patois

Just got back from there.... You're right...they DO need a real club on Duval St...there is a dance floor above one of the bars but it is pretty much top-40. I am surprised there isn't one. The water was also muddled with sand...we went out on a fishing boat yesterday, for half the day. When I went on one off of Marathon 3 years ago, you could see to the bottom in most places...but not this time off Key West. Also had lousy fishing luck too, and got overheated because I'm not used to being out in the sun all day. But it's a good vacation so far....next stop, Naples...more fishing ahead. Party hard for me

I would guess not, but if you do know of anything, we'd appreciate the info....the cabin fever's setting in

'90s nostalgia

Yo' mama's so stupid, she has to register on the local "Serial Idiot Registry."

I'll be in my Coral Springs apartment, with my husband and the other married couple there...up on the third floor....there's a patch of forest right outside our back windows, but most of the treetops are below our roof. We've got four cats there...we'll have to put them in the closet when the worst hits....then the other four of us will probably hide in the bathroom and hold onto each other for dear life....:/

Take care everybody....I'll be praying for all of us

Markus Schulz at last December's "Not So Silent Night" (that's what started me in the reviews, at Buster's suggestion) Baby Anne at Voodoo Lounge "Paul Oakenfold Presents" DJ RC at Space, during the spin-off Party 93.1's Erik Velez and Cano K are also excellent

Dunkin' Donuts Hazelnut coffee is my favorite - their Banana Nut and lo-fat Blueberry Muffins are usually slammin' too.

Check your PMs when you get a chance, please

Thanks for the feedback guys...it is much appreciated!

DJ RC DJ RC concluded the spin-off, whose set established a strong tone from its beginning. The set started off slow and progressive and it kept building and building to eventually pound the audience with relentless beats. RC had awesome mixing abilities and a great track selection. He conveyed adept timing and instincts with crowd-escalating builds, then falling tides to bring back the calm. Bling’s favorite track was, of course, "Katana-Tribal Shock." Bling, as well as others he talked to, believed that DC RC was the favorite to win based on the combination of his tight mixing and well constructed set, even though Bling prefers Rocky's musicial style overall. As for Patois, maybe it was the hours she’d spent on the dance floor…the haze of smoke…the wooziness that had taken over her….but his set seemed the most surreal to her, even magic at times. The bass in some of the tracks was so strong that it shook the floor and made her lose her balance. The energy level was surging throughout. She took her leave at the end of his set, amidst clouds of cold mist pouring from the ceiling. Bling’s review of the post-spinoff After the spinoffs concluded, Oscar G and Cedric did a tag team set. Though I was there only for an hour and a half of their set it was nasty pounding house that only oscar can bring. Cedric from what I heard (for the first time), was also doing a great job. Unfortunately I did not make it to the patio as I had wanted (and told roly i would), but sleepiness took the better of me.

The Main Room The new remodeling of Space is quite nice, especially the main room. The main room was adorned in style for the event. Green lasers spelled out “Party 93.1†and “Cool Junkie†against sheets of white mesh hanging from the ceiling. There were some sensual pink lights as well. The huge disco ball glistened as always. A sharp touch was the vertical light panels in front of the DJ booth that underscored the musical energy. Inside the main room, Bling bumped into Macfunk, Dj Onyx (thanks for the cd), Phunky, eddy guerra, Biz, Bruno and Shawn Rudnick, Michael Louis, Nikki (Ikkin), DjTekwrek and later on Ramon and Michelle. The Spin-off Many people await their entire lives for an opportunity to come before the doorstep of Space... Tonight for the three finalists, opportunity came a knockin and the finalists ran with it. The chance to spin at Space is not only an honor, but a testament to the abilities of the three finalists, who all traveled down a long and tenuous road to arrive there. Scott Nelson Scott Nelson set off the main event. Bling thought that Scott had very good mixing skills but that his track selection was lacking. He just did not have that extra oomph Bling believed was necessary to win this competition. When he dropped “Walk Like a Stranger,†(made a favorite of Bling’s by Markus Schulz), Bling was thinking that the set was going to get better. However, Bling felt that the next track brought the crowd down considerably and that Scott never picked it up again. Bling best equates Scott Nelson to having a playing style like a Sasha or Digweed (in fact, Bling was told the DJ dropped a Sasha track). After DJ Baby Anne last night, Patois thought that the early music in the spinoff was strikingly calm and tranquil – trance from the sound of it. After “Walk Like a Stranger,†she also thought that the energy of the set waned somewhat. Rocky Castro Next came Rocky Castro, with a dramatic beginning…his fans were already egging him on. Patois thought that his set featured a very strong rhythmic undercurrent, as well as versatility of style, from latin to retro house to a brief break. She also thought that there was a very strong connection between Rocky and the crowd….he was very physically involved with his music and his enthusiasm was infectious. For Bling, Rocky delivered as expected and then some. He had awesome track selection. Best track of his set (thanks for michelle for Id'ing it for me – Jose Nundez’s "Bilingual" – btw, between ramon and michelle wow can they id tracks. I’m very impressed) That track was very risque. The traffic horn, flood lights, and cold mist were all used during Rocky's set. Bling thought that even though some of his transitions were a bit off and his mixing was not flawless, the DJ still did a great job.

As always, Bling left his house early,as he went to pick up Juan (DJSpeed) who lives close to him. They arrived at Space and shockingly, there was parking available in the lot. Madness had taken over the entire block. Patois was just glad she managed to find parking for only $10, at about 9:30. The street in front of Space was barricaded off for the VMA block party at that point, but a very kind Space employee, Orlando, ushered her from the back entrance to the front entrance to wait until the club opened. (Thank you Orlando ) The VMA party stage was set up west down 11th street from Space, adjacent to Goldrush and Players Club. The MTV block party was in full effect. Rappers were spouting their verses to a frenzied, jumping crowd in the street…Truly something to be seen, especially when you just stumbled upon it accidentally. Just before we went into Space we were treated to a live version of “Why†by Jadakis…Patois loved the chimey keyboard that sounds just like the one in Ja Rule’s “Put It On Me.†Bling, Patois, Cosminigon, James and Annette met up and they all headed into Space around 10:15. The Hip-Hop Room While we waited for the main room to open, we hung in the “Red Stripe†lounge and enjoyed the Jamaican lager on the house, as well as Smirnoff and other offerings. The hip-hop room has been remodeled to include steps leading to a raised VIP area, which is now larger and has less dancing room overall. Bling bumped into Interview Junkie (Shannon)and B612 (not sure…techo dj), TechJunkie, Nick and Sarah, POD, David Orth, Roland, Andrew Chibale and of course Diaga. DJ Diega, last year’s winner of the CJ spinoff, presided over the lounge from 10-12. As he explained to Patois later, he does acid and progressive house, and that he was a bit different from others – Bling noted that, “he spun with that quirkiness that only Diaga can bring.†Diega also threw in a modulated version of Crystal Waters’ “She’s Homeless†and a track sampling the opening guitar from the Beatles’ “Birthday.†Bling was impressed by Diaga’s awesome technical abilites on a turntable. Watching Diega from inside the booth, Bling was just amazed at how well the DJ could maneuver and use all the equipment to the best of his abilities.

Thanks Koky.... I had a great time....and we need Bling's reviews too...he has a great deal of knowledge about the local scene that I lack...I just tell my story the way I see it, for anyone who's interested.

Ok...thanks...we'll just stick to Lincoln Road then...maybe go back to Ft. Lauderdale later. I did not know this, but am glad I do now!

Tonight I went to Voodoo Lounge to see DJ Baby Anne spin...I was looking for something different....I'd heard that she did breaks and Miami bass...and that this involves crazy energy all night long. Well that was only the beginning. I got inside and the floor was saturated....Baby Ann was on the decks putting everyone in their place. We were soaked with her ferocious energy raining down from her balcony. From what I could tell, the breaks sound something like free-style but focus less on vocals and more on rhythm, which keeps changing as restlessly as prog-rock. The Miami bass just drilled through your ears and shook your chest. There would be gradual short builds of feedback and other atmospheric sounds, which create the "ready, set, go" for the rhythm to go on another mad sprint, which invites us to follow in our own way. Some people got robotic, others did "Walk Like An Egyptian" moves....a few could even breakdance, spin around on the floor, do handsprings while the rest of us would cheer on.... Baby Anne's music was so powerful that it created a ferocious, hostile energy on the floor...it got the best of the competitors in one dance-off circle, and the resident security descended and swiftly broke up the altercation. When I first got on the floor, however, most of the people were just standing around, either watching one dance-off circle or just populating the floor. Maybe because some people early on had not bargained for such powerful music as this. Around 1 am, most of the people also seemed sloshed and could not focus on dancing for more than a few minutes - and even then seemed to just be doing it as a joke. But an hour later or so, more people came into their own dancing....to be on the dance floor then was simply incredible. Everyone was taken over.....it was exhilerating to be sharing the floor with other people just living out the music in their moves. P.S....Great to see Koky, his friend Eric, Brnyeyedtrouble, and other CP'ers

On Saturday, September 4, some other girls and I (one of whom is under 21) will be hitting Sobe...any suggestions on dance venues where the under-ager can get in? Thanks

Had never been there before.....was bored and looking for something to do. It was very late in the game when Danny Boy suggested that I check this place out, telling me that the music was good there, and that, among others, Shawn Rudnick would be spinning there tonight. So I finally got down there at midnight. The lounge is stashed at the back of the restaurant which fronts on Lincoln Road. The atmosphere was relaxed and inviting. White puffy pillows that looked like enormous Portugese rolls were scattered around the floor as seats. The room is basic, with few embellishments except for window-like mirrors that continue down the hall back to the restaurant, and little enclaves for VIP tables. CrazyC, Macboy, Pod, Rcrespo, Beatfriek, and others (whose names I have forgot - begging your pardon) were gathered near the DJ booth. Though the majority of the bargoers just hung out and talked, there was a bit of a dance floor going also. This picked up with tried-and-true '80s and early '90s dance classics. Then Fat Joe's "Lean Back" came on...for the first time I got to try out the actual leaning back dance that goes along with it - I think that was my higlight of the night....

Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine....ohhh...the raw anger....someone stole this album from me a few years ago and I just got it again....takes me somewhere new all over again

This was a great movie....I went to college at Rutgers and had a great time there, so this movie was a fun reminder of some of the Jersey culture I experienced. Some of the people up there don't go any further than their own small suburban towns...it always kind of intrigued me how you could get everything you need out of life out of one small town - sometimes I think it would be nice if that were enough for me. The movie also reminded me about how, in New Jersey, there are so many people looking for their own original thing (maybe because they are so close to NYC). A lot of people I know from college are singer/songwriters....they are very loathe to do a cover of anything. It was also nice to see the Jersey landscape...although I never spent much, if any, time in the towns in which the movie was filed - I think they were more towards the coast. But the canyon scene is another demonstration of how diverse the Jersey landscape is....the state has mountains, farms, beaches, wastelands, swamps, pine barrens....and apparently, according to this movie, it has a little canyon. I never knew that. I also related to the canyon scene....I want to be an environmental lawyer but, at the same time, I have some good memories of Jersey malls. Nonetheless, I would not want to be the developer fighting to pave over a natural phenomenon like that....it's not as if Jersey is lacking for any more malls.... So....departing from the usual tradition of reviewing clubs....here's to a state where I spent some great years of my life....

Yes, it was awesome, Bling! Cool review....I knew it would be good

Thanks, Flip

I drove down from Coral Springs again, and arrived at the front doors at just about 11. I walked inside and saw a sharp, polished-looking lounge. Rows of cushiony seats ran across the long room. Near the front of the room, facing the street, silhouettes of girls rose and fell behind a lit pale tapestry. It all looked like a VIP room, upscale after-party at first. Everyone seemed freshly scrubbed and polished themselves, in deference to the place. When the models for Loft magazine began dancing, however, their costumes were a bit more raucous - almost circus-like gold sequins, some dressed like French go-go dancers in the '60s. The outfits came in pairs. I threaded around the room until I found Bling and Macboy (with his friend) at the front bar. A little later, I met Pod, Beatfriek, George, DJ Bruno, Ikkin, Saleen, and said hello to CrazyC again. It was nice to meet everyone and see people again. When I had first come into the room, I couldn't quite picture much dancing taking place, because of some much space taken up by the seats. Well, that didn't stop the crowd at all..... The music was all house....typically lively and energetic. Some lively Latin rhythms were swirled into the mix early on. Further into the night, old skool took a turn with a remix of the Beastie Boys' "You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Party." Dancing to house is a real workout - it involves a lot of jumping around if you're really throwing yourself into the music. Sometime around 1:30, drummers took over the set in the middle of the room and picked the energy level a few more notches by weaving their own beats into the scene. Now, almost 5 in the morning, I am thinking back on Amika and what stands out in my mind is how smooth and varnished it is. I emerged from the club at about 3:30 feeling blown away by the hyperactive music which would not let me stay still. On the long drive home, I listened to the more subdued, subtle energy of Edgar V on his broadcast.

Weird...that's like imagining KFC without the C. Although there's lot's more things that can be "Tropical" than "Kentucky Fried" (or at least that I've heard of)