PI Update: When Belgium Dominated Mannequins Playlist

So many of the songs played at Mannequins during the final years were Eurodance tracks. And many of the biggest acts at that time came from an unexpected country: Belgium. This link will take you to one of our previously-posted articles. Can you spare 20 minutes? Listen to these! LINK

 

PI Update: 17 Years Ago!

The anniversary of Pleasure Island closing passed on Saturday evening and we didn't overlook it. Unfortunately, we had some club reports to post instead. But before it gets too far away, we acknowledge that PI closed 17 years ago. Seems like it could have been 10 years ago but 17 years ago, seriously? We will never forget it. Long live Pleasure Island.

Concert Report: Club 600 North Reunion

We keep forgetting how close Daytona Beach is to Orlando and don't visit often enough. Saturday night at the beach to visit Grandview Live Gentlemen's Club.

But we weren't there for any T&A. No, we were just visiting the adjoining Grandview Convention Center for last night's "Club 600 North Reunion" event commemorating Daytona's greatest club ever, Club 600 North. It was located nearby in the Howard Johnson's Plaza hotel at 600 N. Atlantic Avenue (SR A1A). Because of the adult nature of some of the photos, viewer discretion advised. 

 

The opener was already playing when we first arrived.

The legendary DJ Mark Sanchez (USA).

Just a few on the dance floor at this early hour.

But the long queue at the front door meant the floor would fill quickly.

Not sure if those two were dancers in the club.....or club dancers.

Mark was a resident DJ at Club 600 North.

We first met Mark Sanchez when he was the New Years Eve resident DJ at EPCOT: Italy where he delivered Breaks & EDM to a crowd that had mostly never experienced either. The Italy piazza would get packed for those shows! (Blog file photo above.)

Great mostly-Breaks set last night had the club bouncing.

We met so many people from the Orlando, Daytona, Melbourne and even Jacksonville scene last night. Some were new but most we knew.

With last night being the 17th anniversary of the closure of Disney's Pleasure Island, it was only fitting that Mannequins Dance Palace was well-represented.

Peeps!

At some point we noticed the 10PM DJ had taken over.....

Another legend, DJ Jimmy Joslin (USA).

He would continue with this night of mostly Breakbeats.

Dance floor was getting crowded.

That look you get from great Breaks.

The songs were like listening around the turn of the century to former Orlando Dance radio station , 95.3Party, WPYO Apopka/Orlando.

Jimmy played some amazing selections such as DJ Icey (USA) "The One", La Rissa (GB) "I Do Both Jay & Jane" and a huge roar came for KromOzone Project (USA) "Take My Love".  

This was a Retro night and that's why everyone was here!

The music was so good, even some of the strippers came over to dance!

More peeps!

All too soon it was 11PM and the next legend came on.

Xquizit DJ X (USA)

That look you get from great Breaks.

Still a few dance floor slots available but it was getting crowded!

Those looks you get from great Breaks.

Some of his selections included Fragma (D) hit "Toca's Miracle" and 4 Strings (NL) "Take Me Away."

We first met DJ X when he played at the "Return of the Kings" event at Firestone Live in November, 2013 as seen in this Blog file photo.

It was now absolutely packed.

Drink prices were reasonable. My Tanqueray & tonic was just $11.39 including tax with none of those extra junk fees many Orlando venues charge.

Another bar behind the DJ booth stayed jammed all night too.

Last batch of peeps from last night.

Aimee wearing a genuine Club 600 North t-shirt from back-in-the-day!

And then around 12:30AM, there he was, the headliner.....

DJ Sharaz (USA)

He had retired from DJ'ing around 9 years ago so this event finally got him out again!

You could tell he was excited to be here and he was quite animated all night.

Dance floor was at wall-to-wall capacity!

We were instantly transported back to Mannequins final night when he played Agnelli & Nelson (GB) hit "Every Day". 

The crowd was in awe to witness this legend.

Even if you had never experienced Club 600 North yourself, last night's DJ lineup took you back there.

Sharaz retired after this event at The Joint in Daytona Beach in January, 2016. He is seen here with DJ Mark Sanchez in this Blog file photo.

It was amazing to see Sharaz out again but we're told this was just a one-off. So if you missed it, you really missed it. 

It was 1:30AM and no one was leaving just yet.

What a great show and a good time was had by all.