It might have been unusually cold in Taipei, but LTJ Bukem and MC Conrad made ladies night at Luxy the hottest action in town last Wednesday, also their best gig in Taiwan since 2004. Conrad did a lot more singing this time, adding jazzy, soulful and sometimes dubby layers to LTJ's specialty-blend of deep and grooving drum 'n' bass with his mesmerizing voice. The energy level was roaring high from start to end. It's hard to believe a drum 'n' bass party kicked off to such an extent in Taiwan.
"There is a major difference between this and the kind of parties where they have to use go-go dancers to get people excited," said Julia Chien, a drum 'n' bass fan from Taoyuan. "It's all about music and dancing here tonight. And it would be perfect if they were playing in the big room."
Other drum 'n' bass lovers wished for a revival of the local scene. "What you see tonight may make you believe that drum 'n' bass parties are big in Taipei, but actually they aren't," said Bryan Beemish (aka MC Beemer), who opened for LTJ and Conrad on their first visit. "There hasn't been any big drum 'n' bass parties like this in a long time."
PHOTO: COURTESY OF GARETH JONES
Party animals flocked to The Zoo in Taichung for Latex, a house party hosted by DJs Gareth Jones and Matty D (from Swank) last weekend. The Vinyl Word got caught up on the way and didn't get there till 2am, but the timing turned out to be just right. There was enough time to groove to some nice house beats as well as chill with laid-back Taichung folks and watch a fire-spinner doing his thing on the patio.
For those who are unfamiliar with Taichung nightlife, The Zoo is a cozy new venue in the popular bar/club strip on Daguan Road, near The Pig Pen and Lion King and features an indoor dance room and an outdoor patio and bar behind a sleek-looking white fence.
Spring Scream weekend is approaching, which means it's time to get warmed up. Here's a few events to get you in the mood.
* House at Paulina (tonight). This solid weekly house gig has been going for a while and gets lots of props for its deep, sexy and funky house music selected by producer/remixer/DJ Sona from Dallas, one of the finest foreign DJs in Taipei. (No cover charge. 167, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City, 台北市安和路二段167號).
* I Love Taiwan at P.P. (tonight). Show your love as DJs from South Africa, San Francisco, Canada and Taiwan gather in Kaohsiung. Hip-hop, house and electro grooves. (NT$250, B1, 10 Szuwei 4th Rd, Kaohsiung City, 高雄市四維四路10號B1).
* Jam On It at China White (tomorrow). Billed as a special event for those who love to party and socialize with foreigners. DJs Jr, Megan, Saucey, Gareth Jones spin house all night long. (NT$350, 2F, 97-101 Dunhua S Rd Sec 2, Taipei City, 台北市敦化南路二段97-101號2樓).
Rock 'n' Rave" at Liquid Lounge (tomorrow). By the Boogie Crew (the same people who threw the off-the-hook Xmas massive in Taichung last year.) Rock 'n' roll-influenced electronica is hot: Rockers rave and ravers rock. DJs Freaky Squeaker, Matty D, Victor Yeh and Ripper will be in the mix, accompanied by vocalist Kolette. (NT$350 before 12am, 98 Chungming S Rd, Taichung City, 台中市忠明南路98號).
Sept.16 to Sept. 22 The “anti-communist train” with then-president Chiang Kai-shek’s (蔣介石) face plastered on the engine puffed along the “sugar railway” (糖業鐵路) in May 1955, drawing enthusiastic crowds at 103 stops covering nearly 1,200km. An estimated 1.58 million spectators were treated to propaganda films, plays and received free sugar products. By this time, the state-run Taiwan Sugar Corporation (台糖, Taisugar) had managed to connect the previously separate east-west lines established by Japanese-era sugar factories, allowing the anti-communist train to travel easily from Taichung to Pingtung’s Donggang Township (東港). Last Sunday’s feature (Taiwan in Time: The sugar express) covered the inauguration of the
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