Going to Le Castle Vania

Saturday is the first of a recurring monthly dance party at Chop Suey named Faded.
The inagural night brings Le Castle Vania to the northwest for a night of euro electro dirty disco punk.

You like the Ed Banger label sound? How about Boyz Noise? If so, get your lightweight night duds on and hit the Chop on Saturday. It get's hot in there and I can practically guarantee you'll be a steamy sweaty dance-happy mess by the end of the night. Read more on Le Castle Vania in this Three Imaginary Girls blog post.

Here's a video taste.

Le Loup: a Craigslist band

Originally uploaded by JeanineAnderson

Le Loup leader Sam Simkoff found his band mates through Craigslist ads in Washington DC. The band's website goes into precious detail about it.

I dropped in on the Le Loup show spur-of-the-moment after checking out the Blush Photo music photography show opening on Tuesday night. (Read my commentary on the photo show here.)

The seven-member band barely fit on the Chop Suey stage, and reminded me of a scaled down Arcade Fire with points for instrument variety: banjo, french horn, 4 guitars, keyboards, drums, synth, computer, ummm...did I miss anything? Probably.

I stayed for most of the set, but I just didn't hear anything that blew me away or made me want to run out and buy their self-released EP. (I don't own the Arcade Fire release either.)

Demographics:
60% boys, 40% girls. Average age: 28. Attire: the same clothes seen at the neighborhood market. No fashionistas in sight. It was a Tuesday, after all. Laundry night.

Boys Noize is the sh*tz

Boys Noize!!
Originally uploaded by JeanineAnderson

German DJ Boys Noize (Alexander Ridha) is a rising star in electro dance and has a post-Daft Punk vibe. He stopped into Chop Suey on Friday to play the monthly Broken Disco night after killing it earlier in the week at the I Heart Comix SXSW party in Austin.

Boys Noize brought his "A" game to Seattle and had a swell time raising the noise (sorry) for a full house of sweaty, dancing maniacs. The all-ages dance floor was fully packed for his entire set and the crowd didn't want to leave when the house lights came on. Repeated pleas to exit to the rear were finally honored, amidst discussions of which afterparty to go to.

Boys Noize is confirmed on the lineup of several high-profile festivals later this year, including Coachella in Indio CA and Sonar in Barcelona. Catch him if you get a chance! Your dancing booty will thank you.

I Heart Rummage @ Chop Suey on Sunday

Indie craft show I Heart Rummage starts up again Sunday March 2nd at their new location, Chop Suey. Free + 35 vendor spots + a DJ = perfect!

There should be LOTS of inventory: the last monthly IHR show was 3 months ago and it was a thrown-together affair after the sudden close of The Crocodile. [more] I am uber-thrilled IHR found a new home at Chop Suey. And it is only...um...three blocks away. (Could mean trouble.)

At previous IHR sales I picked up delicious hand-knitted wrist warmers and unique leather bracelets. I am looking forward to picking up some fresh stuff for the new year, new season, new month. Maybe I'll branch out from wrist-related pretties. (Or not.)

What have our clever indie crafters been up to this damp, dark, northwest winter? Check it.

I Heart Rummage
Sunday, March 2nd
12pm - 4pm
Chop Suey
1325 E Madison

Stalker Opportunities Feb 1 - 15: Updates!

I'll be eating my (and your) share of sushi over the next two weeks in the land of the rising sun.
Sayonara, peeps. Represent, and carry on without me!

new! Friday, Feb 1: DJ Steve Aoki at War Room for Sing Sing night. Premier LA party man and producer, Mr Dim Mak brings it fo' sho'.

new! Friday, Feb 1: Shameless' My Bloody Valentine party (not the band), Hengst Studio. Check Donte's write up in The Stranger.

update! Saturday, Feb 2nd: Closing night party for the Free Art Seattle Exhibition @ the Wayward Cafe, 6 - 9 pm. Art in the exhibition will be given away (limit of one per person). First come, first serve. Imagine Best Buy on Black Friday: street artists and fans queuing up on the sidewalk starting at 6 am. Ha! I've called dibs on one but won't be there to collect. Poor me. If you go, please be sure to wish Kinoko a very happy birthday.

update! Saturday, Feb 2nd: Inner Flight vs. Danger Inc. NW djs collab to bring you all-night dance. Location: Church of Bass, 920 Elliot Ave W

Thursday, Feb 7th: First Thursday art walk. Check 619 Western. I promise you'll see something interesting.

Friday, Feb 8th: New gallery show openings @ BLVD Gallery, Roq La Rue, Suite 100 Gallery.

Friday Feb 8th: Broken Disco @ Chop Suey. Friendly monthly dance party. Always a variety of styles and skilz. Check local chicas Kris Moon and Jenn Woolfe.

Friday Feb 8th: Uberzone and Bassbin Twins @ Last Supper Club. Check Bassbin Twins' remix of Evil Nine's Crooked for a taste of what Pete brings to the table. Plus, he's a street art guy so + + + to him.

new! Saturday, Feb 9th: BLVD Project Room at TRIPLE - opening reception, with performance by The Saturday Knights. BLVD Gallery owner Damion opens a new work/project space in Ballard, featuring artists in residence. First up is "Arterial Lines" by Nhon Nguyen, a Seattle-based artist who is using the opportunity to create a mural that reflects his experience living in Osaka Japan.

Sunday, Feb 10th: DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist in Hard Sell tour, plus Kid Koala @ Showbox Market. Powerhouse lineup. Get ready to get sweaty.

update! Tuesday Feb 12th: Holy Fuck @ Neumos with Super Furry Animals. Holy F*ck rocks my world with Super Inuit, The Pulse, and other tracks from their 2007 LP Young Turks. SFA is the headliner, so don't go too late. Pssssst: the "very special guest" expected at Chop Suey on 2/26 with A Place to Bury Strangers is very likely to be a band whose name rhymes with "rolly duck."

Wednesday Feb 13th: Los Amigos Invisibles @ Neumos. "A blend of disco, acid jazz, and funk mixed with Latin rhythms." [wikipedia]

new! Friday, February 15th: Artifakt show @ Neumos. Fresh spotlight on board culture. Includes custom skateboards and snowboards, photography, premiers of two videos, and DJ spinnin' action. Mingle with luminaries in nw boarding.

Get your craft on: Chop Suey + I Heart Rummage

Another sign night spot Chop Suey is making bold moves in 2008: the monthly indie urban craft show I Heart Rummage has moved to Chop Suey. Next sale day is Sunday March 2nd.

I Heart Rummage was given notice last fall by the Crocodile Cafe that they'd need to find a new venue starting with the January 2008 show. The Croc then suddenly closed doors days before the December show, arguably the biggest sale month of the year for indie crafters. Much scrambling ensued, and kind-hearted Blvd Gallery stepped up to opened its doors and host the Dec show (and thereby saving Christmas for Tiny Tim). Good location for last-minute change, but the Blvd Gallery is not a big enough space for a permanent home.

Enter Chop Suey. Some mighty interesting things going on there: started serving nibbler asian-y food (anyone tried it yet?), experimenting with band residency, hosted two fundraisers for former Croc employees, retaining good staff, etc.

So what up, Chop? Whatev. Just keep going in this interesting direction and my smitten-ness might develop into a full blown crush.


via Citizen Rain