Canada's resident tag team of DJs from Connect promotions are holding a CD release party this weekend that is free if you get to Citizen Cain first and arrive at Luxy before the witching hour of 11:30pm. This will entitle you to free stickers, a party in the Lotus room to celebrate DJ Saucey's birthday, and a free CD of mixes from the Connect crew.
DJs Saucey, Coffey and Trix -- who founded Connect -- have been the backbone of the foreigner scene at 2nd Floor with the Citrus parties and the CD represents these sounds and places: largely blends of electro house and breaks that weaned Taipei from trance.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CONNECT
"It's a free promo CD, we just wanted to give something back to the people who have been supporting our parties, a slice of the action that we've been creating," Saucey said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CONNECT
Saucey and Coffey met working at a record store in Victoria, Canada, partied a lot, started organizing events and teamed up with Trix to take over Taiwan with their vicious beats and funk. "We called ourselves Connect because we've all got different styles but something that connects us: dirty basslines and electro funk. So, like with the CD, you can hear that there are three DJs with our own flavors, but it sounds like one sound," Saucey said.
Tickets for the show are limited, so get to Citizen Cain early, then take off for Luxy without too much delay (so you don't have to wait until after 11:30pm, because you won't get in).
PHOTO COURTESY OF CONNECT
Also worth a look will be a party called "Piercings" at Whisky tomorrow, with DJ Edmund, Em, K Fancy, Trix and SL. Promising "beautiful people, funky grooves and lots of laughs," the party will cost NT$350 with a drink and will run from 9pm to 5am.
In a random discovery two weeks ago, Vinyl Word was walking out of the food court at Taipei 101 and happened upon the entrance to what looked like a new club with its doors open at 8pm. Ever on the lookout for new nightspots, we took a peek inside and were surprised to find the swankest lounge bar in Taipei we'd ever seen. It's called
Mint and if you haven't heard of it yet, it's probably because you don't have enough money.
The place is small, maybe squeezing in 100 people maximum, while a soothing purple glow from the lights warms the space and sets off the colors of the angular, modernist furniture. It was also hard not to notice the disco floor with panels that light up in bright pastels, but it didn't look like there would ever be much dancing going on.
When we chanced upon Mint it was not yet officially open, though a handful of beautiful people were lounging in relaxed postures on the couches, martini glasses in hand. We'd barely taken in the whole setting when a beefy man with an earpiece approached using a fairly clear hand gesture (finger pointing at the door) to invite us to leave.
Apparently, if you want the privilege of being welcomed to stick around at Mint on weekends, you'll have to be prepared for the NT$1,000 minimum charge. Gawking for a few minutes at the bar's doorway, however, won't cost you a thing.
And now for something completely different. Tonight, Manchu presents "Breaks Beast" at Spin, which is being called "A breakthrough to the next level!" So, expect breaks from DJs Chewie, Umbra and Dry Bean. Tickets are NT$300 and include.
Finally, "Subrosa Deep House" is putting on guest DJ Spettro from Texas for just NT$300 on Thursday at Bacchus in the Neo building next to Warner Village, a brave attempt to inject some love in Taipei's clubland on a Thursday.
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