Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Mardi Gras Concert Series at Universal

It's hard to believe but it's almost that time again....the Mardi Gras concert series at Universal Studios. Concerts are included with theme park admission and begin at 8:30pm nightly except for the final three concerts which will be at 9:30pm.  Here's this year's line-up:
11FEB  THE B-52's
18FEB  KELLY CLARKSON
19FEB  BOYZ II MEN
25FEB  DIANA ROSS
3 MAR GOO GOO DOLLS
10MAR BIG TIME RUSH
16MAR J COLE
17MAR SUGAR RAYupdated
23MAR HOT CHELLE RAE
24MAR B.o.B.
30MAR PLAIN WHITE T'S
31MAR PRINCE ROYCE
7 APR  CYNDI LAUPER
14APR KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND

Monday, January 30, 2012

PI Update: Status Quo On The Island

A beautiful January afternoon in the 70's. And what better place to spend it than beautiful Pleasure Island!
No progress on the outdoor amphitheater which is to be built in the foreground, nor on the new pathway to Downtown Disney Marketplace which is to be built in the background. Everything Hyperion Wharf related remains on indefinite hold with no announcements about what's to come.
PI Live Bar was open for business.  Spotlights remain on the top landing but does anyone know what's on the stairs up there? Are those more spotlights, or are those cameras?
Business was brisk outside the Curl by Sammy Duval store for the possibly practical but decidedly unsexy Tom's Shoes which you can have personalized there.
Stroller Rental is operating outside the former Pleasure Island ticket booth.  What's interesting is that they've tapped into an electrical outlet inside the booth but we recall the connections back to Mannequins being dug up in 2009, as shown in this file photo below taken in March, 2009.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Concert Report: Avicii at UCF Arena

The now world-famous Swedish DJ Avicii brought his show into Orlando on Friday night, performing before a packed house at UCF Arena.
Blog roving reporters Thommy & William were on the scene to bring us this report.
The crowd went crazy for megahits 'Levels' and 'My Feelings For You'.

Thommy reports that the crowd went completely out of control for the Dubstep version of 'Levels' which was the last song played!  Sorry I had to miss this, but at least I got to see Avicii when he performed a one hour set at Studio 54 in NYC this past October!

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Club Reports: Excalibur, Sound-Bar, Spybar, Enclave (Chicago)

Taking care of business in Chicago on a Friday in January so why not check out a few clubs too.  After all, House music was more-or-less invented in the Windy City.  First stop Excalibur, a club that caters to tourists since they offer a free admission coupon in the This Week In Chicago tourist mag.  The place is located in what appears to be a former church, very-much like The Castle in Tampa!

This was my first stop and it was early so no dancers to the downstairs DJ playing mostly early 90's hits.  Does anyone remember Lisa Lisa? But there had to be more to this huge building so I was sent upstairs.

Another huge room upstairs designed a lot like Icon in Orlando.  The DJ up here was playing an awesome progressive House mix that kept going and going.

There were actually some people up here dancing and I'm sure it would get crowded later on. Excalibur is located on West Ontario Street at Dearborn Street.

A few blocks west along Ontario Street is Sound-Bar.  There are actually dozens of night clubs in this area of Chicago called River North, just above the Chicago Loop.

There are several venues within Sound-bar; downstairs in the basement this DJ was playing mostly Hip Hop mixed with Top 40.

In a small room on the main level a different DJ was playing Chill and House and the main room was to be all House music but had not opened yet.

Directly across the street is Spybar, a place I visited last year during a Chicago trip.  Unlike Eye Spy in Orlando which at least uses its "spy" theme, Spybar does not; it's just a name.

The early DJ's playing more House/Progressive House before 16-Bit Lolitas were to come on.

Some of the early dancers in this narrow basement club. An annoyance in Chicago and other northern clubs is the mandatory coat-check policy at most clubs; $3 here, $4 there. Adds up if you're club-hopping.

Last stop of the night was Enclave, another large venue built into a former warehouse and entry is via the loading dock.  Yes, that's snow falling.

DJ Roger Sanchez (USA) was the guest DJ last night putting out an awesome mix of....House, of course!

Everyone was really getting into the music!

Unlike the other venues, Enclave was packed!

While it was crowded though, people weren't very vocal.  I mean, there wasn't a lot of cheering when a really good song would get played.

There is definitely no longer a shortage of Electronic Dance Music in Chicago with multiple clubs playing House and competing for concerts by the bigger-name DJ's.

 Good to see Roger Sanchez.  House has come home!

Friday, January 27, 2012

DJ Markus Schulz Coming To Orlando

If you saw him at Electric Daily Carnival - Orlando last summer you know he blew the Saturday night crowd away. Well he's coming back! The #9 DJ in the world (per DJMag readers), DJ & Producer Markus Schulz (D) returns to Orlando on Thursday, February 16th at Roxy.  Tickets are now on sale at the club website for $15.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Club Report: Tier Night Club Coming Soon

It doesn't take long for a new club to try out space vacated by another club!  New entry Tier Nightclub is coming to the space formerly occupied by Icon, just east of Orange Avenue on Central.  It will be interesting to see what direction they take Tier, whose name refers to the two tiers (levels) in the venue. In the end Icon was exclusively Hip Hop on the weekends although at times they had EDM DJ's playing in there. Tier has DJ Ross One (Liv/Miami) booked for Friday, February 10th. I believe the actual opening date is one night earlier, but for invited guests only.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

This Weekend In Techno Town

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 25
The weekend begins early if you've got the time with Rehab Night at Suite B Lounge. Guest DJ Jimmy Joslin joins Chris Fade and Aggrocrag for House, Breaks & Top 40 Remixes.
THURSDAY JANUARY 26
A new weekly event at Backbooth is called Boombox Thursdays and it's presented by HTG so you know it's going to be great! First 100 guests free. By the way, big announcement coming Wednesday from HTG. Will it be a big name DJ concert or details on EDC-Orlando?    
FRIDAY JANUARY 27
A little more than a year ago he played at The Beacham; last year he jammed House of Blues; and now, Avicii (S) is going to fill UCF Arena!  His real name is Tim Bergling and he's put out some songs under Tim Berg, but his fame has zoomed through the roof under the now-famous Avicii name!  When he plays his monster hit "Levels" (featuring the late singer Etta James), the roof is liable to blow off!
Also on Friday night is the grand reopening of Venue 13, the every Friday night celebration of all things Goth.  Now in a new location at Chakra Ultra Lounge on University at Dean Road, just a block east of the TOLL 417 interchange. DJ Paul Vaine (Visage) controls the mood!
SATURDAY JANUARY 28
Suite B Lounge is the place to be on Saturday night for their next Groovin To The Beat night featuring DJ's J13, Sisco, Jeni Marie and Cygni.  Free before 11pm and then $5. Great drinks; ask for Lisa. House, Progressive House & more.
SUNDAY JANUARY 29
Still looking for more, don't miss Service Industry Night at House of Blues with DJ Sandy and guest DJ Richie Rich. (The Beacham)  Free with ID from any service industry job; $8 for others.  Doors open at 10:30pm but don't expect the DJ until close to midnight. All House and Top 40 Dance.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

PI Update: 8TRAX Fans Reunion Coming Too!

Fans of the former Pleasure Island club 8TRAX will be happy to hear that there's going to be an 8TRAX Fans Reunion on two nights, Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25 at the new club Retro Room on US 192. Mark your calendar and stay tuned to the Blog for full details!  Former 8TRAX DJ Pete will be spinning 70's Disco & 80's Classics, just like you remember them at PI. **UNOFFICIAL EVENT**  RETRO ROOM AND SAVE PLEASURE ISLAND BLOG ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY.  8TRAX IS A TRADEMARK OF THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY AND IS USED HERE TO PUBLICIZE AN EVENT FOR FANS OF THE FORMER NIGHT CLUB.

Monday, January 23, 2012

PI Update: Pleasure Island Reunion Coming

Commemorate 3.5 years since PI clubs closed and 2.0 years since we last held a reunion by coming out to a Pleasure Island Reunion to be held at Atlantic Dance Hall on Saturday, March 24th! Free. 9pm-2am. Details at: http://www.facebook.com/events/339637382727666/ Thanks to Blog reader Clubmaster for alerting us to this event!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Club Reports: Prickly Pear, The Abbey, Suite B Lounge, Vixen Lounge, Independent Bar

A beautiful warm January night in Orlando last night and what better way to spend it than searching for EDM. The Prickly Pear is a restaurant/bar over in Orlando's Eola Square district.

And on Friday/Saturday nights DJ The Reverend (Peacock Room, Bandwagon Roadshow, Funky Monkey) puts out an eclectic mix of music for the diners as well as patrons at the upscale bar.

Rather empty during my visit but two large groups had just walked out as I approached. Beautiful facilities worth checking out for dining or chilling.

I had been reading about The Abbey for some time but had never gotten the chance to check it out but it's right around the corner from Prickly Pear so I had to see it!  It's a mixed-use facility that can be used for parties, theater productions, bands, etc.

Last night the venue was rented-out for a private party who brought in their own DJ.

A beautiful set-up with awesome lighting and sound systems from HTG.

A full-service bar completes the location which was just beginning to get crowded. Pretty impressive.

Suite B Lounge is always on my list when searching for EDM and good drinks!

In general most Fridays here seem better than most Saturdays as far as crowds go, as last night there was just a dozen patrons in the place with no one dancing. The music by the three DJ's taking turns was a very Hard House mix.

Another club committed to Electronic Dance Music is Vixen Lounge.

A nice surprise was DJ Andy Hughes (Electric Daisy Carnival - Orlando, Peacock Room) in the cockpit!

And people were dancing on the small floor beneath the booth to his House mix.

Pretty good crowd in attendance. 

Saturday night.....downtown.....I-Bar.

The dynamic duo of DJ Indie John and Lighting Tech Ernie putting out 80's New Wave & Classics!

The club was really buzzing last night!

The floor was filled wall-to-wall.

Spotted: CJ visiting with Ernie!