This week is for hipsters, stunna shades, and politics. No room
for chin stroking, this is a week for Fun. Can you handle it?
There are some within the electronic music community that write off
Club Pop as just some “hipster shit,” but in all
fairness, Club Pop has possibly the broadest ambition of any regular
night in Seattle, booking both DJs and bands to nudge their crowd into
a sweaty fervor. Yes, the 18+ age range makes it a training ground for
future Cha Cha regulars, but so what? Many of Club Pop’s bands
haven’t broken big enough to play elsewhere, and many of the DJs have
their fingers on the pulse of where electronic music is going,
making Club Pop a glimpse into the future of the form. If you’ve chosen
to ignore it, you’re doing yourself a disservice. For this edition
they’ve got DFA’s Tim Sweeney, who not only killed it with his
last Seattle appearance, but does so with every installment of his WNYU
radio show Beats in Space.
If that’s not enough Chop Suey for you, return on Friday for the
fourth anniversary of Comeback, which as always will be a gay
old time. For their anniversary (congrats!), they’re bringing in UK
remixer extraordinaire Tronik Youth, who’s added his personal
nu-electro touch to the Gossip, Chromeo, and Shinichi Osawa, in
addition to putting out some well-received mixtapes that have left the
blogosphere buzzing. He’s currently on a tour across the U.S. in
support of his debut single “We Are,” released in October.
That same fun-loving spirit will be on display a few days later at
the Lo_Fi. In what amounts to a leading contender for silliest party
concept of the year, Seattle Vision Care can be summed up simply as
“DJs with glasses.” No obscure headliners, no promotional
blitzkrieg, just a bunch of visually impaired DJs playing tracks.
Despite the party’s proximity to April Fool’s Day, it’s not a joke,
with Jerry Abstract and Dr. Mr. M joined by rare
appearances from Misha and Paul Edwards. Don’t worry,
this isn’t a night for “serious” techno, it’s a night for dancing
and stunna shades.
On a more serious note, and in one of the more surprising listings
for the week, on Tuesday night, Nectar hosts Beats for Obama, a
fundraiser for the Barack Obama campaign. The fact that the Obama
campaign is fundraising isn’t noteworthy, but doing so by throwing a
dubstep/breaks/drum and bass party is. Dig Dug,
Slantooth, and a crew of others round out a bill hoping to
inspire the masses to donate some cash for Obama’s change train. I
guess if you’re going to attempt to draw the youth vote you’ve got to
meet them on their own terms. In the interest of fairness, should there
be a Clinton fundraiser with house and minimal techno, or a McCain
fundraiser with Goa trance, those will also be duly noted.
Tim Sweeney plays Thurs March 27 at Club Pop at Chop Suey, 9
pm–2 am, $10/$8 before 11 pm, 18+.
Tronik Youth plays Fri March 28 at Comeback at Chop Suey, 9
pm–2 am, $5 before midnight, 21+.
Seattle Vision Care is Sat March 29 at Lo_Fi, 9 pm–2 am,
$7/$5 w/glasses, 21+.
Beats for Obama is Tues April 1 at Nectar,
8 pm–2 am,
$7 suggested donation, 21+.