicken John and Josh Wolf, have emerged as the leading symbolic candidates, meaning that they, too, don't have a chance in hell of winning, but are trying to "open a dialogue" around city politics. At least, that's the positive spin on their candidacies; to me, they're both emblematic of the major problem in San Francisco politics, which focuses on mobilizing base constituencies around cults of personality with the eventual aim of being able to engage in patronage politics.
I actually can't say much against Josh Wolf; he's young and his big claim to fame is not handing over video tape of an anarchist riot to the Feds, but at least he's earnest and shows some thought around bigger issues. Chicken John, on the other hand, is becoming the alterative crank of choice, and while he admits he doesn't have a chance of hell in winning (and even his supporters will tell you he is lousy at politics), his candidacy is enabling him to set himself up to bestow patronage on those he favors, without doing anything real to improve the overall quality of life for everyone in this city. And that's my biggest problem with all of this: San Francisco has real problems that everyone can see, and everyone can see that our present Mayor isn't dealing with them. But instead of candidates coming forward who have real ideas about how to change things, what we get are symbolic candidates who are in the running only to further their own self-interest.
Chicken John is a burner type, who claims to be an artist and who has a truck that runs on coffee grounds (this is his big campaign point, by the way). His manifestos and public appearances have largely focused on his complaints about the state of the arts in San Francisco, and his personal grievances with the Arts Commission. Now I hear that his squeaky wheel is potentially being greased by giving him a position with the Arts Commission, from which, in classic San Francisco tradition, he will be able to direct funding toward those in his favor. Great. Meanwhile, he is still attempting to get $75,000 in matching funds for his mayoral race, even though he and his supporters know that he doesn't have a chance of winning. Hmmmm, isn't that public money that comes from taxes? So it seems that Chicken John's entire campaign is about scamming the system to mis-use public funds for his "performance art" candidacy.
I would agree with everyone running against Newsom that the nature of San Francisco is being changed in such a way that it's in danger of becoming "Monaco on the Pacific," but real issues like affordable housing, funding for the arts, crime, and jobs for everyone are ill-served by using public money to fund self-aggrandizing "candidates" whose only real interest is in setting up themselves and their friends around their pet projects. I can't blame the real progressives, like Matt Gonzalez, for not wanting to run, having seen what a blood sport San Francisco politics has become (or maybe always has been), but it's also clear to me that we won't get anything better until we can find a way to foster candidates who embrace real civic virtues and concerns, rather than just another set of players in the game of patronage politics.
I actually can't say much against Josh Wolf; he's young and his big claim to fame is not handing over video tape of an anarchist riot to the Feds, but at least he's earnest and shows some thought around bigger issues. Chicken John, on the other hand, is becoming the alterative crank of choice, and while he admits he doesn't have a chance of hell in winning (and even his supporters will tell you he is lousy at politics), his candidacy is enabling him to set himself up to bestow patronage on those he favors, without doing anything real to improve the overall quality of life for everyone in this city. And that's my biggest problem with all of this: San Francisco has real problems that everyone can see, and everyone can see that our present Mayor isn't dealing with them. But instead of candidates coming forward who have real ideas about how to change things, what we get are symbolic candidates who are in the running only to further their own self-interest.
Chicken John is a burner type, who claims to be an artist and who has a truck that runs on coffee grounds (this is his big campaign point, by the way). His manifestos and public appearances have largely focused on his complaints about the state of the arts in San Francisco, and his personal grievances with the Arts Commission. Now I hear that his squeaky wheel is potentially being greased by giving him a position with the Arts Commission, from which, in classic San Francisco tradition, he will be able to direct funding toward those in his favor. Great. Meanwhile, he is still attempting to get $75,000 in matching funds for his mayoral race, even though he and his supporters know that he doesn't have a chance of winning. Hmmmm, isn't that public money that comes from taxes? So it seems that Chicken John's entire campaign is about scamming the system to mis-use public funds for his "performance art" candidacy.
I would agree with everyone running against Newsom that the nature of San Francisco is being changed in such a way that it's in danger of becoming "Monaco on the Pacific," but real issues like affordable housing, funding for the arts, crime, and jobs for everyone are ill-served by using public money to fund self-aggrandizing "candidates" whose only real interest is in setting up themselves and their friends around their pet projects. I can't blame the real progressives, like Matt Gonzalez, for not wanting to run, having seen what a blood sport San Francisco politics has become (or maybe always has been), but it's also clear to me that we won't get anything better until we can find a way to foster candidates who embrace real civic virtues and concerns, rather than just another set of players in the game of patronage politics.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Upcoming Event: Staple Presents Sabotage at Anu, Thursday August 23
More future house and deep techno from the Staple Music Residents DJ Javaight and Fil Latorre, with special guest Qzen (Moxie). Check out my review of the Staple Music Party at The Transfer.
Club Anu
43 6th Street (btwn Market and Mission)
10PM - 2AM
FREE
More info at staplemusic.net
Club Anu
43 6th Street (btwn Market and Mission)
10PM - 2AM
FREE
More info at staplemusic.net
Your Friday Guide for August 24, 2007
Looking pretty quiet this weekend (except for some fun stuff on Sunday, see the Upcoming Events page) as everybody and their brother, sister, and significant other is packing it up to head out to that thing they do in the desert every year, you know, where they burn that man. So kick back and relax, enjoy the peace and quiet if you're not going, and if you are, throw a shrimp on the barbie for me, will ya?
Weeklies and Bar Nights
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
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 latest review of Charlie Horse at The Cinch.
9PM - close
NO COVER
The Cinch, 1723 Polk Street (between Clay and Washington)
Fag Fridays at The EndUp
Reliable, not all that exciting, typical San Francisco deep house, but it's gay and you can stay until the next afternoon.
10PM - 6AM, and then Ascension starts up
$20
The End UP, 6th x Harrison
The Jaded Gay DJ Recommends: Lights Down Low at Club 222
This installment features guests Franki Chan and Seraphim, with resident DJs Sleazemore, Rchrd OH! and now "hosted" by Billy C. Check out my previous reviews of Lights Down Low.
10PM - 2AM
$7
Club 222, 222 Hyde Street x Turk
Monthlies and One-Offs
Shark Attack!
Residents 0rko, Rubyacht, Starr (Bondage-a-Go-Go), Macro spinning "Electro/Progressive/Techno/Grime/Popdancecrap."
9.30PM - 2AM
FREE before 10, $5 after
Julie's Supper Club, 1123 Folsom x 7th
Starfucker at Deco Lounge
Probably the best club in the 'Loin, though I can't speak to the particulars of this night (yet).
10PM - 2AM
$5 all night.
Weeklies and Bar Nights
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
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 latest review of Charlie Horse at The Cinch.
9PM - close
NO COVER
The Cinch, 1723 Polk Street (between Clay and Washington)
Fag Fridays at The EndUp
Reliable, not all that exciting, typical San Francisco deep house, but it's gay and you can stay until the next afternoon.
10PM - 6AM, and then Ascension starts up
$20
The End UP, 6th x Harrison
The Jaded Gay DJ Recommends: Lights Down Low at Club 222
This installment features guests Franki Chan and Seraphim, with resident DJs Sleazemore, Rchrd OH! and now "hosted" by Billy C. Check out my previous reviews of Lights Down Low.
10PM - 2AM
$7
Club 222, 222 Hyde Street x Turk
Monthlies and One-Offs
Shark Attack!
Residents 0rko, Rubyacht, Starr (Bondage-a-Go-Go), Macro spinning "Electro/Progressive/Techno/Grime/Popdancecrap."
9.30PM - 2AM
FREE before 10, $5 after
Julie's Supper Club, 1123 Folsom x 7th
Starfucker at Deco Lounge
Probably the best club in the 'Loin, though I can't speak to the particulars of this night (yet).
10PM - 2AM
$5 all night.
Upcoming Event: The Workout at House of Shields, Thursday August 23
The Workout
with residents Johnatron and Pozibelle
9PM - 2AM
$5
House of Shields, 39 New Montgomery Street at Market
Check out my last review of The Workout in their new space.
with residents Johnatron and Pozibelle
9PM - 2AM
$5
House of Shields, 39 New Montgomery Street at Market
Check out my last review of The Workout in their new space.
Upcoming Event: Up in the Park, Sunday August 26
FreeTechnoBbq / Family Picnic / Birthday Extravaganja
Golden Gate Park
1pm - 8pm
Underground Techno Music by
D-SYN (spaz)
FOREST GREEN (daly city records) --filling in for Binnie with an early set - 1pm!
JAMES BASS (bassaholics anonymous)
MOSONIK (aural sects)
PAREGORIC KID (church of anexia) [LIVE]
SOLSTINGR (5lowershop)
TOMKAT (subversive soundz)
Check the calendar at www.myspace.com/audiosect after 08/23 to get the exact location
Golden Gate Park
1pm - 8pm
Underground Techno Music by
D-SYN (spaz)
FOREST GREEN (daly city records) --filling in for Binnie with an early set - 1pm!
JAMES BASS (bassaholics anonymous)
MOSONIK (aural sects)
PAREGORIC KID (church of anexia) [LIVE]
SOLSTINGR (5lowershop)
TOMKAT (subversive soundz)
Check the calendar at www.myspace.com/audiosect after 08/23 to get the exact location
Upcoming Event: Honey Sound System with Todd Terje, Sunday, August 26
Given how many posters for this I've seen around town, along with it being featured *twice* now on Ggreg's List email, I don't know that it needs any more promotion from me, but here it is:
On Sunday August 26th, 2007 Honey Soundsystem presents Todd Terje from Olso, Norway. An evening of disco edits, spacey sounds, and summer flutter compete with drag show, honey dj's Derek B and Robot Hustle, and the dinosaur that is the old Raw Hide in Soma (280 7th sf). Early birds get in for $5 before 10pm and $10 after. Drag Starts at 8pm and Terje Closes out the night til 2am.
On Sunday August 26th, 2007 Honey Soundsystem presents Todd Terje from Olso, Norway. An evening of disco edits, spacey sounds, and summer flutter compete with drag show, honey dj's Derek B and Robot Hustle, and the dinosaur that is the old Raw Hide in Soma (280 7th sf). Early birds get in for $5 before 10pm and $10 after. Drag Starts at 8pm and Terje Closes out the night til 2am.
Monday, August 20, 2007
On Codeine
This was a weekend out of time for yours truly, as I spent most of it being laid out on our too-short-be-really-comfortable Ikea Klippan loveseat with "walking pneumonia." If you've never had the chance to experience this lovely ailment, here are some highlights:
My tastes in intoxicants run toward the stimulating and psychedelic rather than the dissassociative - thus, while I have flirted with things white and powdery, and have indulged more heavily in things that make my eyes wobble and put hieroglyphs on my jeans, I've never really been into K, for example, or been tempted by the morphine family. When I got the codeine prescription I thought, "all right, maybe this will be kind of interesting," but what it mostly did was make me super spacey and really, really irritable. Against my doctor's advice I drove on Friday afternoon, undertaking what should have been a ten minute trip to pick up a patio table I bought on craigslist, but which turned into an hour-long excursion in the vicinity of Balboa park as I missed turns, got stuck on the freeway in the wrong direction, and generally cursed the sad state of San Francisco's street engineering (my being on a disorienting drug having nothing to do with any of this). On Saturday the boyfriend and I undertook a trip to Ikea, and when we returned around dinner time I was totally, completely exhausted, not just from the usual Ikea madness, but from having to endure it when I could barely focus on what I was doing there. I had really wanted to make it out to hear The Juan Maclean at The Transfer, but the thought of just getting there, much less hanging out, was more than I could bear.
Sunday I decided to stop taking the stuff entirely, or at least until I was ready for bed. As a result, my spirits improved noticibly. It was an intersting experience; something that makes you feel better, in a way, but which you're glad to be done with at the first opportunity. I had a similar experience last summer when I was given a prescription for Vicodin to help manage my pain after some minor (but painful, oh so painful) surgery. Sure, the pain was tolerable, just as my cough was under control, but the actual effect of the drug was such that I just wanted to be done with it.
I wonder if ther's some aspect of the drug formulations that is designed to do this; to provide the analgesic effect, on the one hand, but to also provide an effect that you are capable of recognizing as deleterious to your overall feeling of well-being, such that you are ready to be done with the drug as soon as you no longer need the analgesic effect. In any case, I can say that after these experiences I feel pretty certain that my individual neurochemistry is not particularly amenable to the disassociative effects of morphine. Given my brain's receptiveness to other molecular combinations, I suppose this is something to be grateful for.
- hacking cough that produces gobs and gobs of white lung mucilage
- weakness to the point where walking to the kitchen makes you break into a sweat
- the desire to sleep for twenty out of twenty-four hours
- no fever, so you think maybe it's all just hangover effects from your wild weekend
My tastes in intoxicants run toward the stimulating and psychedelic rather than the dissassociative - thus, while I have flirted with things white and powdery, and have indulged more heavily in things that make my eyes wobble and put hieroglyphs on my jeans, I've never really been into K, for example, or been tempted by the morphine family. When I got the codeine prescription I thought, "all right, maybe this will be kind of interesting," but what it mostly did was make me super spacey and really, really irritable. Against my doctor's advice I drove on Friday afternoon, undertaking what should have been a ten minute trip to pick up a patio table I bought on craigslist, but which turned into an hour-long excursion in the vicinity of Balboa park as I missed turns, got stuck on the freeway in the wrong direction, and generally cursed the sad state of San Francisco's street engineering (my being on a disorienting drug having nothing to do with any of this). On Saturday the boyfriend and I undertook a trip to Ikea, and when we returned around dinner time I was totally, completely exhausted, not just from the usual Ikea madness, but from having to endure it when I could barely focus on what I was doing there. I had really wanted to make it out to hear The Juan Maclean at The Transfer, but the thought of just getting there, much less hanging out, was more than I could bear.
Sunday I decided to stop taking the stuff entirely, or at least until I was ready for bed. As a result, my spirits improved noticibly. It was an intersting experience; something that makes you feel better, in a way, but which you're glad to be done with at the first opportunity. I had a similar experience last summer when I was given a prescription for Vicodin to help manage my pain after some minor (but painful, oh so painful) surgery. Sure, the pain was tolerable, just as my cough was under control, but the actual effect of the drug was such that I just wanted to be done with it.
I wonder if ther's some aspect of the drug formulations that is designed to do this; to provide the analgesic effect, on the one hand, but to also provide an effect that you are capable of recognizing as deleterious to your overall feeling of well-being, such that you are ready to be done with the drug as soon as you no longer need the analgesic effect. In any case, I can say that after these experiences I feel pretty certain that my individual neurochemistry is not particularly amenable to the disassociative effects of morphine. Given my brain's receptiveness to other molecular combinations, I suppose this is something to be grateful for.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Your Saturday Guide for August 18, 2007
The Man burns in two weeks, kids, and so that means pretty much everyone I know is spending their free time dragging out their dusty bins, washing their fur, and making all those necessary last minute arrangements. Nonetheless, there are still some fun things going on in the non-Burner world this Saturday.
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. Check out my review of Drunk and Horny.
$5
9PMish - 2.00AM (with maybe an afterparty)
Underground SF, 424 Haight Street x Webster
Frisco Disco at The Transfer
This night just recently started up at this new location and I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but with tunes provided by the likes of Jefrodesiac and Richie Panic, and Lady Meleksah as the cruise director, there's some great potential for a good time. This week's special techno-god guest: The Juan Maclean!
No cover listed
9.00PM - 2.00AM
The Transfer, Church at Market
Monthlies and One-Offs
Ambisonic Four-Fear Anniversary at The Retox
Celebrating four years of chilly grooves with DFTram, Mike Bee, Saturnia, MAK, Chlorophil, Trafffice, Future BD, Jump/Cut, Fuzzpod, and Submodern.
Free before 9, $5 until 11, $7 after 11
8.00 PM - 2.00AM
Retox Lounge, 628 20th Street (Take T-Third MUNI)
Kontrol Underground!
With Kontrol residents Nikola Baytalla, Craig Kuna, and Sammy D., and special guests Vadim (loft.in.space, less, NYC), Jason Short (Auralism Recordings), and Dima (58 Tehama, Mikrofon).
$5 before 11, $10 after
10.00PM - ?
58 Tehama Street, between 1st and 2nd, Howard and Folsom
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. Check out my review of Drunk and Horny.
$5
9PMish - 2.00AM (with maybe an afterparty)
Underground SF, 424 Haight Street x Webster
Frisco Disco at The Transfer
This night just recently started up at this new location and I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but with tunes provided by the likes of Jefrodesiac and Richie Panic, and Lady Meleksah as the cruise director, there's some great potential for a good time. This week's special techno-god guest: The Juan Maclean!
No cover listed
9.00PM - 2.00AM
The Transfer, Church at Market
Monthlies and One-Offs
Ambisonic Four-Fear Anniversary at The Retox
Celebrating four years of chilly grooves with DFTram, Mike Bee, Saturnia, MAK, Chlorophil, Trafffice, Future BD, Jump/Cut, Fuzzpod, and Submodern.
Free before 9, $5 until 11, $7 after 11
8.00 PM - 2.00AM
Retox Lounge, 628 20th Street (Take T-Third MUNI)
Kontrol Underground!
With Kontrol residents Nikola Baytalla, Craig Kuna, and Sammy D., and special guests Vadim (loft.in.space, less, NYC), Jason Short (Auralism Recordings), and Dima (58 Tehama, Mikrofon).
$5 before 11, $10 after
10.00PM - ?
58 Tehama Street, between 1st and 2nd, Howard and Folsom
More on the Castro Halloween Controversy
In today's San Francisco Chronicle there's an article about a meeting of Castro business leaders that took place last night, and it looks like nobody's very happy about The City's decision to announce "no Halloween." The idea of canceling Halloween in the Castro is dependant on getting businesses to cooperate by shutting down for the night, so that there's no flame to attract the moths (so to speak), but when you have bars like Badlands saying they're not going to do it, it demonstrates how torn the community is over this. Halloween is a big money-maker for the bars, and they've not likely to shut down for the night (perhaps setting a precedent for every successive Halloween as well), but others are clearly tired of dealing with the situation. So at this point, it looks like there will be just as many police as last year, but no porta-potties (which police chief Heather Fong admits could lead to "unpleasant situations"), no street barricades, and no sound stages. Does this mean that we'll just have throngs of people milling around, looking for something to do and a place to take a dump? It's pretty clear we can't say "We're closing down the Castro, don't come here," and you can't arrest people for just walking around. Stay tuned readers, this year I'll even closer to the action than last year and will be sure to file a report.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Your Friday Guide for August 17, 2007
Doesn't look like yours truly will be getting out much this weekend ("a little walking pneumonia" the doc told me), and everybody else seems to be biding their time before hitting the playa, but there are still a couple things going on you all might want to check out.
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
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 latest review of Charlie Horse at The Cinch.
9PM - close
NO COVER
1723 Polk Street (btwn Clay and Washington)
Fag Fridays at The EndUp
Reliable, not all that exciting, typical San Francisco deep house, but it's gay and you can stay until the next afternoon.
10PM - 6AM, and then Ascension starts up
$20
6th and Harrison
Monthlies and One-Offs
Glitterbox at The Cat Club
The creators of the legendary Litterbox bring it back to The Cat Club with this "funkpunk thrash electro discotheque." This month features a bar set by Hell Willpower. DJs Natureboy and Junkyard. Check out my review of Hey Willpower at The Rickshaw Stop.
9.30PM - 3AM
$10
The Cat Club, 1190 Folsom at 8th
Blow-Up at The Rickshaw Stop
Jefrodesiac (Frisco Disco) and Richie Panic mix it up with MC Jelly Donut, with special guest appearance by Le Castlevania.
9PM - 2AM
$8 before 11PM, $10 after
The Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell at Van Ness
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
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 latest review of Charlie Horse at The Cinch.
9PM - close
NO COVER
1723 Polk Street (btwn Clay and Washington)
Fag Fridays at The EndUp
Reliable, not all that exciting, typical San Francisco deep house, but it's gay and you can stay until the next afternoon.
10PM - 6AM, and then Ascension starts up
$20
6th and Harrison
Monthlies and One-Offs
Glitterbox at The Cat Club
The creators of the legendary Litterbox bring it back to The Cat Club with this "funkpunk thrash electro discotheque." This month features a bar set by Hell Willpower. DJs Natureboy and Junkyard. Check out my review of Hey Willpower at The Rickshaw Stop.
9.30PM - 3AM
$10
The Cat Club, 1190 Folsom at 8th
Blow-Up at The Rickshaw Stop
Jefrodesiac (Frisco Disco) and Richie Panic mix it up with MC Jelly Donut, with special guest appearance by Le Castlevania.
9PM - 2AM
$8 before 11PM, $10 after
The Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell at Van Ness
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Event Review: Queen Acres at C and S
Oh Lordy, do those Sisters know how to party. Here it is Tuesday and I'm still trying to pull it together from a weekend at C and S with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and their various friends and associates. I definitely took advantage of the full indulgence package, starting at roughly 4PM on Saturday and rolling on and on until dawn broke on Sunday morning to a scene that was probably James Dobson's worst nightmare, a half dozen naked fags in a hot tub, bottles of Maker's Mark and various Chardonneys littering the ground around us. In that period of time I made out with an Abbotess and a hot hot Burnerrific boy, had some interesting moments when the world appeared as a very flat stage set, and pondered, as I often do, the meaning of these events where everyone comes to lose themselves, or at least their mundane manifestations, for a while. As the boyfriend puts it, it was a "spiritual, playful, erotic journey into the magic heart of the hot tub," and as the sunlight came over the crest of the mountain he proclaimed it "the best time at C and S ever." I would have to agree.
I was supposed to DJ this event on Friday night, but due to a miscommunication about when the sound had to end I got turned off at midnight. That was somewhat disappointing, but I've come to learn that DJing at C and S is a bit of a crap shoot, since everything from the weather to the time dinner is actually served plays a major role in how well things go over, and there were plenty of satisfying beats from Lord Kook, Neco D, Mermaid, Jovino, and our friend Henry Halperin of LA to keep everyone in the right frame of mind. And when you have things like Sisters in full formal drag re-enacting a Dynasty bitch fight in a pond, what more entertainment do you need?
I've hung out with Sisters before, but only on an individual basis. Among those I already knew, or at least am acquainted with, were Zsa Zsa and Flora, and I got to meet Viva and Sharin' and a half-dozen other associated postulants, sisters, and general worshippers. You can tell how much these girls all love each other because of how often they call each other "whore" and "bitch." My big treat, though, was the lovely boy who came over and crouched next to me at the pond soon after our arrival in full Burner Abo drag, from faux hawk to furry loincloth to black harem boy eye make-up, who turned out to be a fire dancer and ex-bio hemistry facilities manager now turned chiropractic student. It's hard to say whether he or the boyfriend were the most lusted after skinny young things at the event, but both got plenty of attention. Let's just say that after Saturday night I have plenty of real-life porno images to fuel my fantasy life for a while.
This was the first "gay" event I've attended at C and S (there were some nominally "straight" people there, but the magical hot tub has a way of loosening up these distinctions), and it pretty much beat out every other gay party I've been to, ever. It was a small enough group that everyone had a chance to interact with pretty much everyone else, and while there was plenty of sex vibe, it was far from the usual "score or die" mentality of, say, a circuit party or even a straight-up sex party. The thing that struck me was that, every morning, I woke up to the sound of laughter, and the whole weekend was one long string of hilarity. When you've got everyone laughing and having a good time together, it sure makes all the rest a lot easier. I mean, after all, I actually got some action from somone other than my boyfriend, which is practically a fucking miracle, especially since it was action with people I *wanted* to have action with. I chalk this all up to having lots of opportunity to display my glowing personality to folks who appeciated it. Oh, and the mohawk too, guys are really hot for mohawks these days.
As usual at these sorts of events, I did have my brief moment of "unreality," that instant when you look around at the folks in all their crazy outfits doing their crazy things (none of the Sisters were in face, I should mention - it's too fucking hot for that kind of thing at C and S, and we all know that clown white kills pond life) and wonder what the hell is going on. I spend a lot of time ruminating over "the meaning of it all," sometimes to the detriment of my being able to have a good time, and this time I think I got a little closer to understanding it as something beyond simple hedonistic excess. Everyone I knew at this event, and many of the new ones I got to know, are people who have set out on very individual paths in the world - I would say that they are, in a very true sense, eccentrics (myself included). Most of us do pretty well in the real world, but none of us really likes it that much - god knows I wouldn't be sitting at this desk under these flourescent lights if I could come up with a better way of making money. Going to C and S is like entering into another world, one where you get to make up the rules for yourself for a change, and undertake little personality experiments on yourself. There can be an uncomfortable freaky element to this - we're all way too familiar with how this plays out in contexts like Landmark Seminars - but this environment is far more benign than your average cult compound, and nobody is there trying to deconstruct your personality to their own ends. Instead, everyone is there to have a good time, to let their eccentricity have its run in a space where nobody really cares that you like to wear a collar and bunny ears so long as you clean up your dishes when you're done with dinner and can avoid drowning in the pond after you've become completely shit-faced. The boyfriend once said that Burning Man was like an adult playground, in that there was no one there to tell you what to do, and if you got hurt on the monkey bars, it was your responsibility to deal with it. C and S provides a similar environment; though we might go up there to act dress up and act crazy, as though we were children, it's really a space in which I can be as much of an adult as I want to be, taking responsibility for my own actions, accidents, and interactions. This is what I think marks the eccentricity of those I have met there - they are people who seek out opportunities to be independent, to shake off the strictures of mundane, corporatized society, and make things for themselves, social and economic entrepeneurs of a sort that you rarely find outside of the Bay area. C and S is just another example of those small social incubators that are part of the social fabric of Northern California -without it, and the opportunities it provides for introspection and interaction, I don't know that this place would be as interesting and dynamic as it is.
As for this event, I can't wait until next year for the next installment, and count myself lucky to have had a weekend like this with such a swell group of people. You go, Sisters!
Selected Photos by The Boyfriend
(click the link to see more)
Neco D on the decks Friday night.
Yours truly in best DJ pose ever.
The boyfriend poolside with Sister Viva L'Amour.
A view of the idyllic lawn.
Me and the boyfriend, post hot-tub Sunday AM.
I was supposed to DJ this event on Friday night, but due to a miscommunication about when the sound had to end I got turned off at midnight. That was somewhat disappointing, but I've come to learn that DJing at C and S is a bit of a crap shoot, since everything from the weather to the time dinner is actually served plays a major role in how well things go over, and there were plenty of satisfying beats from Lord Kook, Neco D, Mermaid, Jovino, and our friend Henry Halperin of LA to keep everyone in the right frame of mind. And when you have things like Sisters in full formal drag re-enacting a Dynasty bitch fight in a pond, what more entertainment do you need?
I've hung out with Sisters before, but only on an individual basis. Among those I already knew, or at least am acquainted with, were Zsa Zsa and Flora, and I got to meet Viva and Sharin' and a half-dozen other associated postulants, sisters, and general worshippers. You can tell how much these girls all love each other because of how often they call each other "whore" and "bitch." My big treat, though, was the lovely boy who came over and crouched next to me at the pond soon after our arrival in full Burner Abo drag, from faux hawk to furry loincloth to black harem boy eye make-up, who turned out to be a fire dancer and ex-bio hemistry facilities manager now turned chiropractic student. It's hard to say whether he or the boyfriend were the most lusted after skinny young things at the event, but both got plenty of attention. Let's just say that after Saturday night I have plenty of real-life porno images to fuel my fantasy life for a while.
This was the first "gay" event I've attended at C and S (there were some nominally "straight" people there, but the magical hot tub has a way of loosening up these distinctions), and it pretty much beat out every other gay party I've been to, ever. It was a small enough group that everyone had a chance to interact with pretty much everyone else, and while there was plenty of sex vibe, it was far from the usual "score or die" mentality of, say, a circuit party or even a straight-up sex party. The thing that struck me was that, every morning, I woke up to the sound of laughter, and the whole weekend was one long string of hilarity. When you've got everyone laughing and having a good time together, it sure makes all the rest a lot easier. I mean, after all, I actually got some action from somone other than my boyfriend, which is practically a fucking miracle, especially since it was action with people I *wanted* to have action with. I chalk this all up to having lots of opportunity to display my glowing personality to folks who appeciated it. Oh, and the mohawk too, guys are really hot for mohawks these days.
As usual at these sorts of events, I did have my brief moment of "unreality," that instant when you look around at the folks in all their crazy outfits doing their crazy things (none of the Sisters were in face, I should mention - it's too fucking hot for that kind of thing at C and S, and we all know that clown white kills pond life) and wonder what the hell is going on. I spend a lot of time ruminating over "the meaning of it all," sometimes to the detriment of my being able to have a good time, and this time I think I got a little closer to understanding it as something beyond simple hedonistic excess. Everyone I knew at this event, and many of the new ones I got to know, are people who have set out on very individual paths in the world - I would say that they are, in a very true sense, eccentrics (myself included). Most of us do pretty well in the real world, but none of us really likes it that much - god knows I wouldn't be sitting at this desk under these flourescent lights if I could come up with a better way of making money. Going to C and S is like entering into another world, one where you get to make up the rules for yourself for a change, and undertake little personality experiments on yourself. There can be an uncomfortable freaky element to this - we're all way too familiar with how this plays out in contexts like Landmark Seminars - but this environment is far more benign than your average cult compound, and nobody is there trying to deconstruct your personality to their own ends. Instead, everyone is there to have a good time, to let their eccentricity have its run in a space where nobody really cares that you like to wear a collar and bunny ears so long as you clean up your dishes when you're done with dinner and can avoid drowning in the pond after you've become completely shit-faced. The boyfriend once said that Burning Man was like an adult playground, in that there was no one there to tell you what to do, and if you got hurt on the monkey bars, it was your responsibility to deal with it. C and S provides a similar environment; though we might go up there to act dress up and act crazy, as though we were children, it's really a space in which I can be as much of an adult as I want to be, taking responsibility for my own actions, accidents, and interactions. This is what I think marks the eccentricity of those I have met there - they are people who seek out opportunities to be independent, to shake off the strictures of mundane, corporatized society, and make things for themselves, social and economic entrepeneurs of a sort that you rarely find outside of the Bay area. C and S is just another example of those small social incubators that are part of the social fabric of Northern California -without it, and the opportunities it provides for introspection and interaction, I don't know that this place would be as interesting and dynamic as it is.
As for this event, I can't wait until next year for the next installment, and count myself lucky to have had a weekend like this with such a swell group of people. You go, Sisters!
Selected Photos by The Boyfriend
(click the link to see more)
Neco D on the decks Friday night.
Yours truly in best DJ pose ever.
The boyfriend poolside with Sister Viva L'Amour.
A view of the idyllic lawn.
Me and the boyfriend, post hot-tub Sunday AM.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
And July's Top Five Winners Are . . . .
So I've got this blog hooked up to Google Analytics, and besides providing me with hours of obsessive-compulsive entertainment and chart analysis, one of the things I get to see are the keywords that bring people to my site. It's a glimpse into the interests of the locals, as well as the really, really bizarre things that people the world over want to know about. So here, my friends, are the top five search terms (minus the sfscene keywords), as well as the five that cracked me up the most, for the month of July (and how I think folks wound up at my site because of them)
Top Five July Search Terms
Top Five July Most Absurd Search Terms
Top Five July Search Terms
- rhythm society +event
- modyfier (the blog)
- gentleman's techno
- dj bryan hughes
- vintage 415
Top Five July Most Absurd Search Terms
- zebra clubs sex (because I mentioned the Zebra Club in North Beach in a post about noise ordinances and clubs)
- what to mix with an 8ball of coke (mash up "mix," 8ball of the Space Cowboys, and my postings about coke in the club scene, and this is what you get. My answer would be a couple of really strong drinks, but that's just me).
- tittyfuck scenes (because of Trauma Flintstone's famous "Tittyfuck" song, no doubt)
- review of exercise CD for fat people (I have no idea on this one)
- meth mixes (what's this supposed to mean, stuff to listen to while on meth, or meth recipes? Again, mash up meth with DJ mixes, and this is what you get)
Your Saturday Guide for August 11, 2007
By the time you all get clubbing I'll probably be passed out under the stars, but that's not such a bad thing, is it?
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. Check out my review of Drunk and Horny.
$5
9PMish - 2.00AM (with maybe an afterparty)
Underground SF, 424 Haight Street x Webster
Frisco Disco at The Transfer
This night just recently started up at this new location and I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but with tunes provided by the likes of Jefrodesiac and Richie Panic, and Lady Meleksah as the cruise director, there's some great potential for a good time.
No cover listed
9.00PM - 2.00AM
The Transfer, Church at Market
Monthlies and One-Offs
The Jaded Gay DJ Recommends: Bassaholics Anonymous Present DJ Bone
Whoo, gimme that Detroit Techno stylin' on three decks! With Craig Kuna (Kontrol), Dave Siska (Sonic Sunset, Chicago), J_Moody (Meioitic, Chicago), Razvan (Bassaholics Anonymous), and James Bass (Bassaholics Anonymous).
$10 at the door
10.00PM - "Afterhours"
Downtown Underground Location (call 415-814-5884 for info)
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. Check out my review of Drunk and Horny.
$5
9PMish - 2.00AM (with maybe an afterparty)
Underground SF, 424 Haight Street x Webster
Frisco Disco at The Transfer
This night just recently started up at this new location and I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but with tunes provided by the likes of Jefrodesiac and Richie Panic, and Lady Meleksah as the cruise director, there's some great potential for a good time.
No cover listed
9.00PM - 2.00AM
The Transfer, Church at Market
Monthlies and One-Offs
The Jaded Gay DJ Recommends: Bassaholics Anonymous Present DJ Bone
Whoo, gimme that Detroit Techno stylin' on three decks! With Craig Kuna (Kontrol), Dave Siska (Sonic Sunset, Chicago), J_Moody (Meioitic, Chicago), Razvan (Bassaholics Anonymous), and James Bass (Bassaholics Anonymous).
$10 at the door
10.00PM - "Afterhours"
Downtown Underground Location (call 415-814-5884 for info)
Your Friday Guide for August 10, 2007
I'm off to the mountains this week for a much-needed retreat from all the City's hassles, but here are a couple things to keep you all amused while I'm gone:
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
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 latest review of Charlie Horse at The Cinch.
9PM - close
NO COVER
The Cinch, 1723 Polk Street (between Clay and Washington)
Fag Fridays at The EndUp
Reliable, not all that exciting, typical San Francisco deep house, but it's gay and you can stay until the next afternoon.
10PM - 6AM, and then Ascension starts up
$20
The End UP, 6th x Harrison
Monthlies and One-Offs
The Jaded Gay DJ Recommends: Lights Down Low at Club 222
This installment features guests Cobra Krames and Purple Crush, with resident DJs Sleazemore, Rchrd OH!? Still smarting a bit from my last excursion there, but I still think this is one of the most fun Friday nights in the city. Check out my previous reviews of Lights Down Low.
10PM - 2AM
$7
Club 222, 222 Hyde Street x Turk
Ginormous at The Rickshaw Stop
A new techno monthly with residents Alland Byallo (Kontrol), Christian Martin (Dirty Bird), Dave Aju, and Jason Short.
10PM - 2AM
$7
The Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell at Van Nexx
The Rod at Deco Lounge
For all the gay boys who want to pretend that it's 1979. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them. Check out my review of The Rod.
10PM - 4AM
FREE before 10PM, $5 After
Deco Lounge, 510 Larkin at Turk
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
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 latest review of Charlie Horse at The Cinch.
9PM - close
NO COVER
The Cinch, 1723 Polk Street (between Clay and Washington)
Fag Fridays at The EndUp
Reliable, not all that exciting, typical San Francisco deep house, but it's gay and you can stay until the next afternoon.
10PM - 6AM, and then Ascension starts up
$20
The End UP, 6th x Harrison
Monthlies and One-Offs
The Jaded Gay DJ Recommends: Lights Down Low at Club 222
This installment features guests Cobra Krames and Purple Crush, with resident DJs Sleazemore, Rchrd OH!? Still smarting a bit from my last excursion there, but I still think this is one of the most fun Friday nights in the city. Check out my previous reviews of Lights Down Low.
10PM - 2AM
$7
Club 222, 222 Hyde Street x Turk
Ginormous at The Rickshaw Stop
A new techno monthly with residents Alland Byallo (Kontrol), Christian Martin (Dirty Bird), Dave Aju, and Jason Short.
10PM - 2AM
$7
The Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell at Van Nexx
The Rod at Deco Lounge
For all the gay boys who want to pretend that it's 1979. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them. Check out my review of The Rod.
10PM - 4AM
FREE before 10PM, $5 After
Deco Lounge, 510 Larkin at Turk
San Francisco Cancels Halloween!
According to this article in the San Francisco Chronicle, it's official: no big civic Halloween party in San Francisco, not in the Castro, not out at ATT Park, not anywhere. Supervisor Bevan Dufty, whose district includes the Castro, is officially asking businesses in the Castro to close that night, and at least one prominent business, Cafe Flore, has agreed. Cops will be out in significant force to keep an eye on things, but it seems that the Castro will be tranformed into a literal ghost town for Halloween.
I've not been a huge fan of Halloween in the Castro for a while now; I've never enjoyed massives, and nothing, aside from Folsom Street Fair, is as massive as Hallowen in the Castro. While it was fun the first couple years I lived here, in recent years it's become a scene for gang-banging, and after last year's shooting everybody was pretty well fed up with it. It would be nice to think that there is some way that a modicum of control can be brought to bear over this affair, but short of pat-downs at the gates I don't know what that would be. It will be a huge blow to the fundraising efforts of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who collected the gate proceeds, and in general it seems to signal the death of "the gay Christmas."
It's possible that after a year of abstinence the message will get out and some semblance of life will return to the Castro on Halloween, but I'm not optimistic; in some ways San Francisco has become too big, as a city, to return to the kind of neighborhood festivity that was the Castro Halloween. The whole tradition started back in the 1950s when Cliff's Hardware, on Castro Street, had a halloween costume contest for the neighborhood kids. After that, it became a big gay party, a chance to dress up and misbehave when the political (and legal) climate around homosexuality was much tougher (remember, these were the days when you could be arrested for cross-dressing - except on Halloween). But now there are no more kids in the Castro, and gay life is significantly different than it was even twenty years ago. In light of these things, maybe we should ask what purpose the Castro Halloween party serves to our community? If we can't answer that question beyond "well, it's a big party," maybe it is time to let it go.
UPDATE: Over the weekend Sister Selma Soul told me that the Sisters haven't had anything to do with the Castro Halloween party since about 1994, primarily because of all the issues around crowd control that have brought about this year's cancellation. After talking with many people about it, there seems to be a consensus that no one is against a big Halloween party, but that the City is unable to manage the crowd that shows up for this.
I've not been a huge fan of Halloween in the Castro for a while now; I've never enjoyed massives, and nothing, aside from Folsom Street Fair, is as massive as Hallowen in the Castro. While it was fun the first couple years I lived here, in recent years it's become a scene for gang-banging, and after last year's shooting everybody was pretty well fed up with it. It would be nice to think that there is some way that a modicum of control can be brought to bear over this affair, but short of pat-downs at the gates I don't know what that would be. It will be a huge blow to the fundraising efforts of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who collected the gate proceeds, and in general it seems to signal the death of "the gay Christmas."
It's possible that after a year of abstinence the message will get out and some semblance of life will return to the Castro on Halloween, but I'm not optimistic; in some ways San Francisco has become too big, as a city, to return to the kind of neighborhood festivity that was the Castro Halloween. The whole tradition started back in the 1950s when Cliff's Hardware, on Castro Street, had a halloween costume contest for the neighborhood kids. After that, it became a big gay party, a chance to dress up and misbehave when the political (and legal) climate around homosexuality was much tougher (remember, these were the days when you could be arrested for cross-dressing - except on Halloween). But now there are no more kids in the Castro, and gay life is significantly different than it was even twenty years ago. In light of these things, maybe we should ask what purpose the Castro Halloween party serves to our community? If we can't answer that question beyond "well, it's a big party," maybe it is time to let it go.
UPDATE: Over the weekend Sister Selma Soul told me that the Sisters haven't had anything to do with the Castro Halloween party since about 1994, primarily because of all the issues around crowd control that have brought about this year's cancellation. After talking with many people about it, there seems to be a consensus that no one is against a big Halloween party, but that the City is unable to manage the crowd that shows up for this.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Bunny Party!
This past weekend my friends Jovino and (DJ) Mermaid, the creative genuises behind Bunnywarez, fine purveyors of playa wear, celebrated their simultaneous birthdays with a party at their Oakland warehouse/factory, and I was reminded of how much fun it can be to just hang out and get goofy with a strange group of people and then crash on a makeshift bed, surrounded by bolts of fun fur, as the gloaming is showing through uncurtained windows.
I've know Jovino and Mermaid for about three years, and have watched with great pleasure as Bunnywarez has exploded from an occasional sale at various cons to a thriving Web business (their front page currently shows 729281 views). As Jovino put it, they are now battling the Boss that bars their entrance to the next stage of the game, as their orders have well exceeded the capacity of their home sewing operation. Bunnywarez has become a full-time business for the both of them, and it looks like the next move will be to delegate the needle and thread work to contractors as they manage the clothing design and administration of the business.
For me Jovino and Mermaid exemplify the promise of the Bay Area, the idea that you can be an eccentric, kooky, freaky, smart person and find a way to thrive without needing to buy into the typical corporate track. They live in a warehouse, they have friends who are in punk bands and spin fire, they're regular Burners, they DJ and participate in crazy events like Bunny Jam, while at the same time they are successful entrepeneurs with a thriving business. They should be an inspiration to us all.
The party itself was great fun, if somewhat on the small side. Lord Kook got to DJ for a bit, I met and talked with some interesting people, and even got to walk away with a fantastic furry shrug that everyone agreed was totally me. Sometimes parties don't have to be huge woo-woo affairs to satisfy the craving for social interaction, they just have to be populated with good friends who enjoy one another's company.
I've know Jovino and Mermaid for about three years, and have watched with great pleasure as Bunnywarez has exploded from an occasional sale at various cons to a thriving Web business (their front page currently shows 729281 views). As Jovino put it, they are now battling the Boss that bars their entrance to the next stage of the game, as their orders have well exceeded the capacity of their home sewing operation. Bunnywarez has become a full-time business for the both of them, and it looks like the next move will be to delegate the needle and thread work to contractors as they manage the clothing design and administration of the business.
For me Jovino and Mermaid exemplify the promise of the Bay Area, the idea that you can be an eccentric, kooky, freaky, smart person and find a way to thrive without needing to buy into the typical corporate track. They live in a warehouse, they have friends who are in punk bands and spin fire, they're regular Burners, they DJ and participate in crazy events like Bunny Jam, while at the same time they are successful entrepeneurs with a thriving business. They should be an inspiration to us all.
The party itself was great fun, if somewhat on the small side. Lord Kook got to DJ for a bit, I met and talked with some interesting people, and even got to walk away with a fantastic furry shrug that everyone agreed was totally me. Sometimes parties don't have to be huge woo-woo affairs to satisfy the craving for social interaction, they just have to be populated with good friends who enjoy one another's company.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Event Review: Lucky Pierre at The Stud
Friday night the boyfriend and I made it out to The Stud for the sixth monthly installment of Lucky Pierre, and despite my knees being blown out from a solid day of moving, toting, and arranging, the scene re-invigorated me to such a degree that I not only danced, but was able to forget for a while about transferring utilities, mollifying past and potential landlords, and pondering existential issues surrounding co-habitation with a boyfriend for the third time in my life.
We arrived around eleven and the crowd was already pretty lively; a round of strip poker was going on in the side room, in the back curtained room there were casting couch auditions for Factory Video, and Coco Chanel was everywhere doing her best to convince attendees to follow her into one room or the other. That Coco actually knew how to be a hostess, instead of just having her name under "Hosted By" on the flyer, was one of the things I enjoyed best about this night; twice she came over and talked to me, once to try and coax me onto the casting couch, the second time she handed me a dollar and told me to tip one of the dancers on stage and "smile pretty" for the cameras (more on that in a minute). As her partner in Pierre, Dan, told me, the goal of Lucky Pierre is to have a "playful sexuality," and in that regard Coco is the ideal hostess, helping the guests to feel comfortable and inspiring all sorts of naughty behavior. There are plenty of opportunities for interaction beyond the usual club standing and posing, whether it's tipping go-go boys, playing a couple hands of strip poker, or just getting out onto the dancefloor and sidling up to a cutie.
The crowd reminded me of the boys who would show up for Jeff and Gary's Reform Skool parties; more on the alterna side, more of what I've come think of as SoMa boys, though there were a few older SoMa queens around as well. We were accompanied by our friends Matt and Alex, the latter a habitue of The Lone Star and Bearacuda who was of the opinion "there are a lot of cute guys here," while I spotted a ginger-haired lad who works out at my gym and who I will now definitely be watching more closely as he uses the Roman chair. It was overall the sort of crowd that is into witty and artistic t-shirts, but who will probably take them off with very little prompting.
DJs for the night were Donimo (Substance) and DJ Six (Now Hear This) spinning indie electronica and electro. and over two hours we heard tracks from the likes of MIA, Depeche Mode, Justice, and New Young Pony Club, as well as the classic homodisco track, "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record Baby)" from Dead or Alive. The music had enough motive force to get me out onto the dancefloor after thinking I wouldn't even make it out for the evening, which is really all that needs to be said.
Lucky Pierre is definitely a scene; there are lots of camera flashes throughout the evening, and all it takes is one look at their myspace page to see that winding up in a photo or video clip is one of the highlights of the evening. Ordinarily this would bother me, but in this case I think it goes hand-in-crotch with the spirit of the evening; this is a party where anyone who shows up is a star and part of the action, rather than just certain scene kids. Next month's Lucky Pierre is Hair Do's (or Don'ts), and I'll definitely be spiking up the mohawk for it - after all, I want to look good for my close-up.
We arrived around eleven and the crowd was already pretty lively; a round of strip poker was going on in the side room, in the back curtained room there were casting couch auditions for Factory Video, and Coco Chanel was everywhere doing her best to convince attendees to follow her into one room or the other. That Coco actually knew how to be a hostess, instead of just having her name under "Hosted By" on the flyer, was one of the things I enjoyed best about this night; twice she came over and talked to me, once to try and coax me onto the casting couch, the second time she handed me a dollar and told me to tip one of the dancers on stage and "smile pretty" for the cameras (more on that in a minute). As her partner in Pierre, Dan, told me, the goal of Lucky Pierre is to have a "playful sexuality," and in that regard Coco is the ideal hostess, helping the guests to feel comfortable and inspiring all sorts of naughty behavior. There are plenty of opportunities for interaction beyond the usual club standing and posing, whether it's tipping go-go boys, playing a couple hands of strip poker, or just getting out onto the dancefloor and sidling up to a cutie.
The crowd reminded me of the boys who would show up for Jeff and Gary's Reform Skool parties; more on the alterna side, more of what I've come think of as SoMa boys, though there were a few older SoMa queens around as well. We were accompanied by our friends Matt and Alex, the latter a habitue of The Lone Star and Bearacuda who was of the opinion "there are a lot of cute guys here," while I spotted a ginger-haired lad who works out at my gym and who I will now definitely be watching more closely as he uses the Roman chair. It was overall the sort of crowd that is into witty and artistic t-shirts, but who will probably take them off with very little prompting.
DJs for the night were Donimo (Substance) and DJ Six (Now Hear This) spinning indie electronica and electro. and over two hours we heard tracks from the likes of MIA, Depeche Mode, Justice, and New Young Pony Club, as well as the classic homodisco track, "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record Baby)" from Dead or Alive. The music had enough motive force to get me out onto the dancefloor after thinking I wouldn't even make it out for the evening, which is really all that needs to be said.
Lucky Pierre is definitely a scene; there are lots of camera flashes throughout the evening, and all it takes is one look at their myspace page to see that winding up in a photo or video clip is one of the highlights of the evening. Ordinarily this would bother me, but in this case I think it goes hand-in-crotch with the spirit of the evening; this is a party where anyone who shows up is a star and part of the action, rather than just certain scene kids. Next month's Lucky Pierre is Hair Do's (or Don'ts), and I'll definitely be spiking up the mohawk for it - after all, I want to look good for my close-up.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Your Saturday Guide for August 4, 2007
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. Check out my review of Drunk and Horny.
$5
9PMish - 2.00AM (with maybe an afterparty)
Underground SF, 424 Haight Street x Webster
Frisco Disco at The Transfer
This night just recently started up and I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but with tunes provided by the likes of Jefrodesiac and Richie Panic, and Lady Meleksah as the cruise director, there's some great potential for a good time.
No cover listed
9.00PM - 2.00AM
The Transfer, Church at Market
Monthlies and One-Offs
Outpost 23 Presents Ignition
A little underground psytrance for your Saturday night featuring Paul Taylor (Spun Records, U.K.), Meta (Highway 604, Geomagnetic.tv), Konflux (Phar Psyde Records, LA), Obu (Bombay Power, Outpost 23, Dreamlabs.MX), *Christine* (Vaporvent Records), Fanboy (H.O.T.H., Freaknation)
$15 at the Door
9.00PM - 6.00AM
Underground San Francisco Venue (check the link the day of the party)
Bar Open All Night
The Jaded Gay DJ Recommends: Kontrol at The End Up
This installment of San Francisco's biggest techno night includes a live and DJ set from 3 Channels plus the world premiere live set from resident Alland Byallo.
FREE before 11, $15 after
10.00PM - 6.00AM
The End Up, 6th x Harrison
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. Check out my review of Drunk and Horny.
$5
9PMish - 2.00AM (with maybe an afterparty)
Underground SF, 424 Haight Street x Webster
Frisco Disco at The Transfer
This night just recently started up and I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but with tunes provided by the likes of Jefrodesiac and Richie Panic, and Lady Meleksah as the cruise director, there's some great potential for a good time.
No cover listed
9.00PM - 2.00AM
The Transfer, Church at Market
Monthlies and One-Offs
Outpost 23 Presents Ignition
A little underground psytrance for your Saturday night featuring Paul Taylor (Spun Records, U.K.), Meta (Highway 604, Geomagnetic.tv), Konflux (Phar Psyde Records, LA), Obu (Bombay Power, Outpost 23, Dreamlabs.MX), *Christine* (Vaporvent Records), Fanboy (H.O.T.H., Freaknation)
$15 at the Door
9.00PM - 6.00AM
Underground San Francisco Venue (check the link the day of the party)
Bar Open All Night
The Jaded Gay DJ Recommends: Kontrol at The End Up
This installment of San Francisco's biggest techno night includes a live and DJ set from 3 Channels plus the world premiere live set from resident Alland Byallo.
FREE before 11, $15 after
10.00PM - 6.00AM
The End Up, 6th x Harrison
Your Friday Guide for August 3, 2007
It's the big moving day for me and the boyfriend, wish us good luck with our new Castro pad! And if I'm not completely thrashed out from all of it, maybe you'll see us at Lucky Pierre!
Bar Nights and Weeklies
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
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 latest review of Charlie Horse at The Cinch.
9PM - close
NO COVER
The Cinch, 1723 Polk Street (between Clay and Washington)
Fag Fridays at The EndUp
Reliable, not all that exciting, typical San Francisco deep house, but it's gay and you can stay until the next afternoon.
10PM - 6AM, and then Ascension starts up
$20
The End UP, 6th x Harrison
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
This week with guest DJs Sleazemore and Rchrd Oh! from Lights Down Low, and the Acid Girls from Costa Mesa, and resident DJ Audrock, PLUS record release party for New Young Pony Club.
10PM - 2AM
$8 before 11, $10 after
The Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell x Van Ness
Lucky Pierre at The Stud
At long last, I think I'll get to check this out. This month's theme: Factory Video porn party, with your chance to audition on the casting couch!
10PM - 3AM
$5
The Stud, 9th x Harrison
Bar Nights and Weeklies
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
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 latest review of Charlie Horse at The Cinch.
9PM - close
NO COVER
The Cinch, 1723 Polk Street (between Clay and Washington)
Fag Fridays at The EndUp
Reliable, not all that exciting, typical San Francisco deep house, but it's gay and you can stay until the next afternoon.
10PM - 6AM, and then Ascension starts up
$20
The End UP, 6th x Harrison
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
This week with guest DJs Sleazemore and Rchrd Oh! from Lights Down Low, and the Acid Girls from Costa Mesa, and resident DJ Audrock, PLUS record release party for New Young Pony Club.
10PM - 2AM
$8 before 11, $10 after
The Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell x Van Ness
Lucky Pierre at The Stud
At long last, I think I'll get to check this out. This month's theme: Factory Video porn party, with your chance to audition on the casting couch!
10PM - 3AM
$5
The Stud, 9th x Harrison
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)