Lasers?? Where??

I will be the first to admit that music without vocals never used to tickle my fancy. I grew up on a plethora of music (classic rock, alternative, country, R&B, hip-hop, rap), but the farthest extend to my exposure of voiceless pieces was when my dad would play this album during Christmas. Tragic.

(Actually. I have fond memories of that composition...sorry Dad.)

It wasn't until I took some music courses in my first year in college that I really gained a huge appreciation for opera and classical music, even seeing Philip Glass three times in one weekend (cue nerd music, I know). Since then, I gotta hand it out to musicians who create in a variety of mediums and with instruments-or-not, and even to the DJs who tour exclusively just to mix beats live.

Two of my favorite albums this year, Ratatat's LP3 and the soundtrack to The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (done by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis), are all noise and no vox. I am pleased to add Booka Shade to that list of favies, because German homeboys threw it down two weekends ago. I've struggled with how to write a review for them (how to describe two dudes on stage...hmmm); but I think to say that I walked in with no reference to the duo and walking out a fan is enough. Thankfully I had my good friend Charlie to provide me with hilarity and background ("These guys are like the Michael Jackson of German techno"), and we danced the whole time to the sounds of Water and Arno. Some highlights from the guys:

• Beating the shit out of a drum kit that looked like they picked up for Rock Band at Best Buy
• Hiding behind a DJ booth with what looked like a call center service rep's headset
• Lots of fist pumping
• Lots of jumping
• German accents

Also, when we walked in, there was a sign posted on the Mezz door that stated "Please note this show will have lasers." I don't know about you, but any show with some fucking lasers has got to be good.

And completely gratuitous, but here is what I thought the whole time because of that sign:

Booka, please be my boyfriends...

This is a true story

"Hey Wendy! Guess who is coming to Mezzanine next week," I asked my dear friend, who I was on the phone with last night. She’s recently moved back to the Bay Area from a stint being amazing across the planet, and our conversation had reached a good breaking point to talk about upcoming shows.

"Who?"

"This one singer...son of a guy named Alan Thicke..."

"Shut the fuck up! Are you serious?" and bursts of "What?!?!" was all I heard as I fell onto my bed in stiches of laughter.

"Sexual chocolate!"

"Did you just really refer to him as confectionary with a purpose?" I asked.

"Yes…and you didn’t tell me this when we first started talking? This is headline news. What is wrong with you?"

Apparently, this guy is a big deal. Or something. Who am I kidding, the first thing we all want to know is if Robin Thicke can live up to that last name of his. C’mon now.

Kidding!

But on a serious note, I am truthfully very excited to see what this crooner can belt out. I like indie and alt as much as the next Pitchfork ho, but I also very much adore R&B and adult contemporary music as it was the basis for a lot of my childhood (as well as Bone Thugs N’ Harmony and Puffy, but that is a different story). And, as much as I love Justin Timberlake (Robin’s other ‘white chocolate’ brother), Thicke does the falsetto and the suave better than the former NSYNC'er and with the greatest of ease. I’m sure he’s gonna just look at some ladies in the audience and they’ll get pregnant.

Keri Hilson is also opening for Mr. Thicke; I know her as a guest vocalist from Timbaland’s Shock Value record from last year ("The Way I Are" is a brilliant club anthem, albeit illiterate in title), but Wendy informs me that she actually did a lot of vocal arrangements on that album as well as has written for the likes of Usher, Britney Spears, and Mr. Tim. Pretty impressive if you ask me. I guess I’ll forgive her for this heinous video she did with PCD’s Nicole Scherzinger. (I mean, really? Hoisery as head gear? Not cute.)

Come get pregnant next week with me!

I forgot my white glove...sorry guys

I got all stupid emo over at Conor Oberst on Friday, so I missed Dimitri From Paris...don't you worry though, I wore my finest bunny outfit out over in Potrero Hill in honor.

Or did I?

We did attend the Michael Jackson vs. Prince night Saturday, and I have to say that as much as ye Artist makes me feel way sexy and want to do naughty naughty things, I really think MJ won that night. His singles and non are just all classics around the board, and I found myself going "Fuck, I love this song!!!!" about 17 times that night. Also, "Bad" sounds so kickass over the PA system with the bass thumping through my veins, I totally flipped my shit. True story.

I'm in the process of picking my favorite pictures to spotlight here from that night from Suckafreeze, who were kind enough to snap some awesome party shots. Were you hella wasted and flashed some tit? Wore a MJ red jacket? Double fisted some drinks? Then you probably are on SF and should find your mug. (Girl who kept popping out of her top around 2AM near the stage, you are missing from this site. You were hot, but be glad.)

My favorite picture is here, and I gotta say to you two fellows: email me. I totally want to buy you shots.

(I'm serious!)

Anyway, I hope everyone had fun and that the two dudes who totally got into a fender bender around 2:30 by the smoking area were not too embarassed as we all broke out into cheer when the collision happened. Car accidents = bad, always, but y'all shook it off like you were in line for Jack-In-The-Box.

Unless, that was were you were going...

Fun Friday: which dude is less crazy?

I have an internal battle in picking which performer has more sass, diva behavior, and good music between Michael Jackson and Prince. On one hand, the Purple One can play his own instruments, has showed his bare ass more times to count, and did one of the best sing-a-long movies to date (don't tell me when "Purple Rain" comes you don't clench your fist and pretend to have a cape on...that's a pretty shiny velvet). Plus, he still performs and does stuff like piss off Foo Fighters.

On the other hand, MJ had so many singles in his heyday, and his iconic status is hard to argue. He pretty much cemented the way we think about the Moonwalk dance in pop culture as well - but he does shit now like hang his kids over balconies and get terrible plastic surgery, so I dunno. Maybe both are in their own element.

I wanted to pit two videos of each wonder against each other, but what to pick? Ballads? Dance anthems? Songs solely about automobiles? Since the Soul Slam tomorrow is supposed to be more about grooving, I chose some videos to get us in the mood.

Arguably, one of the most memorable dance routines ever:


I also danced to this song when I was in high school:


Oh, wait. I can't post any Prince videos in comparision because he's kinda suing YouTube right now for being YouTube. Or something. How retarded.

Hmm. I guess we will only tell who will win tomorrow.

(And go ahead, try to YouTube any Prince video right now. There are non. Nil. It's tragic, actually.)

I'm also gonna post this M. Jack video too, because I fucking loooove the harmonies. Soz Princey-poo...way to be Internet-unfriendly.

Tears of black, ohhhh my heart

To the maxx

Shame on me, but I have not seen "Control" just yet. I am a bad hipster. Last night I'm sure was an epic display of Joy Division fanaticism and adoration, though - did you wear your best fitted suit and wispy haircut? I hope we handed out Suicide Hotline cards at the end when everyone walked out.

Anyway, I was too busy watching my new indie rock boyfriends be British and stuff, so I was unable to make it out to the documentary and movie screenings last night. And, I was a retard and totally missed The Hold Steady and Loved Ones on Tuesday, so I am ready to bust it out. This weekend we got Dimitri from Paris on Friday and the Soul Slam: Michael Jackson v. Prince night on Saturday - tomorrow we will be hosting some sweet ass videos to get you pumped for the weekend, and if you have any MJ or Purple One requests, I'll be sure to include 'em in the post. Leave requests in the comments section, por favor.

SHOTS OF AWESOME :: Dizzee Rascal

Admittedly when I stepped into Mezz on Friday, all I knew from Dizzee was this song, which I used to pretend to know all the words to while dancing in my undies at an old apartment (you clap along to the heavy drums, and tell try telling me that shit is not addicting).

Thankfully, Dizz was better outfitted in much classier threads than my Hanes when I saw him, and laid down some pretty impressive rhymes to boot. I was really into the grime thing initially with The Streets, but considering the heyday for it was back in 2004 and Dizzee still has stuck around, I bow down to this East London native for still bringing the noise.

Also, he even gained a #1 spot in the U.K. recently with a song called "Dance With Me" that he did with my Scottish boyfriend Calvin Harris - it's a more dancepop feel with Calv's synth working to compliment his rapping skillz. That takes some talent, people. Additionally, the first 15 seconds of the video features some pretty scantily-clad booty (literally) and lots of the color gold, which is always fun for the whole family.

(Mr. Harris will be making his way out to San Francisco in October at our very own establishment...his hotness needs his own post though, so that will come later.)

For now, enjoy pretty pictures!

Photos by Christine Peterson:

SHOTS OF AWESOME :: Wyclef Jean

Some good friends of ours shot some incredible photos from Wednesday's Wyclef Jean show. I'll be sure to take some Allegra in plenty of time to witness this guy next time.

Christine Peterson:

Jeff Luger:

Do you have any from this night? Send 'em my way!: jenz.mezzanine@gmail.com.

Meet my new boyfriend...(s)

Swoon. More on that later, I just wanted an excuse to post a picture of hot German men...

GET SCHOOLED :: Drop The Lime

We'll be starting a new feature called "Get Schooled" (a working title, as this is as clever as Jenz can get hungover on a Monday), where we spotlight upcoming artists with videos, photos, interviews, and whatever other educational tools we can get our grubby hands on. The first one ran last week; check it!

--
Drop The Lime: a New York producer and DJ who knows what a party should be! DJs from Argentinian spectacular Club Zizek and SF's Tormenta Tropical also join in spinning for you on July 24. Check out what you'll be on board for:

Wait...WHAT?!?!??!?!

Did everyone else but me already know that Nomi from Hercules and Love Affair was actually...special?


Regardless of biological boxes, the woman could have been an alien for all I'd known, and it wouldn't change the fact that she has some fierce pipes on her. She totally gave Antony a run for his money during "Blind," and I still danced my tail off. But, hmm...my sexuality is all confused now. And I keep thinking of this, which has absolutely no correlation whatsoever, but is still pretty entertaining. Oh, crazy Elizabeth Berkeley.

Also, apparently I was skipped over for the memo on Saturday's show, as I did not show up in or having any of the following:

• Glitter
• Sequins
• Anything that got attacked by a BeDazzler
• Feathers
• Hot pants

I did dance with my hot gay friend Kevin, so I had one accessory at least. The trouble with shows like H&LA where I have no idea they have a huge homo following is that I ended up walking in and being subjected to a huge sausage fest, and I can't have any of it. There ain't nothing worse than a straight girl surrounded by beautiful men she cannot have. Trust me on this.

Anyway, I was really pleasantly surprised that live Hercules brought it, especially with the beautiful brass section and a great percussion with both live kits and a loop. And though it did sort of feel like disco almost made a comeback, Herc showed that a fresh spin on a beloved era in music can be successful.

That lingering sweat that rained on the main dancefloor was not cute, though. Reminder for air conditioning, stat.