backupqueen

I wonder, what should the owner of this space do to give this club the place it deserves today? It seems to me Spirit is definitely not what it could be. I can't help but think that if the Twilo team (opening a club in Miami) took over the club, it would become a major place for quality dance music again. Something forward, strong, over-the-top again. Instead it's whatever. It's a little sad to see such a magical place become bleh. I've been on very good nights there --as Spirit!-- when Danny T played, or even Junior. This space has a definitive vibe going for it. Something Crobar is lacking for example. How come it is such a crap place on usual weekends? What do you think they should do to this place to give it its deserved place in New York City?

isn't this night a benefit for Larry's mother? (used to be).

Electro's more or less what I thought it was. I like it, it's fun but I would not qualify it as having soul somehow. It's okay, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

What new sound came out after '04? I can't think of any major new sounds coming out of 95-04 too, but I don't see any out of 04-06 either.

Oh, I read this followed by a praise to Larry Tee and I concluded that you thought Larry was edgy. Doesn't matter. Given that I'm confusing Electroclash and Electro, can you give me example of Electro then? I'm not an expert, what would Vitalic be for example? Electro with or without clash? House? What would you say is a great party playing Electro (sans clash)? Are Junior Sanchez or Tommie Sunshine considered Electro Djs? Also, you go out too much!!! Just joking. It bothers me a litle bit you don't think NYC is a grade-a music scene. I think there's a LOT of things happening in NYC, be it older Djs playing great music (I'm not going to talk about Francois K again), rock bands (Interpol for example), and even electro-thing happening. If not the best in production I think it's diverse and of top quality in musical offering any day of the night. No?

I wasn't at Bank, but there's something odd about saying JR set was not edgy, not like what Larry Tee plays. I'm sorry to say, if you know how Larry sound and already know what to expect, then it's safe to say that it's already past edgy. Dont' get me wrong, I live for Larry Tee. He's certainly a great DJ, one of the few in the city that "gags me". Great energy in the set, great selection, and he knows his classics too. Now I wonder, CPTR_JCKEY, do you ever go hear something else than the typical sounds they play at Bank/HappyValley/DiskoDistortion? It's a real open question, not an attack or anything. I know I still LOVE to hear DJs like Francois K, or Joe Claussell, or (up to recently!) Danny Tenaglia. They are old school, have a definitive sound, but I can really enjoy what they create throughout the night. I heard Francois K last Monday and there was some stunning tunes in his set, very deep Detroit, minimal, with a dark groove. I'm glad I went because I know I wouldn't hear that at Happy Valley for example. The same goes for "Tony The Beat" (a song I like) for example, not something I would hear Joe Claussell play. Liking more Rock-oriented parties like Motherfucker or Misshapes, or "electro" parties like Bank/Disko/HappyValley certainly shouldn't prevent anyone to enjoy other sounds. I know Junior is able to craft a night of amazing high and emotions when he's in a good day. Sure it's house, New York House. It's not new, but it's okay to read a book that didn't come out last week too you know. Junior is Junior and he's not going to change (anymore) I think. Also, not to read, but the edgy electro sound you are talking about is, what, like half a decade old already? I live for Larry, but I think he was considered "edgy" when he was playing in Williamsburg. Personally I don't care about edgy too much. Good music is good music. Anyway, I'm happy Bank is there. I'm happy Larry Tee's playing there, and I'm happy Junior gets to play to another crowd. I wasn't planing on writing a long answer, but it turned out this way ... PS: the term "gay house" is indeed a little shady and condescending (not to say homophobic even if coming for a gay person).

Isn't that Twilo with the jr in his little room over the dancefloor? Also, way to many girls in that painting SF/Twilo Afterhours were mostly gay (as were most of the influencial clubs in this city). SB summed it up nicely.

I hope Jr plays something a little different at Bank because he's a great Dj.

In the case of Vasquez, recently it's more like "no one's really doing it", specially the kids who usually hang out at Bank and the electro-type places. They usually hate jr and anything typically-Chelsea basically.

I agree, nyc isn't the musical influence it used to be. I still think that musically it's probably ahead of most places (the first name that comes to my mind is Joe Claussell as both a great original producer and dj, or fk for example: musically it's up UP there). Now the only thing is, I think everything should be more natural, I don't know if you heard words like 'support the scene' in 1992 when people went to the SF to hear the last DJ Pierre tracks. It's phases, now is a down that's all. (oh, I know Crobar's not the shit but most of the folks in there think it certainly is). Peace.

I hate that word "support", feels like something painful something has to do. I go out to have fun, not "support" some party where I won't have fun. There are plenty of new DJs who don't need anyone to "support" them, mostly they don't play the typical house sound anymore and are out of the clubbing mainstream. Stop whining and asking people to go out of their happy way to "support" some DJ. 90% of the folks who go hear the superstars at Crobar aren't the ones who are interested in the music anyway, they just want to have a "night out in the cool club du jour" and feel like they're the shit. This "support" sounds like "life-support", if a party scene is on life-support, might as well finish it because it's already not fun and done with. IMHO.

i was going to suggest this

no offense to frankie but really junior put this club on the map, in new york, and worldwide.

haha, genius.

Actually those folks rarely wear the same thing twice. It's not because you lack the eyesight to see the difference that there isn't one.

Wow, you really need to get out more...

Or listen to the same good old new york hard tribal house since 1997 wearing A|X... oops.

Since the theme is S&M, I think I'll go for the real thing; you know, not a lets-pretend-we-are-into-s&m-bullshit-outfit and feature this: Haha! That would freak people out I guess!

Dude, if you think she's Amarosa you're going to have a big surprise when you wake up sober in the morning! PS: I love the 2 pics of Amanda at the second-to-last row on the bottom. It looks like 1 picture of Amanda and her mini-me

The sound system is whatever, the club design really good, it's small. The dancefloor small but that's fine. I visited when Misshapes were DJing (they aren't there anymore) and lately when Tommy Sunshine was playing. I liked it a lot, he was playing a fun mix of alternative rock remixed electro (which I like) and some new 'electro' or whatever they call it that's actually a lot like old school Acid House so it's really a lot of fun musically. Don't expect your classic big room new york 'tribal house' sound or 'deep house' sound either. It's more eclectic and on the edges. A little less pretentious too I would say. And the crowd's actually friendly and fun (sure they do act up if you point a camera in their direction ). That's on Tuesdays, I can't speak for Happy Valley other nights. wow, that's some kind of mind stretch!

Promotions sure, but based on what exactly? It seems you are asking for the "spontaneous generation" of a DJ.

You can't drop an up an coming dj in a superclub, unless he's opening for someone with an already large following. Up and coming dj should start by building a strong small party, not pop up in a club holding thousands hoping for an all out extravaganza. Makes no sense. And yes Pacha better start a monthly line up featuring heavyweights on a regular basis.

what's so special about 5:23PM?

I hope Twilo do well enough in Miami to buy back tired Spirit and kick some ass back in New York Fuckin' City! No club open today come even close to the intensity of that place.

The problem is not race, it's the ever unfairl 'cool factor' required to be a trendy-club patron. It's so obvious I'm surprised people are playing the race card on this topic. I don't care if they're white, red, orange, green. People who dress like they just came out from their job to get wasted and just stand there in the middle of the floor like autists p-zombies bring nothing to the party, nothing.