Lotus Magazine Archives

By Ariel Meadow Stallings

When I left Seattle last summer for the sunnier skies of California, it was in part because I was fed up with what I felt was a pathetic little scene in a sleepy little city. I wanted to live in San Francisco, baby, where DJs outnumber Dancers 3-to-1! I certainly wasn't disappointed, as my question on Friday switched from the Seattleite's "Is there anything going on this weekend?" to the San Franciscan's "Which amazing party am I going to have to miss because I'll be at an even better one?" Since my return to Seattle, I have realized that the party scene isn't pathetic, it's smart. You see it's not that we can't throw Big Parties, it's that we don't want to. The scene here is focused on more intimate, less expensive parties…sound familiar? Many people who were around in California's early days ("Well, kids, back in '91 we used to break into these abandoned warehouses...") say that Seattle harkens back to the Los Angeles and San Francisco of yesteryear. No, parties in Seattle aren't as BIG and FLASHY and EXCITING as what's going on in SF and LA right now. What Seattle lacks in size and glitz is redeemed through genuine enthusiasm on the behalf of the promoters, diverse quality music by the DJs and a deep possessive love of the community by the Dancers.

This summer saw some great parties at The Lish House ("Lish" being short for "Groovalicious") including La Verite Nue on July 11th, and one on the 4th of July where local favorite Masa spun an amazingly eclectic set that kept everyone dancing, and . Despite the sweaty sloped floor and brain-cell boiling temperatures, The Lish remains a beloved Seattle space. Since summer is the only time us folks in the Pacific Northwest get to see the clear sky, there have been lots of outdoor parties up in the Cascade Mountains. For those who's cars could manage the drive up the boulder-strewn mountain road, the Full Moon Gathering on July 19th was a total inspiration! Imagine Dancing the night away in a wooded grotto on the banks of a river under the shadow of surrounding cedar-covered mountains. You're Dancing to some of the best acid house, breaks and trance and you're surrounded by an amazingly diverse crowd ranging from glowstick-wielding high school sophomores to 45-year-old bearded organic farmers who look like they should be smoking bowls with my parents. What a blessed treat! (And 20 Raver Nostalgia Points for anyone who remembers the then-ATOI Full Moon Gathering in the spot last summer!)

The next weekend there was another free party in the mountains, and although the space wasn't as beautiful, the music was better with breakbeat DJs imported from LA and hard, jump-up/gimp-down jungle on the second set of decks. The only damper was that some losers (I'm ashamed to say that they were from my high school) brought several half-racks of beer and got so drunk and annoying that the promoters had to make an announcement asking everyone to put their alcohol away or else the party was going to get shut down. It was an unwelcome little 5-year high school reunion. Some people never learn that just a party in the mountains does not necessitate lots of Schmitts and belching around the campfire.

Now, in all my discussion of little intimate occasions, I should clarify that Seattle does have big parties. There's generally a Big Party a weekend. Watch out if there are two: competing promoters have been known to bust each other's parties. Shame on you! Big Parties are pretty easy to find out about...just go to one of the underground record stores in town (Delicious Music and Platinum Records on Capital Hill, Concepts in the University District, or Exotique downtown), chat with a clerk and look for the BIG FLYERS, keeping in mind that "big" flyers in Seattle are almost never bigger than the teasers in LA. I went to a Big Party called Enlightenment on July 26th at the USC warehouse, which is one of the few large spaces in Seattle. The visuals by Luminosis were amazing, and Sasha played a great set. Unfortunately the acoustics of the space were frustrating (it sucks when a good "BOOM-THUMPpatta-BOOM-THUMPpatta" get s reduced to a dull "WOMPH, WOMPH, WOMPH") and John Digweed didn't show up (ear infection was the rumor). Although Seattle Dancers are generally lower energy than those rowdy speakernauts in LA or the geared-up tweakers in San Francisco, without a doubt find of the best kick-stepping arm-rolling groovers up here in the Northwest. Be and sure and give 'em their space though, or you might get accidentily kicked or punched!

August saw several great events, complete with John Kelly and Eric Davenport playing at a great party called "Super Nova" on the 9th. Apparently the promoter lost a lot of money because Superstar DJ Crack-Smokey (oh, excuse me, Keoki) was in town too, but the party was a lot of fun and all I can say is I'm SO glad that Dancers in Seattle have warmed up to breakbeat! Firefly was a nice event on the 29th, featuring Charlotte the Baroness playing an eclectic set complete with that Mars song "Put the Needle on the Record" and a track by Run DMC. Kudos also for those visuals in the back room...I lost my shit several times staring at the bubbles on the wall.

There are several nice weeklies in Seattle. Tasty Shows (the local authority on all amazing acts who come through town) throws "Electrolush" every Saturday at The Showbox and you can catch such acts as Daft Punk and [Insert the name of the guy who did that CD The Asian Underground]. Sometimes "Ripple" happens at the Crocodile on Sundays, where United Future Society and Lady Miss Kier played. I have to take a moment here to say the Miss Kier should really stick to singing. Her jungle mixing skills were really a disappointment and her use of and MC was a weak attempt to hide it. For those who seek a chill mid-week environment, try The Back Door Lounge or The Lux on Wednesdays for some nice downtempo and a relaxed crowd.

All and all, Seattle has a very healthy scene. Our tight community really cares about what goes on and so as a result, although there's less it's definitely more! Anyone who needs a relaxing vacation and healthy dose of good cffee should come for a visit and enjoy the city and all it has to offer...See you soon!