Just when we thought that that dead horse could not be flogged any more mercilessly, Green Lantern gave the medium-sized crowd at Luxy last Saturday a few more painful lashings of top-40 hip hop.
Try as he might, the man who goes by the alias Evil Genius and described himself to this reporter as "the Number 1 mixtape DJ of the world," failed to incite the type of frenzy that even the club's residents can whip up on a normal night.
LL Cool J's ridiculous Headsprung didn't do the trick. Neither did a G Unit medley, which, to be fair, was awesomely mixed. Maybe people were just expecting more than more of the same.
He seemed to know that he had choked when he told The Vinyl Word after the show that "I just don't know what people know around here. I don't wanna drop all this underground stuff that no one's heard before. I wanna have a party!"
So did everyone else, but Headsprung? Come on.
The vibe was markedly more happening at the Wan-nian Building the next day at Roller Boogie II, where organizer Marcus Aurelius proved once again that when people throw on skates they're also going to wear a smile for the rest of the day.
The sound system may have been sub-par, but few people seemed to notice or care. Nancy Chen threw down some funky tracks, as did Saucey (Galaxy's Out of Sight was a nice touch in the slightly surreal setting), but Marcus caught the playground vibe best with the most consistent late-70s and early-80s funk and rap.
Looking ahead, the party week has gotten longer with Madhouse and Sneaky Spins teaming up once again to fill the gap between Wednesday and Friday.
The "Shag" parties they threw at Club 70s last year were the first signs of Thursday nightlife seen in the city, as far as house music is concerned. But with Club 70s now closed, they've moved to Eden and changed the party's name to "Destinations." Next stop: Dublin for their March 17 St Patty's Day party. They'll be there next Thursday, too, working the squeaks out of the dance floor.
Another theme event, this one from Hype Asia, is tonight's Hina Matsuri, or Peach Day, at Party Room. It's Japan's annual girls'-day celebration that wishes the ladies luck and beauty. Girls who wear pink get in free. Guys pay NT$500, regardless of what color they're wearing, but get a drink in the bargain.
Party Room is located on the 12th floor of the Living Mall (
Also tonight, but at Luxy, is the album release for the club's resident David S. In the club's Lotus Room tomorrow, popular residents Vertigo and J6 will host a tribal-house party.
Tomorrow night marks the return of Deep Inside at Eden after a brief hiatus. DJ Saucey and SL's monthly gig atop the Bistro 98 building has proven so wildly popular that they're putting a NT$500 premium on it. The good news is that your NT$500 entrance fee gets you not one but two free drinks. Well, not "free" but you know what we mean. The party is billed as a deep-house night, but with the energy levels the duo reaches, the sound leans heavily toward funky house.
Eden is located at 11F, 98 Zhongxiao E Rd, Sec 4 (
The Vinyl Word: banzai!
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