I think I first met my good friend and fellow redneck DJ family member PrEssHa (aka Matthew Thomas McGiveron) at the Produkt Dance studio in south Seattle where a Friday night’s festivities had slid right over into the next afternoon, and we were all lazing about, smoking and drinking and listening to music and dancing on the big splintery floor. “PrEssHa, play some techno! PrEssHa, play some dub step! PrEssHa, play some glitch!” It didn’t seem to matter what genre it was; what the people wanted was what the people got and for hours Matt delivered it with a slick style and a smile. 

Since that afternoon I have gotten to know PrEssHa and have learned that his easy nature and recurring smile are part of his fun personality as much as his extreme versatility is part of his performance. One of my favorite experiences was around midnight at Operation Apex out on Vantage River, I was asleep and cuddling in my tent with a couple friends after a crazy day, and my girl Lynzie nudges me. “Do you here those bass beats?” she said, “It’s PrEssHa.”

Sure enough, booming down the sandy river beach and right into my ears was the unmistakable sound of PrEssHa throwing down some heavy bass about two hundred yards away, coming from beyond the tree-sheltered d&b stage from the insanely windy and cold beach stage. I got my ass up out of the warm tent, put on a few more layers, grabbed the long PVC pipe I like to twirl and RAN to the beach where PrEssHa was playing. There with the maniacal wind and crashing river waves, amongst the campfires and beach rocks and tripping party kids, I danced, under the fat moon and the star-lit waves. It is one of the many dance floor experiences imprinted in my brain forever. By the end of his set a whole crowd of people had gathered to dance to the bass, inclement weather be damned. It was the best set of the weekend which had no shortage of good music and talented DJs. 

I told PrEssHa the next day that you know you are a good DJ when people get up OUT of nice warm tents and brave the 50mph wind and RUN to hear your set- but there are many more reasons why PrEssHa rocks. Here they are:

PrEssHa is one of the most versatile DJs in Seattle and throws down sick beats from techno to hip-hop to dub step to breaks to electro house to drum and bass to glitch hop. Immersed in the party and responsive to the desires of his audience, PrEssHa loves to create a scorching dance floor riot and you will find him in clubs all over the city having as much fun as the dancers getting down to the blazing beats.

A musician from a young age, PrEssHa picked up sheet music at 13 and quickly learned to play everything from the trumpet to the drum kit. His first foray into the world of electronic arts came when he discovered the turntable in Myrtle Beach while pimping for the US Navy, and he lit up the barracks nightly with a pair of Gemini belt drive turntables and a pieced-together pawn shop mixer. A DJ was born.

Starting off from a background mixing hip hop with classic rock, PrEssHa soon discovered breaks and was hooked on the hefty, chunky, dance-friendly beats. The DJ name of PrEssHa fell on him, literally, when a huge chunk of ceiling and dust collapsed onto the decks during his set. Staying cool and collected and not missing a beat, he continued to play and the MC at the party dubbed him PrEssHa, for playing under it. Adding more significance, the capitalized letters in his name stand for Pure Electronic Harmony. Indeed.

Back home in the Puget Sound area, PrEssHa kept partying and could be found on a nightly basis carrying around a simple set of Technics, a pair of Kenwood house speakers and a Fisher amp, making him a welcome sight at house party after house party where he would rock out for the love of the game. His talent and passion gained some promoters’ attention and soon PrEssHa was brought in to play shows for big names in the local hip-hop scene- Tech N9ne, Spice 1, Twista. He made his mark at his first main stage event, Apocalypse, at the Qwest Field Events Center with headliners Darude, Omar Santana, and many others. PrEssHa would soon be playing all over Seattle, his name on the lips of club kids and partygoers citywide.

PrEssHa currently holds residences at Noc Noc and The Jet, and regularly lights dance floors on fire at Trinity, Last Supper Club, Contour, Heavens, and many more clubs around Seattle. He has opened for Donald Glaude, Simply Jeff, Keith McKenzie, Adam F, Bachelors of Science, and Ninjatunes “Nanquan”; his first release “The Interpretation” had over 1,000 copies on the streets followed up by his new mix CD “The Resolution” which is out now, booming out of speakers all over the city streets.

PrEssHa was also voted to “The Best of 2007” on The Vortex 89.5, an electronic music program loved in Seattle and known worldwide. He also recently experienced Burning Man for the first time, and like all great artists was heavily inspired by the vast array of music on offering and came home to Seattle with a new appreciation of the wide variety of music coursing this planet’s veins as well as a renewed love for down tempo.

Right now this most diverse DJ is deep into the mid tempo, dubby, glitch-hop sound that is sweeping the West Coast, and as one of the pioneers of the un-named, bass-heavy genre in the Seattle electronic music community PrEssHa will most definitely continue to lay new twists to whatever he is playing, and we will no doubt continue to dance.   

Catch PrEssHa tonight at Botsessionz at Heavens, or on December 4 at the Crimson C where he will open for novaTRON and KJ Sawka at BASSNDRUMS.

Republicans are Red,

Democrats are Blue

Whatever you voted,

There’s drinkin’ to do!

Seattle is a political town, full of passion and outspoken characters, luke-warm initiatives and hot debates on the street, sign-filled protests and the ubiquitous LaRouche booth. You know you care, so for the red-white-and-blue epic adventure that is the 2008 presidential election, after you vote don’t just sit at home alone and scream at your television- instead get out on the town and gather your friends around to watch the election results filter in and the nation pull itself out of it’s current downward spiral OR crumble forever into mindless oblivion.

BEST ELECTION RESULTS PARTIES IN SEATTLE: Tuesday November 4th

1. The Stranger’s Election Party at Showbox at the Market: This is the big one! It’s free, hosted by Dan Savage, and not fettered by loud DJs or go-go dancers or annoying speeches. Just the election results, and booze.

2. Like your election coverage a little dirty and covered with grime? Get your dive on at the Comet Tavern’s Election Night Party. This bar is used to the screaming.

3. I will be with all those electronic music freaks and robots at the Nectar Lounge in Fremont, but this Election Night Dance Party isn’t just about getting election results- it’s also about getting down. Join local superstar DJs Ctrl_Alt_Del, Kadeejah Streets, Travis Baron, Grindle and more as share their great love of America with the dance floor. 

4. Nuemos is also throwing a Big Dance: Election Night Viewing Party on the 12′ screen in their main room.

5. Central Cinema hosts an Election Night Returns Party, drink beers and eat vegan pigs-in-a-blanket to the tune of Yankee Doodle Dandy in your head!

6. Get fancy at the Northwest Film Forum with an Election Evening Extravaganza! Just saying that makes me feel patriotic! Join dead presidents (in costume form not dolla-dolla bill form) as well as major network broadcasts in two cinemas, radio coverage in the lobby, and a giant U.S. map with red and blue lightbulbs!

7. Want to discuss the issues that motivated you to vote this year? Get serious at the Election Night Special at Town Hall with Democratic consultants, political reporters, trivia and prizes.

8. Soak up that political anxiety with appetizers and a salad bar buffet at the 1st Congressional District and Snohomish County’s 2008 Election Night Party at the Nile Shrine Center.

9. This Land-Jam at Egan’s Ballard Jam House has an open jam session along with election results.

10. Drink like a Kennedy at Drinking Liberally at Montlake Alehouse; the event happens every Tuesday night but on November 4th will be stuffed with politicos and bloggers.

11. With the best party name and an MC to boot, the Election Night Throw Down at See Sound Lounge has live election coverage and $3 drink specials. Watch the results with a cocktail in hand and two feet on the dance floor.

12. Dispose with all this fluff and just watch the results with your sandwich at the Nickerson Street Saloon.

***This blog post is non-partisan except for the fact that I really, REALLY want Obama to win.***

“FREEDOM IS THE ONLY WAY-HEY!”

The Produkt family throws a big crazy dance party the last Friday of every month at The REBAR called Analog, and this October the lineup is sweet, the candy corn is sticky, and there are tons of reasons you should come out and get down this Friday night! Here are my top 15:

1. It’s a Masquerade Ball! Guests are encouraged to wear all black and a mask. You know what happens when people wear masks, right? Things can get a little nutty.

2. Sonny Chiba will be throwing electro from his fingers; this well-known and most-loved DJ has just a tiny bit of experience at these so-called “dance parties” 

3. Goner, aka the birthday boy is an up-and-comer in the impending inferno that is the Seattle techno scene. One to watch and not to miss.

4. Nordic Soul always delivers. It’s just that simple. Slick beats expertly mixed. You might recall a little party he threw last month called the Decibel Festival.

5. Noisemaker does what Noisemaker wants. Do you remember the last Analog that Noisemaker played? Yeah I thought so. 

6. LIVE ART with LIVE ARTIST Elizabeth. Live art + electronic music = vitamins for the soul

7. Produkt knows how to party. These cats are feral and one of the dopest, wackiest crews in Seattle. From kitchen sinks to impromtu underwear go-go guest dancers to body paint bikinis to orange cones to swords, they have more fun than anyone I know.

8. It’s Cassie’s birthday! Pressha is right: “CASSIE’S HOT!!!” And hot girls have hot friends, it’s a universal truth. And these hot chicks just happen to also be…

9. Produkt Go-Go Dancers! Mallory, Jess, Ashley, Asifa, Marni, Alex, Nefarious, Desiree- what go-go grab bag do we get this month? Any way you cut it, it’s a handful!

10. BECAUSE IT IS LATE OCTOBER and the usual feeling of mischief brought on by the dark of night is even MORE INTENSE this time of year and who knows what ghoulish spirits might be afoot or what may be lurking in the recesses of the evening to come and eat your soul…mwah ha ha ha!!!

10. Spirit Dancer.

11. REBAR is the dance club de la nuit and in this neighborhood you can get as loud and rambunctious as you want- plus there are lots of nooks around to sneak off to and curtains to get lost in. No one will know- you’re wearing a mask!

12. Matt Matsuda in full effect with his mad paparazzi skills documenting all the moments you won’t remember.

13. To get ready for the sweet afterhours going down with Nosaj Thing at 3AM- for venue info just ask around at Analog; I bet the blond chick going nuts at the front of the dance floor probably knows.

14. To drink and socialize, hel-lo.

15. TO GET DOWN! This is a dance party thrown by a dancing crew in a club that puts dancing first and is always one of my favorite nights of the month. Everyone is invited to join the party and celebrate life Produkt-style, so get your ass down to REBAR Friday night for Analog XV: Masquerade Ball!

Click here for more information about the Analog XV: Masquerade Ball. $5 Before 11PM, $7 After.

GUEST BLOGGER: EMMY PEI

The expression “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” is an unwritten rule that is followed by many, and understood by all. For Celine Dion, however, some rules are meant to be broken. While tourists were busy gambling their children’s college fund away, and while couples who shared nothing more than a dozen tequila shots were getting hitched in Cupid’s Chapel on Las Vegas Blvd, Celine Dion was busy performing 717 shows to nearly 3 million adoring fans at Caesar’s Palace. And with her upcoming “Taking Chances” tour, she is proving that the new unwritten rule should be “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas…unless what happened grossed more than $400 millions dollars, in which case, you bring what happened in Vegas around the world!”

As her status evolved over the years from small town French Canadian singer, to award-winning pop star, to larger than life super-diva, her live shows have developed into events which are nothing short of spectacular. You don’t even have to be a fan of her singing to appreciate the Cirque du Soleil calibre talent swarming her stages and appealing to your senses. World class musicians, dancers, artistic directors, and choreographers have put blood sweat and tears into creating these shows, and with Celine singing her heart out at the front of it all, you can’t help but respect the journey this woman has made from such humble beginnings.

Along with the extra glitter and breathtaking stage sets, people with Celine Dion tickets can expect a little more edge and sexiness during her world tour. Aptly named after her new album, “Taking Chances” reveals a Celine who’s not afraid of risks, of exposing her vulnerability, and of giving her all for the benefit of others. The image of her on her album cover resembles a Calvin Kline ad as she seductively looks out, hair dishevelled and blazer wide open. She’s also hired Emmy-Award winning choreographer and director Jamie King, who’s injected sexiness via incredible dance routines into the tours of superstars like Madonna, Shakira, Avril Lavigne, Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey, just to name a few.

Over the years, Celine Dion brings her voice, her charisma, and her passion for music to every stage she performs on. And while her shows have dramatically increased in glitter, glamour, and gloss, she has and will continue to win fans over by singing from the heart. The main constant in Celine’s career, and the reason why she’s maintained the loyal following she’s earned since day one, is the fact that she sings about what means the most to her in this world: the power of love.

Click here to read more about Celine Dion, watch her videos, buy tickets, and get the tour schedule for “Taking Chances.”

Spring Awakening is one of the best musicals on Broadway. This winner of 8 Tony Awards (including best musical of the year) treats the Musical genre like a High School student treats a Summer vacation. This musical is Wild. I was fortunate enough to attend the opening of Spring Awakening at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle last night. Thank you Julie and also thank you Darnell (aka girl about town)!

The explicit content is not appropriate for little children but it is absolutely vital to the telling of this story. Frankly, if you’re a young adult, it’s an event you won’t want to miss. The story is set in 1891 Germany and as usual, it’s the youth bringing the truth!

The Youth is of course the tour cast members which included Kyle Riabko, Anthony Lee Medina, Julie Benko, Christy Altomare, Lucas Wells, Claire Sparks and Blake Bashoff who along with the rest of the cast delivered a frank social commentary about a society view of Sex, Youth, Religion and Discourse. The entire cast was brilliant. The Truth came from this cast of teens who expressed their vulnerabilities, excitement and utter confusion of the changes that were taking place in their lives! This production was fun and it was funny but it was also very serious about certain things. It’s was a rare insight to the views of an otherwise silent group of people that represent our future. It was awesome!

The soundtrack to this musical was great. There were songs that could easily be on KEXP if they aren’t already. Well written songs with a killer band/orchestra. There was so much to rave about but I will end this by telling you that the stage also took a cutting edge view that clearly pays off. Part of the audience was literally on the stage.

When Spring Awakening hits your town, you should see this!

Links:
Previous Culturemob Blog
Fan Blog

Today I interviewed Chadwick Dahlquist who is the musical director for the production of UFO the Puppet Show (a comedy). Watch him here as he explains this great Seattle event. This event starts Thursday Oct 9th at the Theatre Off Jackson (409 7TH Ave S, Seattle). Oops!!! One correction to the video: Chadwick says the show starts October 8th but it actually starts October 9th (Thursday).

Music to this short clip by Chadwick Dahlquist

About the puppet show:

An Epic production of miniature proportions! UFO the Puppet Show will finally draw the veil from the mysteries surrounding the Roswell Incident of 1947. You may think you have the answers but you’ve never had THESE answers!

Note: All nudity is papier-mache derived…material may be disturbing for young audiences.

For more details go to: http://culturemob.com/events/5615026

Evergreen Speedway Demolition Derby and Fireworks Show

Billed as the premier demolition derby of the season, this event did not disappoint and CultureMob was there. Police chase, cars rolling over, rabid fans cheering, school busses in figure 8 races, Racey the mascot, Limo world record jump by the great Mr. Dizzy, burning rubber, boat races and a killer final demolition free for all!

See for yourself:

The Evergreen Speedway is the premier speedway in America.

Kyle (2nd Place in the Junior Division Races) and his dad Steve (not pictured) were my guides on what to look out for. I asked Kyle if he watched Pro racing on TV. He said

This is pro racing!

My bad Kyle. See you next year buddy!

Culturemob Event Link