Rest In Peace Rochester

DJ.BITTLE @ Party In The Park, 7/28/11

2011-07-27T17:32:00.003-04:00

RIPROC resident DJ.Bittle is scheduled to kill it at Party In The Park this Thursday, opening up for Big Gigantic & DJ.Bittle. Not to be missed!

All info on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=206415179407652

DJ Dan is coming to Rochester on July 22nd.

2011-06-01T19:03:00.001-04:00

DJ Dan is huge. Aquasound is bringing some sick shows your way. Check the Facebook for all info:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=186991144686702

Sub Swara 03/24/11.

2011-03-09T01:14:00.003-05:00

Huge event. Expected sellout. Check the Facebook for all info:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=157236180996789

The Ugly Sweater Party returns.

2010-12-09T22:49:00.003-05:00

Here's The Ugly Sweater Party and also the flyer from the last show. Which was huge.

The Manhattan Project 11/26 @ Dub Land Underground

2010-11-13T21:40:00.000-05:00

Check the Facebook for info.

Skeet Skeet & Roots Collider 11/18 @ Dub Land Underground

2010-11-13T21:30:00.006-05:00

Check the Facebook for info.

Many upcoming parties.

2010-10-22T01:49:00.005-04:00

Way too many things going down to even bother posting individually. Check the RIPROC Facebook page and the Sockhop Party Facebook page for all up to the minute info. Follow the Twitter.

Telephoned 09.02.10 @ Dub Land Underground

2010-08-25T20:31:00.003-04:00

Check the Facebook event.

Tittsworth 07/30/10 @ Pearl

2010-07-24T16:23:00.004-04:00

Check the Facebook event.

New RIPROC Merch.

2010-06-14T01:15:00.005-04:00

Shirts: $10.00 each OR all 3 for $25.00.
Stickers: $2.00 each OR 3 for $5.00.
Posters: $1.00 each

Shirts printed by Ad-Lib, Stickers by Galaxy Printing. Support RIPROC, please. :)

E-mail info@riproc.com if interested.

Everything will also be available at The Return Of Ludachrist this Friday @ Pearl.

Ludachrist @ Pearl 06.18.10

2010-06-11T14:59:00.011-04:00

A group of people gathered in Rochester at the PEARL-y gates and witnessed the glory of the one they call Ludachrist. On May 3rd, 2008, the savior of mashup came and blessed them with holy beats, glorious rhythms, and miraculous talent. Those in attendance became Ludachristians, and they set out to spread the word of Ludachrist. Once the holy hymn had come to an end, the masses' ears rang, heartbeats pounded, and faces glowed from having seen the light. They yearned for more of his mashup wisdom. And as Ludachrist was leaving the temple, his disciples came to him and axed, "What will be the sign of your second coming?" Ludachrist answered, "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah of Mashup,' and will deceive many. But beware my brethren, because talk is cheap."

Friends, followers, believers, and Ludachristians, the time is upon us; the second coming of Ludachrist. On the night of Friday June 18th, year 2010 of our Lord, He shall return to the same temple, this time bringing with him a fresh and furious barrage of aural pleasure. We here at RIPROC are his greatest disciples and witnesses to the true Messiah, and suggest you arrive at 7pm to reserve a pew, as there is limited capacity at the temple of PEARL.

To show love and gratitude to Ludachrist and all of his followers, we will be offering a variety of holy wines, rejuvenating Vital Energy beverages and decadent chocolates free for the tasting. An art gallery will cover the walls and serve as stained glass windows for the evening; windows into the hearts and minds of our local artists whose talents reflect the creative force of Rochester. Among the artisans are Rags, Ryan O Rock, Chicken Bone, Giancarlo Lipasio, Kathleen Hope, Brian Loughner, Eduardo Quintana, and Rob Swierczek. We will also be blessed with the live art of Crook FUA, John Bertolone, E Moore, and Some1 working on the next biggest thing since The Creation of Adam right in front of our very eyes.

Leading up to the Revelation, many other live bands and DJ's will entertain the congregation with a variety of music, which guarantees to ignite your soul and move your feet. From the funk-fusion hymns of Subsoil, the electro-jam beats of the Manhattan Project to the neo-funk mashups of Lifeforms, you will see the blood, sweat and tears of some of Rochester's' finest musicians. Other disciples of Ludachrist who will be warming up the one's and two's include; Ezra Mechamber, Disko & Voins, Darkwave, Mario Bee, Attika, Skanntron, Suspence, Scutti, Turntable Terrorwritsts, Mishka V, Rainbow Kandicaine, Jeff Clarkson, Arcanum, MESA, and A-KO. Sermons will be hosted by Gillateen, DLS, and HRVI WHO?. In an effort to keep both your ears as well as your eyes entertained, we will have stunning live visuals presented by The NGB, and VJ PLZ throughout the night.

Smell something good? That would be the scent of the succulent Ludwig Von Pig (aka Louie) in attendance to support SLOW ROAST RECORDS; a label that includes some of America's top notch DJ's such as Kill the Noise, Craze, Klever, and Senor Stereo. This little piggy has been to more than just the market; he has danced his curly tail all over America at some of the biggest music festivals including Coachella and Starscape. So get your claim to fame and snap a photo of yourself with Louie, and head over to SLOW ROAST RECORDS to grab a t-shirt and keep up with what's cookin' at one of the spiciest, fresh labels on the rise.

Entrance to the temple of PEARL on this evening will require a $10 pre-sale ticket ($10 surcharge if you're under 21), which can be purchased through Thread, Krudco, and any of the artists on the lineup. Please keep in mind that in addition to a ticket, admission will require you to have spent a minimum of 18 years on the planet Earth. Tickets will be more the night of the show.

For sightings of Ludachrist on youtube and for a free download of their debut hymnal conglomerate Bangfest, head over to Worship Ludachrist (dot) com. Also be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more exciting events, reviews, news and blogs to come here at RIPROC.

So don't miss out, keep it rrheal, and come down and wash the sins of bad mashups free from your spirits. Until then, stay classy and thanks for stopping by.

Visit the Facebook Event here:Ludachrist At Pearl

Die Antwoord "Enter The Ninja" ("$O$ ", 2010, Die Antwoord)

- Jimmy James, riproc
code: kathleen hope

Medison & Soft Serve flyers, stay tuned for major party announcin'.

2010-05-19T14:27:00.002-04:00

It's been a zany month. Lots of party info forthcoming. But keeping with posting all of our flyers on the blog, here are a few that we missed:

Pretty Lights @ Water Street Music Hall 06/02/10

2010-05-12T02:02:00.004-04:00

Probably one of the biggest electronic headliners to ever come through Rochester. NOT to be missed. Caught this guy in Syracuse a few months back - total RIPROC seal of approval on this one. Highly encouraged.

E-mail directly for tickets, or hit up the link in the Facebook event.

Download the entire discography (how awesome?) from Pretty Lights' website.

Visit the Facebook page for details.

Element & Brace 04/29/10 @ Dub Land Underground

2010-04-23T16:23:00.006-04:00

Visit the Facebook page for details.

Hot Pink Delorean @ Pearl 03/12/10.

2010-04-09T20:29:00.005-04:00

Video by: Freshly Squeezed Media

RIPROC on the cover of the Rochester Insider.

2010-03-23T18:37:00.007-04:00

Thank you to Troy Smith for the article, Mike Hanlon for the photos, and Kathleen Hope for the scans. Go Team RIPROC.

Dial Tone with Mario Bee @ Dub Land Underground 03/25/10

2010-03-15T23:10:00.002-04:00

Visit the Facebook page for details.

Free Tickets are available at Thread, Dub Land Underground, Skyehigh, and Krudco.

Hot Pink Delorean @ Pearl 03/12/10.

2010-02-22T18:39:00.003-05:00

Visit the Facebook page for details.

Advanced Tickets available at Thread & Krudco.

Not A Test @ Dub Land Underground 03/04/10.

2010-02-22T18:32:00.006-05:00

Visit the Facebook page for details.

Free Tickets are available at Thread, Dub Land Underground, Skyehigh, and Krudco.

Lö Braû Comedie presents Bathroom Break @ Dub Land Underground 03/04/10.

2010-02-22T18:19:00.009-05:00

Visit the Facebook page for details.

FREE before 10pm.

MNM Presents interview. Lotus 02/26/10 @ Water Street with Filthy Funk.

2010-02-21T23:11:00.007-05:00

werd: djb
code: kathleen hope

Just recently, we finally got a long overdue introduction to Marshall out in Buffalo, otherwise known as the dude behind MNM Presents. He gave us a minute of his time to chat about the upcoming Lotus show on February 26th, and he also dropped a little info pertaining to events forthcoming. 2010 is looking bright. Thank yous to Marshall and looking forward to the upcoming events...

- djb, riproc

RIPROC: So give us a bit of background about MNM Presents. When was it started and why?

Marshall: January 2001. And to be honest, it was born out of love for drum & bass. There wasn't a solid place to hear it, and a lot of the DJs didn't play together. We changed all that. We put them all under one roof, which was the hard part, at the now defunct 658 Lounge. We made it a weekly event called The Return, and it was a raging success for almost three years. It was in early '03 that we branched out and started booking bands, other types of DJs, and working with multiple venues. The fact we work with so many venues I think is key. Certain shows work better in certain places, and being limited doesn't help anyone.

It should be noted we're always focused on the underground, the different, and the dance floor. The limitation - and I hope this isn't selfish - is if I don't like it, I don't book it. Even if it's a money maker. Stay true to heart, that's the bottom line.

RIPROC: What are some of the major accomplishments that it has achieved over the years?

Marshall: The Return, as I mentioned earlier, is something I'm extremely proud of, and will never forget. The Christmas Party is a big one. It's given people - over 1,000 last time - a chance to see everyone they know for the holidays all in one night. It's an institution. Sunset Sundays is another big one, going on our sixth year - and now with boat cruises!

As for national acts, "concerts" if you will… Girl Talk, Chromeo, Diplo, Rusko, Prefuse 73, Tortoise, Mad Professor… there's so many. Then there's things like Secret Chiefs 3, which was huge for me, but not the masses. In nine years, I guess it can be a pretty long list. Honestly, the stuff that's coming, the shows on the way - I'm pumped. The future looks bright, I'm real excited.

Lotus

RIPROC: We're extremely excited about your productions coming to town with the announcement that you're bringing Lotus to Rochester. I was able to catch them last year out in Syracuse at The Westcott, it was definitely one of the better concert experiences I've ever had. Tell us a bit more about this upcoming show.

Marshall: Lotus is a band we've been consistently bringing since drawing 100 people at the local brewery to almost 1000 at the biggest spot in town. It's wild to witness. They have grown up a lot into this prog-rock-electronic entity, complete with lights & sound that'll just blow you away. It's techno, rock, jazz, funk, indescribable dance music that hits the core. All I can say is submerge yourself. It's a roller coaster ride and worth the trip.

Let's not forget Roc's own livetronica leaders, Filthy Funk are opening the show. And we've upped the ante with an after party at Dub Land Underground, featuring Orchard Lounge, but fuckin-A! We'd need another interview to talk about that, haha!

RIPROC: What have you got planned for MNM Presents in the coming months? Anything you can let us in on?

Marshall: Oh man, here we go… Bonobo Live, Bassnectar, Mr. Lif, Eoto, Sparkey, Telepath, The Join (Biscuits after party), Tigersapien, Tortoise, and a ton of stuff I'm dying to tell you, but can't yet! This summer's Sunset Sundays will be extra-special, that's for sure. Let's end this now, before I sip more beer and tell you something I'm not supposed to!

Right now we're listening to:

Filthy Funk "Breathe" ("Eklectric", 2010, Filthy Funk)

Religion DJs this Thursday @ Dub Land Underground

2010-01-29T01:58:00.002-05:00

Visit the Facebook page for details.

Free tickets available @ Thread, Skyehigh, Krudco, & Dub Land.

PG13 on Renegade Soundwave 89.7 FM WITR this Thursday night.

2010-01-27T12:19:00.005-05:00

PG13 makes a very special appearance on the legendary "Renegade Soundwave" show this Thursday on 89.7FM WITR Rochester from 9-11pm. Tuning in will reward you with a chillout DJ set to put you right on the fast track to high society.

Stream it here, or find the stream link on WITR's site.

More info on the Facebook event page.

- djb

Dieselboy in Syracuse this Friday, January 29th.

2010-01-25T17:07:00.006-05:00

Heads up, Rochester. So we weren't able to bring Dieselboy back this year, but our friends Mikey Parkay and VisionaryMindz (in association with many others) out in Syracuse has secured DSL for a very special appearance this Friday at Trexx. We do so hope that you shall attend. :)

Get your presale tickets now.

Visit the Facebook page for details.

The Ugly Sweater Party

2010-01-01T18:08:00.002-05:00

Yeah so this one already went by, but I realized I never put it up on the blog. So if you weren't there, this is us rubbing it in.

Happy Holidays from RIPROC.

2009-12-26T22:28:00.004-05:00

Stay tuned for upcoming party announcements as we step into 2010. Take it away, Billy...

DJ Craze, Kill The Noise, Filthy Funk @ The RIPROC 2-Year Anniversary, 12/03/09 @ One

2009-11-28T15:30:00.003-05:00

Visit the Facebook page for details.

Thursday, December 3rd
One Restaurant & Lounge
1 Ryan Alley, Rochester

Mister Clean.

2009-11-28T15:24:00.007-05:00

foto: sebastián castro
werd: djb

Huba&Silica "Mister Clean"
click to hear

With the release of the first single from their new album, Huba&Silica have enlisted the icon Simon Davey of The Exchange to master the newest offering. Simon has worked alongside Andy C (mastering all Ram Records material), The Chemical Brothers (all of their albums), Björk, Goldie, etc., etc...

"Das Kapital", the new H&S album in which the electronica duo reflect about life in the post-industrial age, takes its name from the famous Marx book.

The video for Mister Clean will be released December 4th. It is produced by Manuel-Al Ghasanni, Zavorio, and Pablo.

The release party will feature Bullon (CR, NoisNois), Ufo! (USA, Sanguine, Phunkateck), H&S (CR), and CTOPH.

- djb, riproc

Right now we're listening to:

Sub Focus "Follow The Light" ("Sub Focus", 2009, Ram)

rekLES 11/05/09 @ Dub Land Underground

2009-11-05T00:45:00.002-05:00

Visit the Facebook page for details.

Monster Mash-Up 3 @ One Nightclub 10/29

2009-10-20T04:58:00.004-04:00

Visit the Facebook page for details.

Thursday, October 29th
One Restaurant & Lounge
1 Ryan Alley, Rochester

Alexander Technique 10/08/09 @ Dub Land Underground

2009-09-28T11:16:00.004-04:00

Visit the Facebook page for details.

Bump In The Night in October @ Surface Salon.

2009-09-13T19:39:00.001-04:00

Visit the Facebook page for details.

Gina Turner 09/10/09 @ Dub Land Underground

2009-08-27T10:04:00.001-04:00

Visit the Facebook page for details.

Blackout with Nick Catchdubs tonight 8/13/09 @ Dub Land Underground

2009-08-13T09:26:00.003-04:00

Visit the Facebook page for details.

Mouvement 07/09/09 with Le Castle Vania @ Dub Land Underground!

2009-06-24T12:59:00.006-04:00

This party is too much to type and code, brah. Visit the Facebook page for details.

Slick Rick The Ruler @ Dub Land Underground 05/27/09!

2009-05-26T23:21:00.003-04:00

It's just hours away, Rochester. THE Slick Rick will be making a special intimate appearance @ The Dub Land Underground (315 Alexander Street).

Tickets are available exclusively at Dub Land, there will be someone there from noon until the show starts. Tickets are $30.00 presale, more at the door. Limited capacity - if you've been to Dub Land before you know what we mean. Tickets are limited and should sell out early. Arrive early or buy your ticket during the day.

Visit Act:Live for details.

RIPROC Tease.

2009-05-13T10:15:00.001-04:00

$10 plus $7 shippin'

Take off that silken vest and represent RIPROC in stylish leisure with this human-crafted T-Shirt made from the finest space-age materials. The perfect gift to help you tell that special someone, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Available for one easy installment of $10.00 plus $7.00 shipping (flat rate global fee whether you live down the street or if you're slingin' boomerangs down under).

That's right ladies and germs. A ten spot. Help us out. Proceeds go towards paying for the cost of the shirts. Then they go towards bringing sick international DJing talent to this spicy little hamlet called Rochester.

Yo, man - let's get out of here. Word to your mother.

- djb

Right now we're listening to:

Bebel Gilberto "Samba Da Benção" ("Tanto Tempo: Special Remix Edition", 2003, EastWest)

Death Of A Drum & Bass Salesman

2009-04-08T00:08:00.011-04:00

werd: djb

So it's been a slow news season here at RIPROC. With Kill The Noise constantly touring the music festival circuit and now most recently New Zealand, combined with djbanshee's ever-evolving plans to collapse western civilization, things have been understandably slow @ Rest In Peace Rochester. But stay tuned for some knowledge to be dropped on everyone in the coming weeks - once it stops snowing we might actually be able to throw a party.

But here is a drum & bass DJ mix to keep you entertained while you make love by the fireside. I had to housesit in Marion for a week without internet (they don't believe in those "computer machiners" out there), so I brought my turntables with me to tide me over.

We've got some oldies but goodies, some new classics, and some tracks that just plain got saved from their fates in the forgotten record crates. Please send criticisms ONLY! No compliments, please.

Doing my best to ruin Rochester's D&B scene since 2003,

- djb, riproc

DJ Banshee Death Of A Drum & Bass Salesman
click to download

Tracklisting:

Part Ones: "Ruining Drum & Bass One Party At A Time..."
BT "Out Quiet Key" (from the Under Suspicion score) 2000, TF1
Seba "Blaze And Fade Out" 2008, Combination
Logistics & PiXL "No Words" 2008, Hospital
Klute "Never Never" 2007, Commercial Suicide
Commix "Japanese Electronics" 2007, Metalheadz
Pendulum "The Tempest" 2008, Ear Storm
Logistics "Cosmonaut" 2008, Hospital
Huba & Silica "Dem Want" 2008, Massiva
MK "Winter Bells" (Fellowship remix) 2002, Tent House
Loxy & Naibu "Hajime VIP" 2008, Critical
Photek presents Choc Ty "We Got Heat" (featuring Chiara) (acappella) 2008, 51st State

Part Deuce: Get Money / Fuck Bitches
Atlantic Connection "Tomorrow's Not Enough" (featuring Deviant) 2008, Westbay
Danny Byrd "Red Mist" (featuring IK) 2008, Hospital
Bachelors Of Science "Sweat" 2008, Horizons
Demo "Untamed" 2007, Human Imprint
Bach "Concerto For Two Violins" (intermission) circa 1731, unsigned

Act Three: Death Of A Drum & Bass Salesman
Alix Perez & Sabre "Old Flame" 2007, SGN:LTD
Alix Perez & Sabre "Solitary Native" 2007, SGN:LTD
Unit Zero "Two Spirits" 2007, Fokuz
Chase & Status "Pieces" (featuring Plan B) 2008, Ram
Spor & Ewun featuring Evol Intent "Levitate" 2008, Lifted
Ewun "My Name Is Fame" (teaser trailer) 2008, Evol Intent
Chase & Status "Hurt You" 2007, Ram
Sub Focus "Airplane" 2006, Ram
Nu:Tone "Balaclava" 2008, Hospital
Matrix & Futurebound "Sand Storm" 2007, Viper
Chase & Status "Can't Get Enough" 2008, Ram

Right now we're listening to:

Faithless "Hope & Glory" (featuring One Eskimo) ("To All New Arrivals", 2006, Columbia)

Soulwax - "Part Of The Weekend Never Dies"

2009-04-06T12:37:00.004-04:00

werd: pK

Soulwax "I Love Techno"
click to download

Keeping a clear distinction between DJing and live shows (when DJing, they play under the name 2ManyDJs), Soulwax is one of the few electronic acts who actually play instruments live.

This live album is a testament to how good they are at it. The opening, “Teachers”, seems to be a spin on the Daft Punk song of the same name (or maybe it’s the other way around), and “Washing Up” clearly samples Justice’s “Let There Be Light” (2007, Ed Banger).

Unfortunately, I’m not familiar enough with the band’s recorded work to compare. However, the band definitely has a more rock feel than those French dudes on Ed Banger Records, and that also gives the music a more authentic feel.

Hmm, maybe I’ve been wasting my time listening to all this computer-made electronic stuff...

foto: from the documentary

"Part Of The Weekend Never Dies" is out now on Play It Again Sam and it comes with one of the best DVD rockumentaries ever made (review coming soon?).

6.5 outta' 10

- pK, wrur

Right now we're listening to:

Loxy & Naibu "Hajime VIP" ("All Sounds Electric Two", 2008, Critical)

Late Of The Pier - "Fantasy Black Channel"

2009-04-01T00:33:00.004-04:00

werd: pK

Late Of The Pier "The Enemy Are The Future"
click to download

The latest buzz band out of the UK, Late Of The Pier does it by appealing to every rock genre possible. They also seem to be a little late to the game in terms of the rave-rock dance stuff they're putting together.

"Fantasy Black Channel" is all over the place, musically, starting with the Franz Ferdinand-esque dance/punk “Broken”, to the funked out garage track “The Bears Are Coming”, and also to the old-school rock out “White Snake”.

foto: from the LOTP MySpace

Although quite overwhelming and confusing at first, at a closer listen the jams are interesting on their own. While they may be just a little off-kilter most of the time, the tracks should be great for your indie-rock dance party.

"Fantasy Black Channel" is out now on Late Of The Pier's label, Zarcorp.

6.5 outta' 10

- pK, wrur

Right now we're listening to:

Faithless "Everything Will Be Alright Tomorrow" ("No Roots", 2004, Cheeky)

Annalyze returns to Rochester 03/29/09 @ One!

2009-03-27T17:13:00.005-04:00

foto: deb

Right now we're listening to:

Calibre & High Contrast "The Other Side" (SIG007, 2005, Signature)

Poisson Gras 03/12/09 @ Pearl!

2009-02-26T15:10:00.003-05:00

Right now we're listening to:

Amon Tobin "Nova" ("Permutation", 1998, Ninja Tune)

Goodbye Grizzlehoff! 03/03/09 @ Dub Land Underground!

2009-02-25T16:54:00.005-05:00

werd: djb

Many of you know Grizz from his involvement in previous RIPROC parties. Well, he's decided to pursue a career in the field of living anywhere but Rochester. He's blowin' outta' this popsicle stand in a few days, so let's send him off proper on March 3rd @ Dub Land Underground (315 Alexander Street).

So long, Chris Grizzlehoff. Thanks for the mems.

- djb, riproc

Right now we're listening to:

Boards Of Canada "Dayvan Cowboy" ("Trans Canada Highway", 2006, Warp)

The Mustache Party @ Bug Jar 01/28/09

2009-01-31T22:06:00.003-05:00

fotos: hanlon photographic

Right now we're listening to:

BT "Firewater" ("ESCM", 1997, Reprise)

Rest In Peace, Charlie Cooper.

2009-01-27T21:59:00.007-05:00

foto: mike greenberg
werd: djb

Damn, man... I was just talking to my friend Mike not two days ago about how Telefon Tel Aviv was "in my top 5 acts that I'd like to bring to Rochester", and then he e-mailed me late this afternoon to alert me of the following news that he'd learned...

Charles Cooper III
(Telefon Tel Aviv)
1977-2009

From Josh Eustis, via the Telefon Tel Aviv MySpace page...

Hello, Everyone.

It breaks my heart to inform you all that Charlie Cooper, my better half in Telefon Tel Aviv, passed away on January 22nd.

We have been friends since high school, and began making records together a decade ago. We have been so fortunate to tour the world together, while at the same time having a massive amount of laughs at one another’s expense.

Aside from Charlie’s singular genius and musical gifts, I can tell you that he was a total sweetheart of a guy, and a loving friend and confidant to people everywhere. His musicianship was surpassed only by his greater gift to the world – his warmth, his generosity, his unquenchable humor, and his undying loyalty to those whom he loved. In the spirit of honorable mention, however, I should mention that he had a shoe collection that was marvelous, knowledge of hip-hop that was profound, and knowledge of wine that was subtle.

He is survived by a sister, a neice, a nephew, his mother, his stepfather, me, and more adoring friends than the Universe has dark matter. As such, his family and I ask for your discretion and consideration of our privacy during these extremely turbulent waters.

Yours in Music,

Joshua Eustis

CBS Chicago reports that Cooper had gone missing from a friend's Wicker Park residence for almost a week after a fight with his girlfriend just before midnight on Wednesday, January 21st - just one day after the release of Telefon Tel Aviv's eagerly anticipated studio album, "Immolate Yourself" (2009, BPitch Control). The duo of Cooper and Eustis (TTA) were scheduled to begin touring soon to promote the album's release.

On Monday the 26th in the Near Northwest Side neighborhood of Chicago, Charlie Cooper was found dead. Early indications and reports of previous behavioral patterns suggest suicide as a possible cause of death. An autopsy was scheduled for today.

Fans the world over will undoubtedly experience the new album with the heaviest of hearts, but the music of Telefon Tel Aviv will never be heard without the undying inspirational sound of love, hope, and promise that they have profoundly delievered to millions of human beings over the past 10 years.

- djb, riproc

Right now we're listening to:

Telefon Tel Aviv "Map Of What Is Effortless" ("Map Of What Is Effortless", 2004, Hefty)

Silica.

2009-01-21T16:58:00.013-05:00

foto: wanabana
album art: silica, uncredited fotos: supplied by silica
werd: djb

Huba&Silica "Dem Want"
click to download

Huba&Silica "Your Love"
click to download

If you went out at all in Rochester in October, chances are good that you saw the poster for the Monster Mash-Up 2 plastered all over this piece. I randomly met the guy behind that design just a few weeks prior on MySpace, it was a stroke of true awesomeness that we were able to find him and get his help with putting that event together. I'll remember that design as one of the more iconic images for any show in Rochester in recent memory. It's still the wallpaper for my phone!

But as I got talking to Ernesto Bolaños a bit more, it became clear that he was involved in a lot of interesting happenings in the paradisiacal Central American country of Costa Rica. Once I saw the extent of what Ernesto, better known as the production outfit Silica, was up to, it became clear to me pretty early on that I'd have to get him lined up for an interview to drop some knowledge on us from an entirely different world perspective.

Throwing so many shows in Rochester, especially at that time, I oftentimes found myself getting way too caught up in our own little microcosmic scene, and the world seems really contained when you stop paying attention to other shit happening that's entirely removed from your own sphere of influence. It was a breath of fresh air to listen to his takes on production, the genre of drum & bass, and his creative projects upcoming.

Proper respect to Silica, the Massiva crew, and pretty much everyone mentioned in the article. Be sure to hit up his page and check the album. He was nice enough to let us host up a couple of tracks for you to download, as well, so be sure to put 'em on your iPod and drop a comment on his page. Add Silica to your MySpace friends! Tell him RIPROC sentcha.

Well, the interview is a bit long by itself, so I'll get to it. Thanks, E!!

- djb, riproc

RIPROC: Great to speak with you again, man. It looks like you've been making some things happen down there in Costa Rica recently. I'm glad you could set aside some time to let us in on it! Let's start by giving everyone an introduction to you and Silica. What is Silica, what cities are everyone based out of, how long have you been DJing and producing tunes, and talk a bit about anything else that people should know about you guys.

Silica: The pleasure is all mine. It's a great chance to share with you guys a bit of what's going on in Costa Rica lately, which is an excellent place to make music, by the way. Full of possibilities.

Silica is my musical moniker and I've been making music since the late nineties under a bunch of other names and projects. Right now I'm involved in a couple of live electronic music projects with two exciting artists. The first is Huba&Silica with the great Costa Rican MC by the name of Huba. The second project is Shortcut with the French DJ and producer SweetBo.

The people that work with me in both projects live everywhere from Miami to the Costa Rican Caribbean and Tropical Forest, so you can bet the experience is full of diverse cultural influences.

RIPROC: Who or what influenced you to start DJing and producing? What keeps you motivated to produce and also to DJ/perform?

Silica: I started to study classical music in my childhood, and then I was introduced to Black Sabbath, Kyuss, and the whole stoner rock stuff, which got me involved in making and playing really slow rock music, which in turn led me to the nascent trip-hop thing... You know, slow music, from Type O Negative to Portishead.

One night around 1999, a friend gave me a drum & bass tape, which blew my mind. And that's where I decided to commit to electronic music. The truth is that I'm a workaholic mess, and the rush of the music-making and the performing process in itself is what keeps me working overnight.

RIPROC: What kind of personal goals do you have for yourself as a producer and as a DJ? Which goals have you achieved up to this point?

Silica: These days around, I'm making tunes with people I used to respect for years on the local scene and the musical vision we share is starting to get some recognition beyond the electronic scene. Those two are goals that I want to pursue for the upcoming years.

fotos: stereonauta

RIPROC: That probably leads right into the next question, actually. You guys have recently dropped an album a few weeks ago in mid-November entitled "Huba & Silica: El Origen De Las Especies". That's got to be a big landmark for you and it's also the reason I wanted to get an interview with you. Let's talk a bit about the album. I've been feeling it ever since you gave me the advance - it's been dominating my iPhone playlist! Give us an idea of how much work went into it, how everything went with the release (and the launch parties), and how it's been received and helped you since you put it out.

Silica: Hey, thanks!!! It's amazing to get that kind of feedback! The truth is that since Costa Rica is such a small country and we didn't expect to have the coverage we are getting, we made the album as freely as we could - no strings attached. The making of "El Origen De Las Especies" was a journey, man. Full of amazing collaborations during the approximately eight months it took to produce the album and live act.

We are honestly surprised by the strong reception it's getting. By the time of the release, we already had almost half of all the album copies pre-sold and "Rockin', the first single, is doing fine. It was chosen as "Track Of The Week" on a very popular radio station and such. The album was chosen "Underground Album Of The Year" last week by an online magazine and we are gettin' more and more positive feedback from lots of people outside the electronic movement, which is good cross-pollination.

foto: daRat

RIPROC: Huba and Courtney make a lot of vocal appearances on the album. Give us an introduction to both of these really unique vocal talents. How did both of these collaborations come about? They're a great contrasting compliment to each other, but tell us in your own words why you think it works so well when they both appear on the same track, like they do on the track "Dem Want"?

Silica: Well, Huba is a very known hip-hop, roots, and dancehall singer in Costa Rica, with certified gold and platinum records under his arms. We were introduced to each other by a common friend in the early '08 and have been working like crazy since then. He is so versatile both in the lyrical and interpretative aspects that it seems impossible to run out of possibilities with him. The one thing I really love is his sound in the live performing environment - so clean and precise... That sets him apart from the rest of the MCs. He blends naturally with the instruments and I appreciate that.

Courtney, on the other side, is a great upcoming talent from Portland, Oregon, and the album wouldn't have been complete without her, man. Her boyfriend, the talented Miami-based DJ and producer NME, is a member of my crew, Massiva, and a cornerstone in the local drum & bass scene. The collaboration with both of them is something that grew out of a long-standing friendship.

Both Court and Huba share common visions about art, politics, and music despite their different contexts and ages, and that's something that gives great cohesion to their studio and live performances. Given that Courtney spends most of the year in Miami, we actually have very little time during the year to collaborate. That time is mainly used to work on composing and recording, and as such, we play live with Court only some 4 or 5 times a year.

first 3 fotos: stereonauta

RIPROC: Who else did you collaborate with on the album?

Silica: Lots of good artists, man. Nicolas Guevara and Grant are two DJ/producers that helped me a lot on countless production tasks. Anything good of the album is their job... the rest is my fault, really!

I also counted with a guy called Patrick on beatbox and Will Acuna on additional guitars.

Finally, an old luthier kindly helped me with the salsa grooves for "E.S.E. (The Story Of A Weed Superhero)". Also, the whole Massiva crew (Costa Rica/Venezuela/USA) helped me a lot.

RIPROC: I was really impressed when you told me about your decision to print up hard copy CDs of the album. In the age of the internet, more and more it seems like people are just churning out tunes to post them up on Beatport or wherever and then they're moving on to the next track. Fewer and fewer albums are being constructed, and very few CD albums are being put out, especially in smaller genres like drum & bass. I feel like the entire genre has been reduced to a never-ending series of singles and one-hit wonders with no more creative efforts put toward creating a body of work that you used to be able to find in an album, so I was really glad to see that you were putting out a cohesive album, and I was even more psyched to find out that you were printing up physical CD copies with limited edition dual-artwork and everything. What made you decide to release everything as an album (as opposed to singles), and what made you decide to print up a run of CDs?

Silica: That's a hard one. I think the nature of music distribution is so diverse that everything comes down to a combination of needs, choices, and resources. On one side, I don't see anything bad with singles. A good part of my collection is now filled with singles. But since the beginning, Huba and I had a profound conceptual connection and elaboration and it was clear that we would need several tracks to achieve the global idea. So we created an album instead of singles to fulfill that aspiration.

Just as anywhere in the world, people in Costa Rica no longer buys CDs, really. But the thing with MP3s is that they usually last a very limited lifespan on people hard discs or MP3 players and then are forever deleted. We wanted to come up with something a little bit more long-lasting. And that's why we made hard copies. I hope one day we finally go vinyl...

album fotos: sorryzorrito

RIPROC: Let's step into your studio for a while. Describe the gear that you use and also your creative process? How do you bring things from idea to the final product? What style of music would you say that you produce?

Silica: My gear is very basic and live-oriented/portable. It consists of Ableton Live running on a MacBook Pro with a few VSTs - mostly Battery and Kontakt, and mostly for beats, pads, and vocal effects. All the bass duties are held externally by a microKORG and a Minimoog Voyager, and everything is easily controlled via MIDI by my trusty Korg ElecTribe R1. I also have a couple Technics SL-1200s, along with some electric, acoustic, and bass guitars, and some stomp boxes and external sound processors to create my guitar samples.

My creative process always starts with the B-line over a simple kick-snare. I sequence in Ableton and take the MIDI outs to the microKORG and the Minimoog because they already have a sound by themselves and that helps me not to get lost sapping VSTs or samples to load on Kontakt and instead dedicate myself to actual composing. Then whatever comes on top of that does not have a regular process.

middle fotos por JP
bottom foto: stereonauta

RIPROC: You seem to play a lot of parties down there. But you're not just DJing, correct? Tell us a little bit about your live set and what you've been able to accomplish by going this route rather than just by doing a conventional DJ set. What gear do you use and are you going to add anything more to your live performances in the future?

Silica: I don't practice with my 1200s these days around. I've been absorbed in composing, producing, adding, removing, recording, editing, and then playing the shit. Wish I just had more time!

Now, Ableton Live has that big convenience of allowing the musician to treat the "track" as a "performance". The session view destroys the fixed sequence problem of having a fixed arrangement with a begining and an end like Logic, and so on. You play the music as a guitarist plays the guitar - practicing the movements, all the changes. You have guys like Daedelus that have taken this to other level, even bypassing Ableton Live in favor of some more custom-made instruments over MAX/MSP and geeky stuff like that. For me, it's all about being able to start, develop, and finish a track in many different ways every time you play.

Right now we are producing the new set and it does bring lots of new changes to the live performances like playing with live electronic drums. Our new drummer Marko is great and we expect to be ready around March to start playing something new. The music we are doing right now is different, too.

RIPROC: In addition to production and performing, you're also quite the graphic designer. I'm always checking your MySpace page not only to see if you've put up any new tunes, but also to check out if you've made any new flyers that I can look at. I've gotta' take a sec to thank you again for creating the Monster Mash-Up 2 poster for us, it was definitely some of the sickest design we've had for any of our parties. But let's talk for a minute about your design work. What influences your artistic direction, and have you ever created any works of art outside of the commercial design work that I've already seen? What kinds of emotions are you hoping to inspire in other people with your design work?

Silica: It's been a long time since I've updated my flyers! But the time will come...

In both the musical and graphical aspects, the Bauhaus School Of Design and the Zen philosophy greatly influence my approach to design. I hope I can transmit that peaceful sense of contradiction through all my works. Like a haiku poem, a few elements and a lot of meanings.

I design flyers for fun, really, because my eight to five job is completely editorial. Books and lots of text!

RIPROC: Rochester, New York is a long way away from Costa Rica, man. This is probably going to be a really broad question, but describe for us what the Costa Rican music scene is like, both from a drum & bass standpoint and also just in general. How are things different there than they are in the rest of the world? What sets Costa Rica apart? What are the best and worst things about the music scene around you? What's the mindset of the people that make up the CR music scene? Which genres of music are dominating your area? Which clubs and crews are making things happen? Is everything mostly centered in San José, CR? Or are there other areas where interesting things are going down?

Silica: The big problem here is that you cannot fully dedicate to music here and make a living. No way! So if you want the fancy synthesizers and computers, which cost almost double than in the states because of taxes, you gotta; work it out. And that certainly affects the overall quality and the speed of innovations. Besides that, and if you can deal with that fact, then it's a great place to make music! People are just too friendly, and the public can be really hot!

The mindset of the people that make up most of the music scene in Costa Rica is just like the average in any other country - lots of shit. But, hey! There are some extremely dedicated, altruistic, and creative artists here and I feel that the people that surround me right now are doing this just and only because they love it too much. Money is never an issue, because we never make it anyway!

RIPROC: More specifically, how is Costa Rican drum & bass different from stateside (USA) and also UK/global drum & bass? What's in store for the future of Costa Rican d&b?

Silica: The future of Costa Rican drum & bass looks bright! The economic outlook right now all over the world is grim, so we won't see many international acts this year, BUT that won't stop the creativity of DJs, producers, and MCs. We have a very loyal following - good enough to party and we want to make it grow.

What I love about the drum & bass scene here is that there are many people that like D&B that come from many other circles. People that like progressive rock get together with the ragamuffin crew and the electro guys. Like 1999 once again! You know what I mean, it's almost hippie.

first 2 fotos: manrique g.
last foto por JP

RIPROC: What do you think about the current state of drum & bass music, as a whole - both good and bad? Where do you see it going? What kind of sound are you anticipating?

Silica: I love it, man! Far from death. There's too much to choose from. Fully acoustic or fully extraterrestrial, it's up to you! Right now I'm anticipating lots of creative energy going to the dubstep camp and then coming back with unexpected fresh combinations.

RIPROC: What artists and albums are you currently feeling in the drum & bass world? What about in other genres?

Silica: Commix, Icicle, John B, Kubiks. Then lots of Holger Zilske and Elektrochemie in the techno field... Midnight Juggernauts and Calle 13 are two top favorites right now!

RIPROC: What other producers should we know about out that are in Costa Rica, in any genre?

Silica: Look after NME in both his tech house and drum & bass projects. Then there are the Cosmetics guys, who are the talented Sonika and none other than UFO!. They've just released their first EP under Sanguine Recordings with good critiques on XLR8R, BigStereo, and others.

I recommend a visit to a site called CRBeats.com. It's a great window to the national scene!

middle fotos: wanabana

RIPROC: It might be a bit off topic, but do you have any perspectives you'd like to share with us about Costa Rican life or culture, in general? The majority of our readership are Americans from the northeast, it would be great to get some insight into your culture and state of mind.

Silica: Man... I lived in New England - Hyannis - for some time, and yeah, it's really different! Not better, not worst, just different. The income here is about $12,000 a year, so people have less resources. But on the other side, we have free premium education and health care. CR is a mixture of cultures and natural landscapes. It's a little sad that we, too, are heading towards the destruction of more and more ecosystems, but it has been pretty cool as long as it has existed!

"El Origen De Las Especies" is out now through Massiva. Contact Ernesto directly to make purchasing and shipping arrangements.

Ernesto is currently available for hire for graphic design projects.

Right now we're listening to:

Harry Gregson-Williams "Saladin" (">Hybrid: SoundSystem_01", 2008, Hope)

The Mustache Party 01/28/09 @ Bug Jar!

2009-01-19T02:24:00.017-05:00

click to enlarge

REST IN PEACE ROCHESTER, LUCKY STRIKE, & ACT:LIVE present an indie dance party featuring LIVE BANDs, DJs, MCs, ARTISTS, & MUSTACHES.

Join us @ Bug Jar, as we fill up 219 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, NY on Wednesday, January 28th, 2009!

GROW, WEAR, or DRAW a Mustache on your mouf!
See the instructions on the flyers for further details...

We proudly present...

The Communist Party
(716)

It is with great pride that we will also feature Rochester DJing icon...

Kill The Noise - (Rochester)
Slow Roast, RIPROC, Lucky Strike, AM Only - Electro

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOU ASS!"

Alongside local and regional talent...

Nickel Bag Of Funk - (585)
Lucky Strike - Electro

Handlebar & Flipsicle - (585)
WRUR, Lucky Strike - Electro

Teen Heat - (585)
Electro

Tim Tones - (585)
Hip-Hop

Ewun - (585)
RIPROC - Hip-Hop

Nikal Fieldz - (585)
Eyeconz Entertainment - Hip-Hop

Paul's Grandfather - (716)
Acoustic

Pearwood James - (585)
Acoustic

Lauren O'Connell - (585)
Acoustic

And featuring a 6:00 PM art showing by...

Joe Patane - (585)
Prism Rails

Hosted by...

Chris Grizzlehoff - (585)
RIPROC

HRVI Who - (585)
ROC DNB

With the photography of...

Hanlon Photographic - (585)

djb - (585)

$2 over / $5 under

CLICK HERE TO RSVP and be entered to win one of many Kill The Noise, Ludachrist, and RIPROC T-Shirts, among other giveaways for those that RSVP on both MySpace & Facebook.

Drink Specials:
all nite - $2.00 Drafts

This is going down on:
Wednesday, January 28th 2009
Doors open @ 6:00 PM

This event will be open to:
Anyone over the age of 18+ with proper identification...
18+

This will take place inside the luxurious venue of:
Bug Jar
219 Monroe Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607

The same crew that threw The Ugly Sweater Party:

vid, yo: mike dispenza @ blue monk films

Tea Stain Clothing.

2009-01-15T02:44:00.004-05:00

fotos: Mportraits, Dpixtion Design, Tea Stain
werd: djb

You may remember some of our featured models showing off some choice fashions at the Monster Mash-Up 2 back in late October. One of the sponsors that donated some of those threads is a great company outta' the Sacramento area named Tea Stain.

I first learned about Tea Stain while I was checking out the Thread MySpace page. I hit 'em up in the weeks before the Mash-Up, and I was surprised at how awesome the owner and founder, Devin Hajek, turned out to be. They donated some product right away and wished us well with our event, which was that much better having them involved!

We got a chance to get them to take some time out of their busy schedules to let us know what Tea Stain is all about. A big thanks from RIPROC to Tea Stain, and keep checking out their really great website which includes an interactive flash catalog, their online store, and of course frequent updates about their new clothing designs.

Add Tea Stain Clothing to your MySpace friends!

- djb, riproc

RIPROC: So to start things off, we should probably give the readership a bit of background about the Tea Stain brand. Who started it and when, where are you guys based out of, and anything else that you think people should know about the identity of Tea Stain as a clothing label and of yourselves, as well.

Tea Stain: Tea Stain Clothing is based out of Northern California. It all started back in June of 2007 when I was working as a business banker. Weekdays, I wore a suit. On weekends, I had pretty much given up on any sort of style since I was in my mid-20's. I didn't surf, skate, fight MMA, or want to look like a walking billboard for a clothing company. It seems like the only options are to wear some shirt company's logo or be associated with a group.

Wanting to avoid those brands and feeling like I didn't want to just wear plain shirts for the rest of my life, I decided to start my own company. My wife was backpacking with her father that weekend and came home to a dining room table full of sketches, books, and our logo. It had begun!

RIPROC: It's kind of cliché, and I know it's on your website, but if you wanted to elaborate a bit, what would you say is the mission statement of Tea Stain?

Tea Stain: Tea Stain's mission is really to provide an alternative to the monster brands out there that turn you into a walking billboard and make you feel like you have to spend $90.00 on a rhinestone encrusted t-shirt just to fit in.

RIPROC: Now aside from the stated goals of the company, what are some of your personal goals and motivations behind starting the brand and your continued efforts beyond that point?

Tea Stain: Like I said earlier, I was a business banker. It was a good job, but I've always been into design and have never done anything with it. Tea Stain is really a great opportunity to do what I love! My wife, Ashley, is a pharmacy technician and I know she doesn't want to do that for the rest of her life. She'd rather lug trade show booths around the country with me. :)

By the way, she is my design editor. I come to the table with all kinds of crazy stuff and she and I sort it all out and end up with the designs you see produced - she's the best!

RIPROC: Where were you all at in your lives when you made the decision to start the label? What were the major determining factors that went into that process?

Tea Stain: We pretty much decided I would keep my job at the bank and work on Tea Stain on the side, but that didn't last long. A couple months into it, I realized I had to be more available so I got a job where I could work in my spare time... That didn't work, so we made some lifestyle modifications, sold some cars to buy less expensive ones, stopped eating out, re-negotiated the rent - all that fun stuff - and now I work Tea Stain full-time and Ashley is still working at the pharmacy.

RIPROC: Describe the stylistic direction of Tea Stain and why it was chosen. What kind of statement do you want your catalogue to make, if any?

Tea Stain: Our style was most clearly described in our recent release, "Fashion Rehab". We really felt like there was not a good quality alternative to the problems I described earlier, so we design for people who are sick of skulls, dragons, rhinestones, billboard logo tees, et cetera...

RIPROC: Talk a bit about the design and manufacturing process of your clothing. How are concepts generated, and furthermore, how do they go from a conceptual design to retail and online store inventory? Where does the design and where does the actual physical manufacturing take place?

Tea Stain: We design our shirts keeping our mission in mind: "Clothing should not distract from what is most important... the person wearing it". We feel that the styles available now are so loud and distracting that people see you coming from a mile away and it's almost used to create a persona. You've seen these people, you know what I'm talking about. :) When we design, we want you to see the person first and then notice, "Hey, I really like your shirt!"

As far as the actual graphics, we love the style of old drawings - the kind of inky black and whites. So we really draw a lot of inspiration from there. We find different pieces and put them together with a body style shirt that we think works best and go from there. For example, "Joy", our scoop neck tunic, is a 1920's era drawing and a long graphic, so we chose a shirt with a looser neck and long body to accentuate the graphic.

Our production happens here in California, although we use product from all over the world. The majority is USA product, however.

left: tea stain, right: robit studios
foto: hanlon photographic

RIPROC: Tea Stain is out of Folsom, California, which is a long way away from Rochester, geographically speaking. How far away from the east coast is California in a fashion sense? What sort of separations do you believe to exist between the two regions and what has this meant for your label and also the industry, in general? What types of trends are you seeing out there, and what have you been taking note of from out of the eastern US?

Tea Stain: Obviously fashion trends differ depending on your area. Weather will go a long way to influence fashion, too, so in Rochester it's probably snowing, but here it's 65 degrees and foggy. California and New York have different fashion senses, but there is always a draw to good design. Beyond that, our mission speaks loudly to most who are sick and tired of what large department stores and most boutiques have been offering over the past decade. They feel it's time for a change... something new.

RIPROC: To elaborate a bit more, what fashion trends are you starting to notice on a global level and what are your comments on them, both good and bad?

Tea Stain: I think I've said it in every answer so far, but I'm gonna' say it again. No more rhinestones! Try to look at a shirt rack without seeing that glued on plastic rhinestone staring back at you. It's almost impossible right now. When I see something that is SO overblown and suddenly everything has skulls and tattoo art... we know it's time for change.

Due to economic conditions, people are looking for better value, too. The time for being flamboyant and over the top is subsidng and now people are looking for ways to manage and get by. When the country digs out, there will be a different mindset and it will be a while before you see $90.00 t-shirts filling up store shelves again.

Tea Stain Clothing is positioned perfectly. Great quality, subtle design, and great price points. I believe we will be the new 'trend'.

RIPROC: Where are Tea Stain clothes being sold and what region are the most sales coming from? How far in the world has Tea Stain reached pertaining to sales, and what would you like to see happen in the coming years? It's another cliché, but what's in the future outta' Tea Stain?

Tea Stain: Tea Stain Clothing is currently sold in 30 stores nationwide and also through our website and online store.

Naturally, since we're in California, most of our sales and stores are based here, but we sell from Washington state to Massachusetts and do well across the country. We believe 2009 is going to be a good year for Tea Stain Clothing. We're scheduled to be at MAGIC twice this year, five Los Angeles trade shows, and we are currently in the process of hiring national sales reps. The sky is the limit and we'll see you in the clouds! Thank you for your support!

Tea Stain will be at the Focus Apparel & Accessories Show on January 17th, 18th, and 19th in booth 205.

Right now we're listening to:

Apparat "Komponent" (Telefon Tel Aviv remix) ("Remixes Compiled", 2007, Hefty)

Elektrobank 2 Year Anniversary Show 01/03/09

2009-01-07T03:12:00.007-05:00

radio fotos: elektrobank
portrait: djb
werd: djb

DJ Banshee stopped into WBER studios for the Elektrobank radio show this past weekend along with Flipsicle and Bev Beverly to shoot some shat and play some tunes. A bit of RIPROC history was discussed, as well as some vague plans for the future.

The downloads are broken up into two parts. The first is the interview portion and the second is Banshee's live set.

Special thanks for Alex over @ Elektrobank for continuing to hold it down for Rochester. Congratulations on the 2 year anniversary of Elektrobank!

Visit this page for Flipsicle's and Bev Beverly's sets, as well as their interviews.

DJ Banshee Elektrobank Interview 01/03/09
click to download

Tracklisting:

Thievery Corporation "Shadows Of Ourselves"
Bonobo "Days To Come" (featuring Bajka)
Booka Shade "Solo City"
Minus You "Leave You On A High"
The Dining Rooms "Fluxus"

DJ Banshee Live on Elektrobank
click to download

Tracklisting:

コナミサウンズ "???" (from the Metal Gear Ac!d score)
Ulrich Schnauss "Between Us And Them"
Blake Leyh "The Fall" (from The Wire soundtrack)
Eric Serra "Mina Hinoo" (from The Fifth Element score)
Telefon Tel Aviv "Introductory Nomenclature"
Eric Serra "Koolen" (from The Fifth Element score)
BT "The Third Degree (End Title)" (from the Under Suspicion score)
Klute "174 BPM"
L.S.G. "Give Me Your Hand"
Lemongrass "Why?"
Minus You "Breathless" (featuring Zintek)
Minus You "Wish"
London Elektricity "Rewind" (acoustic version)
Lo-Fidelity Allstars "Pony Pressure"
Minus You "Dark Dirty Down"
Hybrid "Sinequanon"
Thievery Corporation "Sound The Alarm"
Avatars Of Dub "Sexelevatormuzik" (Thievery Corporation remix)
Thievery Corporation "Warning Shots"
Bonobo "Ketto"
Hybrid "I'm Still Awake"
Lemongrass "Fairyland"
Jasmon "Bokura No Ongaku"
Bomb The Bass "Bug Powder Dust" (dub)

- djb

Right now we're listening to:

Hybrid "Blackout" ("Morning Sci-Fi", 2003, Distinct'ive Records)

Riproctionary: 'Bout It-'Bout It. Merk'd.

2009-01-01T19:33:00.010-05:00

A few interviews are going to be coming in soon, but for now it's time to look up some more definitions from my archives. These past few days before the new year have been some fast-paced days of RIPROC-ing. "So strap on your blog seatbelt and get ready for the ride!"

foto: future music (from a google search of 'all about it')
coined by: unknown?

'Bout It-'Bout It [bout it bout it]
- adjective, verb

def. Derived from the phrase "all about it", this arrangement is used for additional emphasis of the original definition - that being of complete and obsessive infatuation with a specific person, place, thing, or period of time. As always, even more emphasis can be added to the phrase by injecting "fuck" as a qualifying chain adjective to create the variant "'bout it-fuckin'-'bout it." In rare instances, the phrase can be shortened to "'bouted" and/or "'bouted it" and used as a verb to describe the action of doing something because you are about something (e.g. below).

e.g. (adj.) "Bitch looked kind of busted from all the way across the bar, but then when she sat down and I seen that G-string pop out, I was 'bout it-'bout it."

e.g. (adj.) "I never thought about turning tricks before, but then when I realized how easy it was to scrap up rent, I've been 'bout it-'bout it."

e.g. (v.) "Whens I heard Beeb was caperin'a buy a eighter hater from Lil' Pee I straight 'bouted it over there to robs both them shoes on the cash in hand Mission-Impossible-Tom-Cruisin'."

also: 'Bouts [bouts]
- adjective

def. Used to describe a state of mind or being, this simplification and abbreviation of the above phrase is used largely in more broad, implicative statements, and is oftentimes also used in conjunction with body language to express the user's true sentiments.

e.g. (adj.) "Do I want some mac cheese? Dude, you know I'm 'bouts."

e.g. (adj.) "If I don't call a girl for long enough, next thing I know, she's straight 'bouts."

synonyms: up in, on it, McLovin', i'll take two
antonyms: off it, over it, on the move-on, who?

foto: dominique houcmant
coined by: Kill The Noise (regional, ca. 2004), unknown global coinage

Merk'd [merkd]
- verb

def. Slang dialect for "murdered", but is vastly interchangeable and carries countless synonyms including "finished/completed". In the region of Rochester, New York, the word can also imply the literal patronage of Mark's Texas Hots. The phrase "Merk'd" also carries a double entendre, paying homage to both the act of going to eat at Mark's, and also, more gravely, reminding all who use the phrase of a shooting outside the restaurant in the summer of 2007 which resulted in the death of a 24 year old man.

e.g. (v.) "There's a lot of rif and/or raf in this neighborhood. I better watch my shit before I get merk'd."

e.g. (v.) "Damn, I'm fuckin' shitfaced. Let's go to Mark's and get Merk'd!!"

also: Merk [merk]
- noun, verb, adjective

def. A somewhat ambiguous version of the word, yet again used with body language to create an overall definition of its usage in a per-use arena. Can be used to describe the act of traveling (more specifically, leaving), and can also be used as a descriptive adjective to illustrate an environment or situation.

e.g. (n.) "I'll put the merk on you if you try to steal my Parisian drapes."

e.g. (v.) "Everything in the east end is balls. Let's fuckin' merk."

e.g. (adj.) "I just downloaded Phil Collins' entire discography. This shit is merkin'!"

- djb

Right now we're listening to:

The Dining Rooms "Così Ti Amo" ("Numero Deux", 2001, Guidance)

The Monster Mash-Up with Dieselboy @ Pearl 10/30/08

2008-12-28T01:06:00.019-05:00

vid, yo: rich paprocki @ insider
werd: djb

foto: andrew lipovsky, insider

There's literally too many people to thank with this show. Everyone on the flyer and everyone off of it that helped us knows who they are and how much they contributed to making this party exceed last year's Party Of The Year. This party was a while ago, so I think everyone would just rather I got the photos up instead of spending another day coding up a long thank-you blog.

We will again let the photos and video speak for themselves. I'm disappointed that we weren't able to get more photos of the art gallery portion of the night, but then when I thought about it, I don't mind having it be something that will only be remembered and experienced by the people that came early to see it. We told everyone to show up early for the art show, and if you didn't, you missed something really exquisite and you'll just have to catch the next one. A special thank-you to all of the artists for contributing over 100 pieces of artwork to our biggest gallery showing ever.

Here are the photos from the event. Mike Hanlon (of Hanlon Photographic) was the guy taking photos in the full photo studio setup. All of those photos are available online for purchase, and aside from being of the utmost quality, they are VERY affordable - as low as $2.00 and only $10.00 for an 8" x 10". I believe you can purchase the digital copies, as well. Please support our photographers!!

To view the entire album of photo studio portraits, click below:

View all of the photo studio portraits from the Monster Mash-Up.

Hanlon Photography
contact

Fox_Photography
contact

The Photography of Nathaniel Lowndes
contact

The Photography of djb
contact

The Photography of Antonio Aresco
11 Magazine

Special thanks to 11 Magazine for photo and blogging support.

An extra special thanks to E @ Massiva for many, many hours of Photoshop work in creating the poster.

- djb, riproc

Right now we're listening to:

Baby Mammoth "And I'll See You" ("Seven Up", 2001, Pork)

RIPROC Tease.

2008-12-27T15:20:00.005-05:00

Reece Q Video Premiere & Kill The Noise @ One 01/10/09!

2008-12-26T17:26:00.005-05:00

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT!
Tickets will be more at the door!

Act:Live will be hosting a very fashionably upscale event to ring in the new year on January 10th, 2009 @ One (1 Ryan Alley) to premiere the eagerly-anticipated Reece Q music video, "Promotional Use Only" (2008, Act:Live), directed by Mike Dispenza @ Blue Monk Films and produced by James Niche of Act:Live.

The event will also showcase the burgeoning talents of Kill The Noise and The Soul Slingers.

This is going down on:
Saturday, January 10th 2009
10:00 PM - grazing
11:00 PM - video premiere
12:00 PM - kill the noise

This event will be open to:
Anyone over the age of 18+ with proper identification...
18+

This will take place inside the venue of:
One Restaurant & Lounge
1 Ryan Alley
Rochester, NY 14607

One is located a few paces down Ryan Alley on the right hand side if you're coming from East Avenue. Walk right past Pearl (349 East Avenue), down the alley, and it's right there.

Right now we're listening to:

Thievery Corporation "Sound The Alarm" ("Radio Retaliation", 2008, Eighteenth Street Lounge)

Wun Nation EP.

2008-12-25T01:36:00.008-05:00

werd: the gun

Hey guys, I just grabbed this off of Ewun The Gun and I figured I'd share this on here, too! Since I am from Rochester I feel like this is somewhat relevant and important... maybe...

Yes, it's finally here. Without any further ado, you can listen and buy my new EP "Wun Nation" (2008, Evol Intent) on any of your favorite online dance record stores. If you are actually lucky enough to have a physical dance record store in your city, you may actually find it there, too!

Thanks to everyone for all the support, I really do appreciate it! The best thing you can do right now to show love is grab this EP! You will be showing Evol Intent love, as well, by default, because it's on their label. So, if you think about it, you will be showing double the amount of love with only the single amount of effort! I don't know about you, but that certianly sounds like fun to me. ;)

Moving on, I must say I am very pleased with every aspect of this release... the vinyl mastering, the way the artwork came out with really sick work by mister VNMBLK from LA. I've framed mine and stuck it on the wall - it looks that good!

Anyway, enough rambling. I'll leave a couple links where you can pick up the EP. You know, for those of you who don't shop for music on slsk. ;)

Chemical Records UK
Breakbeat Science

- the gun, riproc

Right now we're listening to:

Ewun "Phonetap" ("Wun Nation EP", 2008, Evol Intent Recordings)

Turntable Throwback this Tuesday 12/23/08 @ Spike's!

2008-12-20T00:11:00.011-05:00

werd: the gun

"'Twas the night before... the night before Christmas (AKA Christmas Eve-Eve), and all through the Ave., creatures were stirring, and were drunk off their ass..."

That was horrible, sorry. Anyway, so, yeah, big party this coming Tuesday... On the turntables we have Ewun, Tim Tones, Banshee, and Code-D is back in town, to boot! Ric Rude will be the host and you can expect him to be performing, as well! Consider that a stocking stuffer, if you know what I mean...

Anyways - cheap drinks, cheap cover, we're bringin' in some Wi Sounds (AKA lots of bassbins!), and there will be candy canes. Everyone will be home for the holidays, so expect to see a lot of friendly faces. The last show we did at Spike's on Thanksgiving Eve was a blast! Expect the same kinda' vibe and the same kinda' turnout. Music will be all over the place, so expect everything from Biggie Smalls to Michael Jackson to Daft Punk to Rick James to Montel Jordan to ???

Tell a friend!

- the gun, riproc

Right now we're listening to:

Treasure Fingers "Cross The Dancefloor" ("Cross The Dancefloor", 2008, Fool's Gold)

The Ugly Sweater Party with Klever @ Montage 12/10/08

2008-12-19T22:11:00.012-05:00

foto: ysa peréz

vid, yo: mike dispenza @ blue monk films
werd: djb

Here are photos and video from the first Lucky Strike project. Once again, we're not gonna' write up a review for the show, the photos and video speak for themselves. Either you were there or you missed out.

The utmost of thanks and respect are in order for Klever, Toastmaster & Wi Sounds, Mike Dispenza @ Blue Monk Films, Mike Hanlon @ Hanlon Photographic, Alexandra Fox @ Fox_Photography, Michael Smith @ View Of Life, Ysa Peréz, Downer, Crook (FUA), Cash, Skyehigh, Thread, The Ultimate Tattoo, Krudco, Randy & the ownership/management of Montage Music Hall, the security staff of Montage Music Hall, the bartenders @ Montage Music Hall, 11 Magazine, Dee Johnson & friends, Grizzly, Kill The Noise, Games @ Act:Live, Tim Tones, Reece Q, Woody, Nugz, Ric Rude, the rest of do5e, Handlebar & Flipsicle @ The Trans-Rochester Highway, Antonio & Mikhail AKA Nickel Bag Of Funk, Audiowright, A-Ko, Hoogs, Murdok MC, J. Scutti Blvd. @ Fiya Sounds, L.E.S.H., Scatter MC, Eric @ Lucky Strike, djb @ Lucky Strike, every member of Lucky Strike for their collective efforts, Alex Ng @ Elektrobank, Shara for the idea, Inspektah Beckstah, Marshall AKA Teen Heat, HRVI Who, Goodwill for all their help in supplying Rochester with a heavy dose of fuck ugly sweaters (and for taking them back from everyone the very next day), HTB Press, Rochester Groove Network, Tweek Nasty, Rheytchul .chicken bone., David Yager, everyone @ Ekonomix Clothing, Travis Geske & City Newspaper, Ginnis @ Rehab, horny swingers @ O'Callahan's, 13 year olds @ Bug Jar, and of course everyone that came through - especially those who were flossin' and glossin' the ugly sweaters.

Click on any of the photographs to view dozens of additional pictures from that photographer's set.

The Photography Of Ysa Peréz
contact

Hanlon Photography
contact

Fox_Photography
contact

The Photography Of Michael Smith
contact

The Photography Of Travis Geske
for City Newspaper
contact

The next Lucky Strike party is currently in development.

- djb

Right now we're listening to:

Danny Byrd "Weird Science" ("Supersized", 2008, Hospital)

Riproctionary: Cash In Hand. Newkie Brown.

2008-12-15T21:19:00.022-05:00

werd: djb

50th post on RIPROC. We just passed the 1-Year Anniversary, as well. How about them apples.

So, we've been sifting through all of the photos from both the Monster Mash-Up and the Ugly Sweater parties, and they're coming!! Apologies and more apologies. Two shows within 6 weeks of each other knocks the blog down a few notches by default. Also coming soon will be RIPROC T-shirts. Just in time for the holidays. But I'm taking a break from coding for a second to start up a new lil' recurring series that I'll post from time to time.

For about 18 months or so, I've been a contributing editor to Urban Dictionary. I fancy myself somewhat of a wordsmith, and it's good for killin' time. The thing is, it sucks and it moves wayyyy too slow. It takes months to get something approved and added to the dictionary, and it's completely bogged down by whack submissions. I normally sifted through close to 500 submissions before I found anything that was even remotely original - like Jimmie Nightbreeze, for instance...

Anyway, for the past 4 months, everyone here @ RIPROC has been out promoting, throwing shows, getting shitfaced, talkin' shit, and most importantly, making up new words and phrases along the way. So we've decided to catalogue them in our own Riproctionary. For the good of the city.

foto: djb
coined by: djb, 2008

Cash In Hand [kash in hand]
- adjective, noun, adverb

def. The absolute best possible description of any noun. Used for its similarity to the best possible form of funding in almost any transaction for its ease of accessibility and universal acceptance. In a general sense, "cash in hand" usually solves any problem. Therefore, the phrase is used primarily as an adjective in both literary and verbal usages to illustrate the greatness of a specific person, place, thing, or period of time. The variant "cash in fucking hand" can also be used for the highest possible emphasis.

e.g. (adj.) "Every time I've seen Ludachrist play it's always been cash in hand."

e.g. (n.) "Damn, brov. You saved my life... I knew I could always count on you to come through on the cash in hand."

e.g. (adv.) "This 13 year old kid was talkin' shit to me inside of Bug Jar the other night, and before I could go outside to duff him, someone else came along and dealt with him straight up cash in handly."

also: Cash [kash]
- adjective

def. Synonymous with "cash in hand", this adjective can be used to simplify and/or emphasize the above phrase, oftentimes depending on the actual pronunciation and tone/delivery of the word in its usage.

e.g. (adj.) "I know, dude, I'm sooooo sorry I ate all your Christmas cookies, but seriously, on the real, tell your mom that those shits were fucking cash."

e.g. (adj.) "Yo, how is the party down there? Damn, it sounds kinda' cash over there. I'll be right over."

e.g. (pronunciation) "My grandmoms died and left me a fuckin' yacht. This shit is fucking cash (pronounced [kaysh]!!"

synonyms: sick, ill, money, high-yield, bees knees
antonyms: whack, lame game, outta' pocket, these deeze

foto: nifuu
coined by: unknown?

Newkie Brown [noo-kee broun]
- noun

def. A slang abbreviation for Newcastle Brown Ale. Origin unknown. First used in the Rochester area by DJ Grizzly (AKA Chris Grizzlehoff).

UPDATE!! Regional coinage has been claimed by Kill The Noise on 12/19.

e.g. (n.) "I'm done paying four bucks a pop for shitty beer. Now I just buy a sixer of Newkie Brown before I go out and then sneak 'em in the club."

also: Newkie [noo-kee]
- noun

def. An abbreviated abbreviation of Newcastle Brown Ale, used in louder areas to more clearly order said beverage.

e.g. (n.) "Drew!! Gimme' 2 Newkies!"

- djb

Right now we're listening to:

Ronald Jenkees "The Rocky Song Remixed" ("Ronald Jenkees", 2007, unsigned)

The Ugly Sweater Party with KLEVER 12/10 @ Montage Music Hall!

2008-11-27T22:25:00.014-05:00

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT!
Tickets will be more at the door!

CLICK HERE TO RSVP and be entered to win one of many Kill The Noise, Ludachrist, and RIPROC T-Shirts, among other giveaways for those that RSVP on both MySpace & Facebook.

REST IN PEACE ROCHESTER, LUCKY STRIKE, & ACT:LIVE present an event featuring a LIVE BAND, DJs, MCs, ARTISTS, & FASHION from acclaimed national and local talent.

Join us @ Montage Music Hall, as we fill both rooms of 50 Chestnut Street, Rochester, NY on Wednesday, December 10th, 2008!

Wear Your UGLIEST Sweater!
Everyone has at least one in their closet. You know what we're talking about. Break out that holiday sweater that your grandma gave you, or better yet, rock one of your dad's Cosby sweaters! Don't have one? Head down to Goodwill this weekend! It's always been a lot more fun when everyone follows the theme as most of you have done at the past events!

We proudly present...

Klever - (Atlanta)

"Klever is one of the few and best DJs who can balance technical skill and party rocking. His style is energetic and air-tight."
- DJ A-Trak

"...one of the illest DJs on the cut, Klever continues to break barriers with his signature style..."
- Tablist Magazine

Titles & Awards:
1999 Guitar Center South Eastern Regional 1st place Champion
1999 Kool Mixx Atlanta 1st place Champion
2000 Atlanta DMC Regional 1st place Champion
2000 USA DMC 1st place Champion
2001 USA DMC 1st place Champion
2001 DMC World Champion 2nd place Runner up
2001 ITF USA 1st place Champion (Advanced Categories)
2001 Atlanta Kool Mixx 1st place Champion
2002 USA Kool Mixx 1st place Champion
2003 Atlanta Nike Battle Ground 1st place Champion
2003 Rough Raleigh DJ Battle 1st place Champion
2004 Breaklanta 1st place Champion

It is with great pride that we will also feature Rochester DJing icon...

Kill The Noise - (Rochester)
Slow Roast, RIPROC, Lucky Strike - Electro

Alongside local and regional talent...

Handlebar & Flipsicle - (585)
WRUR, Lucky Strike - Electro

Nickel Bag Of Funk - (585)
Electro

Routine - (585)
Electro

do5e - (585)
AKA Tim Tones, Games, Nugz, Woody, Reece Q, & Ric Rude
Act:Live - Funk

Hoogs & Murdok MC - (585)
St8cyde Jump Up - Jump Up

Grizzly - (585)
RIPROC - D&B

Toastmaster - (585)
Wi Sound, Jungle Bums - Dubstep

Audiowright - (585)
Shift - Dubstep

L.E.S.H. & A-KO - (585)
Suga-Hi Gang, :Culture - Anything goes!

Scatter MC - (585)
St8cyde Jump Up

HRVI Who - (585)
ROC DNB

Featuring the photography and videography of...

Hanlon Photographic - (585)

Ysa Peréz - (585)

View Of Life - (716)

djb - (585)

Graff On Wax!
Crook (FUA), Downer, & Cash will be taking your requests and painting LIVE on vinyl records and giving them to YOU for free ('tis the season for tipping!).

+ =

$5

LIMITED Presale Tickets Are Available.

There will be a $2.00 additional surcharge at the door to the venue for everyone under 21. Currently, tickets are available for the ridiculously low price of $5.00. This price will be more at the door, so get your ticket today from any of our outlets or artists/performers on the line-up!

Tickets are available for a limited time from these exquisite establishments...

Skyehigh (610 Monroe Avenue - Rochester)
Thread (654 South Avenue - Rochester)
Pearl (349 East Avenue - Rochester)
The Ultimate Tattoo (2933 West Henrietta Road - Henrietta)

Tickets are also available from almost everyone involved in the show.

Graciously sponsored by...

CLICK HERE TO RSVP and be entered to win one of many Kill The Noise, Ludachrist, and RIPROC T-Shirts, among other giveaways for those that RSVP on both MySpace & Facebook.

Drink Specials:
9-10 pm - $2.00 Drafts

This is going down on:
Wednesday, December 10th 2008
Doors open @ 9:00 PM

This event will be open to:
Anyone over the age of 18+ with proper identification...
18+

This will take place inside the luxurious venue of:
Montage Music Hall
AKA Montage Grille
50 Chestnut Street
Rochester, NY 14604

The main entrance is on Lawn Street, right across from the Cadillac Hotel.

RIPROC 1-Year Anniversary Party: Monster Mash-Up featuring Dieselboy 10/30/08 @ Pearl!

2008-10-17T06:11:00.021-04:00

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT!
Capacity @ Pearl is extremely limited for an event of this size.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP and be entered to win one of many Kill The Noise, Ludachrist, and RIPROC T-Shirts, among other giveaways for those that RSVP on both MySpace & Facebook.

REST IN PEACE ROCHESTER & THREAD present the follow-up to 2007's Rochester Insider Party Of The Year... An event featuring a LIVE BAND, DJs, MCs, ARTISTS, & FASHION from acclaimed national and local talent.

Join us @ Pearl Nightclub, as we fill both rooms of 349 East Avenue, Rochester, NY on Thursday, October 30th for what promises to exceed last year's party of the fuckin' year.

Here are some pics and video from last year's event:

Get In Costume!
There will be a sick costume prize awarded to the best in show for one guy and one girl, with the winners being decided by crowd response just before Dieselboy's set!

Doors Open @ 7:00!
Continuing on in RIPROC's year-long tradition of infusing artistic expression to every experience, the doors will open early in the evening for an intimate, ambitiously extensive art gallery showing and fashion catalogue featuring traditional canvas and assorted fine art works from some of the region's most creative individuals. Also scheduled to appear will be a showing of both custom and modern productions of fashion attire for an immensely stylized evening of unforgettable imagery.

We proudly present the return of...

Dieselboy - (Brooklyn)
Human Imprint

"...one of the founding fathers of stateside drum & bass."

No bio or hype needed. You all know who he is and also the calibre of damage he does on the decks and in the game in general on a daily international basis. In celebration of the Substance D CD release, Dieselboy will make a very special holiday appearance as part of the Monsters Of Jungle Tour.

It is with great pride that we will also feature Rochester DJing icons...

Ewun - (Rochester) .::. Annalyze - (Chicago)
Human, Lifted .::. Females Wit Funk

Alongside local and regional talent...

McNasty - (716)
Bottom-End, ILL - Breaks

Kribs - (585)
Chroma, Croquet - Electro

Hoogs - (585)
St8cyde Jump Up - Jump Up

Basha - (716)
Frosty Tone - Dubstep

Rehab - (585)
Rehab Record Party - Indie

Filthy Funk & Hassaan Mackey - (585)
Filthy Funk / Rawkus Records - Jazz Funk, Hip Hop

SuSpence & Loki - (585 / 716)
RIPROC, Frosty Tone / InTimeFunk - D&B

Grizzly - (585)
RIPROC - D&B

Hambone - (315)
2kDeep, Get Bent - D&B

The Soul Slingers - (585)
Hip Hop, Old Skool

Percussion & Awake - (585)
Dubland / Skyehigh - Reggae

Audiowright - (585)
Shift - Dubstep

Chuck Miller - (585)
WITR, Headspace

L.E.S.H. & Access To Arasaka - (585)
Suga-Hi Gang, :Culture / Tympanik - Drum & Bass

Handlebar & Flipsicle - (585)
WRUR - Electro

And featuring MCs...

Nikal Fieldz - (585)
Eyeconz Entertainment

Jah Creation - (716)
Frosty Tone

Murdok MC - (585)
St8cyde Jump Up

Fresh - (585)
ROC DNB

Scatter MC - (585)
St8cyde Jump Up

MdotCoop - (585)
D.E.L.I.

Featuring a FULL PHOTO STUDIO for Halloween portraiture...

Hanlon Photographic - (585)

With visual stimulation provided by...

Deliria - (585)
InTimeFunk

With an extensive fine art showing from 7-10pm showcasing the works of...

Rheytchul .chicken bone. .:. jennifer.cichello .:. Beth Sumner (otakulab)
Crook .:. Downer .:. Shawn Conn .:. Dan Resch
David Yager .:. Eric Osborne .:. Kevin Giaquinto
Pete Lazarski .:. Natalie Sperling

And also featuring a select fashion gallery catalogue from the following elements in design...

Thread .:. Kill The Noise .:. Eva Xie .:. Tea Stain .:. Trudymade
Miss Wax .:. Tom DeBlase .:. Kevin John Gomez .:. Hell On Earth

$10

LIMITED Presale Tickets Are Available.

Currently, tickets are available for the ridiculously low price of $10.00. This price will definitely increase in the days leading up to the event. Once a certain number of tickets have been sold, ticket prices will be raised again. Ticket prices may reach $25.00 by the day of the event if any remain. Entry at the door will be at least $25.00.

The last two RIPROC parties at Pearl have reached maximum capacity to where people had to be turned away. This event is significantly larger in scope than the last two sellout events. It is highly probable that this event will entirely sell out before the day of the event. Entry at the door is a dicey proposition, at best.

Please acquire your presale ticket now for the very low cost of $10.00. Prices will be raised, tickets will become scarce. True story.

Tickets are available for a limited time from these exquisite establishments...

Skyehigh (610 Monroe Avenue - Rochester)
Thread (654 South Avenue - Rochester)
Pearl (349 East Avenue - Rochester)
The Ultimate Tattoo (2933 West Henrietta Road - Henrietta)
Krudco (83 Howell Street - Rochester)
Godiva's (653 South Avenue - Rochester)

Tickets are also available from almost everyone involved in the show.

Graciously sponsored by...

CLICK HERE TO RSVP and be entered to win one of many Kill The Noise, Ludachrist, and RIPROC T-Shirts, among other giveaways for those that RSVP on both MySpace & Facebook.

Drink Specials:
7-11 pm - $2.00 Bushwhack! Shots
7-11 pm - $2.00 Well Drinks
7-11 pm - $2.00 Bottles...

This is going down on:
Thursday, October 30th, 2008
Doors open @ 7:00 PM

This event will be open to:
Anyone over the age of 21 with proper identification...
21+

This will take place inside the luxurious venue of:
Pearl Nightclub
349 East Avenue
Rochester, NY
14604

Pics and video from the last RIPROC show at Pearl:

Rest In Peace, DJ Mees.

2008-09-26T00:03:00.003-04:00

From the Democrat & Chronicle...

Devin D. Caccamise
"Dooterman" "Doot" "Mees"

Pittsford: September 19, 2008, suddenly at age 27. Devin is survived by his father and mother, Dr. Daniel A. and Shelly Caccamise; brothers, Glenn Caccamise and Troy Tette; sisters, Lesli Blanchard (fiancé Scott Tarkington), Tiffany (Michael) Drabek and Kimberly Caccamise (Elizabeth Clottin); niece, Jacquie Nelson; nephews, Gabriel, Caleb and Nicolas Drabek; aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.

Devin will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him and got to experience the joy and happiness he brought everywhere he went. He will forever be in our hearts and minds.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be directed to the Al Sigl Center, (1000 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620).

To light a candle in memory, visit Anthony Chapels.

candymang & mees @ you better axe somebody, may 3rd

Crew @ The German House 04/03/08

2008-08-22T13:34:00.006-04:00

foto: djb
werd: djb

I've had this one on the back burner for awhile, but I wanted to get these pics up for the people that I promised that they'd be up on the site.

German House (315 Gregory Street) has historically been nothing but a series of bad experiences for me, but this party was actually a lot of fun, and the DJing was well above average for a locals/regional night.

It's always all love when somebody throws a show that bridges the gap between Rochester and Buffalo, and Crew definitely brought that together. There just simply aren't enough D&B heads in Rochester to blow up a smaller-scale party, and it's good to see both cities coming through to make it happen on the cooperative for this show.

The venue may have been a bit big for this show, but it really didn't matter. The vibe was great. Sick DJing, the best MCs, and Wi Sound set it all to the tune of fun.

Candymang and Basha completely stole the show and dominated, they're easily among the select few drum & bass DJs in the region that are constantly elevating their game with each successive time I get to sit in on one of their truly signature sets... Absolute bar-setters in the upstate, without a doubt.

I had to check out before Hoogs took over, but I'm sure he delivered it proper as he always does. I'm looking forward to parties coming up on the verrrrry near horizon to get my fix of his always energetic sets.

The energy was maintained solid all night by your favorite masters of the ceremonials, Murdok, Scatter, and also Buffalo's own Jah Creation.

It's 6.37 am as I'm writing this, so it's getting cut short. I wanted to make sure I got the photos up, at the very least. Support your local drum & bass DJ!!

- djb

Right now we're listening to:

Bran Van 3000 "Forest" ("Glee", 1998, Audiogram)

Ghostland Observatory - "Robotique Majestique"

2008-08-12T00:56:00.008-04:00

werd: pK

Ghostland Observatory "Freeheart Lover"
click to download

Ghostland Observatory's third full-length doesn't stray much from their usual formula. Thomas Turner's production/drumming isn't as good as it was on the previous disc, and is a bit slower and more drum than synth this time around (not as dancey). Aaron Behrens' vocals are similar to Freddy Mercury, and there are a few less wails and vocal yelps - save for "HFM", a punk-rock fuzzed-out jam that is unlike anything the band has done (and not very good, as well).

"Robotique Majestique" is pretty much what you'd expect from these guys. "Club Soda" ends the disc nicely with no vocals, and is probably the danciest track on the disc. Nothing fresh or new from these guys on the disc, but not bad all around.

"Robotique Majestique" is out now on Trashy Moped.

07 outta' 10

- pK, wrur

Right now we're listening to:

Danny Byrd "Labyrinth" ("Labyrinth", 2008, Hospital)

Matt & Kim @ Bug Jar 08/06/08

2008-08-07T00:44:00.015-04:00

foto: nicholas chatfield-taylor
werd: the gun

Every once in a while it's nice for the staff here at RIPROC to head out to a show and not have to lug around all our camera equipment. It's also nice not to have to analyze it all for everything it's worth and write a book report on it to share with all of you (just kidding, we love it!).

Hmm, actually tonight was quite possibly the first time that's ever happened. It's obvious that we've been kinda slow with the blog lately, and there's plenty of reasons why. The main reason is, well, we've all been pretty busy lately, and after our last show, we've decided to take a much-needed break from blogging, party organizing, and ~~drinking~~ partying in general!

Anyway, back to topic, here. I was alerted by a friend that Matt & Kim would be making an appearance in none other than my hometown of Rochester! "Yeah, right," was what I said. So I logged onto the ol' MySpace, and sure enough, right there on their profile it read, "Aug. 6th, 2008, 8:00PM, Bug Jar". Needless to say, I made mental plans to be there.

As I mentioned above, it was really nice to attend a show without my thinking cap on, and to just relax, have a few drinks, and enjoy the show. The night started out with an indie/electronic act from Buffalo called Ice Cream Social. Sadly I missed most of their act due to socialization (pun intended, sorry).

Right around 11, Matt & Kim took stage and charmed the hell out of the crowd. It's no secret for those who know me that I am a stickler when it comes to production and stage performance at live shows. So for me to sit here and say that this performance blew my socks off would be a total lie. However, it was a great show and the kids loved it.

There's some kinda' crazy energy that these two radiate. When they turn it on, it lures everyone within ear/eye shot into their little world which consists of a small drum kit, keyboard, microphone, and of course Matt & Kim. You really get the feeling that these two could be your best friends. Like, when they get off stage you just wanna' exchange phone numbers and call 'em up to go bowling or catch a flick.

Highlights of the set included some of their more popular tunes like "Yea Yeah" and "No More Long Years". There were a few points when the crowd burst into what resembled to me like a room full of toddlers having, like, a spaz-dance fit, as seen here: example. But it's all good, yo, I'm old.. and jealous.

I actually had a chance to chat with the two once they left stage, and I must say I was even further charmed by their big smiles and humble-ness (sp?). I had to make an early exit, so I wasn't able to catch much of Kribs' DJ set this time, but I'll take a rain check on that one.

Big ups to Croquet Shows, Chroma, Ice Cream Social, Bug Jar (219 Monroe Avenue), and whoever else may be responsible for bringing NEW and exciting events into our area!

For those of you who might might not be super familiar with Matt & Kim, check this personal favorite of mine and what actually turned me on to these two.

Matt & Kim "Yea Yeah" (Flosstradamus remix)
click to download

- the gun, riproc

Right now we're listening to:

Matt & Kim "5K" ("Matt & Kim", 2008, I Heart Comix)

Pink Skull - "Zeppelin 3"

2008-07-27T21:29:00.005-04:00

werd: pK

Pink Skull "Cry For Meee"
click to download

Philly's Pink Skull is a full five-piece band, which is strange, considering some of the tracks on 2008's "Zeppelin 3" (Funny? I can't decide...) are straight up house, and others are experimental, psychedelic noise/electronic musings.

"Cry for Meee" swirls around a thumbing, distorted bass and reverbed vocals. "Sslit" drifts by with a droning guitar and the occasional sampled evil laugh and really doesn't do much. "Get Inside (My Tiny Pyramids)" is very dancey, with a quick little saxophone line and disco-house synths and beats.

I think where the band suffers is its inability to choose between dance and experimental. I think they do house quite well, but maybe leave the experimental stuff for another time, guys.

"Zeppelin 3" is out now on Free News Projects.

06 outta' 10

- pK, wrur

Right now we're listening to:

Architecture In Helsinki "Scissor Paper Rock" ("Fingers Crossed", 2003, Trifekta)

Cut Copy - "In Ghost Colours"

2008-07-17T15:08:00.009-04:00

werd: pK

Cut Copy "Hearts On Fire"
click to download

Australians Cut Copy really bring the 80's new-wave dance with their second disc "In Ghost Colours". While the single "Lights & Music" may not have the most thoughtful lyrics, the chorus of lights & music / are on my mind / be my baby / one more time, is catchy as hell amidst the rocking keyboard synth line and handclaps.

Produced by DFA man Tim Goldsworthy, the disc also has a very spacey feel to it, which is accompanied quite well by the band's catchy hooks and guitar lines. "Hearts On Fire" features a sweet sampled breakdown of some song that seems awfully familiar. The rest of the song is pushed by arpeggiated synth and carries a 90's rave feel. On "Nobody Lost, Nobody Found", the Goldsworthy/DFA influence shines through as the track has a very space-disco feel, almost as if LCD Soundsystem had started making music twenty years ago. Catchy, dancey, and well-produced, Cut Copy's running on all cylinders here - and it's damn good.

"In Ghost Colours" is out now on Modular.

08 outta' 10

- pK, wrur

Right now we're listening to:

De-Phazz "Love's Labour's Lost" ("Death By Chocolate", 2001, Mole Listening Pearls)

LA Riots this Saturday 06/21/08 in Buffalo!

2008-06-20T13:10:00.015-04:00

werd: the gun

Just a quick heads up to those of you who might be interested...

Some of you might've checked our friend Daniel Le Disko of LA Riots @ Pearl (349 East Avenue) in Rochester earlier this year, where he played a killer set of electro and bangin' house, I might add. Well, the time has come for round 2. This time, LA Riots makes an appearance in Buffalo @ the Calumet Patio (54 West Chippewa Street). Come check out one of MSTRKRFT's right hand men this Saturday!

Oh, and for those who may not be so familiar with LA Riots, be sure to check out their latest free mix CD by clicking here!

- the gun, riproc

*bonus*

I just wanted to link to one of my favorite LA Riots remixes to make this post just a bit more festive. Most of you DJ types probably already have this by now!

Le Castle Vania "Trouble In Daylight" (Surface2Air remix)
click to download

Right now we're listening to:

Logistics "Shanghai Skyline" ("Reality Checkpoint", 2008, Hospital)

Canada Day @ Guvernment / Koolhaus / Drink / Skybar 06/30/08

2008-06-10T09:22:00.017-04:00

werd: the gun

Ah, yes. Canada Day. A day that means absolutely nothing to most of us here in Rochester. However, for us few surviving "post-ravers", Canada Day has some significance. This means that we will be taking a trip to Toronto for a night of debauchery.

Usually the place to be is the "Guv" (The Guvernment, 132 Queens Quay East), and this year is no different. I went probably 3 years ago and I had a fucking blast. I'm sure some of you have gone over the years, but to give those of you who haven't an idea of what to expect, imagine 2,000+ people packed into a multi-room club complex with everything from drum & bass, house, hip-hop, breakbeat, and almost every other sub-genre of electronic music. It is an honor to be playing the event this year alongside some friends and Canadian brethren, as well! If you are a fan of electronic music, I can pretty much guarantee that you will be into something on this insane line-up...

CANADA DAY
MONDAY JUNE 30th 2008
GUVERNMENT KOOLHAUS ALL ACCESS

KOOLHAUS
DIGITAL SOUNDBOY

SHY FX
www.digitalsoundboy.com - www.myspace.com/shyfx

DJ HYPE feat. MC DADDY EARL
www.playazonline.co.uk - www.myspace.com/hypehypehype

JUS SKE
www.myspace.com/jusske

T POWER
www.digitalsoundboy.com - www.myspace.com/T90wer

BENNY PAGE
Digital Soundboy - www.myspace.com/bennypage1

BENGA
www.myspace.com/bengabeats

MARCUS VISIONARY
www.digitalsoundboy.com - www.myspace.com/marcusvisionary - Theory

B.TRAITS
www.digitalsoundboy.com - www.myspace.com/djbtraits

SAIGON
Theory - Front Left - www.myspace.com/saigondj

FRANKIE GUNNS
Theory - Play De Record - www.mypsace.com/frankiegunns

MR. BROWN
Soul In Motion - Junglist Movement - www.myspace.com/dj_mrbrown

STAMINA MC
www.myspace.com/musicfromstamina

MC:SP
www.myspace.com/spemcee

CADDY CAD
Theory - www.myspace.com/caddycadmc

GUVERNMENT

DUBFIRE (DEEP DISH)
www.myspace.com/djdubfire

STEVE LAWLER
www.djstevelawler.com - www.myspace.com/stevelawler

NIC FANCIULLI
www.nifanciulli.com - www.myspace.com/nicfanciulli

MARK OLIVER
www.markoliver.ca - www.myspace.com/markolivermusic

DRINK

LA RIOTS
www.myspace.com/lariotsofficial

KILL THE NOISE
www.killnoisekill.com

KLEVER
www.myspace.com/kleverbeats

TREASURE FINGERS
www.myspace.com/treasurefingers

NASTY NAV
www.myspace.com/nav_

FIERCE HELDER
www.myspace.com/fiercehelderdjsite

GREG GOW
www.greggow.ner - www.myspace.com/greggowrestructured

SKYBAR
A SPECIAL SUNRISE SET BY

DUBFIRE
www.myspace.com/djdubfire

STEVE LAWLER
www.djstevelawler.com

LAIDBACK LUKE
www.laidbackluke.com

MANZONE & STRONG
www.manzoneandstrong.com

DEKO-ZE
www.deko-ze.com

THE ROACHES
aka Nathan Barato & Carlo Lio - www.myspace.com/roachesneverdie

THE JUNKIES
www.vinyljunkies.ca

JOEE CONS
www.joeecons.com

ORANGE ROOM

SYDNEY BLU
www.syndneyblu.com

TIM PATRICK
www.myspace.com/tim_patrick

JAY FORCE
www.jayforce.com - www.myspace.com/jayforcedj

EVAN G
www.myspace.com/mynameisevang

LEE OSBORNE
www.myspace.com/leeosborne

TICKETS: $25 FIRST 500 / $30 501-1000 / $35 1001-2000 / 2001+ $40 / MORE @ THE DOOR

LIMITED CAPACITY - ADVANCE TICKETS WILL SELL OUT
PLEASE BUY EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT

ON SALE NOW AT ALL TICKETMASTER LOCATIONS
416-870-8000 or www.ticketmaster.ca

NUMB - 250 Queen St W - 416-599-5424
PLAY DE RECORD - 357A Yonge St - 416-586-0380
ZOAM - 2503 Yonge St - 416-494-8121
SHANTI BABA - 546 Queen St W - 416-504-5034

DOORS 10:00 PM | MUST BE 19 YEARS OR OLDER TO ATTEND
VIP BOTTLE SERVICE - CONTACT BOTTLESERVICE@INK-00.COM

GUVERMENT - KOOLHAUS ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX
132 QUEEN'S QUAY EAST TORONTO, CANADA
INFO: 416.869.0045 OR WWW.THEGUVERMENT.COM

Hope to see some of you western New Yorkers there!

- kill the noise

Telefon Tel Aviv "Introductory Nomenclature" ("Fahrenheit Fair Enough", 2001, Hefty)

MGMT.

2008-06-04T18:39:00.018-04:00

werd: the gun

I don't usually make random posts like this, but I was sitting here earlier this Sunday evening when one of my good friends hits me up on AIM and says, "Have you heard of MGMT (formerly "The Management")? I had, in fact, heard of them, but I hadn't really given them a proper listen.

It seems today that one out of every 1,000 over-hyped MySpace sensations actually become big. By big, I mean bigger than six months of blog hype and tours.

Although I virtually live on/in the internet, I always seem to catch onto things in their mid-level of internet hype. It's most likely because everything is so over hyped, in general. Sadly, most new stuff has to pass my "friend recommendation" test to get on my radar. This means that no matter how many times a band spams my MySpace page or email inbox, no matter how many times they show up on The Hype Machine, or even on my favorite blogs, I just won't give them the time of day until someone I know whose musical taste I respect tells me I gotta' hear something. I'm sure many of you guys out there are the same way. Because of this, sometimes bands get overlooked. This is one of those scenarios.

Anyway. So I guess this could be the "friend recommendation" from me to you. The "band" is really the project of two guys from Brooklyn (Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden) probably putting these songs together on their computer in a small bedroom studio. They've managed (no pun intended) to put together a sound that is much bigger than that, though (ahem, with the help of record producer David Fridmann, who also helped produce The Flaming Lips).

I know I'm about 5 or 6 months late on this one so save the hate comments! I've chosen two of the more popular tunes off of their debut album, "Oracular Spectacular" (info) for you guys to check out. However, if you're feelin' them - buy the album! Or, even better than that, I saw a huge poster for the album in the window of Lakeshore Record Exchange (370 Park Avenue) the other day, so I'm sure they have the hard copy.

MGMT "Electric Feel"
click to download

MGMT "Time To Pretend"
click to download

You can also check out this slightly psychedelic video for "Electric Feel", which is my personal favorite, and also slightly reminiscent of one of my favorite picture books as a child, "Where The Wild Things Are" (Maurice Sendak). Or better yet, make your own!

- the gun, riproc

Right now we're listening to:

Tricky "Analyze Me" ("Angels With Dirty Faces", 1998, Island)

Ewun & Gein @ Masquerade, Atlanta 09/28/07

2008-06-01T00:31:00.003-04:00

vid, yo: the gun
werd: the gun

So, I had a bunch of video that Abel from Gein sent over from a gig we played together in September of last year in the top level of the Masquerade in Atlanta.

I've been meaning to fix it up and edit it together, and I finally got around to doing that this week. It was truly an epic show with an even more epic lineup of Teebee, Calyx, Ewun & Gein, Atlantic Connection, and Armanni Reign. Infiltrata just happened to be in Atlanta that weekend for a dubstep gig and ended up at the event, for good measure!

I'll let the video do most of the talking here. Big shout outs are in order to Mayhem @ 404 Audio and Kujo @ 180 Degrees for putting this show on.

Also, in case anyone was curious, the track used in the video is Evol Intent's "Dead on Arrival" (2007, Evol Intent), which is out on their latest EP, "Era of Diversion". We will be running a review on this album on RIPROC in the coming weeks, so definitely look out for that!

- the gun, riproc

Right now we're listening to:

Matrix + Futurebound "Coast To Coast" ("Universal Truth", 2007, Metro/Viper)

The White Parties @ Tilt & Pearl 05/25/08

2008-05-28T01:35:00.011-04:00

foto: fox_photography
werd: james niche

Lavishly, loudly, and proudly, Tilt (444 Central Avenue) and Pearl (349 East Avenue) kicked in the front doors of summer's place and screamed "Hello!!"

May 25th
The White Party
Tilt Nightclub & Ultralounge

This past Sunday, Tilt was the place to be to get down and dirty. Celebrating it's annual White Party, a theme party idea which was originally started as a circuit party along the east coast back in the seventies, Club Tilt went all out, all white, and packed itself into positions many haven't seen there ever. It was hot, sweaty, and judging by the reaction of the crowd, they loved every second of it.

I will let the pictures say the rest, but I need to give props to Tilt for pulling of a beautiful and successful party. I know everyone involved worked really hard. The sound system there is sick, only to be rivaled by Pearl's, and DJ Jonathan Herbert played to his crowd like Frankenstein, and that crowd was his monster. Cheers to everyone we met down there and also to those that came up to say hi.

May 25th
The White Party
Pearl Nightclub

After Tilt, I stopped down to the East End to see my peeps @ Pearl because word had it that they too were going to be rockin' the white that evening. That was a lot of fun as well. Pearl has been celebrating the White Party the past couple of years, and has seen the party grow on the East-Al corner.

"It's good too see... I think that people understand what we are doing down here," observed John Slater, proprietor of Pearl.

Richie Salvaggio decided to make it out on a Sunday and keep the beat for the fine people, everything sounded great.

Once again, I will let the pictures do the talking on this one, but I have to give a shout out to bartenders Mike, Giselle, Ryan, and Jenna @ Pearl for always keeping it real and providing such great service. To all of you reading this who attend an event @ Pearl, you make sure you take good care of them when you see them. Werd.

- james niche, act:live

Right now we're listening to:

Queens Of The Stone Age "Go With The Flow" ("Songs For The Deaf", 2002, Interscope)

Release with Velvet Vixens @ One 05/23/08

2008-05-26T04:16:00.028-04:00

foto: fox_photography
werd: james niche

This past Friday, I decided to stop down to the East End and see what was going on @ One (1 Ryan Alley) and Pearl (349 East Avenue).

I have heard about the Velvet Vixens burlesque group and DJ Jonathan Herbert's Release party (Fridays @ One), so I thought I would check it out and get a few words from Angel Carter, the founder of the Velvet Vixens and a well-known Rochester party attendee. Here's what she had to say about herself, the Vixens, and also a review of the evening. Ch-Ch-Ch-Check it...

RIPROC: Hi, Angel (pronounced Ann-gel). Tell the people of Rochester about yourself and what the story is behind the Velvet Vixens.

Angel: I just turned twenty-eight in February, I am a mother of two, I'm a school teacher, and I have always been interested in art and dancing. I have studied dance since I was seven years old.

I wanted to do burlesque because it's fun and appealing. Some people say it's stripping, but it's not. There are no clothes coming off me (laughs). We can tease men with a burlap sack, please.

I want people to feel good when they come, to feel that they can have a good time and not feel alienated or uncomfortable. And if they come see us, they will definitely have a good time. They won't be able to help but have a good time. It's infectious.

I started the Velvet Vixens because I love entertainment. I love women who look classy and beautiful and can come out and tease guys without being naked... leaving something to the imagination.

I have a sword swallower, I fire breathe. We do lots of go-go dancing right now. I have April, who works with me, Ashley, and Danielle. Riley is my sword swallower and she shows up for special events. We want to put on a show that's different than anything else in Rochester. We're all about personality. I want girls that go out and have a good time and talk to people - to be approachable. We want to have fun and have people come back to see us every week on Fridays.

RIPROC: Now, the drag shows and burlesque shows have been kicking around Rochester for quite some time. Muther's made them very popular, but many have said that the shows have been done before and it's gotten old. How do you feel about that, and what is going to re-kindle that flame?

Angel: Well, with past shows in Rochester, I feel that all they do is just dance. I felt like I was going to a football game and just watching the cheerleaders. We aren't that simple. Like I said, we have special talents, and with the diversity of the girls and talents, we will definitely capture your attention at our events.

Riley, for example, is one of the only women in the United States who is actually registered to be doing what she is doing with the backing of the Sword Swallowing Association, so that is one thing alone that you won't see just anywhere else, and most importantly, in Rochester.

They will also see the champagne routine with a girl spinning in a six foot glass of champagne. You won't see that anywhere else around here, and the groups before us, they never took it past dancing. It's not a cheerleading routine. It's entertainment.

RIPROC: I get that you ladies want to have fun and put on a show, but by doing this here are you here to promote any particular club or outfit, such as One or Jonathan Herbert? Or is this venue and others simply your platform for bigger things to come?

Angel: We are out here to help promote other venues and other artists, we aren't just out here for the Velvet Vixens. We want Velvet Vixens to be known as a group that will perform at a variety of events like art openings as well as other artistic events including the nightclubs.

We aren't here for just one particular venue or event. We want to work closely with other local artists so we can bring our talent to the party, too. People need to look out for us - summer is here, so we will be out everywhere.

RIPROC: What are some other events you have planned in the near future for the Velvet Vixens?

Angel: Right now we are working with another nightclub to start dancing for them on a night yet to be announced. We are working with another group in Buffalo who has a more extreme burlesque show. They have the champagne routine and fire breathing routine.

I would like people to see that we aren't just a pretty face dancing. We all have individual talents. We even have a girl who can hula hoop with 20 hoops - all with a martini on her head. We are entertainment, not just pretty faces. We're very versatile. If you can imagine a vintage burlesque show, that's what we will be doing.

RIPROC: Any heads-up on the music backing you guys? A DJ or band?

Angel: At One, we are more dance party-oriented with DJ Jonathan Herbert and the house music, but depending on the show and venue, the music can change. We like big, classic songs by groups like Queen, too. There is a variety of music we want to perform with.

RIPROC: What's your next event coming up?

Angel: We are going to be performing for a lingerie fashion show Friday, June 6th here at One for another Release party event. We will be dancing and showing off some naughty fashions so I encourage everyone to stop out, have a good time, and take a peek...

The fashion show that Angel is referring to is another Release party featuring lingerie fashions from Naughty and Nice and music by Jonathan Herbert. This party is scheduled for Friday, June 6th @ One Nightclub & Restaurant in the Ryan Alley, just off of East Avenue, near the corner of Alexander Street.

I had a lot of fun watching these girls, and like Angel said, they do bring personality. They are fun and approachable and definitely provide some nice eye candy for the club. I'm not trying to say they are just pretty faces, but they definitely are pretty.

It was nice to see that One has finally made an advance on utilizing that monster projection system behind the bar. Granted, it's an oversized Windows Media Player music-synched graphic, but it's progress.

The crowd was a good size considering that Club Syxx (now known as The Bar?) had twelve-and-over night right next door, and what's really nice to see is the diversity of the crowd at One. It's a place for people of all ages, ethnicities, and genders to come together and get down to some great music. Cheers to that.

I was far more pleased with Jon's set @ One than the under-promoted and under-hyped show by the famed Pase Rock @ Pearl.

However, Steve Aoki is June 6th over @ Pearl, make sure you stop down there for that show, especially if you want to mosh and bang your head to some club music.

I have to say, I am a fan of Jon Herbert's party-friendly, pop-lockin' house style. It's a sensible mix of the old-school house and new school funk that sticks to your soul on the dance floor. Honey-dipped beats... can I say that?

The latest venture for DJ Jonathan Herbert, on the other hand, was The White Party, an event name dually claimed by Tilt (444 Central Avenue) and Pearl. Expect to see some pictures and a little review of both events this week on RIPROC. Maybe I'll also get Jon to say a few words and let us know how it went.

'Til next time, kiddies. Peace.

- james niche, act:live

Right now we're listening to:

DJ Z-Trip "Doin' It Like This" (featuring Clutch) ("All-Pro Soundtrack", 2007, Decon)

You Better Axe Somebody! ('Bout The White T-Shirt Party!) 05/03/08 @ Pearl

2008-05-22T16:12:00.011-04:00

vid, yo: djb
werd: djb

The sincerest of thanks are in order for Ludachrist, Demo, Gigantor, Computer Club, Code-D, Ginnis of Rehab, Discolobos, Grizzly, Meek, SuSpence, Tom DeBlase, Nical, Looney Tunes, pK and PTRQ of The Transient State @ WRUR, Candymang, Mees, Tim Tones, Loki, Potent J, Basha, Kix, Scatter MC, Fresh, Jeff Spevak @ Democrat & Chronicle, Crook, David Yager, James Niche of Act:Live, Rheytchul .chicken bone. and St. Laurent Framing, Jennifer Cichello and The Art Store, Mike Ford, Chuck Miller of the Headspace show @ WITR, Sara Wick, Alexandra Fox of Fox_Photography, Tweek Nasty, Ryan Smith, Dan, Beth Sumner (otakulab), Michael Smith of View Of Life, Phil Garofolo AKA Generate, Thread, Skyehigh, The Ultimate, Java's, HTB Press, Susie Q, Alex of the Elektrobank show @ WBER, Joey @ WBER, Frank DeBlase @ City, Pete G., A-Rod, Drew @ Dubland Underground, L.E.S.H., Chris @ Pearl, Lifted Music, Pontillo's, Fever Productions, our guy at the hotel, South Wedge Diner for hitting the fuckin' spot the next day, and anyone else that I am extremely sorry for forgetting.

As far as the show goes, I was about to write up a whole extensive and deluxe text review saying how sick it was and go through a whole recap of everything that happened at the party, but really, I've decided that I'm just gonna' let the tape tell the tale (nobody reads my long-ass rants, anyway).

I'm done being a used car salesman trying to convince people to get off their assisis and have the time of the year alongside the 650+ other people that did so. The video and the fuckin' awesome photo coverage we got from so many talented people say all that needs to be said about the event. I feel like we've taken shit to another level where the true motherfuckers on the street recognize what's going on in this city. And that's what I'm interested in. If you weren't there, you just weren't there. You missed out, plain and simple. If you didn't know, you shoulda' axed somebody.

A resounding thank you to everyone who came out to this event. We do hope that all of our promises lived up to your expectations. I'm glad that we've reached a point where we've got more to be doin' than things to be sayin'. More to come...

Stay tuned in the coming days as RIPROC follows Ludachrist to Atlanta for a truly unforgettable event alongside Evol Intent LIVE as part of the Era Of Diversion Tour. This show was nothing shy of a landmark, I'm really looking forward to getting the video cut up and posted. Soon!

- djb, riproc

Here is a collection of images from the event, click on any of them for info, to enlarge, or to view additional photos from that photographer's set.

The Photography Of Beth Sumner (otakulab)
contact for prints

The Photography Of Phil Garofolo AKA Generate
contact

The Photography Of djb
contact

The Photography Of Susie Q
contact

Here is a retrospective of the entire collection of artwork on display during the gallery showing portion of the evening. Click on any of the images to enlarge and to also view the title and pricing information.

The Artwork Of Rheytchul .chicken bone.
contact

The Artwork Of jennifer.cichello
contact

The Artwork Of Ryan Smith
contact

The Photography Works Of Fox_Photography
contact

The Artwork Of David Yager
contact

The Artwork Of Sara Wick
contact

The Artwork Of Nical
contact

The Promotional Paintings
contact

Right now we're listening to:

The White Stripes "Blue Orchid" (High Contrast remix) ("My Doorbell", 2005, XL)

Filthy Funk with RICRUDE & Danielle @ Dubland Underground 5/16/08

2008-05-20T02:57:00.012-04:00

foto: antonio aresco, rit, xi mag
werd: james niche

Filthy Funk "Adversity"
click to download

Once again, it's time for the sit-down. I recently spent some time with Rochester's triple threat jazz, funk, and hip-hop group, Filthy Funk. The group has been working incredibly hard for the past ten years or so - here and outside of Rochester, not only as an ever-morphing group of musicians who have, through their passion and drive, broken musical barriers on the stage, but who have also taken their craft and talent to the studio.

In comes Filthy Funk Records, the music marketing and production group created by John Viviani (guitar) and Nick Murray (keys). Filthy Funk Records is now becoming a place for talented, hardworking musicians to call home. We talked about a couple of their artists and also about things to come. Check it.

RIPROC: For those out there not really familiar with Filthy Funk, what have you been up to these days?

John: Lately, we've been playing a lot of gigs. We're playing at the Rochester International Jazz Fest coming up, (and) we also played at the Lilac Festival yesterday. We released my album "Tasty Licks" (2007, Filthy Funk) about seven months ago which we just sold out of. It was the first real release on Filthy Funk Records. We followed that with another CD that was more beat-oriented, "Beats Of Fury" (2007, Filthy Funk), and that's because, really, we have two different musical performances we do.

We have John Viviani and Filthy Funk, which is just sort of instrumental and you'll see a little bit of that tonight. It's a little more of free jazz sounding. Then, we also have the Filthy Funk shows, The Funky Soul Breakdown, which (adds) MCs and soul singers. RICRUDE makes it out a lot, Hassan (Mackey) makes it down sometimes. Danielle Ponder will be down as well.

Nick: We're also doing a lot of recording. Not just of ourselves, but of local and regional artists. Lonnie Smith was down - an old jazz organ player. He used to play with Benson. He came down and did some crazy stuff. He'll be down here for Jazz Fest, for sure. We still play around with making beats, and we're not doing a lot with that right now, but we want to continue to do that. We want to do everything that we can get our hands on.

Filthy Funk "Hamburger Pimp"
click to download

Filthy Funk has had many in it's wings over the years, but began as John Viviani (guitar) and Nick Murray (keys). They have worked with different drummers over the years and Devon Tramell has served as the latest and greatest. He joined the band last year and has a strong hip-hop, jazz, and gospel influence from listening - and the dude can jam. Enter Devon Tramell.

RIPROC: Tell us where you came from, what brought you here, and what involvement you have had in the productions aside from drumming with Filthy Funk.

Devon: Well, before I joined the band I was sticking around Rochester with salsa bands, top 40 bands... bands like that. I've been working as a side man for what has to be the past ten years... maybe a little bit longer than that. I was always looking for a solid band to play with and came upon these guys and it's been great. I've been playing a strong part in booking. We all do our own booking, but together, we have been booking a lot of festivals this summer.

RIPROC: What festivals will Filthy Funk be performing at this summer?

Nick: (laughs) Well, we said we had a lot in the works. But we are playing the Canandaigua Fest and the Village Gate Square (274-302 North Goodman Street). Village Gate is doing a weekly festival during the summer and we'll be playing the end of June. We got some fun stuff going on.

John: We're also going to be back at the Bug Jar (219 Monroe Avenue) in June.

Filthy Funk "Keep Talkin'"
click to download

RIPROC: You mentioned that you are working with RICRUDE, a well-known and respected MC here in Rochester. That makes a hip-hop fan like myself smile. Where else in the hip-hop community have you given the Midas touch?

John: That goes back to the studio side of things for us. RICRUDE has had an album waiting to go for a long time now and we have been working on the mixing at the moment. He's also doing some work with producers John Woodring and HUSKY. RIC has been making the tracks and we have been mixing for the final cut. That's about half done at the moment.

In the past we have done work with local MCs, some who are still rapping and some who aren't. We worked with Emilio Rojas in the past, but he's in New York now, so we don't get to see him too much. We provided on a few tracks on his "For Good" album.

We're not doing the beat thing so much, just because of so much of the live recording and bands we're working with, but our next project will definitely have some more of that flavor to it. What you're gonna' hear tonight with RICRUDE - we want to start recording that kind of thing with the band. That will probably be a Filthy Funk release in the future... something with Danielle and RIC involved.

RIPROC: With all the genres you cross, I can see you all must have a variety of musical influences. Who inspires you to do what you do?

John: For me, a lot of the great jazz guitarists. People like Wes Montgomery and Grant Green. Then there's modern day producers like J-Dilla & Pete Rock. I'm really kind of into the beat tip. I come back to DJ Premier, Shadow, and Pete Rock. Hip-hop and jazz.

Nick: I always have a list of people that never gets said when I say this, but Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder. They are a couple of the top. Organ players like Jimmy Smith, McGriff... Anita O'Day, a jazz vocalist who got started back in the forties... She just died last year, I think, and she has been a huge influence. Someone who influences me is somebody new to me, somebody I haven't heard and has got something going on. Someone who makes me say, "Wow, I can't believe I haven't heard this person before." That's the most inspiring thing to me.

Devon: Well, for me, I'd have to say James Brown, Quincy Jones, A Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets... That's the kind of stuff I grew up on, so that all comes together for me.

RIPROC: Where are things going from here in Rochester, with you as well as other musicians?

John: I think the community has a lot of great artists, it's just a matter of getting everyone involved. I think we're doing that with this event with RIC and Danielle. Rochester can be niche-like and we're just trying to plant a seed.

Nick: Rochester has always been a huge music community and it has so much potential, all we can do is continue to keep doing what we do, keep playing, and do what we can to support local artists. We also have to support ourselves. It's a cool little city and I think too many people are missing out. I think more people should get to the downtown area. (laughs) Hopefully, things won't get all "Fast-Ferry" on us.

Devon: I see Rochester going in an eclectic direction. Musicians from different genres of music are actually starting to come together. Jazz, hip-hop, rock - whatever. Like when people started coming to the jazz fest, it was just for swing. Now they're coming for funk, R&B, hip-hop - everything. People used to just go to the bar and spend their money, but now people are starting to get the picture and realize there are good shows to go to. There are good bands to go see. We're trying to bring that back.

John: People should get out and get away from their TVs. In my opinion, sometimes you want to go out to the bar and just chill, but I'd rather go hear some live music. I think society is becoming more insular. They need to engage the art...

Filthy Funk "Majik"
click to download

Filthy Funk is John Viviani (guitars), Nick Murray (keys), and Devon Tramell (skins). Filthy Funk hosts The Funky Soul Breakdown every third Friday at Dubland Underground (315 Alexander Street).

I stayed for the evening, tied on a nice buzz, and was taken back by the performance of RICRUDE right off the bat. Fresh Fingaz was doing a great job warming the crowd as they piled in, but RIC carried enough heat on his own. RICRUDE is one of the most talented MCs from the area, in my opinion. Any MC can stand in front of a turntable and recite, but RICRUDE delivers with confidence, intelligence, and something to say. There's nothing more proper than a jazz band to back you as an MC, so with my pinky finger out, cheers to that.

The rest of the evening was equally as live. Danielle played the crowd with her vocal hypnosis and brought us back to where the soul is. Filthy Funk, well, they blew off like a car bomb on "Eddie Fisher" and lit the evening up. That was music in motion.

I want to give props to Miguel Urbina for keeping the sound tight and the Filthy Funk for sitting down with me and spreading some knowledge. Cheers.

- james niche, act:live

Right now we're listening to:

Nujabes "Battlecry" (featuring Shing02) ("Samurai Champloo - Music Record Katana", 2005, Geneon)