words by Andrew Frisicano

Big Freedia & friends @ Wrongbar in Toronto for NXNE - June 18, 2010

"So what the hell is Sissy Bounce? Sort of depends who you ask. Katey Red, arguably the creator of the genre, suggests it doesn't even exist and instead insists it's just sissies producing Bounce. Other artists such as Big Freedia fully embrace the term. Take some of the most hypersexual, bump and grind you can imagine, remove everything but the sexed up chorus, speed it up, and then remove the sexual identity of the artist performing it. What, what? That's right. Sissy Bounce artists are purposely androgynous, sometimes referred to as queer, sometimes transgendered, a very direct intent is to fuck with people's heads about sexuality. It's easy to relate, or be offended when you see one sex singing about the other. But with Sissy Bounce you have no idea. This makes the performances just as important as the music itself, which is perhaps why it's stayed locked down for so long." [Sean Bonner]

From the pictures above and below, maybe you can tell that Big Freedia's Friday night set at Toronto's Wrongbar (as part of NXNE) was a crowd pleaser. Big Freedia, DJ Rusty Lazer and a pair of dancers held a master class on ass-shaking dance moves and a good portion of the crowd was happy to oblige, especially for the infectious bounce of songs like "Azz Everywhere" and "Rock Around the Clock." Freedia went from a tender acapella verse about settling down to a song with the hook "I got that gin in my system, somebody's gonna be my victim." The spectacle was one thing, but it was ultimately the songs, rumbling party mantras, that made it a great set.

The next night Big Freedia brought her act to the city's Yonge-Dundas Square (a free, very public stage surrounded by stores and restaurants )- it looks like they played there with considerably more clothes on. Still, Damian Abraham tweeted: "Big Freedia's performance in Dundas Square today made the Stooges show (which was amazing) look like a Peter, Paul and Mary Concert." (btw, our pics from the Stooges show he's referring to are coming soon).

Big Freedia and crew (that includes Freedia's DJ Rusty Lazer) will be back in Brooklyn for a Thursday night set at CrushFest at Public Assembly. The lineup for the June 24th show, which is part of Northside, also includes Yes Giantess, Fang Island, Iran, MillionYoung, Dinosaur Feathers, Anton Glamb, LE1F, Jason Pants & Chaz Requina (Palms Out Sounds), Denny Le Nimh and No Surrender. Tickets are only $5.00 until 3pm today (6/22) - then the price goes back up to $15. You can also try to get in with your Northside Badge.

More pictures from Toronto, a flyer for the Public Assembly show and a video from a Big Freedia show at Glasslands are all below...

Continue reading "Big Freedia played NXNE (NSFW pics), playing Crush Fest in Brooklyn w/ Yes Giantess, Fang Island, others (tix on sale) "

Building in the inaugural success of 2008, Famous Friends, a New York-based promotion company, in conjunction with Noise Problem, a leading multi-faceted music agency, are pleased to announce the line up for The Second Annual Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival (BEMF). Spanning two stages, indoor and out, BEMF will be headlined by The Juan Maclean (live) and also feature Young Love, Jupiter One, Adventure, Shy Child, Home Video, Free Blood, Awesome New Republic as well as dozens of other DJs and performers.

Famous Friends will be announcing a very special surprise guest headliner via twitter on the day of the show. RJD2 will not be performing as previously announced.

The fest will take place at Brooklyn's Old American Can Factory. Tickets are currently on sale through PayPal. Lineup and more info on the fest, below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival (Aug 8th) - full lineup (w/ Juan Maclean, Cloud Room, special guest headliner, NO RJD2)"

DOWNLOAD: Diana Krall - What Are You Doing New Years Eve (MP3)

Rude Bear @ a Muggabears show (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

• Grandmaster Mele Mel, Mickey Factz, Ninjasonik, Trouble & Bass, and more @ Studio B
• The World Famous Pontani Sisters @ The Bell House
• RUDE year's eve HEARTSREVOLUTION (Live+DJ set) plus Nick Catchdubs / Bubblyfish / RUDE (DJ set) / hosted by RUDE BEAR @ Glasslands Gallery
• Surprise Me Mr Davis (members of The Slip) and The Benevento/Russo Duo (late show) @ BB King's
• Famous Friends & Palms Out Sounds Present NYE 2008! featuring Kill The Noise / AC Slater / The American Dream Team / Udachi / Bradley D & VDRK / Hosted by Chaz & Jason Pants of Palms Out Sounds @ Europa
• EVERYTHING ELSE

DOWNLOAD: David Bruno Live at People Don't Dance No More May (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: AC Slater guest mix on Kiss 100 - May 1st, 2008 (DivShare MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Roy Davis Jr live @ The Yard (May 25, 2008) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: King Britt live @ The Yard (June 01, 2008) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Trus'me live @ The Yard (June 08, 2008) (MP3)

The Yard on a Sunday (cred)

Despite getting a late start, I had one of the most unexpectedly awesome weekends last week. After a day of sweating it out at a bbq, and several fruitless attempts at a disco nap, I dragged myself to Studio B, arriving in the middle of Lifelike's set. After being badgered by certain individuals for months I still hadn't really checked out Lifelike. I was totally unprepared for his devastating mix of new, classic French house-influenced tracks, perfectly balanced with underplayed electro bangers (finally got to hear SMD's 'Hot Dog' on a big system). The floor was more packed than I've seen it there in a long time and everyone was absolutely losing it (and Alan Braxe hadn't even gone on yet!). Lifelike held it down until around 2:30 when Mr. Braxe went on. As much as it was great to hear French house classics from one of the people who pioneered the sound, and as crazily as I had been getting down, about an hour in things were starting to give way. Maybe it was the change in intensity from Lifelike's set to his, but somewhere around 3:30, after a numbingly long play of Daft Punk's "Rollin' & Scratchin' " I was ready to go.

Originally that was my only dance-related weekend plan, but when I was writing about Saturday & Sunday's events I really liked what I heard from Trusme. Thanks to the wonders of the G-train, what should've been a 30 minute ride to the Yard took 2 hours. I'm not even going to get into it, but if you're taking the G train, factor some time getting f-ed over by the MTA into your commute.

When I finally arrived, the Yard had a very friendly, backyard (one of the only things I desperately miss from suburbia) bbq vibe. Everyone was just hanging out, eating (Sweet Deliverance's food was amazing. I had the best veggie burger I have ever eaten.), and drinking. Nobody was really dancing yet (it was about 5:30 or 6). The later it got, the more people slowly trickled out onto the dancefloor, and by 8 when Trusme went on there was not an inch of floor to spare. Trusme's set was perfect for summer - a great blend of disco and soulful house - perfect hot weather listening. Everyone was having serious fun. I would endure my two hours of MTA-induced hell to do it all over again. That's how good it was.

Don't fret if you missed out, there are plenty more Sunday Bests on the way (plus they've been recording all the guest dj sets, including Trusme's - then them here), and it looks like Trusme and Giant Step have something in the works for July 30th at the Hudson Hotel.

That's a while away though...on to this week in dance:

Continue reading "the week in Dance w/ Showtrotta (stuff to do this weekend)"

by Showtrotta

DOWNLOAD: AC Slater - Bassline Time (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: AC Slater - BanGer (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: AC Slater - Vertigo (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: AC Slater - Party Girl (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Boys Noize - Shine Shine (AC Slater remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Maskinen - "Alla Som Inte Dansar" (Mister Thingamy Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Maskinen -Alla Som Inte Dansar (Team Skidoo & Tek box Rmx) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Touch - "Night Dominator ft. Lina" (DJ Assualt Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Kid Fresh - "Palms Out Mix Series Vol. 6: Winter In Shanghai" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: ESTAW & J-Cast - "Break It Down" (MP3)

New York electro blog Palms Out Sounds presents a showcase of both New York-based and international deejays at Luna Lounge in Brooklyn tonight (Thursday March 20). Email RSVP@palmsout.com for $5 reduced list.

There are easily 10 people on the bill scheduled to deejay. One I think is especially worth checking out is AC Slater. Brooklyn based dj/producer/remixer AC Slater won me over a long time ago with his remix of Boys Noize's 'Shine Shine' (MP3 above), but he has also done a number of his own tracks which are quite good. (also see MP3s above)

This week AC also did a fresh mix for the increasingly popular No Love Lost Records (NLLR) Mixtape Project if you want an idea of what you're in for tonight, download that one right HERE

If you haven't already checked them out, NLLR is a record label with a great philosophy that will hopefully be releasing some excellent dance music in the near future. In the meantime their mixtape project has amassed enough great tunes to keep you moving for months. From their manifesto:

Established in September 2007 in Brooklyn, New York, by British born dance music aficionado Lee Norman Williams, No Love Lost Records is dedicated to discovering and developing the next wave of artists, DJs, and remixers. No Love Lost Records is an independent label that understands and respects the culture of dance music, and the endless drive to push the boundaries of what is both the most progressive and exciting music on the planet.

No Love Lost Records also runs a very exciting, free to download, side-project called THE NLLR MIXTAPE PROJECT. This project is an ongoing series of exclusive showcase mixes representing all styles of dance and electronic music by the most progressive and talented DJs in the world. In its short existence the NLLR Mixtape Project has already received more than 275,000 downloads...

Tonight's flyer and more details below below....

Continue reading "a Palms Out showcase in BK, AC Slater, lots of MP3s, & NLLR"