Ric's Reflections of REVMiami.com's Launch Party, Pt I
Photo by Natalie Garcia and Erika Vargas
I hopped out of the car and walked up to PS14, my heart literally in my throat. A month's worth of work all coming together on this one night. I never intended to throw a party for REV Miami - promoting is exhaustive and requires the balancing of so many different personalities. All that said, I was incredibly happy about how the Launch Party came together. It had been getting a great reception and the bands were genuinely excited to be part of it.
It was only 9:45 and there was already a line leading up to the door, I couldn't believe it. When I got inside I was blown away by what I saw - the artists were already set up and Nastie was running around with his hair on fire, hammer in hand, nails falling out of his pocket, crying out, "get the pictures up, get the pictures up!"
Mounted behind the pool table on the right wall hung Yvonne Cardoba's stunning oil paintings. JONESY's horror-themed drawings on paper lined the left wall along with Joey Explodey's cartoonish surreal paintings. In the corner was D. Bauchery's mixed media "Animals on Acid". Scott Gabbey of Ultra Violent Magazine had set up a table (thankfully provided by Level from Alukard and E. Grizzly) showing horror & exploitation cinema and selling t-shirts, magazines, movies, and CDs. Filmographer Alexia (there will be video of the event posted soon) picked up a video that BOPSY, Inc. prepared for the show and it was being alternated out with Scott's collection.
Scott Gabbey from Ultra Violent Magazine and Me
The doors hadn't opened yet and everything was pretty quiet, but I knew that there was about to be a storm of activity. Ten bands, five artists, a filmmaker, and my friend Scott's table. It was going to be absolute chaos.
Fortunately, almost every person involved in the show was either a friend, a friend of a friend, or an acquaintance - a mindset that I want to permeate REV Miami. It creates an environment of familiarity, comfort, and allows for everything to run smoothly because everyone genuinely cares about each other and each other's success.
I slowly strolled around PS14 and took in the scene. The diversity of art was great, the pieces were great, everything looked so well put together. It was also good to see my friend Scott, it had been almost 5 years since we'd last hung out together. Scott has a wonderfully perverse sense of humor, which I'm so thankful for. He really helped me keep loose throughout the night - especially at times when I really needed it.
I also spent a little bit of time with my long lost childhood friend Jeremy Perez-Cruz of The Still Voice (go to my post about the bands playing the Launch Party to read the full back story). Enjoy this picture of us as youngsters and not so youngsters:
The first musician to play was Gus Gus, who brought along another guitarist to play the set with him. He started the night off playing on the inside stage to a fairly decent turnout at 10:30.
I wasn't necessarily going to tell this story because it's totally behind the scenes, but you know what, screw it. It's was REV's party and I'll do whatever I want.
Gus Gus will blow your mind... literally. Photo by Elizabeth Ferguson.
Gus Gus is a weird dude. In my post about the bands playing the Launch Party, I wrote how he approached Liz and I while we were discussing the details of the show while eating dinner at Van Dykes Cafe on Lincoln Road. Gus was our waiter and he overheard our conversation and asked if he could play. I thought about it for a second and figured why not, it'll be cool to put a brand, brand, brand new musician on the same bill with some well established bands.
So for fear of my life, I made sure that he was happy. I didn't want him to smash my brain.
Notorious Nastie and Me. Photo by David Tomargo aka Thug Jesus
The rest of the bands started showing up and that turned out to occupy a lot of my attention. For the most part I was stationed by the side gate helping the various bands load gear in and out of the club. I loved being able to spend time with them talking about the show, their projects, the future of REV Miami, and the music scene in general.
A lot of props to my counterpart Notorious Nastie. The whole night he was running around like a madman checking the door, making sure there were enough wristbands, making sure the soundmen were on point, basically all the little details that I have absolutely no experience with. I really have to thank him for handling so much of the annoying things and letting me focus on the bands, the artists, the music, and enjoying the Launch Party.
Gatoe Xango and Johan Murillo. Photo by Elizabeth Ferguson
When Gus Gus finished playing, Gatoe Xango got on the inside stage to play. Gatoe's music is so brilliant. He brought along friend and collaborator Johan Murillo to play piano. I want to mention a lot more about Gatoe, but it also has to do with the Dyslexic Postcards, so read Part II tomorrow.
In the middle of Gatoe's set, things started getting really intense. The crowd was filling out to the point that it was hard to walk from one part of the venue to the other. From this point on, my memories are going to be pretty groggy but bear with me.
"Aye mate, we're 'ere ta rock da 'ouse!" Photo by Elizabeth Ferguson.
Outside Fireside Social started setting up. God do I love these guys. They came dressed up in nerd outfits (well, different than their normal nerd outfits) and were speaking in mock British accents. My friend Steve Imas, who is going to be writing for REV Miami and recently did the post, The Miracle of Medical Marijuana, said that Fireside Social was his favorite band of the night. Their music really brought me back to the late-90's, early 2000's when I was devouring punk rock. I feel like I would have heard them on any Hopelessly Devoted To You or Take Action! sampler.
Oh, and I actually did see them pissing on the car-door handles of anyone leaving nearby Club Space. I don't think many noticed, though, because their hands were already covered in hair gel from maintaining their blowouts while dancing to Paul Oakenfolk.
When Gatoe came off stage, Furious Dudes went up (inside stage). Seriously, is there anything more beautiful in this world than John Vale's beard? Can everyone tell that I have a thing about awesome facial hair yet?
I think a squirrel lives in Jon Vale's beard. Photo by Elizabeth Ferguson.
By the time they hit the stage the crowd was huge. PS14 was brimming at the edges and ready to explode. There were a million things going on. The energy was getting so intense and frantic... and then they start playing.
There would be no better music in the world to play during a riot (unless MadMartigan played at the exact same moment). It felt like the clouds had parted and Death, Famine, War, and Pestilence came to the stage of PS14 and decided to form a band instead of ending the world. Either way, they brought the apocalypse. So good. Such a good, good band.
I went back outside to catch the beginning of The Still Voices' set. Jeremy told me that he used a laptop on stage as part of their live performance to provide some ambient beats and other sounds, but the full effect in person is impressive.
The Still Voice. Photo by Elizabeth Ferguson.
Their music is so good and graceful and beautiful. Honestly, Miami doesn't support out of town bands all that well, especially when it's their first time playing the city. Also, their sound is pretty atypical and can't be compared to other bands here.
Despite all that, a big crowd watched their entire set. Even better, I was approached several times by people asking who they were, where they were from, and where they could get more information. They actually managed to sell 10 CDs! Who sells merch in Miami at a local show? From an out of town band? Incredible.
...Part II to be released Wednesday, February 4.
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LINKS
Yvonne Cardoba: www.myspace.com/yvonnecardoba
BOPSY, INC.: www.aholsniffsglue.com
Joey Explodey: www.myspace.com/ducknails
D. Bauchery: www.myspace.com/echosofmyown
JONESY: www.myspace.com/chawnders
Ultra Violent Magazine: www.uvmagazine.com
Fireside Social: www.myspace.com/firesidesocial
The Still Voice: www.myspace.com/thestillvoice
Dyslexic Postcards: www.myspace.com/dyslexicpostcards
Gatoe Xango: www.myspace.com/gatoexango
If You Enjoyed This Post, You May Also Like:
- Ric's Reflections of REVMiami.com's Launch Party, Pt. II
- REVMiami.com Presents: PS14 Outdoor Concert Series (April 3)
- Our Launch Party!
- REV Miami II - Recap
- Fireside Social - Booze, Balls, and Rock n' Roll: Meet Your New Favorite Band, Pt. 2
NOTE FOR COMMENTS: Do not flame or leave obnoxious comments, THEY WILL NOT BE APPROVED. Constructive criticism should always be welcomed by any artist, but don't be a d-bag, show some class. Thanks. - REVMiami Staff
LOL@squirrels in Jon Vale's beard