The Sun. The Rain. The Super Moon.
“Put em’ up. Put em’ up. Put em’ up.” The host yells into the microphone. There is not one but two of em yelling into microphones. Their mumblings about someone later giving hugs and then that someone giving two hugs after dark. All the while the deejay appears perplexed. Confused at the vocal back and forth between the two. Against the soundtrack of snaps and hiss on Mary Mary’s “Walking.” Read the rest of this entry »
1600
Music. Is the reason for this journey. An expedition meandering through space and time. Arriving. At the V. Where 54th Street veers from Flushing Avenue. In Maspeth. A working class community located somewhere in the borough of Queens. That is New York City. Where a brick and motor mammoth slumps with two erected smoke stacks. That eyes you. Only if in your imagination. That beckons you to enter its ingress. Crushing gravel beneath your soles. As your bag is checked. Electronic ticket is scanned. And your wrist is branded white with red dots. Enjoy! Security smiles. All before you kick more rocks. Past the food truck. Across from the lonely picnic tables. There you eye the expanse. A massive slab of concrete sloped downward towards a music stage. State of the art light rigs. Hanging sound gear. Fog machines. Where twenty early birds dance in seventy-seven degree heat underneath scattered cirrus levitating across the oceanic azul.
2100
Darkness has crept up to slowly reveal its face. Black. Devoid of light. That traces around and about the atmosphere. Invisible. Upward, the stars keep watch over night. Night’s all seeing eye, the moon is lucent, keeps watch over the people, the party, the property. Read the rest of this entry »
OPEN AIR AND INTIMATE
Part I
Yeah, you are at the right place. As the car door closes, you overhear faint thumps where you are parked adjacent a curb monitored by vagrants. Walk a block pass the open air parking structure as the ontz expands in the atmosphere. Juxtaposed against the skyline of high rises, onward forward lies the destination. A folding table and portable fence where your mobile ticket is scanned. Grab a smiley face wristband. Say hi to security. Enter. Tents. Vendors. Lounge chaises. Restrooms? Behold the center piece of the event. That is not the surrounding professional lighting towers, nor the arena-sized sound gear but an aerodynamic aluminum mobile trailer titled Rock The Disco Soundsystem. Coachella eat your fucking heart out. Read the rest of this entry »
OPEN AIR AND INTIMATE
Part II
“You, you, you….’ The F sharp and C minor notes dot the soundscape. When the tappings of drums dissipates leaving only emptiness to expand. A sound of sweeping ocean waves builds and builds to a climatic fall that washes away Upper Alabama Street. A refreshing rain of vibe and rhythm drenches the tops of heads. Possessed by unspoken rhythms. All bodies dance. Bent over. Feet stomping the ground. Hands swaying on the brick. The Thakzin and Sun-El Musician produced Afro-banger with sutlry vocals by Thandazo’s “I.C.U” provides the most cinematic scene of dance thus far. Read the rest of this entry »
The Phenomenon That Is Demarkus Lewis
“Yooooooooooooooo!!! What’s up?” He grabs you by the hand giving you a bear hug.
“I haven’t seen you in a minute.” You reply.
“Oh, wait, you have to see someone.” He leads you meandering through the heat. The sweat. And the thump from Jimpster featuring Mavhungu’s “Tribute.” Luminiferous flashes guide you through the mass. Their bodies careful not to brush against you and you them. Read the rest of this entry »
Be prepared to lose your $hit.
1700
The atmosphere transforms. A new presence is felt. A new spirit arrives. Although he nor his fedora are visible from the rear of the dance floor adjacent the bar. No longer Little Louie, Vega gives life when playing the Dance Ritual chart-topper from the early aughts. “Brand New Day” never sounded more engaging. As a tidal wave of optimism floods over the gathered faces of brown, tan, and peach. Appreciating. The King’s preaching an uplifting sermon; Raul Midón’s “Sunshine (I Can Fly)” (Sacred Rhythm Mix), Elements of Life’s featuring Anané’s “You Came Into My Life” (Louie Vega NYC Mix), Lil Louis’ “Fable” (Director’s Cut Classic Club Mix) with those uplifting piano riffs that floors everyone including the woman with tatted sleeves waving her limbs uncontrollably at the classic, Barbara Tucker’s “I Get Lifted”-all songs Texans need to hear. Read the rest of this entry »
The Five Essentials to Throw a Successful Event
2330
“One water and one vodka cranberry,” you tell the bartender who closes the tab. Grab the libations early. Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. Cause when Louie Vega featuring Unlimited Touch’s “Music Is My Life” welcomes you into the expansion, you already know, it is going to be one of those nights.
Where perspiration drips down the fore and onto the chin. Already?
To the front of the space your red-bottoms trek. To the right, near the elevated DJ stage, feel the kiss of cool falling from unseen vents. There you make camp. Your real estate secured. Read the rest of this entry »
