New Year’s Eve is thought of as amateur night for a reason. There are a lot more people out on the town, and they are drinking to get wasted as quickly as possible. Sparkling wine, which a lot of times tastes like a carbonated non-alcoholic beverage, puts people who don’t drink that much in an inebriated state quickly.
Needless to say, Dec. 31 is not my favorite day on the calendar. This year, the plan was to make this New Year’s Eve low-key with close friends and significant others. The fog put a bit of a damper on watching the fireworks from a rooftop far away from the Xinyi area, but right after midnight, the text messages started rolling in.
“Get down here now.”
Photo courtesy of O-Brothaz Sound System
“This place is bangin’.”
“Where you at? Where you at? We are all here and it is crazy!”
With that, I left the comfortable confines of the chilled out house party I was enjoying in Yangmingshan and took an Uber into the unknown of the Concrete Jungle party under the bridge at Riverside Park at about 1am. As soon as I crossed the Rainbow Bridge leading from Raohe night market, I was blown away by the huge mass of people, crowded around the basketball court and bike path.
It was a sensory overload in the most positive way possible. People were grinning ear to ear while taking turns riding the tire swings hung from the bridge. LED spinners, hula hoopers, b-boys and b-girls and salsa dancers were crowded around the two DJ booths, which were turned up just enough for the party without disturbing the neighbors. Live art was being splashed onto canvases that would later be made into one-of-a-kind leather shoes. Faces were being painted with intricate designs. Rappers were free-styling on side stages. A carefree and vivacious attitude permeated the party from the moment I walked in to the moment I left. The best part of the whole experience? The police were nowhere to be found. At least until the morning.
It was a Herculean task to get all the free spirits and creatives in Taipei together and throw a free of charge, guerrilla party in the middle of Taipei on New Year’s Eve with no one person or crew being in charge. This musical, cultural, and artistic festival did not focus solely on the fireworks of Taipei 101. Instead, people of all nationalities got together and created something that was much bigger than each individual. The Concrete Jungle blew many people’s minds, was an inspiring way to start the new year, and the Burning Man ethos that fueled the creativity on that night foreshadows a very interesting 2016.
FIRE IN DI DANCEHALL
Reggae, dancehall, and Soca music is usually associated with warm weather, sunshine, skimpy bathing suits and sand between the toes. Tomorrow, however, the O-Brothaz Sound System comes out of hibernation and takes over Triangle for a Reggae Downtown party. With newcomer DJ CC on the decks, and local reggae artist Ras Junior holding down the mic, the vibe inside the venue will surely warm up anyone unsatisfied with January temperatures.
Island Jam presents Reggae Downtown (雷鬼頭) featuring O-Brothaz Sound System, DJ CC and Ras Junior is at Triangle tomorrow night from 10pm to 4am, 1, Yumen St, Taipei City (台北市玉門街1號). Admission is NT$300 and comes with a drink.
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