Best New Year's Ever!!!
My New Years extravaganza was absolutely positively the best thing ever. Quite possibly one of my best New Years ever ever. It was filled with champagne, hipster dancing, MIA sightings, Diplo, the Books, the Juan Maclean, Dan, good friends, hot outfits and lots of clean-ass fun.
It all began on Friday night when Dan and I got gussied up and went to see Diplo and the Books at the first of two Pitchfork Media 10th Anniversary parties. We only went to this first one and not the second which had Blood on the Wall and Wolf Parade playing.
Anyway, the Books were incredible, I really enjoyed their music and it was very moving.
Then came DIPLO. His set was just beyond belief. And I'm a big Diplo fan after dancing the entire time he was on at Intonation this summer, I was in that tent until he blew out the speakers and have a bunch of his mixes and the Florida album which I don't like quite as much as him just DJing. Though I disagree with them frequently, I think Spin is entirely right to proclaim him DJ of the year.
What I liked in particular about his set was not only was it fairly long, but that it was weird. Not just the usual stuff and definitely not as "mainstream indie" as Intonation where he played LeTigre, TV on the Radio and bunch of other recognizable stuff, he even came on the mike and announced that it was going to get "weird." And I loved it. We Chicago kids need a little shakeup in the dance department once in a while though he did play some new Madonna, that stupid Lady Lumps song, his Golddigger mix a small amount of Missy (I wanted more!!!!), the Percolator and at the end he played the entirety of Laffy Taffy and then the Pixies' Gigantic. It was just unbelievable and I danced the entire time right up front.
And when I thought it couldn't get any better, M.I.A. hopped on stage, strode across, whispered in his ear, gave him a little kiss and came down and started dancing in the crowd. When she showed up the crowd went wild screaming and I nearly peed my pants. I had joked in the car "Oh, I bet Diplo's going to pull MIA out of his pocket, hahahah" and then it HAPPENED. OH MY GOD!!!! MIA, about 10 feet away from me. She didn't get up and do any songs though so that was really disappointing but I guess I'll just have to go see her next time she is in town.
THe party proceeded on Saturday night when I got really gussied up in this black and tan mod dress and lots of black liquid liner, blew my hair up really big and Dan and I went to drink some champagne with some couple-friends of ours. I love champagne and when it was done we drove over to the Empty Bottle to see the Juan Maclean. Yet again, a truly amazing experience. I was right up against the stage, surrounded by happy dancing people, many of whom I recognized from the night before. It was DFA love all around and when I tipped my head back and slit my eyes, right when the music was building to a huge climax, it became a truly transcendant experience.
When they were done we decided to try to go to the afterparty over on Milwaukee, I thought it was going to be in the old Buddy space but instead it was in some loft-apartment in the same building. The landing was packed and people were complaining about the $10 cover and leaving and the most miraculous thing happened. I strode up to the entry just to see what was going on and without even touching my cash the girl at the door grabbed my hand and stamped me then shoved a cup in my hands while this guy gave me a head nod and waved me in. I have never gotten "in" like that before in my entire life and I must admit that it felt quite good even though I had been "approved" by a bunch of art-school college kids. Funny. The party was lame and my friends didn't get in so I left after one lap around the room without recognizing anyone. Whatever. Then we saw some kid in a kilt get beat up right outside, some bounced ran after the guy who did and Dan called the cops and they came in about 30 seconds. It was 2:30AM and the streets were packed with people, it was New Year's Eve insanity and craziness!
We finally walked down to the Hollywood Grill for some late night breakfast, scarfed some awesome greasy chow and took a cab home to fall into bed at about 4AM. It was seriously the best New Years ever, I had so much fun, danced for two nights straight, spent the time with good friends, drank some but not too much, kissed Dan at midnight and we weren't fighting at all and witnessed some madness going down in the hood. Oh, and when I took my shoes off on the walk to Hollywood Grill some guy on the street offered to give me a ride on his back saying "Lady, just get on my back!" I declined and put my shoes back on but smiled as everyone passing was happy and saying Happy New Years.
It all began on Friday night when Dan and I got gussied up and went to see Diplo and the Books at the first of two Pitchfork Media 10th Anniversary parties. We only went to this first one and not the second which had Blood on the Wall and Wolf Parade playing.
Anyway, the Books were incredible, I really enjoyed their music and it was very moving.
Then came DIPLO. His set was just beyond belief. And I'm a big Diplo fan after dancing the entire time he was on at Intonation this summer, I was in that tent until he blew out the speakers and have a bunch of his mixes and the Florida album which I don't like quite as much as him just DJing. Though I disagree with them frequently, I think Spin is entirely right to proclaim him DJ of the year.
What I liked in particular about his set was not only was it fairly long, but that it was weird. Not just the usual stuff and definitely not as "mainstream indie" as Intonation where he played LeTigre, TV on the Radio and bunch of other recognizable stuff, he even came on the mike and announced that it was going to get "weird." And I loved it. We Chicago kids need a little shakeup in the dance department once in a while though he did play some new Madonna, that stupid Lady Lumps song, his Golddigger mix a small amount of Missy (I wanted more!!!!), the Percolator and at the end he played the entirety of Laffy Taffy and then the Pixies' Gigantic. It was just unbelievable and I danced the entire time right up front.
And when I thought it couldn't get any better, M.I.A. hopped on stage, strode across, whispered in his ear, gave him a little kiss and came down and started dancing in the crowd. When she showed up the crowd went wild screaming and I nearly peed my pants. I had joked in the car "Oh, I bet Diplo's going to pull MIA out of his pocket, hahahah" and then it HAPPENED. OH MY GOD!!!! MIA, about 10 feet away from me. She didn't get up and do any songs though so that was really disappointing but I guess I'll just have to go see her next time she is in town.
THe party proceeded on Saturday night when I got really gussied up in this black and tan mod dress and lots of black liquid liner, blew my hair up really big and Dan and I went to drink some champagne with some couple-friends of ours. I love champagne and when it was done we drove over to the Empty Bottle to see the Juan Maclean. Yet again, a truly amazing experience. I was right up against the stage, surrounded by happy dancing people, many of whom I recognized from the night before. It was DFA love all around and when I tipped my head back and slit my eyes, right when the music was building to a huge climax, it became a truly transcendant experience.
When they were done we decided to try to go to the afterparty over on Milwaukee, I thought it was going to be in the old Buddy space but instead it was in some loft-apartment in the same building. The landing was packed and people were complaining about the $10 cover and leaving and the most miraculous thing happened. I strode up to the entry just to see what was going on and without even touching my cash the girl at the door grabbed my hand and stamped me then shoved a cup in my hands while this guy gave me a head nod and waved me in. I have never gotten "in" like that before in my entire life and I must admit that it felt quite good even though I had been "approved" by a bunch of art-school college kids. Funny. The party was lame and my friends didn't get in so I left after one lap around the room without recognizing anyone. Whatever. Then we saw some kid in a kilt get beat up right outside, some bounced ran after the guy who did and Dan called the cops and they came in about 30 seconds. It was 2:30AM and the streets were packed with people, it was New Year's Eve insanity and craziness!
We finally walked down to the Hollywood Grill for some late night breakfast, scarfed some awesome greasy chow and took a cab home to fall into bed at about 4AM. It was seriously the best New Years ever, I had so much fun, danced for two nights straight, spent the time with good friends, drank some but not too much, kissed Dan at midnight and we weren't fighting at all and witnessed some madness going down in the hood. Oh, and when I took my shoes off on the walk to Hollywood Grill some guy on the street offered to give me a ride on his back saying "Lady, just get on my back!" I declined and put my shoes back on but smiled as everyone passing was happy and saying Happy New Years.