I've taken time figuring what to write on the blog for this event. I like writing a review about the event as a whole, but as I didn't see much of this event, it's difficult. The parts that I did see I didn't really enjoy because it just wasn't my thing. I will say this, however, this event certainly has my mind racing, finding my own definition of what fusion means to me. That I will post in a later blog. This blog is my reflection of the event.
It started with Friday evening for us. We were planning on leaving Seattle around 6-ish. Around 4-ish, I found out, from a friend, not from the event itself, that tent city was totally packed and there wouldn't be any room for us so we had no where to stay. The warehouse venue had to be changed last minute; last minute meaning 10 days before the event. Being that we were planning on bringing Evelyn, we can't exactly find somewhere random to crash last minute, and we weren't up for getting a hotel since I was only committed to one set, which was during the Saturday workshop lunch break when everyone leaves for lunch. Aside from the fact that we didn't hear this from the event itself, and the main organizer of the event had personally told me that we could stay there, I was less than happy about this. So we weren't going to go at all. Then fate happened to have a friend who had bought a house the day before and had not yet filled it, giving us plenty of space for a toddler and her pack n' play. Had it not been for this friend, we wouldn't have gone, for sure. Thanks, Dennis, for buying a house and sharing it with us and Jean, for inviting us to stay there with your group.
Friday night venue was split between 3 different places: 2 bars and a coffee shop. With Evelyn in tow, we chose to spend the whole night at the coffee shop. I actually loved this venue and probably would have gravitated toward that one regardless of having a toddler as company. The only downside was that there was only one blues set. The rest was "fusion." (Hence my recent contemplation of what that even means). I like blues dancing because I LOVE blues music. Take that away and I'm just not that into it. Old school R&B, modern electronica, hip-hop and trip-hop are fun to experiment with for one song here and there, but I like the night to be brought back to blues during a set with those kinds of songs and these sets didn't. There was very little blues at the Urban BLUES recess (not too surprised since I read a description of the event).
Looking over the workshop schedule, I was impressed by everything that was offered! He really had a great line-up of teachers and an extremely wide variety of classes, ranging from ballet to wresting to acro to education about female health (taught by Midwife Mindy :). Very cool. The part I didn't like was actually the one set I was assigned to DJ: the lunch break blues set to keep people dancing during the lunch break. What I did not know what that this was also the schedule time for the preliminary competitions, and they didn't want blues competition songs, they wanted "fusion-y" competition songs (again, what does that even mean?!?!). I had 10 minutes to prepare. I have plenty of blues competition songs ready at any moment, but alternative, hip-hop, electronica, soul competition songs? Not really. I would have, had I known at least a day in advance. They gave me 10 minutes. What was also not communicated was that they needed to be 2-minute segments. As I was trying to find the right music, I was not paying close attention to how long a song was going. I think I even let one song go the entire 4 minutes. Sorry. I had Ruth talking to me when I couldn't hear her and was feeling the pressure of finding the right non-blues song when I'm primarily a blues DJ. I could have done so much better had I known before-hand. Oh well. That scenario has inspired me to examine all of my non-blues danceable songs and star the really awesome ones in case that ever happens again.
I will give props to Justin for finding my laptop charging cable that I left at the venue. I didn't notice I'd left it until I got home. He found and mailed it to me a week later. THANK YOU!!
*deep breath of frustration* Moving on.
The evening dance. A public, social dance for a national event. I guess I can't say I wasn't warned. The event publicized the theme. I didn't fully understand until I showed up. I'm sorry, I'm just not into that. Perhaps it's the pregnancy, but dancing without clothes on just isn't appealing to me, in any circumstance. I don't want my hand on some guys sweaty back unless I'm . . well . . in a completely different setting . . . Majority of the crowd, men and women, were dressed in women's lingerie. Some men pulled it off really well (Chris Harris with his blond wig ;), some didn't (dude in the shiny-silver, crotch-wrap thing). I mean, I know guys have packages. I don't enjoy seeing them outlined in their clothes. Some people are into that and those people had a great time, and that's awesome! A majority of the crowd was totally into the theme. The ones not into it were ostracized. I like themes and all, but I like themes where the people who opt out of participating can still have a good time. This was not one of those themes. If you weren't into it, there were a handful of people you could dance with, and rest of the time, you were uncomfortable.
Two really great things came out of this event: the organizers, although lacking in a lot of organizational skills during the weekend, did an amazing job bringing in great dancers from all over the country. There were many teachers and DJs with only one set to spin and/or one class to teach. That quickly gets a lot of really talented people at your event. I had a great time seeing and spending time with friends that I hadn't seen in a long time. I love that about dance events. Item #2: This event has motivated to me to really think about how I feel about blues, fusion, and events as a whole. My mind is somewhere different as I'm listening to my music every day. My opinion has strengthened (or changed. . I'm not really sure), about what blues means to me and about what fusion means to me. I have a new motivation to make improvements in the scene and I'm excited to see where it takes me!
Here is my lunch hour set list, and the songs I played for the competition:
Basin Street Blues by Ray Charles
This is Hip by John Lee Hooker and Ry Cooder
Zip a Dee Doo Dah by the Fabulous Thunderbirds (this is from the Blues Album we bought for Evelyn: Big Blues Blues Music for Kids :D )
Come On In My Kitchen by Rory Block
Blood On the Ground by Richi Sambora
One Meat Ball by Annie Ross
Come On Baby by Jimmy Reed
The Walk by Big Bones
comp break. Then:
Round & Round by Bonnie Raitt
I Prefer You by Etta James
Step Into the Light by Mavis Staples
Competition songs:
Swamp Dream by Roy Rogers
Gospel Groove by Shuggie Otis (sorry I let this one play too long :(
As I Am by Alicia Keys (Contemplating over this one, I should have let the beginning of the song play, but I didn't because it doesn't have a dance beat.)
Death Letter (organized Noize Remix) by Johnny Farmer
Baby, Don't You Tear My Clothes by Louise Hoffsten
I Don't WAnt You On My Mind by Janiva Magness (definitely should not have played these 2 back to back for a comp, but didn't have time to find something else)
Sweet Thang by Shuggie Otis
Money by The Lovin' Spoonful
Wade in the Water by Mavis Staples
Long Way to Go by Little Axe
Next time I DJ a "fusion" comp, I'll be a bit more prepared.
With Evelyn, we brought her to the Friday dance and traded off for the Saturday dance. We skipped the workshops. This was not an event for kids, at all, and it sent me home with fantasies about having a family-friendly dance event. . .
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Hey Emily! Vincent here. Really enjoyed rooming with you guys, and little Eva was absolutely adorable!
ReplyDeleteReading your post made me reflect on my own experience at UBR. While overall, I enjoyed myself and made a number of new friends, got to see other friends from afar that I missed, I do agree that there were elements that lessened my enjoyment of the weekend (aside from the progressive exhaustion from lack of sleep beginning with an opening 47hours from the late night drive down). I must agree, there was faaaaaaar too much electronica and trip-hop, moreso even than any other style of "fusion" (being a string player I tend to enjoy the Lyrical stuff the most both for listening and dancing). I tend to prefer a good dose of actual Blues with my Fusion too, but the sheer amount of heavy rapid repetitive beats pretty much blew everything else away.
I had forewarning about the Rocky Horror dance, and it really isn't my thing either, but it's far easier on the guys when it's the female follows with whom you're dancing that are in lingerie rather than the over-the-top getups some of the leads were in... Or not in (mr. shiney-diapers comes to mind...). That said, I'm glad there was actually far less debauchery and frivolous substance abuse than I was bracing to expect, but the organizational hiccups did make themselves plain. I hadn't expected it to be family friendly at all and was surprised that there were times that it was somewhat so.
I was, like you, impressed with the dancers and classes available, and the "non-stratified" approach made it feel welcome. What other event ends up with random impromptu musicians like Kyle, Kai, and me, and Hilary (who sang some awesome blues for round about an hour late on Sunday night) being able to take the stage and play for all the dancers. I was also impressed with how well the Sunday night outdoor dance was planned and executed under the underpass - I'd only planned on dropping by since it was rather chilly outside and I wasn't expecting much as a result, but ended up staying the whole dance. It was adequately warmed by fire drums, beautifully staged with hanging chandeliers, and the dirt floor was padded with hay - one of the most comfy (even if pitted and uneven) dance surfaces the whole weekend (Friday night clubs aside). It makes me really wonder what the weekend would have been like if the proper warehouse actually panned out and things run as planned?
I would say that Aspen Blues recess and the past North West Blues Recess (last year in Roseburg OR) were pretty family friendly. Well as family friendly as a dance event can be. I know I had a fun time getting to know young Riven. She is Willows daughter. She has always been around Justin's events each time I have gone. The event in both Aspen and NW was a lot more low key. Not sure if you can make it to Aspen. But that is more likely a better place for families. But we also moved around all weekend and it was camping. It is more like a gypsy dance camping weekend. But it is nice to get into nature that way.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you have in mind for a different style event?
This is Noah from Denver if it does not sign my name correct.
I didn't meet you in person, but I had a long talk with Vincent about the same things you outlined here. I am originally a milonguera, and also a classical pianist, so I like the lyrical stuff. I fell in love with blues for the freedom and the interpretation of music that happens when people are forced to listen instead of relying on a pattern (the same reason I love tango). Beyond that, though, it is the soul of blues that I enjoy - how music without lyrics is still lyrical and tells a story. While fusion and beats are interesting, if there's not enough contrast, variation, or even progression, I don't enjoy it or dancing to it as much because I start dancing to each section of sound rather than dancing the whole song as a unit.
ReplyDeleteI think there's a place for fusion - but because "fusion" is so vague, there's also a lot of "bad" fusion or just fusion I don't enjoy...things that aren't actually "fusion" as much as purely industrial, glitch, trip-hop, etc. I enjoyed the first set at the warehouse on Sunday just because it actually was fusion - an electronic beat with progressing rhythms and gypsy violin over it - there was progression, contrast, variation, storytelling...all things that make it "music" for me, not just "sound." And the constant "sound" going on also made the weekend stressful the me, as a synaesthete (too much going on with seemingly no purpose/direction/end!), in a way that constant blues would not have.
I dropped by here by accident while looking for sample blues DJ sets to get ideas on how to organise/transition music for my first time DJing at a blues venue (eep!). I just wanted to say that I really appreciate your perspective!
Thank you for your comments! Awesome that you're getting started as a DJ, Theophilia! Transition is a tricky thing and really takes lots of practice and willingness to ask for and receive feedback on your sets. Some good advice I got was to space out your bpm between songs to be about a 20-30 bpm difference. I couldn't DJ effectively without knowing the bpm of each song. I used that guideline through the majority of the set, but drift from it as well depending on where I want the set to go. Good luck!
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