Friday, December 31, 2010

reOPENed New Year's Eve with special guests Stretch Armstrong, Clark Kent and Jasmine Solano!

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A tradition that began two years ago with Q-Tip and Rich Medina is now a defining staple of New York City nightlife. The weekly party has twice won the “Best Party” title in the Paper Magazine Nightlife Awards, with an additional nomination, and on New Year’s Eve it is returning from a short hiatus during which the phones at Santos Party House were perpetually ringing with pleas for its return. In early 2010, Grammy-winning producer Just Blaze took the party’s reigns, supported by a favorite selector of the hip-hop elite (as well as the New York Knicks), DJ Soul. The two have been slaying the upstairs level of Santos every Friday with a prime selection of hip-hop, soul music, disco, house music, as well as some unexpected twists. The downstairs level has an identity all its own, focused on the best in Caribbean music including reggae, soca, dancehall, reggaeton, reggaetronica and more. Responsible for this invincible mix are DJ Gravy, publisher of leading Caribbean lifestyle website Largeup.com as well as NYC’s most notorious reggae mixtapes, Max Glazer, a skilled Federation Sound producer and selector whose Vybz Kartel track “Whine” is getting ubiquitous radio spins, and their MC Micro Don.

To ring in 2011, reOPENed has upped the ante by adding two living legends to the bill. Clark Kent, the legendary producer who has laid tracks for The Notorious B.I.G. (including Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s classic “Player’s Anthem”), Slick Rick, The Fugees, Rakim, Skillz, and is cited by Jay-Z as a proponent in his rise to fame. Also on the bill is radio legend Stretch Armstrong, who is known as co-host of the newly resurrected “Stretch & Bobbito Show” alongside Bobbito Garcia throughout the 90’s. The two are credited with breaking numerous hip-hop giants including The Notorious B.I.G., KMD/MF DOOM, The Wu-Tang Clan and Talib Kweli, before Stretch moved on to hosting his own slot on Hot 97 and almost single-handedly protecting real hip-hop from going completely pop. Joining the basement bashment will be Jasmine Solano, emerging rapper, DJ, and recipient of the Urban Music Award for Best Female Radio Personality, alongside the inimitable Nire of the Married To The Mob posse.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Sweeney's Swag

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The Fashion & Style section of the New York Times has just featured our founder and cultural maven Spencer Sweeney!

Or take Spencer Sweeney, a talented painter whose work fetchingly echoes a variety of sources, from Odilon Redon and Francis Picabia to Larry Rivers and Martin Kippenberger. Mr. Sweeney, also a sometime D.J., used to play keyboards and guitar in the short-lived band Actress, and owns the quintessentially hip nightclub Santos Party House on the edge of Chinatown. For his last exhibition, a year ago at Gavin Brown’s Enterprise, he moved into the gallery lock, stock and easel for the duration, taking everything — his messy creative process, his messy range of ideas about what that is, his messy bed — with him.

“Luckily, I’m not called upon to describe myself too often,” Mr. Sweeney said. “It does happen when we’re trying to find managers for the club, and they’ll say, ‘What are you guys?’ It’s not a good sign. The thing for us is to remain open to being anything and, hopefully, everything.”


Read on to learn more about Sweeney and how he came to possess Willie Nelson's ring.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

STAFF PICKS: BEST ALBUMS OF 2010

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Andrew W.K.:
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em - The DeAndre Way
I've picked this album because it rocks me very hard. Plus it features Lil B, who's one of my favorite musicians in the world. The songs are all swagged out and the feeling I get is very high and deep. It's a party album!

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Alan Yaspan:
Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
Rather than putting forth anything patchily ambitious or cameo-saturated *ahem*, Big Boi marshalled a record in which each detail was executed creatively and effectively. He heavily supervised the production which recalls the early 90's when people still thought it worthwhile to create layered instrumentation for hip-hop and R&B. Accordingly, most of the tracks are by Organized Noize, the ATL team behind much of the OutKast discography, plus Mr. DJ, André 3000, and even Lil' Jon getting all grown folks with the beat for "Hustle Blood." Lyrically, Big maintains interesting syncopation throughout, employs his characteristically dense rhyme schemes, and hits on a variety of topics including his favorite, unwanted pregnancy. Honorable mention: Sufjan Stevens, Das Racist two times, and Octopus Project.

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Spencer Sweeney:
Endless Boogie - Full House Head
very deeply focused guitar boogie rock n roll. Very good soundtrack to bbq meats to.

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Anthony Frasier:
Holy Fuck - Latin
I'm pretty sure it's the only album from 2010 that I own...and the best :)

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Joe Sweeney:
Cherie Lily - Werk
This fine piece of fitness rock pumped me up then cooled me down then pumped me up then cooled me down, and this went on for many reps. It's like aerobics for my ears.

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Alec Reinstein:
Rick Ross - Teflon Don
Rappers should rap about killing people, selling drugs, and having sex with pretty women. Also about being rich, buying very expensive things with their money, and killing people. Also about hanging out, being happy, and killing people.

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Danielle:
Warpaint - The Fool
There are certain sounds on this album that can only be heard by animals. And they love it! Pour yourself a glass of seltzer and listen with your favorite critter.

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Daniel Neuman:
The Knife - Tomorrow, In A Year
I just love that album title.
(And then there are some other aspects like the atmosphere, musical language, song structures, developments, also the packaging and the fact I've been listening to this album the most this year - all that make it my favorite.)

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Fred Miketa:
Terror - Keepers of the Faith
This album was made for people that breathe, eat and shit hardcore. More of an homage to the legacy and future of the hardcore movement than a pissed record about friendship and hating shit, KOTF is going to fast become a perennial piece of inspiration for a shit-ton of kids and old turds that forgot they loved core. For fans of Suicidal Tendencies, Madball and Merciful Fate. Don't sleep if you like hardcore in any way, shape or form.

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Ron Castellano:
135 Grand St New York - 1979
A bunch of No Wave bands recorded in a downtown loft - can't stop listening to Los Morales - "Gay Girl In a Gay Bar" its been on repeat for over 3 months.

Derek Ferguson's singles of the year:
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"Coma Cat" by Tensnake
Balearic banger that is simply irresistible.

Close second:

"aNYway" by Duck Sauce
Armand Van Helden and A Trak are magic. And the video is insane..

Notable:

"Runaway" by Kanye West
Hate on 'ye all you want, but the guy has transcended hip hop and now has his sights set on 4 on the floor beats. Has turned autotune into a soul searing tool.

"Odessa" by Caribou
Indie rockers make a melancholy, haunting jam you can dance to.

"Los Feeling (Alan Braxe Remix)" byVisitor

Sheer uplift. Builds and builds, and delivers.

"Sleep Paralysist" by Neon Indian
If soft drink makers want to subsidize tracks like this, there may be hope for humanity yet.

"I Got A Feeling" by Shit Robot
Better than anything DFA has done in a minute, and that's saying something. Old school black male vocal meets dirty bassline. Epic.

"Cannibalistic (Samo Sound Boy Remix)" by Expendable Youth
I could care less about the original. This is brazilia house meets new noise.

"Fallen Hero feat Ben Ono" by Nufrequency
Makes me feel like it's 1992 all over again, in a good way.

"Yeah" by Boys Noize
Nod to the boys who played with their toys and came up with a sound that everybody wants to copy.

"Triangle Walks (Rex the Dog remix)" by Fever Ray
In case you were wondering, she's the reason the Knife are so good.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

The Big Social Holiday Market (201 Mulberry St) - opening party with Andrew W.K. and Spencer Sweeney

The Big Social Holiday Market
December 17-23, 11am-8pm
201 Mulberry St
New York, NY 10012
All welcome
OPENING PARTY presented by Santos 12/17 at 7pm!

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Big Social are the engineers of the Hester St Fair, an outdoor boutique featuring New York City’s leading fashion and cuisine vendors. For the week of December 17-23, they are lodging in the vanguard Openhouse gallery to provide a creative and innovative take on the holiday market tradition. Aware that the best gifts are sincere and well thought, Big Social have made “Cool Things Made By Nice People” their ethos, and in doing so have selected a diverse array of select vendors. Present will be Hand Built by Juli Raja, a casual clothing line inspired by Indian textiles, Extinct Optics, a rare and vintage eyewear dealer, the famous seasons lobster rolls provided by Luke’s Lobster, Williamsburg soul food titans Pies ‘n’ Thighs, and 36 other artisans of unique gifts and food. The opening party on Friday at 7pm will be hosted by Santos Party House and will feature spins by internationally renowned musician Andrew W.K. and critically acclaimed artist Spencer Sweeney.

Monday, December 13, 2010

MNDR, Psychobuildings, Zambri live!

PopGun presents: MNDR, Psychobuildings and Zambri live
Friday, December 17, 2010
7:00 PM 21+
TICKETS HERE

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As one third of Oakland experimental dance collective Triangle, Amanda Warner was a leading figure in the west coast alternative and indie scenes. In 2008, she made the decision to pursue songwriting in New York City, where she met Peter Wade with whom she formed MNDR, an outlet for poppier ideas inflected by noise music and krautrock. In 2010, a break came in the form of a featured vocal slot alongside Q-Tip on Mark Ronson’s smash “Bang Bang Bang,” and the media immediately took notice of Warner’s magneticism. Profiles in Radar, The Fader, Esquire and virtually every reputable music publication followed, and soon MNDR’s “Fade To Black” and “C.L.U.B.” became discotheque favorites in their own right.





A trio that includes members of Small Black and Silk Flowers, Psychobuildings have endless resources to draw from as they craft their bizarre synth pop. Irreverent words and disco-inspired bass complete the equation, resulting in an infectious sound that has twice been featured by Pitchfork Media’s “Forkcast.”

The intense noisy progressive pop created by Zambri is as shimmering as it is foreboding. They have addictive, approachable melodies as well as perplexing production and complex song constructions that reward the listener’s curiosity. The 80’s are strong with this female duet, as hints of The Cure, Kate Bush, and Giorgio Moroder often noticeable, yet Zambri’s ambition and use of sonic wizardry put them amongst the most forward thinking artists in New York City.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Discovery Celebrates 1st Anniversary with Scott Grooves!

DISCOVERY with special guest Scott Grooves (Detroit), residents VDRK and Free Magic
Saturday, December 11, 2010
11:00 PM 21+
RSVP for here for free entry before midnight

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Check this excellent feature in TimeOut New York!

Special Guest: Scott Grooves (Soma / Natural Midi / Detroit)
Residents: VDRK and Free Magic
Presented By: Famous Friends and Flawless Media

Famous Friends
and Flawless Media are proud to announce the Discovery One Year Anniversary with special guest Scott Grooves alongside residents Free Magic and VDRK. Scott Grooves began to DJ in 1988 after being inspired by the Detroit sounds heard from nightclubs at the beginning of an era, growing up with a father who played jazz guitar, he picked up the keyboard and went on to play with Detroit's own Inner City. He then had his first release in 92 and soon after worked with Roy Ayers, Alton Miller, and was one of the few artist to be remixed by Daft Punk.

Scott Grooves' recent Resident Advisor podcast was a glimpse into the past with a personal mixtape from 93, and he's got another unreleased mix he'll be sharing with us for your ears. Join us for a special 3 hour set from the man himself on December 11th.

Violens, Light Asylum and Caveman live Saturday

PopGun & Prefix present: Violens, Light Asylum, and Caveman
Saturday, December 11, 2010
7:00 PM 18+
TICKETS HERE

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VIOLENS
Hot off the heels of a tour with MGMT, the off-kilter dream pop trio Violens are poised to make waves with their new LP Amoral, their first full-length release. The album is their most refined take on a sound they have been workshopping since forming three years ago, a droney, shoe-gazey landscape populated by melodies that take influence from 60's rock and no-wave. Think Sonic Youth and The Zombies brawling at a Secret Machines concert; elements of the cynical and sinister morph the approachable pop foundation. The band has also played alongside Grizzly Bear, Deerhunter and Bat For Lashes, and has remixed tracks by Washed Out, The Very Best and MGMT.

LIGHT ASYLUM

Originally known for her work backing artists like TV On The Radio, TK Webb, Telepathe and !!!, Shannon Funchess is now frontwoman of the show-stealing post-punk dance duo Light Asylum. Along with experimental sound artist and producer Bruno Coviello, formerly of Astor and Cove Brothers, she weaves haunting darkwave tapestries bolstered by an electric drum pad, backing tracks nodding to the minimalistic soundtrack music of the 80's, and full-bodied baritone vocals.




CAVEMAN
The five generously talented members of Caveman have cultivated an extraordinary chemistry, allowing them to create remarkably cohesive Americana grooves propelled by layers of shoegaze-inspired effects. The underground music scene has high expectations of the group, which features members of pop outfits Elefant and the Subjects, and they continue to win over crowds with each outing. WNYC and The Fader have both endorsed the band’s keynote track “Decide,” and Paper Trail called their performance, “pretty tight, polished set that would stop you in your tracks on Bedford Avenue if you heard it coming out of a record shop.”

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

SHRED FOR YOUR LIFE

SHRED FOR YOUR LIFE Guitar Battle!
Judges: Andrew W.K., Vernon Reid and Matt Sweeney
Thursday, December 9, 2010
8:00PM 21+
FREE



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A stark break from stuffy music store instrumental battles, Shred For Your Life is an over-the-top, balls-to-the-wall guitar battle born in the East Village, where style counts for as much as technique. Celebrity judges will decide who ultimately ascends to greatness. The night ends with an explosive performance from Soldiers of Fortune. Come and get your faces melted once again. Blackouts DJin at 8pm. Battle at 9pm. Soldiers Of Fortune at 11pm.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Watch the birdie

Long story short, they tried to shut us down. They didn't. We partied, harder than ever before. This is what it looked like.

12/5/2010 - Crowbar, Black Tusk, A Life Once Lost, Primitive Weapons
Photos by Samantha Marble of BrooklynVegan
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12/2/2010 - Watain, Goatwhore, Black Anvil, Hamsoken
Photos by BBG of BrooklynVegan
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11/24/2010 - Dance.Here.Too with James Zabiela, Sleepy & Boo
Photos by Cecilia Doreng-Stearns of HiFi Cartel
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11/20/2010 - Peelander-Z, Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, Starscream
Photos by Andrew St. Clair of BrooklynVegan
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BONUS VIDEO: 11/28/2010 - Tommy Vext Benefit
Tommy Vext, Doc Coyle (God Forbid) and Gene Black