Just sgned up at Nightlife post...we'll see how well it does. Anyone use them before?
Nightlifepost.com - Member Profile - Jon Gerler
Showing posts with label dance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dance. Show all posts
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Thoughts on Amy Winehouse...
I just heard about her passing this morning...
http://npr.org/2011/07/23/138639971/singer-amy-winehouse-found-dead
Another artist passed at age 27. Makes me sad. The specter of addiction has taken so many wonderful people from us.
Recovery has become a spectator sport. Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan, Lil' Wayne wearing a "fuck rehab" shirt on-stage, and now Amy Winehouse. We have shows like "Intervention," "Celebrity Rehab," "Sober House" and more that allow us to mock people who are suffering, or simply indulge our own voyeurism. The trainwreck that we simply "can't turn away from."
I wish people understood that recovery is about so much more than simply letting go of our own vices. It's about learning how to really live, perhaps for the first time. It's about learning how to cope with life's ups-and-downs on your own, without a crutch.
Perhaps if humanity's focus was on treatment, healing and reconciliation, rather than on prohibition and incarceration - we might be able to do some good.
For now, recovery remains a haphazard process at based - a process mired by misinformation and superstition, rather than bolstered by biology, science, and rational thought. I don't attempt to downplay the role that 12-step programs have played in my own recovery, but if you think that all addicts will get well through 12-step work alone, you're deceiving yourself.
For now, I leave you with some lyrics to Amy Winehouse's own song, "Rehab"...
"The man said 'why do you think you here'
I said 'I got no idea
I'm gonna, I'm gonna lose my baby
so I always keep a bottle near'
He said 'I just think you're depressed,
this me, yeah baby, and the rest'
They tried to make me go to rehab but I said 'no, no, no'
Yes I've been black but when I come back you'll know know know
I don't ever wanna drink again
I just ooh I just need a friend
I'm not gonna spend ten weeks
have everyone think I'm on the mend
It's not just my pride
It's just 'til these tears have dried"
-JG
http://npr.org/2011/07/23/138639971/singer-amy-winehouse-found-dead
Another artist passed at age 27. Makes me sad. The specter of addiction has taken so many wonderful people from us.
Recovery has become a spectator sport. Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan, Lil' Wayne wearing a "fuck rehab" shirt on-stage, and now Amy Winehouse. We have shows like "Intervention," "Celebrity Rehab," "Sober House" and more that allow us to mock people who are suffering, or simply indulge our own voyeurism. The trainwreck that we simply "can't turn away from."
I wish people understood that recovery is about so much more than simply letting go of our own vices. It's about learning how to really live, perhaps for the first time. It's about learning how to cope with life's ups-and-downs on your own, without a crutch.
Perhaps if humanity's focus was on treatment, healing and reconciliation, rather than on prohibition and incarceration - we might be able to do some good.
For now, recovery remains a haphazard process at based - a process mired by misinformation and superstition, rather than bolstered by biology, science, and rational thought. I don't attempt to downplay the role that 12-step programs have played in my own recovery, but if you think that all addicts will get well through 12-step work alone, you're deceiving yourself.
For now, I leave you with some lyrics to Amy Winehouse's own song, "Rehab"...
"The man said 'why do you think you here'
I said 'I got no idea
I'm gonna, I'm gonna lose my baby
so I always keep a bottle near'
He said 'I just think you're depressed,
this me, yeah baby, and the rest'
They tried to make me go to rehab but I said 'no, no, no'
Yes I've been black but when I come back you'll know know know
I don't ever wanna drink again
I just ooh I just need a friend
I'm not gonna spend ten weeks
have everyone think I'm on the mend
It's not just my pride
It's just 'til these tears have dried"
-JG
Monday, February 18, 2008
I lost my faith...and then I got it back...
I was out this Friday night and had two utterly contradictory experiences which I must relate.
Friday. Riviera, Raleigh. James West.
--------------------------------------
Somehow a sorority party had been booked the same night as a headliner (James West) for GruvGlu's "Submerge" event. Regardless of how it happened, I didn't see it necessarily as a bad thing. I've always held the belief, since I began my journey into EDM 10 years ago, that perhaps trying to introduce new faces to electronic music would be beneficial to the cause. It would certainly increase turnout for local events and maybe even educate some.
How wrong, or at least somewhat mistaken, I was.
It seems to me that in the Triangle (or at least Raleigh), there is a commonly held belief among the general population (ie. those not familiar with electronic music and how it is presented live) that all club DJ's are to be the "crowds' bitch" and play the same, mindless, Clear Channel programmed filth that owns conventional radio these days. To these people, I pose a question: if you were to go see Aerosmith, would you shout-out requests to play U2 songs? Doubtful. You go see a band for their music and style. Why is it any different with a DJ/Live PA? They too bring their own style and music. if you don't want to hear it, don't buy the fuckin' ticket.
Please understand, when I DJ-ed at Rush Lounge during most of 2004-early 2005, I certainly had my share of "requests," which I tried to cater to as best I could. If someone asked for a song by a particular artist, I would attempt to play the "club" remix, or at the very least, a remix of a well-known song by the same artist. 6 times out of 10, I would be complimented and asked, "where can I find this?" Only once did I ever get what I consider to be the now classic question, "Why do y'all have to play so much 'no words' music?" Only once was I ever disrespected outright, and that was by the wife of one of the (former) owners. He later apologized to me on her behalf.
And I *know* I know I turned *a few* people on to EDM, even if it was the poppier side of the spectrum.
But never in my life have I seen such disrespectful behavior as that of Friday night. Trevor and Chris O have been DJ-ing in this area for years, far longer than me, and have a combined set of tracks (and skills) that IMHO rival many in this region. Time and again, even after being politely asked to leave the DJs alone multiple times by multiple people (including Riv employees), this band of sorostitutes and their lackey boyfriends repeatedly approached the booth and disrespected the sounds and vibe.
I had planned to leave early from the beginning to make it to another event that night, but even if I'd had no other plans, I couldn't have dealt with that crowd much longer.
Deep @ Sirens Lounge - Durham
----------------------------------
My roommate and I arrived here around midnight to see a small crowd of people stand outside what appeared to be a tiny club which I'd never previously been to. I thought to myself, "oh great, another empty dancefloor."
Again, how wrong I was.
Few people were around the bar...the majority were on the floor dancing...I'd say at LEAST a 33% to 66% ratio, if not more. And for an electronic event without a headliner, it was packed! It reminded me of the some of the best events from the late 1990s in this area, when the vibe was at the very least peaceful most of the time. I even got good vibes from the owner and the bar staff. And of course Danny, Pepe, and K-Rox rocked the house!
I am and always will be curious: what is it about EDM that some people in this area *hate* so much? When have we ever forced our music on them? EDM has been relegated to everything from "illegal" warehouse parties and "off-nights" (ie. weeknights when the average person cannot attend for work, school, etc.) in this country for the last twenty years or more. Meanwhile, theirs is constantly blasted into our cars and places of residence freely and without regulation of any kind (save for my ability to hit the power). They invade our spaces and ask us to change our programming without batting an eyelash, forcing "push it" and "wild thing" and other such music (which lost relevance early in the previous *millennium*) down our throats in place of music, which - while it may or may not contain words - has substance and emotion years beyond most of the Hannah Montana crap that makes its way onto the airwaves.
But I digress...
There were *four* events which could all the classified as EDM or at least EDM-related taking place that Friday night. Even if I had the power to teleport, I could not have attended them all. I'm not a promoter, have never been a promoter and doubt I could succeed as a promoter. But I'm curious: what would happen if all the promoters in the area came together once or twice a month, collectively decided on a venue which was friendly to EDM, and then made a success of it by pooling their resources and talents?
Just a thought.
Friday. Riviera, Raleigh. James West.
--------------------------------------
Somehow a sorority party had been booked the same night as a headliner (James West) for GruvGlu's "Submerge" event. Regardless of how it happened, I didn't see it necessarily as a bad thing. I've always held the belief, since I began my journey into EDM 10 years ago, that perhaps trying to introduce new faces to electronic music would be beneficial to the cause. It would certainly increase turnout for local events and maybe even educate some.
How wrong, or at least somewhat mistaken, I was.
It seems to me that in the Triangle (or at least Raleigh), there is a commonly held belief among the general population (ie. those not familiar with electronic music and how it is presented live) that all club DJ's are to be the "crowds' bitch" and play the same, mindless, Clear Channel programmed filth that owns conventional radio these days. To these people, I pose a question: if you were to go see Aerosmith, would you shout-out requests to play U2 songs? Doubtful. You go see a band for their music and style. Why is it any different with a DJ/Live PA? They too bring their own style and music. if you don't want to hear it, don't buy the fuckin' ticket.
Please understand, when I DJ-ed at Rush Lounge during most of 2004-early 2005, I certainly had my share of "requests," which I tried to cater to as best I could. If someone asked for a song by a particular artist, I would attempt to play the "club" remix, or at the very least, a remix of a well-known song by the same artist. 6 times out of 10, I would be complimented and asked, "where can I find this?" Only once did I ever get what I consider to be the now classic question, "Why do y'all have to play so much 'no words' music?" Only once was I ever disrespected outright, and that was by the wife of one of the (former) owners. He later apologized to me on her behalf.
And I *know* I know I turned *a few* people on to EDM, even if it was the poppier side of the spectrum.
But never in my life have I seen such disrespectful behavior as that of Friday night. Trevor and Chris O have been DJ-ing in this area for years, far longer than me, and have a combined set of tracks (and skills) that IMHO rival many in this region. Time and again, even after being politely asked to leave the DJs alone multiple times by multiple people (including Riv employees), this band of sorostitutes and their lackey boyfriends repeatedly approached the booth and disrespected the sounds and vibe.
I had planned to leave early from the beginning to make it to another event that night, but even if I'd had no other plans, I couldn't have dealt with that crowd much longer.
Deep @ Sirens Lounge - Durham
----------------------------------
My roommate and I arrived here around midnight to see a small crowd of people stand outside what appeared to be a tiny club which I'd never previously been to. I thought to myself, "oh great, another empty dancefloor."
Again, how wrong I was.
Few people were around the bar...the majority were on the floor dancing...I'd say at LEAST a 33% to 66% ratio, if not more. And for an electronic event without a headliner, it was packed! It reminded me of the some of the best events from the late 1990s in this area, when the vibe was at the very least peaceful most of the time. I even got good vibes from the owner and the bar staff. And of course Danny, Pepe, and K-Rox rocked the house!
I am and always will be curious: what is it about EDM that some people in this area *hate* so much? When have we ever forced our music on them? EDM has been relegated to everything from "illegal" warehouse parties and "off-nights" (ie. weeknights when the average person cannot attend for work, school, etc.) in this country for the last twenty years or more. Meanwhile, theirs is constantly blasted into our cars and places of residence freely and without regulation of any kind (save for my ability to hit the power). They invade our spaces and ask us to change our programming without batting an eyelash, forcing "push it" and "wild thing" and other such music (which lost relevance early in the previous *millennium*) down our throats in place of music, which - while it may or may not contain words - has substance and emotion years beyond most of the Hannah Montana crap that makes its way onto the airwaves.
But I digress...
There were *four* events which could all the classified as EDM or at least EDM-related taking place that Friday night. Even if I had the power to teleport, I could not have attended them all. I'm not a promoter, have never been a promoter and doubt I could succeed as a promoter. But I'm curious: what would happen if all the promoters in the area came together once or twice a month, collectively decided on a venue which was friendly to EDM, and then made a success of it by pooling their resources and talents?
Just a thought.
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