Bangin’ in Silver Spring: Flash Party 2.0 @ Jackie’s Back Room
* This article is being syndicated from Brightest Young Things
Jesus Ch-uh-rist.
The Red Line to Glenmont pulls into the New York Avenue stop and I get a good logng look at the ten-story Spacestation Artomatic on its opening night last friday. A hundred glass compartments aglow in shifting 24 bit color. Hundreds more crisp silhouettes of human bodies walking around checking shit out, gravitating to flickery things I assume to be LCD panels or video projections. And I’m heading to Silver Spring to a competing (really?) multimedia dance party in a bar I’ve never heard of. Siiiiiiggggh (or long exhale. whatever. it wasn’t a happy thing). When the train finishes taunting me with this long pause, we started moving again. The passengers, me and this sinking feeling.
But when I got to Jackie’s Back Room after a hop and a skip fom the Silver Spring station, the place was buzzing. Not bad for 10:30PM. DJs were set up at the far end of the space and projected onto a screen behind them were slideshows and video clips from host Albert’s laptop. At the other end covering the bar’s front window, another screen ran Flash animations that man like Marcalamari spent the night switching and tweaking. Co-host Graham — who shares duties running this party and the X monthly at BeBar with David Fogel — hobnobbed with the steadily growing crowd.
After chatting with Graham and meeting Albert and Dave, the first thing I noticed was this wee bull mastiff named Bruno, who would end up being the star of the party. The second thing that caught my eye was this couple sitting at the bar wolfing down an Elvis Burger, the local take on sliders made with Pimento cheese, pickles, and micromatoes on a midget croissant. The third thing was Albert receiving his Elvis Burger order. I was getting the lord’s message loud and clear and acted accordingly. So now I’m eating meat, drinking Belgian, shooting pictures and feeling a whole lot better about my circumstances. And just as Graham predicted, the bar is filling with Artomatic’s spillover. Not predicted was Bruno’s alarming pimp skills.
The party ran strong until last call; very impressive for a night of this kind in a suburban locale. More impressive was the number of city folk who made the trek. They’d probably agree that this monthly is a solid bet for anyone who wants to trade up for something fresh and leave amateur night in the city to the bamas.
After cleaning up and loading out, we headed over to Fogel’s studio, where we continued the pursuit of happiness. Use this link to stay up on this party as well as X and all the other trouble that Graham and Dave are causing.
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April 2008 Pulse Sets!
April 2008 Pulse Sets! Yay!
April 2008 featured sets by B80, Miskate and Someone Else.
B80: http://www.myspace/boydmuzik
Miskate: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=79130547
Someone Else: http://www.myspace.com/47584071
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B80 - Live at Pulse 4/2008: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Miskate - Live at Pulse 4/2008: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Someone Else - Live at Pulse 4/2008: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download***************** No comments
Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement
Our friends out west at Giveback have launched their first campaign in support of the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement. FreQ Nasty and Bassnectar put together a new track, which is available via the Action Campaign site for free download. We’re hoping that folks will read about the cause and want to donate. Check it out here: http://www.giveback.net/freqnectar
Here’s the graphic image:
And a link to Dangermarc’s video portrait illustration to the tune on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y45mg5re_A
Working, shopping and linking…
I love it when clients send me a list of links for inspiration… I really enjoy it. It’s as if the client says to me, “hey, here is my fucking awesome attempt at not being vague, now pat me on the head and tell me that you are going to hit your deadlines well within budget!”
This time however, I was sent about 75 links and all to the cutest lovely bits… this one, my fav.
It’s so cute and normal mustache sized for hours of enjoyment. If you get me one, I’ll tell you that you look like you’ve been working out… in front of your ex-girlfriend.
This site is like the DIYer’s own personal video cheerleading squad/7 on your side. The Threadheads are clever, stylish, Brooklyn n00bs that are out and about trying to help you help yourself in the era of fashionable sustainability. You have two t-shirts that you got for free at a conference/grand opening/was left at your place that you are never going to wear? Make it into a bikini for chrissakes.
And as a side note, I want to send a shout out to U St. for the Best Boutique Shopping section of DC, most of those all local shops trying to make it, go support your neighbor!!
xx holla
No commentsGo out and get some theater in ya!
I’ve been blessed…I really have. I’ve been on a theater tear the last couple weeks and I must do some plugging. Studio Theater has some remarkable shows that are well worth the money and time.
They are in the midst of a rainpan43 festival and while I told many to go catch All Wear Bowlers, a fantastic romp of mime and performance art, I should’ve written about it here earlier. The production is very clever, slightly interactive…never dull. Currently the two founders of rainpan are performing Amnesia Curioso which revolves around and incorporates a museum. Baltimore’s dime museum and folks who like DC’s Palace of Wonders would be pleased with the oddities and whimsy. The production is about memory, the ins and outs the reasons behind it and where it is stored and asks if the foundation and purpose of memory is to stave off the inevitable reality and irrevocable truth that life is moving on and we’re all going to pass. I preferred All Wear Bowlers over Amnesia. I simply found it more entertaining. The audience, at least those that had seen both, was also a bit confused. Where All Wear Bowlers was a comedic romp, Amnesia wasn’t and the audience had a difficult time interpreting this. It wasn’t until about 30 mins. in that the awkward laughter ceased as folks realized this was not hearty fare.
One thing that was very clear after seeing these two actors, directors and producers is their breadth of talent and depth of mind. The point is, these two guys are very - very clever and you deserve to be entertained by them. If you don’t get a chance to catch Amnesia, please check out machines…machines…machines…machines… which unfortunately I will not be able to see. Let me know how it is!
While rainpan’s productions are innovative and original in their production and execution, History Boys (also showing at Studio) is a more traditional play. Don’t let that stop you from seeing this thought provoking, well crafted and acted productoin. What a script! It has every crucial element: Comedy, tragedy, plot and purpose. Taking place at a British school in the 80s, the play asks what is the best way to educate. Do the arts and poetry still have a place in modern day education? IS testing the key to success and achievement? Interestingly enough Daniel Pink, previewed here earlier would say both and I certainly agree. We need balance. Unfortunately our educational system seems to skewed to the test side of the line these days, in part due to No Child Left Behind. Arts and humanities classes are taking serious cuts and disappearing from our schools and class rooms. But, this blog isn’t meant to be a rant, it’s a plug for you to go see History Boys! The show and script are so well crafted that it will leave you grabbing your date to get a drink and or coffee because you just have to talk about what you’d just witnessed and felt.
Have at it folks!
-Deyv
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