pHx music photo blog

Hair Wars @ W Scottsdale, AZ 1-30-11

At 4:30pm on Sunday, exhausted and annihilated from two weeks of non-stop work with no day off, I found myself nodding off at my desk. Grasping for an elusive coherency I suddenly remembered that I had yet to drag my ass to Hair Wars. After ten minutes of fighting my narcoleptic tendencies, I built enough steam to drag myself up and head across to the West side to pick up my trusty, dreamboat assistant, Michele.

When I arrived I found that she too was succumbing to an attack from dreamland and I hurried to scoop her out of bed and force her into the shower. Hours later we had navigated our way to Scottsdale and when we drove by the W, scouring the streets for parking, I saw a crowd of people waiting impatiently to enter the venue. I was quite skillful instructing Michele on how to find parking in an area of Scottsdale where there is rarely a place to park during club hours. Michele was quite skillful navigating me through the crowd, managing to get us our Media passes, and whisking us through the entrance past the crowds in effortless motion.

Once inside, I paused to take a breath, set up the camera, and orient myself. Weird people were walking by me. They were looking at me like I was weird. I was starting to question reality. Then I realized I was in Scottsdale. This was Hair Wars, and being almost completely ignorant of pop-culture, I had no idea what it was and why I was there except that I knew it was supposed to be fun. And fun is the point, isn’t it? Otherwise, why the heck would I want to lug around eight pounds of camera gear for four or five hours on a Sunday night? In situations like this I have two choices: Complain about how I will have to contort myself around drunken attendees hell-bent on knocking me over, spilling drinks on me, and destroying my gear or smack myself in the face and remember to have a good time. I chose the latter, despite my sore back and sleep deprivation. After all, at least I didn’t have to endure hours of getting my hair pulled and tussled, and my face powdered and painted and my body stuffed into some tight little number.  I was starting to feel better thinking about that.

“And fun is the point, isn’t it? Otherwise, why the heck would I want to lug around eight pounds of camera gear for four or five hours on a Sunday night?”

Ben Mollin, finalist from the Bravo TV show Shear Genius was the emcee for the night. Ten salons with ten models each were competing. Ohana Salon & Spa, Salon Surreal, Studio 3-26, Ramon Bacaui, Hair in High Definition, Sleeping Beauty Salon, Mila Salon and Spa, Beauty By Veronica, Saints & Scissors, and Elysium Salon were to battle it out. Walking the halls I realized how tense things were in the last hour of preparation. Nervous energy saturated the air. I worked my way upstairs to the outside pool and bar area, where they had set up the runway. Things up there were a little lighter. People were either already drunk or well on their way. After all, many of them had been here three hours or more already. I was enthralled by the fancy fire pits and multi-colored light features. The swimming pool looked delicious. I couldn’t help but wonder what an Adult Swim event would be like if it were to be held here.

Event planner Benjamin Moline started Hair Wars in Chicago 11 years ago. Benjamin is co-founder of Windy City Media, which now has offices in Scottsdale. Windy City does many other events, including Glam Live and Neon Barbie. Shortly, I’m huddled in a bee hive of photographers at the end of the runway. The end of the runway is considered to be the sweet spot for taking photos. I found myself day dreaming as is common for me. I imagined myself suspended in a harness, swinging on the end of a cable in the style of David Lee Roth, taking amazing photos just above the heads of the other photographers, and out of harm’s way. I snapped out of my stupor just in time to talk to a security guard and get the scoop on where I could position myself. It was quite a wait before Ben Mollin came out to kick things off. I whiled away the time by talking with Michele and texting my pal, Zainub. Michele razzed me about staring at a hot lady. I kept looking at her anyway.

“I imagined myself suspended in a harness, swinging on the end of a cable in the style of David Lee Roth…”

The rest of the night was a blur and I finally got into my groove and relaxed a little. I snapped shots. The models looked great. The crowd cheered and got drunker by the minute. It was quite pleasant to see that many of the models, if not the majority, had some meat on their bones and voluptuous curves. In the second half of the show, a blitzed chick sat down on the end of the runway and proceeded to fall off on her ass, almost knocking me over. Not long after that, an old man that was sitting near me ran up to the stage to pick up a bag of candy that a model inadvertently dropped on the runway. He spun around and attempted a wild pitch to his botoxed lady friend. Instead of going to her, the goodie bag collided with my camera. I was starting to wonder where my overhead rope was to swing me to safety and away from the raucous, hair-loving crowd. The show eventually ended and the crowd dispersed. I was happy to have survived it and incidentally, a bit stimulated by all the excitement.

The judges votes were tallied. Saints & Scissors were the winners. Salon Surreal and Hair In High Definition were both runner up. All three will be going to the national competition.

First Friday @ CityScape

A few weeks ago I was told about Mr. Meeble when asking about music I should listen to. Then, a close friend of mine highly recommended them. Then, a week later, saw a Mr. Meeble event on Facebook. This wasn’t your average coincidence. It was a sign from the cosmos. I looked at who else was playing, and what the heck? Jared Alan and Epidemic?! I knew I had to go, hell or high water. It didn’t hurt that Dumperfoo was to be there as well. The surprise toy in the box was a band called Factories, whom I didn’t know about. Excuse my 80′s slang when I say they totally shredded. Extra bonus was bumping into an old teacher of mine, Dave Nichols, who happened to be running the board for Mr. Meeble that night.

Sticky Fingers 11-12-10

I didn’t have much time to hang around Sticky Fingers. I had to leave early and I got there late. What I can tell you is that Sticky Fingers is totally different than when it was at Rip’s. And also that watching Super Stereo perform was a blast. In the photos you will find random crowd shots, 2TONEDISCO and SUPER STEREO. Browse it!

Four Days With William Reed

Enigmatic, iconic, and ironically humble. At night he is throwing some of Phoenix’s best parties. During the day he is likely making a fresh fruit smoothie between fielding phone calls and writing emails while classical music plays in the background. Earlier this year I spent four days intruding on his life. The following are excerpts from that experience.

April 29, 2010

I show up at William Reed’s swank new abode near downtown Phoenix on a warm, sunny day. Despite his reputation as a party animal, he is a courteous adult in real life. It’s not long before I ask him about his early years in entertainment.

“I’ve been promoting for a good ten years. It goes all the way back to managing the Nile Theatre to doing raves in the late 90′s. I didn’t actually start DJing on my own until 2003 or 2004 maybe. While in Germany I didn’t go to any goth-industrial clubs, even though they were everywhere. You know, it was a pretty huge scene in Germany, but I was into Punk and Rock and I was into New Wave. A few years before I left a friend introduced me to electronic dance music. She would always hook me up with these trance mix tapes. And I was like, ‘This is the craziest shit I’ve ever fucking heard, man’. This was like 1993 to 1995, you know. And I’m like this is crazy stuff. I started to get into Plastikman, Orbital, Underworld, The Prodigy, you name it. So when I moved here that’s what I was listening to. So all my friends were in this goth-industrial band and I kind of force fed and exposed them to the music I was listening to at the time and within a few years they all became rave DJs. So I would help them promote these raves under the Desert Trance Society promotion crew. Every weekend or two weekends a month we’d throw these fucking raves in the middle of the desert with a huge sound system or we’d do them at the Nile Theatre or the air park in Eloy or up north on the 87 up in the woods. We’d get anywhere from 300 to 1500 kids to show up at $20 a pop.

They were totally 100% illegal shows. Around the same time I was offered a job at the Nile Theatre and very shortly became the GM. I did that for a while until the Nile Theatre closed and then with two others, I launched a magazine which was a monthly arts and entertainment magazine which is not around anymore. I was able to interview guys like Quentin Tarantino and Vincent Gallo and bands like Air, Tricky, Fischerspooner, you know, my favorite bands. That was a cool little magazine, I’m really proud of that because the content was relevant, it was diverse, it was right-now and informative in my opinion. I’m obviously biased. And then around that time I started to get into actual DJing. That just took off and I was able to leave the marketing and PR corporate day jobs that I eventually got into. What I learned from working in the PR and marketing arena, I was able to bring over into promotions and DJing.

That really gave me a strong asset because I knew how to get the press, I had contacts with the media, I knew how to write a press release and I had channels to go through. When the nights that I was involved with started to get recognition it’s not because I was the best DJ. It was because I know how to get the press needed to get the exposure.”

After a full day of lounging around the William Reed abode, we head off to Hanny’s where Reed has a regular DJ gig.

April 30, 2010

Around 5pm I arrive at WFR’s joint which is occupied by himself, Kelly Calabrese, and Kaitlyn Nelson. Kelly and Kaitlyn are creating a DJ team called Doubletrouble and are to be resident DJs at Sticky Fingers, William’s new rock and roll dance party, to be held at Rip’s on 16th Street. Rip’s is one of those strange left overs from the 70′s and the customers look like they have been there just as long. I’m having trouble figuring out how Reed is going to transform the place into something fun. But if anyone can do it, he can, so I suspend my disbelief. I proceed to crack open some beer and whiskey in preparation for tonight’s shindig. I usually like to get a head start on the evening. Kelly and Kaitlyn are going over the finer points of using the DJ gear. I can tell they are nervous about their debut and they want to make sure they don’t make a mess of it on stage. Everyone is busily working on last minute preparations between cigarette breaks and beer drinking. Shane Gambill, who will also be a DJ at tonight’s show, arrives and immediately starts to review his song selections. Shane, Kelly and Kaitlyn are all new at the DJ thing and Reed has taken it upon himself to coach them through it. I am amused while I watch Reed explain all the faders, knobs and switches that are typical of a DJ rig. Fun and laughs ensue. Soon I realize that the alcohol is taking effect and decide to whip out some lighting and get a decent portrait of Reed. It takes me forever to set up, but I somehow manage it and grab William away from his activities for ten minutes to get some head shots.

Christopher Sanders shows up shortly before it’s time to head out. Soon everyone is scrambling to pack up gear and get out the door. We pack the gear in the car and head to Rip’s. When we arrive a country music band is still playing. Christopher and I look at each other like we both can’t believe we are standing here in this bar. We wait around for about 45 minutes before they finish the set and pack their stuff up. They are in no rush to get out of the way. Reed is keeping cool, but I’m not. I’m somewhat agitated by the band but I remind myself not to get worked up by slow moving cowboys. The Sticky Fingers team starts to move things around, set up tables, disco lights, speakers and a video projector. Eventually Rip’s is transformed and Sticky Fingers is born. I’m excited and I drink more. Doubletrouble kicks off the night and I’m on my way to getting hammered.

May 1, 2010

William awakes at noon with a head ache from all the whiskey and cola people were buying him the night before. He contacts the Sticky Fingers crew to thank them and calls the bar owner to thank him and his staff. Waking up late doesn’t stop him from getting his business in order, including but not limited to promotions for the Vig and Adult Swim, going to Fatoush for middle eastern food with Sean Watson, picking up a palette of wheatgrass at the Phoenix Public Market, screwing around on Facebook, and entertaining me and my questions. I’m peppering him with questions and inevitably we get to the subject of the local DJ scene here in Phoenix.

“It’s a healthy scene. There are lots of talented DJs that have really helped put Arizona on the map. They are good at their craft. Guys like Rani G, the Blunt Club cats, the Solstice crew, the Fuse crew. All those guys know what they are doing. They are professionals and they know the crowd. They give Phoenix great events to attend week after week. You know, you get your DJs that go buy equipment and they call themselves a DJ. I think they dilute the scene with poor promotions and approach it from a very unprofessional manner.  But it’s great to see a resurgence in the popularity of becoming a DJ. It’s great to see people out there wanting to become creative. If I had a message for those people, do it right, don’t do it half-assed. Do not get an ego, because at the end of the day you are playing other people’s music.”

He is staring at his laptop screen, working on the Adult Swim set. Speaking in German, he asks me if I want a beer. I unsuccessfully try to decipher the language and he translates for me. We grab some pale ales out of the fridge. I ask him if he has planned tonight’s set at The Vig and he replies that he doesn’t plan a set for that gig. We are both huge fans of The Clash, so it was only natural that I ask him about his passion for them.

“They were pioneers. Funk, punk, dub, disco. They did it all and they did it with no regret. They didn’t give a fuck. If they wanted to do a track, they did it and it was brilliant. They were political without being annoying. They sung about the times. They were influenced, clearly, by their social awareness and protest. The influence they had was monumental.”

And off we went to The Vig.

May 2, 2010

I show up early to the hotel to help William set up speakers and talk to some of the Adult Swim team. Reed is decked out in a ridiculous ensemble that includes a headband, rolling stones shirt, and 80′s-style shorts. It is windy and things are blowing around the courtyard and pool area. It doesn’t look good for the season’s first Adult Swim. William is clearly stressed. This is important for him and I know it’s a tense situation when weather threatens to put a damper on your event. Things start late and people show up late. Partly due to weather and probably partly due to hangovers from the night before. But soon the place is hopping and all kinds of mayhem ensues, including hula hoops. Nothing you wouldn’t expect from a William Fucking Reed event. For the next six hours I party like there’s no tomorrow. Everyone is having a good time and I can’t help but to be excited for the parties that will be had through the coming summer.

Lords Of Acid 8-14-10

So I was confused at first. I guess the Lords Of Acid tour was called Sextreme Ball 2010. But the show in Phoenix was put on by Horns And Halos and the event was called Fetish Heat. Sextreme Ball or Fetish Heat, I didn’t care. I just went to see the bands. This show was a swirl of excellent and suck. I will outline the yummy highs and dirty down lows in bulleted fashion, to make things easy.

The Suck:

• The purchase at the door line got in before most of the people in the presale line. The door people totally botched it and blamed it on the fact that security had to deal with someone that brought in a knife. That excuse didn’t make sense and the sentiment of the people in line was that they were not going to buy tickets ahead of time for the next Horns and Halos event. We stood outside for over an hour and didn’t get in until half way through the Thrill Kill Kult set.
• The bars. There were multiple bars, but they all were packed and it was hard to get a drink. And then they ran out of lots of items, so choices became limited.
• This was held at Venue of Scottsdale. I don’t like it. The stage is small and the crowd area is small for the 1200 people that were there. Both band and audience were cramped. Sin Quirin spent a good portion of his performance standing on the speaker cabinets placed in front of the stage. Which was cool, but was also a testament to the size and design of the stage.
• The after party was held at a silly little pool at a nearby Ramada Inn, need I say more?

The excellent:

• I ran into DJ Plastic Disease, whom I haven’t seen in a couple years. She apparently played at the show, but I missed it. She is one of my favorite DJs and if you don’t know about her, you are missing out.
• My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult totally rocked and surprised me. They were really good.
• Everyone was in good spirits and there was a good vibe.
• I went to the after party and talked to Murv Douglas. I offered to have a hot blond spank him with the paddle I was carrying around. Murv is good natured and was a total wild man on the stage, playing bass for LOA.
• The fire people. I like fire.
• Security was lackadaisical. This is good because it allowed me access to areas that I shouldn’t have been in, but I don’t cause trouble and didn’t hurt anyone, so it’s all good.

Batucada 5-5-10

Held at a private space with a makeshift bar. The bartenders poured stiff drinks and were personable. There were Japanese cartoons playing on a screen outside. Cisco got krunk!! Although I’ve seen that crazy club-kid before, I met Jen Ben officially. I also met Adam Dumperfoo officially in person. What took me so long?

Adult Swim 5-2-10

The photos are finally here! The first Adult Swim party of the year, from the most outrageous camera guy you ever met. Around 2:30pm I was getting worried that the wind was going to destroy this event, but by 4pm things were looking good. This was an absolute good time. Many, many good party people up in this thang. Six hours of partying felt like three. I think only one person jumped in the pool, but that didn’t put a damper on the action, baby!

Sticky Fingers @ Rip’s 4-30-10

Uh Oh. Nothing but trouble, but the good kind of trouble. This is just a bunch of debauchery and madness that usually follows William Fucking Reed. Despite the country band that wouldn’t get off the stage until a quarter to ten, which delayed the start time, this shindig steamrolled me fo sho. My man Rani G stepped through on his way around town and Jeremy Sherman and Zainub were making me laugh with entertaining comments (thanks, I needed that). I was hiding behind Peter and his man, Cisco all night. Cisco has a new doo that I just love. Surprise awesomeness for the night was Double Trouble. Who knew?

Assemblage 23 @ The Surly Wench 4-3-10

The 110 mile trip seemed longer than it usually does. We stopped in a dive bar in Marana for a quick beer and shot of whiskey and made it to the Surly Wench in Tucson by 8pm. Once I was there I realized I had plenty of time before the show started so I celebrated with more whiskey. Lots of whiskey. It was time for me to cut loose and have fun because I had been waiting for this show for months. Played some air hockey while I charged my camera battery, which I thought was charged but wasn’t. Next thing I know A23 is up and I rush through the crowd to get a spot near the stage. The show was a big blur of awesomeness for me. My companion and I went to the local after hours eatery on Broadway when the show was over. Grilled cheese and tater tots. We didn’t get home until about 6am because we stopped to sleep a little.

Pimps And Hoes 3-27-10 @ Acua

It’s been a while since I’ve dipped into the scene in Scottsdale. Acua was once called Canal, in case you were wondering. And the place is pretty much the same since I was last there, except for the fact that there was a massive party and it was off the hook. DJ Akshen and DJ Psychopat were master minding a booty shaking celebration that had me excited about Scottsdale again. The crowd was upbeat and totally having a good time. The bass was shaking me off the couch every time I sat down, so I just stood up most of the time. Good times.