Friday, August 29, 2008

8 Years of Bliss @ The Black Cat (8.23.08)

Last Saturday night, I became the first to shoot a party at the Black Cat in like, ages. Thanks to the extreme occasion of Will Eastman's 8th anniversary of his party at the Black Cat, they let me in, and for the most part, everything seemed to remain in balance, no angry bouncers came to stomp me out, I had a good time, etc, etc. Kudos to Mr. Eastman for celebrating such a momentous occasion, what a credit to his organization that a party would last this long in DC!

Get the full BYT post here.

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Trace Crutchfield @ Bourbon (8.19.08)

OK, this dooood Trace Crutchfield has a show on Current TV (Al Gore's channel) called (Un)conventionally Yours. Apparently, he goes and makes fun of the Democratic and Republican conventions. Great fodder I suppose. I took pictures of his party when he can to DC. Hes' the one on the bottom of the queer embrace pictured above...

Get the full BYT post here.

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Civilian Art Projects/Faint Afterparty (8.16.08)

I don't have much to say about this party... except that I spent the night partying with The Faint!!!! (& Co.... i.e. Jaguar Love and all the rest of the BYT lovelies).

Artspace party at Civilian Art Projects, I love it when people who slut themselves out to the sponsors and show up at BYT parties try to tell me that this is their party.

Get the full BYT post here...

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Demolition Derby @ Montgomery County Fair (8.16.08)


DF08_8.16DemoDerby@MoCoFair-10, originally uploaded by DAKOTAFINE.

Originally, my impetus for traveling to the Montgomery County Fairgrounds had been to photograph illustrious BYT personality Jeffrey Jetton compete in the Demo Derby, but barring a hoopty (sp?) meltdown just hours before gametime, Jeff's car was unable to make the journey, and thusly, was unable to compete.

Nevertheless, I was undeterred. I had planned on going to the fair, and go to the fair I would. The demolition derby proved to be one of the greatest spectacles of Americana glutinous and conspicuous consumption I have ever witnessed. Needless to say, it was incredible. I certainly recommend going next opportunity you get, seriously.

Get the full BYT post here...

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Shorts IIIIII... ahem, Six/Seis/Sechs (8.14.08)

Okay, so, one more time... Shorts!!!!!! Never. Fails. To. Impress.

Let's see, highlights from this weeks episode... Jesse Bishop's middle-aged father, definitely a first. Jesse's band, EXACTLY, played. Also, a first. Both in the sense that there had never been a band to play Shorts, but also in the sense that it was their first show. Needless to say, they sucked balls. So bad in fact, the crowd began jeering them, and calling for them to get off the stage. Nevermind that though, they appeared shirtless in capes, I mean, it doesn't get much more awesome than that. I should mention, there are other notable members of the band, namely Cole Durklroy, co-founder of the Shorts party, hence their ability to play the party. Aaron Baird of Fever, and Adrian, whose last name I don't recall, but who DJ's from time to time and apparently works now at American Apparel (I should know, I bumped into him there, while he was working in his underwear, I might add).

Anyways. This party, as always, defines debauchery. Please notice the bathroom shots, yes, that is a Durkl sticker floating in piss. Hardcore.

Get the full BYT post here.

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Ice Cube @ Avenue DC (8.09.08)


DF08_8.09_IceCube@AveDC-12, originally uploaded by DAKOTAFINE.

Capping off what was a ridiculously busy night, I finished off the night (welllllll, not really, there was a house party afterwards) at a club on New York Ave called Avenue DC. The club that night was featuring a record release party for the one and only Ice Cube...

(Git the full BYT post here.)

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Initially, the promoter, he wrote me this email stating that I should get to the club before 10pm because, presumably, this show was gonna be craaaazy. Yeah, right, the only crazy thing going on outside the club at 10:30 (when I initially showed up) was the ludicrously understated bouncer named Ed working the door who was like, insulted that someone from the so-called press showed up with a camera and his name on the list. It is so much more fun being a dickhead when you can make people wait unnecessarily in (non-existent) lines.

But nevermind the guy at the door. I left the club and didn’t come back until about 1am, right as Ice Cube was stepping onstage. As the crowd erupted, Cube broke into the classics, by the time he played “Today Was A Good Day” I was definitely feeling it. I have to say, Cube’s performance was solid. I was a super fan back in the day, and I guess I still am. He came out clad in Washington gear, with an all-black DC cap and also curly W button up. Despite my California heritage (ahem, northern Cali) or perhaps because of it, I was relieved to see Cube donning the DC cap as opposed to that customary LA trash.

What was really amazing though, reeeeally amazing, was the fact that I landed, like a cat, on my feet after the surliest of surly thugged out bouncers decided to blast me off stage. I use “blast” here liberally, seeing as thankfully he didn’t pull out his TEC-9, but seriously, this dude blind-sided me off the stage and just about threw me into the bar. What was also amazing was that this dude then proceeded to get up in my face trying to provoke me to fight him. Like yeah, here I am the diminutive photographer (who has clearly just made a near fatal error) what I really want to do now is fight your fat, stinky ass. I’ve never gotten into a physical altercation in my life, I think starting when I’ve got my camera equipment strapped to my body, nevermind the fact I’m staring into the eyes of a dude who looks about ready to bend spoons with his mind, would be a dumb decision. For the life of me, I really don’t understand why people ever try to fight bouncers, EVAR. But that’s just me. Please, regale me now with epic tales of you and your friends fighting bouncers, I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love watching people fight bouncers, I just don’t want any part of it myself.

So yeah, the staff at Avenue DC collectively suck my balls. Total fuckwits, but of course, I didn’t meet anyone but the security, so what do I know? Ice Cube, however, consumate performer. Still has got it after all this years, no joke, for sure, awesome. Go see him, next chance you get. Loved it. Hostile bouncers notwithstanding. Peace.

Rattler @ RNR (8.09.08)


DF08_8.09_Rattler@RNR-3, originally uploaded by DAKOTAFINE.

BYT's one and only DJ Cale graced the Rock n Roll Hotel on the occasion of their 2 year anniversary. The festivities were pretty effin' lively apparently, though I never went downstairs. According to the hotel it was their busiest night ever? Who knew? Rattler played downstairs, DJ's spun upstairs, I never saw Rattler, but apparently they were good and drew quite the crowd.

Also, ok, so... tell me how you feel about this... but these DJs, they have these sponsors they have to please right, because they fund these parties. So one of our sponsors this time apparently was promoting that new retarded film aptly titled "College," like, really? You sat around a studio conference room for like seven months planning this piece of shit movie collecting ridiculous Hollywood paychecks and all you could come up for a title was "College?" Puh-leaze, but I digress...

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No but really, I do DJs favors all the time. Cale's like, I need you to get me a bunch of shots with people holding these t-shirts, etc, etc... and do I see any of this money? No. Does Cale even buy me a drink? No.

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Apparently, I have contributed to cultivating an expectation amongst these promoters that I should just show up and help them get paid, but get nothing myself in return. Awesome.

Get the full BYT post here.

Another Episode @ the Warehouse (8.09.08)

This time Ryan Wakeman brought through PWFL Power to the Gold Leaf space. I was unfortunately unable to stick around very long to enjoy what was surely some great music, but nevertheless, I thought it was post worthy if only because the space is so fucking awesome.

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Check out this night's full BYT post hurrrr...

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Mr. Farber Beans (b. July 23, 2008)


farberbeans-71, originally uploaded by DAKOTAFINE.

Farber Nolan Moody-LaLonde, born, 8:08pm on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 – 4 lbs, 1 ounce, 18.1"

My good friend Ryan, former COLAGE board chair, and Washington DC resident, recently adopted a beautiful baby boy. I had the special privilege of photographic the young noodle, just a couple weeks into his nascent life.

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