Flashing Lights
Rave Juice 4L.
Flashing Lights was a (crazy) electronic dance party in the moments riiiiiiiight before “EDM” that Jubilee, DJ Ayres and myself threw with promoters Mean Red and Good Peoples at dim sum spot 88 Palace in Chinatown.
Technically, we started in 2008 at Public Assembly, a club in Williamsburg that was once Galapagos (and now, ironically, a Patagonia). There were also editions in Mehanata Bulgarian Bar’s ice cave, Gowanus’ BKLYN Yard, the late, lamented Glasslands and the even later / more lamented Studio B (literally on its closing weekend).
But 88 Palace, c’mon, print the legend!
An embarrassment of riches litness.
Open-minded musical selections, unpretentious vibes, and a wholly DIY enterprise from lasers to subs (shout to everyone who helped load in and out).
At the time, Flashing Lights was beloved as “NYC’s best (and only) house-techno-disco rave in a Chinese restaurant.” Guests included La Roux (her first US show), Todd Edwards, Flosstradamus, Kill The Noise, Congorock, The Martin Brothers, Dre Skull, Toddla T, Anna Lunoe, Douster, Kingdom, Nadastrom and tons more.
We even won Best Party at Paper Magazine’s sixth-annual Nightlife Awards but no one told us and the trophy remains lost to the sands of time.
Props aside, I truly loved that Flashing Lights was one of the rare places where you could see all your friends at once.
Our night was very dark, very fun and we sold drinks in Ziploc bags with glowsticks inside — a magical combination for many things, snapping flicks clearly not among ‘em.
This party has become increasingly impossible to look up on (thoroughly useless) Google, and all the photogs who were actively documenting at the time no longer seem to have websites. But here’s what I got!
Personally, I think the FL crew is long overdue for a reunion behind the decks; will leave that one up to the disco gods. But as a bonus beat, here’s three years of promo mixes re-upped on Mixcloud for ur streaming DJ enjoyment.
AIRHORN!
jaime brooks*, “the publicist is part of the band” — a meta examination of AI music making through… making AI music. Temper your “I ain’t reading all that” for the extensive backstory, which hits interesting points beyond doomer / glazing binaries. I’m allergic to art that requires explanation, but process is the product here (and it’s a fun tune).
Mock Media, “Mock City Rock” (stay weird, Mac DeMarco)
matt proxy, trojan horse (a vibe)
Danny McBride x G.I. Joe — Kenny Powers’ book tour has been priming the pump for his forthcoming G.I. Joe film, which — if appreciation of deep Shipwreck lore and Larry Hama's comic run is any indication — should have a proper amount of feeexins.
Why was Popeyes in Supergirl (1984)? (asking important questions)
Marvel Rivals Captain America “Swimsuit” Skin (“that’s America’s bulge”)
Import Tuner magazine covers 1998-2003 (“barely street legal” lol)
RIP Mitch Paone (more here + here)
Playlists updated…