Sunday, September 27, 2015

RIP Pleasure Island

Has it been 7 years? Yes it has. Today is the 7th anniversary of the Pleasure Island clubs closing.

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Concert Report: DJ Alex M.O.R.P.H. (Bikkuri Lounge)

Not sure if Sushi Noodles & Grill is a new name or whether it's still Bikkuri Lounge, but in either case you'd never know driving by that there's a dance club upstairs!
But there is and as you know by now, the last Friday of every month is "Lost In Trancelation" where some of the world's best Trance DJ's drop by to play!  Arrived to find opening DJ's J-13 and Robb Blak in the booth!
The early crowd doing their Trance dance!
DJ Suzy Solar (USA) up next building the vibe!
Bikkuri has that awesome ever-changing light wall!
As midnight approached the dance floor was absolutely jammed!
Taking over at 12:15AM, DJ Alex M.O.R.P.H. (D)!
And he wasted no time in getting his fast-paced Trance set going!
We last saw Alex M.O.R.P.H. in Orlando at last year's Independence Music Festival as pictured here!
Taking place outdoors in August, that event was a sweaty affair.
That was not a problem here last night though as any sweat was self-made from dancing!
Spotted trancing by the booth: DJ Renzo Ruiz
Spotted looking fine on the dance floor: Magdalena & Carrie
You can never go wrong with Go Go girls!
His set was 95% Trance but I'm pretty sure I detected some Electrohouse in there too!
He's known as the "Darth Vader of Trance"!
The dance floor at 2AM!  Nice!
Lots of vocal House in the set which are of course my favorites!
The DJ is from Bochum, Germany.
The energy in the room was incredible!
A good time was had by all!

Friday, September 25, 2015

EDC Orlando Update: Stages

KineticField is considered the main stage at Electric Daisy Carnival - Orlando and this is where you'll find most (but not all) of the biggest DJ's playing.  The amazing lineup at this stage this year includes TiĆ«sto (NL), Calvin Harris (GB), Eric Prydz (S), Kaskade (USA), Laidback Luke (NL), Quintino (NL), Audien (USA) and many more!  Right here in Orlando!
The CircuitGrounds stage also carries some huge acts!  The lineup here this year includes Bassnectar (USA), Excision (CDN), Seven Lions (USA), Flux Pavilion (GB) and Orlando's own DallasK (USA) and more!
Last but hardly least, the NeonGarden stage continues a very Trance & Techno vibe again this year with some fantastic DJ's that include Ferry Corsten (NL), Claude Vonstroke, (USA), Gorgon City (GB), Paul van Dyke (D) & Simon Patterson (GB) plus many more!  This is a great year to attend Electric Daisy Carnival - Orlando!  Tickets here.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Club Report: Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar

Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar on Pleasure Island / The Landing officially opened for business Tuesday with large crowds checking the venue out.
The construction walls have been removed to reveal this rather nondescript front entry to the bar built into an old aerodrome.
Unlike most of the new additions to Downtown Disney / Disney Springs, this place is Disney owned and operated and Disney's Imagineers went crazy with detail in here.
Both Indiana Jones and Adventurers Club fans will go crazy with the place!
Primarily a bar, there are some light food options.  Imaginative drink options are what sets this place apart from most anywhere else.
Big thanks to Blog reader Dan K for the photos.  At Jock Lindsey's, a good time will be had by all!

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Adventurers In Charity Reminder

A reminder that Adventures In Charity is returning again this year, taking place on Friday & Saturday, October 2-3, the weekend after the "final night" anniversary of when the clubs on Pleasure Island closed in 2008.  At the Adventurers In Charity event, more than a half dozen former Disney cast members (including Adventurers Club) will appear doing original comedy skits with net proceeds going to charity.  There is a sing-along on Friday night and the Saturday night comedy show is taking place at the Holiday Inn Resort on SR535 in Lake Buena Vista. This sold out last year and we understand that less than 20 tickets remain! Final call!  Details here.

This Weekend In Techno Town

THURSDAY SEP 24
TomorrowWorld is taking place in ATL this w/e but there's plenty here including DJ Andrew Rayel (MD) at Venue 578. ^CANCELLED
But if Breaks and D&B are more your thing, check out DJ Worthy (USA) at Native Social Bar tomorrow night!
FRIDAY SEP 25
The event of the weekend is the "Darth Vader of Trance", DJ Alex M.O.R.P.H. (D) at Bikkuri Lounge.
Local boy makes good; pictured here in 2013 at Epic Nightclub. He's back Friday night at Tier Nightclub.
 If you're looking for pure House music on Friday night, Miami-club DJ Austin Leeds (USA) is supposed to be playing at Peek Nightclub.  Haven't seen him play since 2010 at Bliss Ultralounge. With Carlos Mendoza (USA).
SATURDAY SEP 26
Breaks and Bass return to Peek Downtown on Saturday night with DJ Miss KayKay's event that includes nice list of veterans including Raiu and Illterror.  Check it out!
SUNDAY SEP 27
A pool party downtown at the Aloft Hotel features Cocodrills (USA) and Carlos Mendoza!

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

KingBob Radio Podcast Interview

This past weekend I had the honor of being interviewed about Pleasure Island by Ken Storey (pictured above) of the Orlando Tourism Report blog/website. Not conducted in a radio studio, instead the interview was conducted "on the fly" as we toured around the remnants of Pleasure Island.  You can listen to the interview as a podcast here. My section begins around 1:10.  Keep in mind that my opinions expressed are indeed opinions and rumors and should not be interpreted as fact. Big thanks to Ken for the interest. Enjoy!

PI Update: News On The March

Time is running out to cross this bridge to Pleasure Island. It will soon be The Landing and all traces of the Pleasure Island name will be forever gone! So let's give it a going over.
The stark skeleton of Adventurers Club stands idle, waiting to be turned into The Edison Orlando. Remember that the upstairs of AC had the main entrance as it was connected to PI's upper level near West End Plaza.  It is currently detached but concept art shows EO's entrance returning to that location again.
Apparently this plot of dirt where BET Soundstage used to stand will be home to Walt's, a restaurant concept. This will be at least 2 stories as well per concept art, with the main entrance up on the Island's upper level.

Neverland Tunnels, if that's the real name, will be down here.
STK Steakhouse stands roughly where Comedy Warehouse used to stand.
Side view of STK.  It sits on the cliff just as CW used to.
Progress is rapid and while I've not heard an opening date, it would not surprise me to see this open for the holiday season.
Often overlooked in the Pleasure Island discussion, Paradiso 37 was for half a decade the only thing new that opened on the Island after the clubs were shuttered.
They will offer a new patio overlooking Village Lake.
As well as this new side entry which has not been publicized yet.
Wedged between Paradiso and the new Hangar Bar, the new Landing Dock will be offering nonstop water taxi service to Downtown Disney Marketplace with continuing service to Downtown Disney West Side at House of Blues.
Our exclusive SkyCam shows this dock is ready to go!
And indeed, testing has been in progress and it opened today.
After a week of cast member testing, Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar opens today!
Mainly a highly-themed bar with light food options, Hangar Bar brings the spirit of Indiana Jones to Pleasure Island and should thus be popular for AC adventurers!  This stands where part of Rock'n'Roll Beach Club used to stand.
Morimoto Asia is key to the entire redevelopment of Pleasure Island.  Too huge to fail, we'll soon know more about what this place has to offer!  (Am I the only one asking why did they install a tree right there?)
Outdoor patio now has furniture with an awning coming. Mannequins ain't what she used to be!
The LED lighting shines brightly at night as shown here.  If you haven't been to Pleasure Island in awhile, come on down.  It's going away quickly!