ACT LIVE O.G. BLOG

'Best In Show'P So ft. Homeboy Sandman, Von PeaProduced by 2 Hungry Bros.

2009-10-18T11:40:00.000-07:00

Build Parsells Tha Coach - "Here I Go Again"Directed by Mike DispenzaProduced by Build Parsells Tha Coach & God Money Music

2009-10-15T05:34:00.000-07:00

This video came out this past winter, I'm not sure how many of you saw it, but I remember helping to make this video vividly.

With the direction of Mike Dispenza, we embarked on this mission on a FREEZING, I believe February, day.

The shoot was a lot of fun and I learned a lot. Big ups to Coach P, Snacks, Destroy, Nikal Fieldz and the whole Eyeconz, God Money crew for letting us take their studio over for what seemed like two days. Those guys are ultra chill.

Big ups to Mike Dispenza and his crew as well. They produce some really quality work.

Peep the video and check out Build Parsells at the Hellz Bellz show featuring Sean Price and Copywrite.

- Games

Sake Alive!! Leaving for tour soon!

2009-10-13T22:22:00.000-07:00

Red Light Driver Interview

2009-10-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

Athel (Chicago, IL) Interview

2009-10-10T19:01:00.000-07:00

ACT:LIVE takes Reece Q on the road...NYC freestyle

2009-10-09T23:42:00.001-07:00

Jimkata: Interview and PromoFor the album 'Burn My Money"

2009-10-07T00:20:00.001-07:00

The Wait Is Finally Over!The ACT:LIVE Website Drops!November 6, 2009

2009-10-06T00:45:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not folks, the wait is finally over.

We have gone back and forth and forth and back since last May, but have now made this thing happen.

There will be more details to come within the coming week. For now, know that tickets will be available this coming Saturday, October 10th.

We can't wait to get this bad boy up on the net and start loading it for you all to see.

Be easy and stay tuned.

Always and forever yours,

- Games

J Mora - Saturdays @ ONE

2009-10-01T14:04:00.000-07:00

ASAP Featuring JD Riggz & Rella - 'Who Am I?' (Directed by Mike Dispenza)

2009-09-29T19:24:00.000-07:00

Here is another cat that has been hustling here in the ROC.....damn I get sick of that abbreviation...can we come up with another one, or is it ROC to stay?

Anyways, here he is, ASAP. This video was shot this past summer by Mike Dispenza, Mike Hanlon and a crew of super talented Rochesterians. The video looks like a million bucks and the song is smooth.

Peace to ASAP.

ACT:LIVE w/ LUCID (Plattsburgh, NY)

2009-09-29T15:03:00.000-07:00

ACT:LIVE finds the Brown Bag All-Stars @ Fat Beats

2009-09-26T15:35:00.000-07:00

Yo everybody!

It's been a minute since I've posted some new and exciting shit besides interviews, so here is something new.

A few weeks ago, Reece Q and I embarked on a journey and gig in NYC to meet up with some established relationships and also build new ones.

One of the new ones is with J57 and the boys at Feat Beats Records/Brown Bag All Stars. These cats are KILLING it.

J57 not only works behind the front desk at Fat Beats and has thoroughly paid his dues, but also produces/MCs music for his group, The Brown Bag All-Stars. Another little side note is they are also very close to the AOK Collective, Homeboy Sandman, P So, 8thW1 and other friends of ours as well.....seems like we all make one big NY hip-hop family!

J57 was also kind enough to share a few words for a small documentary ACT:LIVE shot while down in NYC, look for that soon. (J57 is the first MC on the track in the upcoming video, 'Undeniable')

So, cheers to all the love NYC gave to us, I plan on having them up here for a show pretty damn soon folks...it's going to be a show YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS!!

For more info about Brown Bag All-Stars go to...

Brown Bag All-Stars Blog:
http://www.brownbagallstars.blogspot.com/

Brown Bag All-Stars MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/brownbagallstars

Peace.
- DJ Games

Sean Price Drops The Hellz Bellz Party with Copywrite...werd.

2009-09-24T15:44:00.001-07:00

ACT:LIVE & Sean The Archer present:Ninjasonik @ Dub Land

2009-09-23T00:11:00.000-07:00

ACT:LIVE Inter-Review: Beneficial

2009-09-21T17:20:00.000-07:00

B-Boy BBQ Freestyles pt. 2 of 2

2009-09-14T15:20:00.000-07:00

ACT:LIVE @ Rochester's B-Boy BBQ 2009w/ P So, 8thW1, Hassaan Mackey

2009-09-08T11:05:00.000-07:00

ACT:LIVE presentsHellz BellzOctober 30th, 2009

2009-09-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

Louis Logic Returns! w/ The American Dream Team

2009-09-03T12:46:00.000-07:00

DJ Nu-Mark Interview

2009-06-22T06:08:00.000-07:00

Biodiesel ft. Johnny Raab (World's Fastest Drummer-Guniess Book of World Records 2001) & Clay Parnell (Brother's Past)June 13th @ Dub Land

2009-06-18T02:36:00.000-07:00

Slick Rick: The ACT:LIVE Interview

2009-06-02T15:51:00.000-07:00

Zion I: The ACT:LIVE Interview

2009-06-02T15:50:00.000-07:00

Surgeon General Trio ft. Reece Q

2009-06-02T15:49:00.000-07:00

ACT:LIVE TV Epsiode 2

2009-06-02T15:48:00.001-07:00

ACT:LIVE TV Episode 1

2009-06-02T15:47:00.001-07:00

from

ACT:LIVE TV Teaser

2009-06-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

ACT:LIVE Presents:SLICK RICKMAY 27thDub Land Underground

2009-03-17T18:39:00.000-07:00

Ticket Info:

ACT:LIVE & The Dub Land Underground are proud to present Slick Rick The Ruler

Wednesday May 27th, 2009 @ The Dub Land Underground

Ticket Go On Sale March 23rd, 2009 @ These Fine Locations

$30 Presale

Krud Co. (Howell St.)

Thread Clothing (South Ave.)

SkyeHigh (Monroe Ave.)

Lakeshore Record Exchange (Park Ave.)

The Record Archive (Rockwell Ave.)

The Dub Land Underground (Alexander St.)

This is a 300 person private party with Slick Rick performing, if you do not have a ticket, you will not enter the building. Stated.

We can't wait to present such a classic act to Rochester, we hope to see you there.

This will be the sickest hip-hop show in recent Rochester history.

All thanks to the hard work of ACT:LIVE, The Dub Land Underground and the guys at RIPROC.

See you May 27th.

See The Poster/Flier For More Details

Exciting News & Construction Underway+++++++++++++++ACT:LIVE Returning In May

2009-03-02T19:55:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

Where have you been?

This is something that has been frequenting the subject box in a lot of recent emails to ACT:LIVE. Well, I have the answers.

We have been working diligently this past year to expose Rochester’s art and music community, throw some killer events and even touch on FCC airwaves and now it’s time to expand.

We were never sure where this whole thing was going, like any business, but ACT:LIVE is paving it’s own road into your homes and computers very soon.

The success of the website and it’s following has had me developing and thinking for a long time on how to improve this machine to better promote all you area artists and musicians.

I have now joined forces with Josh Currier, Nicholas Baish, DJ Tim Tones and Mike Hanlon to form what is now the official ACT:LIVE team.

You may have read a little while ago about the radio team, but this is a bit different.

Josh Currier and I are putting together a brand new, fully operational ACT:LIVE website for the city to be up by May, the ACT:LIVE one year anniversary.

It will be filled with local artist files, local venue files, events calendars, video interviews, reviews, video from the streets, live footage from concerts, local shopping and much more.

This will become THE place to find out about anything and everything independent.

Now, the website is great, but we have icing for this cake. The ACT:LIVE Television show.

This show will air on Sundays at 9:30pm on Time Warner Cable 15.

This show will be a direct reflection of everything we have been doing the past year except now we can take all of our ideas to video, for the city.

We plan to make the community a big part of the show in many ways. You can look forward to musician interviews, artist interviews, Q & As, political and social news coverage, entertaining clips straight from your neighborhood and much, much more.

So, as you can see we have been extremely busy.

I urge you to stay tuned and pay attention out on the streets; this is going to hit Rochester very soon. May, people, May.
I thank you all so much for your interest and devotion to the site and what we do. Without you this wouldn’t be possible.

- Games

Right Now, We're Watching

FREE hit counter and Internet traffic statistics from freestats.com

The American Dream TeamPanty Raidin'Wednesday Feb. 18th @ Dub Land

2009-02-16T12:47:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

So, the flier offended a few people. Awesome.

You can thank my cousin, Scott Terry, for the killer idea and Bailey Burritt for the sweet design. Ladies, please don't get it twisted, it's a celebration of panties. And, if you arrive at the door with a pair, you get a dollar off as well as the respect of young Scott Terry will be hosting the evening to also celebrate his birth.

--------------------------------

"
It's a celebration
of panties.

"
--------------------------

The American Dream Team will be headlining their first ever appearance in Rochester as the Electro duo formed by local DJ legend, Code-D and his fearless visual assailant, Dan Savage. Dan constructed the visual performance for the Kanye West "Glow in the Dark" Tour and has worked for other companies including Comedy Central.

The American Dream Team is doing the dance and production world a huge favor by bringing something fresh sonically and vivid, visually.

Code-D produced the "Money, Bitches, Cars, Clothes & Weed" anthem heard round the globe this past year.

They are an intelligent answer to the dry over saturated world of shitty electro DJs.

For those of you who like the t-shirts on their website, the " Money, Bitches, Cars, Clothes & Weed" t-shirt specifically, you will be able to find them this week at Thread Clothing on South Ave.

Wednesday will be opened up by performances by Dub Land's residents The Surgeon General Trio. (Reece Q, Miguel Urbina, Jon Woodring)

Following them will be DJs Tim Tones, Audiowright & Nickel Bag Of Funk.

Check out some of the videos from The American Dream Team.

See you Wednesday at Dub Land Underground.

Peace.

- Games

Right Now, We're Watching

What's NewComing Up From ACT:LIVE

2009-02-06T12:51:00.000-08:00

werd: games

So, by this time in the month, I would normally have about six stories or interviews with local artists or just something interesting and new, but things have been very busy in the ACT:LIVE world.

I'm here to update you.

So, since the dawn of this ACT:LIVE idea, there has been no other real goal besides exposing Rochester artists in the best light possible, promoting those artists under one solid hub in Rochester where others coming from out of town or looking to find out what's going on can go to online.

It has quickly become a go-to source for many people, or so our site tracker says.

I had debated pushing this outlet into a print version, which may still happen on a smaller scale, but it's far too costly for my working man's wallet and the internet success has been good and we want to expand on that.

We will premiering a brand new version of ACT:LIVE Rochester by the beginning of March of 2009.
This is the news drop

Over the past year, I have been blessed with finding some of the most creative and hard-working talent from every aspect of the independent media business here in Rochester.

We have all assembled to bring you the latest addition to the Rochester airwaves, The Influence on 90.5 FM WBER.

Let me introduce The Influence Team

Games - Executive Producer/ACT:LIVE Founder
Alex Ng - Executive Producer/Host of Elektrobank
Alex is also host of Elektrobank, Saturdays on WBER at 9pm.
Mike Hanlon - Video Production/Creative
Mike Hanlon will be providing video coverage of The Influence as well as photo and video for the ACT:LIVE website. Mike is a great guy and has made himself an integral part of what we do. He currently owns Hanlon Photographic.
Nicholas G. Baish - Graphics/Creative
Nicholas G. Baish (The NGB) has made every ACT:LIVE event a visually exciting event with his astonishing animations and ability to adapt to almost any artist on stage. He will be helping Mike Hanlon out with the editing of the video and graphics. Cheers Nicholas!
DJ Tim Tones - Audio Production/House DJ
Hip-Hop DJ Tim Tones will be house DJ for The Influence radio show and will also be putting together the audio bits and drops with me for the show. Tim has been performing all over Rochester for years now and has made himself a party must have. Big up Tim!
Miguel Urbina - Engineer/Technical Producer
Soundman for the Dub Land Underground and great friend to the scene, Miguel will be engineering our radio show and providing recording submissions from live events to be incorporated into the radio show and the website.
Josh Currier - Web/Marketing/Creative
New comer to our team, is Josh Currier. Josh works for a local ad agency, but has taken the time to get involved with what we are doing and help us push this market out to the rest of the world. He is also responsible for the construction of our website. This dude rocks.

The website will a sleek looking addition to the music and arts community for sure.

We will feature music, local artists files, video streaming, calendar listings, interviews, reviews, blog submissions from locals (that can be you!), links, venue information and much more.

We can't wait. All of the fine individuals you read about above will be working hard to provide you the most entertaining content in Rochester.

This radio show will be airing February 21st at 9:30pm.

The show can best be explained as a mad scientist blend of the alternative and experimental hip-hop, culture and music.

The show will also be a place to shine on local things going on and a few local artists. Now, this will not be a local show. There are many local shows out there and this is not one of them.

We will be having local guests and and recording locals for the show bank and for the site, but the focus is alternative hip-hop and the culture; every aspect.

We will also feature interviews with national hip-hop artists and international artists as well. More often by phone but we will also be taping some live interviews.

The radio show will be video taped as well and spliced in with local live footage, fun street edits and more. So, if you miss it on air, you can go right online and catch up, plus some.

All brought to, once again, by the hardworking ACT:LIVE team, 90.5 FM WBER, The Elektrobank, Hell On Earth, Ekonomix Clothing, Krud Co. and Dub land Underground.

We can't wait to premiere the new site and this show.

I hope you all tune in or watch online and get involved in your own personal ways. It's going to be a huge new avenue for Rochester art and music.

Peace kids...

- Games

Right Now, We're Watching

Surgeon General Trio!

2009-02-03T14:39:00.000-08:00

Here's a little something we found online...

The video of Reece Q & The Surgeon General Trio, live at the Beats 4 Boards skate park fundraiser at the Bug Jar on January 30th.

Enjoy!

- Games

The Mustache Party!!Pics & Review

2009-02-01T00:38:00.000-08:00

fotos: hanlon photographic

Right now we're listening to:

BT "Firewater" ("ESCM", 1997, Reprise)

Beats 4 BoardsJanuary 30th @ The Bug Jar

2009-01-29T12:53:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

I used to skate, back in the day before I broke my shoulder and dislocated it another twenty times the same way.

I used to skate with The Webster Heads, a steady and wild crew that also used to spend a lot of time with Aaron Costa of Krud Co.

I've watched skateboarding progress over the past few years and one thing I've noticed is that hip-hop has made an enormous impact on skateboarding, skateboarding videos and skateboard fashion.

Brands like DC and Zoo York are now found in almost every urban apparel store you can fund in every major city, the videos are host to more and more abstract hip-hop artists and even the mainstream rappers has found their way under the umbrellas of skate videos, too.

Rochester is no exception when it comes to the hybrid blending of hip-hop and the skateboarding culture, so, tomorrow night, local hip-hop icon Tim Tones is throwing a benefit party for the Rochester City Skate Park Fund thoughtfully titled, "Beats 4 Boards".

DJ Tim Tones

This is the second installment of however many it takes to raise the cash for the park.

The goal is to raise $500,000 to begin construction. The park's proposed site is underneath the east side of the Anthony/Douglass Memorial Bridge.
pictured below

The park would be a tremendous edition to downtown and would help greatly to give the youth a spot to skate, outdoors, with no risk of negative interactions with police or property owners.

If you want to know more about the park and the ideas of Krud Co. and the city planning board, go to ROCCITYPARKS.org, or check into the ACT:LIVE archives and read the interview with owner, Aaron Costa and partner Alan Presutti.

The event tomorrow will be a collaboration of many local hip-hop acts, but the focus seems to be on Emilio Rojas' new video for "585".

The video will be premiered after a year-long wait. The video was filmed last winter at Manhattan Square Park in the paradisaical, downtown Rochester. I suppose he waited because it's a winter themed video and it wouldn't make much sense to feature it during the summer, huh?

It all goes down tomorrow night at The Bug Jar. Bring your wallets.

- Games

Right Now, We're Watching

Destroy/Go Gettaz/New CreationsACT:LIVE Interview

2009-01-27T14:55:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

“I make hood-soul music. I’ve come to the realization that I make hood-soul-block music.

I took the advice you gave me in my CD review and have tried to explore more of Destroy on the new songs.”
- Destroy

So, are you saying that these songs are little bit deeper, or that you are going more towards the female audience?

There are some ‘shorty’ songs, but they’re DESTROY ‘shorty’ songs. I can’t be anybody but me, so you’re going to get how I get down with the ladies.

You might get a smut song, but you also may get my version of romance.

I try to make broad music that can have that radio appeal, but it also has that street edge to it. I play the line. That’s just me as a person, too.

What are the beats like? Who’s producing them?

Coach is on there, Midnite, Jay Quest and Sight should be getting me some beats, too.

The vibe is like, that mid-nineties hip-hop feeling. It’s hood-soul music, it rides that line and has an edge to it.

I’m really into trying new sounds.

Is this music going to be released onto a CD format?

I’m actually working on three projects right now.

I’m working on a mix-tape, that’s more of a Go Gettaz Union thing. I’m also working on the second part to the ‘Soul of the City’ album and also my version of the ‘Best of Both Worlds’ with Jah Breeze.

I keep myself busy. I think I have A.D.D.

So, CD or no?

These projects will definitely be in CD form. But, in the long run, it will be a collaboration of internet and street promotion.

You have to have both, because not everybody out here has internet access and even if they do, they don’t know where to go to access music.

There’s nothing better than product going directly to the hands of the streets.

No matter how many people I reach on the internet, I can’t just walk by people on the street and miss out on that opportunity.

(Artists, take note: Destroy makes a great point that I often forget about…The streets are a GREAT place to get your product off to. When you give someone your music, you’re not only breaking bread, but even better; the hood won’t lie to you. If it sucks, they will let you know and if they like it, they will also let you know and quickly. I suggest getting some CDs out on the street. I know I’m taking Reece Q CDs out to the streets.)

In the hood and around the world now, everybody raps. It’s like saying you breathe air.

You have to be so much better than the next man for people to give you the time of day.

In some ways, it harder on the streets, but the pay off is greater.

Working hard and establishing positive relationships within the city will get you far. As long as you’re consistently sending out music and information to people to grab and you’re making a difference, there’s no reason local artists shouldn’t be performing at large city events like the Rochester Music Fest.

Yeah I work that game as best as I can. I’m always trying to hit up WDKX.

WDKX is a bitch to get a hold of. I don’t understand what’s going on with them. I have tried getting Tariq involved with a number of things and they just never respond.

I’m not naive, I know that they have their pockets filled with corporate cash cows, but they are missing out on a lot of opportunities to expand their listening base and base in Rochester, as well as diversify the hip-hop audience here.

But you know what, fuck ‘em. I’m going to put on this radio show and let them wonder.

The last thing I want to see is one of our local artists opening up for Lil Wayne’s High School Musical.

WDKX is a perfect example of this monster we are all involved with in the music industry. Once you get to a point where everybody is looking at you, then they will start paying attention.

It’s time for you to either play the game with them or say, “Fuck You.”

I don’t need to play their reindeer games, and won’t. So, what do you really want out of this crazy game of music?

Man, there are a million things I could do for that paper, but none of them will make me truly happy. I have mouths to feed including my own, I could be happy as hell just being a B-level artist, if it would just pay some bills. I would be ecstatic.
I just want to be able to provide and maintain.

Part 2: The Go Gettaz Union

What is the Go Gettaz Union?

That’s me, Ollie North, B-Easy, Chick Bacardi (CEO & partner) and Nasim, who is currently over in Iraq fighting this war. Music is not really a priority to him right now, survival is. Joe Franchise, he is also a member, but recently moved back to Seattle.

Jah Breeze and Coach are also at the core.

So, between all these cities you guys are linked up in (Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Rochester) you should be able to distribute your music pretty well, no?

Some of the guys are still new to the game, so they have to learn the process of locking themselves in the studio and putting out music regularly.

That’s what we’re working on as individuals and as a whole.

We’re young, we’re growing, we have the drive and we have the talent.

Part Three: Chick Bacardi & New Creations Barber Shop (Jefferson Ave. & Columbia St.)

What’s up Chick? How long have you been open at this spot?

Chick: This shop has been open for six years.

There seems to be a positive connection to the neighbor with your shop, as well as with the local city government…

Willie Lightfoot works here and owns the building, so there are a lot of city programs we get involved in, for the kids in the community especially.

Willie Lightfoot

(We are then interrupted by the ‘Gucci Man’. This man pops the trunk out front and the cash comes out the woodwork. Chick proceeds to buy a new pair of Gucci sneakers. I am also told stories of the ‘Cake Man’. The Cake Man stops by weekly with an assortment of delicious cakes with absurd flavors, leading the locals to believe he is quite the stoner. Why can’t we have more cash flowing on the east side like this? Why doesn’t Park Ave. have a cake man? I’m dead serious. Why not? If you were to walk down Park Ave. and do that, you would need a credit card machine. This leads me to the next point….don’t think for one second that the black community is any poorer than the college community of Park Ave. The difference is, the white community just overspends every dime they have on a credit card and spends beyond their means. Just because you see some kid with a new whip, doesn’t mean he can afford it. Odds are that kid can’t even put gas in his car and the proceeds to blow every cent he/she doesn’t have, on drinks at some wack club to pick up women/men. He then cries himself/herself to sleep at night because of debt. Now you’re definitely cool, Mr./Mrs. ‘I desperately need society’s approval so I buy pointless shit’. Cheers.)

Tell me something about the block party that goes on here. I’ve heard good things.

For the last four years, we’ve had the Jefferson Ave. Block Party. It used to happen every year for years, but there were a lot of problems. When Willie (Lightfoot) was elected as a County Legislature, he decided to step back in and make some changes.

Next year, it’s going to be even bigger, with two stages. One is at the corner of Frost and one at the corner of Bartlett.

Last year, there were no problems at all. Everybody had a ball. There were old folks jamming with the young folks and vice versa.

Is the party open to everyone in the city, or just neighborhood residents?

It’s open to everybody, just come in peace and have a good time.

That’s awesome. A diverse crowd is always a plus.

- Games

Right now, we're watching:

The Mustache Party!!The Birth Celebration of EWUN

2009-01-25T19:40:00.001-08:00

click to enlarge

REST IN PEACE ROCHESTER, LUCKY STRIKE, & ACT:LIVE present an indie dance party featuring LIVE BANDs, DJs, MCs, ARTISTS, & MUSTACHES.

Join us @ Bug Jar, as we fill up 219 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, NY on Wednesday, January 28th, 2009!

GROW, WEAR, or DRAW a Mustache on your mouf!
See the instructions on the flyers for further details...

We proudly present...

The Communist Party
(716)

It is with great pride that we will also feature Rochester DJing icon...

Kill The Noise - (Rochester)
Slow Roast, RIPROC, Lucky Strike, AM Only - Electro

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOU ASS!"

Alongside local and regional talent...

Nickel Bag Of Funk - (585)
Lucky Strike - Electro

Handlebar & Flipsicle - (585)
WRUR, Lucky Strike - Electro

Teen Heat - (585)
Electro

Tim Tones - (585)
Hip-Hop

Ewun - (585)
RIPROC - Hip-Hop

Nikal Fieldz - (585)
Eyeconz Entertainment - Hip-Hop

Paul's Grandfather - (716)
Acoustic

Pearwood James - (585)
Acoustic

Lauren O'Connell - (585)
Acoustic

And featuring a 6:00 PM art showing by...

Joe Patane - (585)
Prism Rails

Hosted by...

Chris Grizzlehoff - (585)
RIPROC

HRVI Who - (585)
ROC DNB

With the photography of...

Hanlon Photographic - (585)

djb - (585)

$2 over / $5 under

CLICK HERE TO RSVP and be entered to win one of many Kill The Noise, Ludachrist, and RIPROC T-Shirts, among other giveaways for those that RSVP on both MySpace & Facebook.

Drink Specials:
all nite - $2.00 Drafts

This is going down on:
Wednesday, January 28th 2009
Doors open @ 6:00 PM

This event will be open to:
Anyone over the age of 18+ with proper identification...
18+

This will take place inside the luxurious venue of:
Bug Jar
219 Monroe Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607

The same crew that threw The Ugly Sweater Party:

vid, yo: mike dispenza @ blue monk films

You Gonna Eat That?The Rochester Subway

2009-01-22T14:10:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche
photo credits not available

If you read this site and have anything to do with the underground in Rochester, you most likely know of the REAL underground spot, the old subway.

I discovered the subway for myself about nine years ago while hanging out with some friends who thought it would be a good idea to consume hallucinogens and walk the two mile, dark stretch between Dinosaur BBQ and West Broad Street. Not so much fun when we actually came to.

However, over the years as I have walked through downtown, on summer days I would always be sure to make my way down by the walkway below the Dinosaur BBQ. (which we will be referring to as 'Dino' throughout the rest of this passage)

I have seen graffiti art come and go. Some of which, I have had the honor to be able to witness going up, some pieces taking many days to complete. The sad thing is, because of grimey kids who want to 'get-up' in the graffiti world, they have trashed some of the most beautiful pieces of art I have ever seen. That's the game though.

This space has been deserted for years, except for random walk-throughs done by RG&E, the constant presence of artists and of course, the homeless.

In my travels through the subway, I learned that Dino was kind enough to leave a few open outlets below their building, left over from when they renovated in 2003. These outlets have been providing heat and power to many homeless people over the years, and by way of how the supports are designed underneath the building, they have also provided make-shift 'apartments'. Siiick!

God bless those ingenious homeless men and women, they are true survivors.

There has been debate over the past few years as to what to do with all this space, the topic is raised in the video you are about to watch, below.

The questions you need to ask yourself are...

1. Should it be filled in with dirt?

Ask that guy. Do you want to just fill in his home with dirt? He looks so happy!

2. Should the subway space be renovated into a shopping plaza?

Yeah, if you want this guy shopping there!

The point is, I do think that a downtown shopping destination is needed in Rochester, but there has to be an incentive to drive people down there.

NO!,We can't just slap in a Peebles and expect the suburbs to flock down here.
There must be business incentives, tax incentives and products that stand out form the malls. It's no different than with any other city. Get people out of the malls!

Another proposed idea is to convert the space into an art gallery of sorts to showcase local art and graffiti, which has made it's home in the subway.

We are an arts based city in every sense of the word. Let's expand on that. Let's get creative.

note:
I by no means am mocking the homeless or belittling them. I have a very personal appreciation and understanding for the people living in the streets and struggling on this earth. From LA to NY, I've heard a lot of stories and spent time with people you would just never imagined and have always carried those people and events with me. Mama didn't raise no fool.

It's not easy out there for anyone and especially the mentally challenged. The mentally ill make up at least 70% of homeless in the U.S..

ACT:LIVE will be making more of a presence in the community over the next coming year by working more on a volunteer level in the streets and behind the scenes. I urge you all to do you humanitarian duty and help the homeless and less fortunate with every opportunity you get. But, that doesn't mean hand out change, that means get involved and get off your lazy ass, shut off your god damn X-Box and lend a hand. You won't ever regret it and it makes you feel so much better inside knowing you impacted someone's life. Trust me.

- Games

Right Now, We're Watching

Western New York State Of Mind Tourw/ Chae Hawk, DJ A-Ko, Secret Secret Dino Club

2009-01-20T16:20:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

Tomorrow night, at The Bug Jar, the Western New York State of Mind Tour is rolling through, courtesy of our man DJ A-Ko and crew.

I wanted to make sure I mentioned this show and get a few words with the headliner, Chae Hawk.

Chae is a Buffalo, NY native, but has been working in Brooklyn on his craft for the past few years.

Chae, most certainly, has a commercial appeal to his music, but can't be compared to any of the commercial bullshit that pains our ears daily.

You can tell the dude is all about having fun, keeping it real and makes it clear that he is the dude at the party you want to hang out with. If LL Cool J's swagger married Del Tha Funky Homosapiens' lyrical sense, you would have something very close to what Chae sounds like.

The tour is coming to The Bug Jar, Thursday the 22nd and should be another great night for networking (all you hip-hoppers) and a really good show.

Here's a few words a I shared with Chae this past evening...

ACT:LIVE: I saw on your MySpace page that you have some involvement with MTV, can you elaborate?

The contract we have with them gets a lot of my music onto their shows. We're hoping to get as many votes as we can through them, because as you know, you have to do everything you can nowadays. The rules have changed.

ACT:LIVE: What's the CD you are pushing now, and is that the reason you are doing this tour?

This tour just needed to happen. My career is starting to blossom and this tour is a way to christen what I have been doing and get it out to some more people before we head to bigger things.

The CD I am pushing is the 'Nickel City Varsity' EP, you can get it on iTunes now.

Chae Hawk

ACT:LIVE: Who is the master of production on that disc?

That's my partner L-ION. He's my partner in crime with this new genre of electro-swag.

ACT:LIVE: It's a new sound and I really like it. It incorporates a lot of dance elements that I dig, plus it's got that party rock swag that everyone can get down to.

That's exactly what it is, man.

I've been doing hip-hop for over ten years so I have to keep up with who I am. I have changed over the years and have become a different person, so the music will follow.

ACT:LIVE: So, what's the state of hip-hop out in Buffalo? I figure you might have some insight on that.

It can be real down and out sometimes. There seems to be a lack of unity or brotherly love. Everybody got the picture that they need to just do it on their own and develop their own following.

I felt like I was becoming a bigger fish in that pond, that's why I moved to New York. I needed to work harder to get more results in a market where I am essentially, a stranger.

ACT:LIVE: How did you hook up with our man A-Ko?

He actually reached out to me, and I have just been impressed with his eagerness and energy.

We've been trading shows back and forth.

DJ A-Ko

ACT:LIVE: Can you tell us about the 'Secret Secret Dino Club'?

He's a young man who's management reached out to me and thought that we would be a good mix together.

Secret Secret Dino Club

ACT:LIVE: So what's your history in Rochester? Any?

I actually went to Brighton High School until my sophomore year.

Chae Hawk will be performing with:

Secret Secret Dino Club (Syracuse, songwriter)
DJ-Ako (Rochester, electro-swag)

Check them out tomorrow at The Bug Jar, son!

- Games

Right Now, We're Watching

Garotas SuecasBug Jar 1/19

2009-01-20T14:41:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

Monday rundown….

I stumble into a 6-piece Brazilian rock band named, Garotas Suecas. Sweet.

I finished a long day of work and really wanted to unwind, so my companion and I were headed to ACME for the Monday night 2 for $1 deal. This, by the way, sounded so good.

But, instead, I remember I am holding fliers for The Mustache Party, so what better place to promote than at The Bug Jar?! (The Mustache Party (Jake’s Birthday!), January 28th @ The Bug Jar – starts early, 6:00pm)

I’m glad we did because we caught the Brazilian 6-piece, Garotas Suecas.

I’m pretty sure that Lou-Lou (from famed groups the Sharp Sword and Thievery Corporation) had a hand in bringing this group up, but I know it was an event put on by the Croquet group.

After talking to the band, I learned that they had a show canceled in New Jersey before their New York City gig, so they decided to give us a visit.

The show was a lot of fun and the turn-out was well deserved, they really packed it in for a Monday night.

The band reigns from Sao Paulo, Brazil, speaks Portuguese, but if you shared dialogue with any of them you would never guess they were any further away than Henrietta.

The music reminded me of a pop rock group that I can’t put my finger on, but it was a rock sound that sounded very American born. You could definitely dance to it, and sing along to, regardless if you spoke Portuguese or not.

All in all, awesome show, cheers to the $2 Guinness drafts over there at the Bug Jar, too.

Check out more with, Garotas Suecas.

Peace.

- Games

Right Now, We're Watching

Louis Logic/Homeboy Sandmanw/ The Surgeon General Trio!1/17/09 @ Dub Land Underground

2009-01-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche
foto: hanlon photographic
video: hanlon photographic

"That was the best hip-hop party at Dub Land Underground, ever."
- Scott Terry (bartender, Dub Land Underground)

Indeed. I thought maybe the Future Sound Trucker Hat Party was the best at Dub Land yet, but maybe Scott Terry wasn't at that one.

Louis Logic, Homeboy Sandman and The Surgeon General Trio RIPPED IT UP!

If Pat Gaffney is up at the front of the stage for the whole show, it must have been good!

Louis Logic has been touring the nation promoting his latest project, Spork Kills, a surf-style hip-hop sound that has yet to really be done. Mark Ronson has done something similar with the "Rehab" sound developed just a year ago, but this is true surf style. Like, a Quentin Tarantino record.

He brought along his new found friend and talent, Homeboy Sandman, also of New York City, but more specifically, Queens. (Go Mets!)

Sandman really gave us the treatment for this show. He has been making noise in New York City for the past two years as an up and coming artist with hits like 'Lightning Bolts, Lightning Rod' and 'Extreme Measures' (shhhhiiiiiiiit, homey don't play that shit!).

He commanded the crowd and especially Miguel Urbina, Dub Land's biggest critic.

The real show stealer, I would have to say, was The Surgeon General Trio!. Reece Q crushed mics with the help of Woody on the MPC and Miguel Urbina on the skins.

They made a lot of new friends and showed these out-of-towners how Rochester really gets down.

Moon-Roc, aka Moon, of SubSoil tried out some new material and was taken so well by the headliners that they even asked him to come up for a Dub Land version of some Guns and Roses. Sick!

The real icing on this show was, once again, thanks to Nicholas.G.Baish. Nicholas has an incredible talent for the visual arts and surprises. I don't even want to get into it too far, because if you missed the show, it's your bad, but the visualizations are bringing a new depth and style to the Dub Land Underground stage yet to be seen before.

All I can say is, you just need to show up and catch it. Looks like visual butta'!

Cheers to Nicholas for always being prepared with something new and exciting, your work is amazing.

This was another great night for Rochester rap. We made some great friends and showed some more national artists how we really get down and that we put a lot of work into our events. Between the candlelight, the crowd, the music and the visuals, that will be a night to remember for a long time at Dub land.

I'm going to end all this now and just let you peep the pictures and some of the video taken by, none other than, Hanlon Photographic...

photography & video by:
Hanlon Photographic

Peace to Tim Tones for holding the 1s and 2s down for the evening!!

Peace...

- Games

Right Now, We're Watching

Reece Q Video Premiere Pics & Video1/10/09 ONE Nightclub

2009-01-16T13:03:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche
foto: hanlon photography
video: tisa zito

The pics are here!

I won't go through the process of reviewing our own show, but there is a list of thanks that must be acknowledged for this event.

If you weren't there, there isn't much I can say except that it was a peak night for the ACT:LIVE brand, Reece Q, RIPROC and Mike Dispenza. The videos looked amazing and all the graphic work done by Nicholas.G.Baish really set the tone for one of the first local, upscale hip-hop events ever to grace Rochester.

Please be sure to check out all the thanks and let the pics speak for themselves.

Enjoy.

THANKS!

Mike Dispenza @ Blue Monk Films, Patrick Gaffney @ RIPROC, RIPROC, Nicholas.G.Baish, Red Bull, Elliot & Jason @ Ekonomix Clothing, Derek Sung @ ONE, Kill The Noise, Tim Tones, Ric Rude, The Soul Slingers, Reece Q, Sam.I.Am, DJ Nugz, Husky, Woody, The Goonies Crew, Optix, Nickel Bag Of Funk, Antonio Aresco, Mikhail Budhai, Arthur @ Poster Source, Danny "Knuckles" Sullivan, Jennifer Oster, Dick Storms @ Record Archive, Frank DeBlase @ City Newspaper, Troy Smith & Emily Shearing @ Rochester Insider, Alex @ The Electrobank (WBER), Handlebar & Flipsicle @ WRUR, Drew Nye @ Dub Land Underground, Miguel Urbina @ Dub Land Underground, Leonious, Mike Torres, Nick Giordano & Bonnie Harter @ Dorje Adornments & Love Hate Tattoo, Mike & Sandy @ Thread Clothing, Kim @ World Hair, Record Archive, Jon Herbert & Lakeshore Records, Aaron & Alan @ Krud Co., Ben "Stealin'" Steele, Carol @ The Metromix, Al Fox @ Fox_Photography, Mike Hanlon @ Hanlon Photography, Tisa Zito @ Old Soul Productions, DJ Ease, Mayor Robert Duffy, Maureen & Peter Niche, everyplace where we put posters and fliers and anyone else I may have forgotten!

photography by:
Hanlon Photography

Again, thank you all so much for supporting ACT:LIVE and local hip-hop over the past year!

We have made some big moves in entertainment in Rochester and are always working harder to step it up with every thing we do.

Kudos to you, Rochester.

I leave you with video footage taken by Tisa Zito @ Old Soul Productions and the video for Reece Q's first single off the album "Quote To Self":

"Promotional Use Only" - Directed by Mike Dispenza @ Blue Monk Films.

- Games

Right Now, We're Watching

Louis Logic 01/17The ACT:LIVE Interview

2009-01-12T23:22:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

This Saturday, Dub land Underground and ACT:LIVE are proud to present the international talent of Louis Logic and the up and coming New York rapper, Homeboy Sandman.

There have been a lot of questions brought to my attention regarding Louis Logic, Homeboy Sandman and Louis Logic's history.

Well, here is a chance to answer some of those questions and get to know Louis Logic.

I spent some time on the phone with him this past week and talked about his relationship with Fat Beats Records, what he has been up to and more importantly, his new found love with a band from Denmark and their project, "Spork Kills".

Peep it...

ACT:LIVE: Let’s get into the new material…what’s new in your world Mr. Logic?

One of the reasons for booking this show is because I am testing out the waters for a new project I have, and a new format.

JJ (Brown, Louis Logic’s DJ) will be in the studio for the next six months working on an album with Reef The Lost Cauze, so on the side I have been working with a live band from Denmark.

We (the band and Louis) just completed an EP, the band is called Spork Kills. (Spoon and Fork)

ACT:LIVE: How did you meet up with these guys (the band)?

I met them while on tour in Denmark. The results from sessions of goofing-off were so great that I decided we should make a whole record together.

The recordings are so wild and adventurous, that we came up with some sounds that I haven’t heard anyone come up with yet.

We decided to take a specific sound we had toyed-around with and develop a concept EP around it, just to drive the point home that we had stumbled into this mixture that nobody has done yet.

It’s a surf-rock and rap record. It’s really “60’s” sounding and really cool.

A lot of people tell me it sounds like a Quentin Tarantino soundtrack. It’s really crazy stuff, man.

The EP just came back from the plant, so it’s officially available. We’re going to use this EP to generate attention to the project, the band, bookings and will look to settle a full-length record deal. We’re just building it up and getting the machine going.

We really believe in this project. It’s the first time that I feel like we really hit an untapped territory and it just so happens to be very relevant to what’s going on in the music industry right now.

There is a lot of hybrid stuff out there right now and I think this is something brand new.

Artists have gone through all the Motown stuff, the neo-soul music all mixed with some rock in there somewhere. Over the years, when people have gone back to retro music, a lot of what’s been sampled and used is what would be considered “black” music.

This is the first urban record that taps into what I would call the “whiter” sound of the 60’s and 70’s era. Specifically, surf-rock and ‘loungy’ jazz music.

I'm just so psyched to show people the new stuff.

ACT:LIVE: What kind of music was the band playing previous to working with you?

The band itself is not an actual surf-rock band. We even have some eastern European, Balkan stuff on there too.

ACT:LIVE: When is the complete act going to be touring?

We’re going to try our first tour as a band in May. We’re going to start in Europe.

We will spend most of the summer on the road, all the way into July.

I haven’t made any plans for a U.S. tour at this point because touring in Europe will be a lot less risky.

ACT:LIVE: How so?

Well, the band is in Denmark, so it’s more cost efficient for me to fly over there as opposed to the band flying over here. The European audience is much different than the U.S. audience.

They’re a lot more open to saying something is cool instead of waiting to be told what is cool.

The way the industry is so dialed and regimented here, it’s like music is an exact science.

Europe still has their MTVs and online sources, but they don’t dominate the industry like they do here.

Kids in Europe will come out and support something that is new before it’s been endorsed and they are told ‘this is new’.

ACT:LIVE: I heard something about a new video of yours that MTV is interested in…tell us more.

Yeah, they said they really liked it and want to play, but asked us not to put it up online until they have the opportunity to debut it. It was formally submitted today.

ACT:LIVE: What song is that for?

It’s called ‘Night of the Hip and Dead’. It’s a zombie metaphor for party kids. The video was a lot of fun and looks sick. It’s a bastardization of my favorite 80’s flicks, most prominently, Teen Wolf.

It’s a really wacky video. I cracked the piggy bank for it.

ACT:LIVE: People have been asking if you have ties to Rochester…do you?

No, actually. That’s the weirdest thing…Rochester is a phenomena in my career.

We seem to have a pocket audience of people that reacted really strongly to what we have been doing.

We had been up a few times and turnouts weren’t so great, so we just gave up coming back. That was until we were contacted by The Dub Land Underground, when they first opened.

One of the kids who attended one of my, 5-10 person turnout shows, contacted me and said he didn’t understand why there was such a small turnout, but guessed that it was due to poor promotion.

So, he asked me to come back and play at this new place (Dub Land) that is closer to where the kids from college go out and promised the turn out would be different.

I went back there by myself, first, before coming up with JJ Brown and Dub land didn’t have everything that every other club had, but the idea was there, the place was cool and it was a great space.

At Dub Land, it just got better every time.

It’s weird, because, I have toured all over the country a few times, and to some venues multiple times, but in Rochester things worked the way they are supposed to in the sense that every time I’ve come back, it’s gotten bigger and better.

We’ve played here so many times, so Rochester has become a second home of sorts.

The staff at Dub Land Underground has been really good to us and the shows have been a lot of fun, so we keep coming back.

I’ve never seen an audience drink shots like the kids in Rochester. It is a mad house.

Once, I came with a girl I was dating at the time, and she said she had never seen a performer take as many shots as I did on stage and followed that with, “Those kids are maniacs”! (laughs)

ACT:LIVE: We do have a pretty crazy party scene up here! Cheers to $2.50 shots of Jameson at Dub Land! We have also been putting in the promotional work to help Dub Land grow as well.

It’s a little oasis up there.

ACT:LIVE: Definitely, glad you think so. If you are into the live band thing, the group, The Surgeon General Trio will be opening up for you and I can guarantee that they would love to jam with you.

I think I am going to do a little bit of jamming. I don’t know how much, but it’s something I’m interested in.

ACT:LIVE: Can you explain what’s going on with you and Fat Beats Records?

I released a record on Fat Beats, but I don’t have any plans to release another one through them.

I wasn’t terribly happy with how things turned out with them. That could be for many reasons, but I just don’t think we were as good a fit as we thought in the beginning.

Technically, I signed a 3 album deal with Fat Beats, but the way my contract is phrased, I don’t have to do another record with them if they don’t ask for it within a certain time period. It gives me the option to make the decision of writing another record for them.

I don’t have any beef with Fat Beats, it’s nothing like that. Fat Beats had an expertise in marketing music that sounded like my earlier stuff, but they aren’t as good at reaching kids who are into experimental and more alternative hip-hop stuff.

I also keep drifting further and further from what people know me for.

ACT:LIVE: It sounds like you have a good plan for what you want to do. I firmly believe in evolving and keeping it different. I do my best to explain that mentality to the artist I represent, Reece Q. I believe that if you don’t push the envelope and push yourself artistically, you won’t go anywhere in this day and age. You can’t have an album like your last one.

I agree with you completely and I think you should encourage him to do that. I checked out Reece’s stuff and I think he’s really talented.

It was exciting for me to hear a dude from that area that can hold it down. I always meet a lot of kids who are into the music and scene, but not a lot of solid MCs, and Reece is one such guy.

ACT:LIVE: Are you still performing with the keys?

Yeah, I still do that. For a couple of songs at this show I will be on the keys, but the format is going to be different because I won’t be with JJ Brown.

I had a little bit of money in the budget to bring someone along with me, so I am bringing someone I have become really fond of from New York and his name is Homeboy Sandman.

He is amazing.

He is fairly new to the scene, only having been around a few years, but because I am such a big fan of his now I am attaching him to every show I can for the time being.

He has a unique style, has been working really hard and now is getting paid gigs, so I think the timing is perfect to make friends with him and take him on the road with me.

He isn’t quite known yet, but he’s on the cusp of tipping over into the music scene.

He has become the master of guerrilla marketing and hard work in Manhattan...He was named ‘Best Rap Act in Manhattan ‘08’ by the New York Press, which is a counterpart to the Village Voice and was a part of the Unsigned Hype at Source Magazine.

ACT:LIVE: What is your message to the ‘Reece Qs’ of the U.S., and in Rochester?

The music industry has changed so much and the rules are gone. Gone are the days that you need a radio single, or that you have to follow any certain format or guidelines.

Do whatever you can to distinguish yourself as being great, push yourself as hard as you can independently and take risks. You will get attention.

You might get all kinds of responses on MySpace that you would be inclined to ignore, but don’t. You should always respond and make friends because you never know where your relationships will take you.

Turn over every stone. Try everything and have no fear. That’s the thing to do.

The rules are definitely gone.

Louis performs this Saturday, January 17th, at The Dub Land Underground with:

Homeboy Sandman & The Surgeon General Trio
w/ Visualizations By Nicholas.G.Baish & candlelight for the ladies.

Admission is $8 and is 18+

Peace kids...

- Games

Right Now, We're Watching

Killing The NoiseThe Gallery At Potential Life Studios

2009-01-11T14:04:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

I'm a big art fan. I always love to see something new, something gritty and something different.

All too often in this town, we are confronted with overwhelming amounts of boring landscape pictures, flowers and pictures of random deer doing random things. I prefer a something with a sharp edge to it, something thought provoking, or, just something off the wall. I don't like playing safe.

The Gallery At Potential Life Studios has become the place for me to touch the "sharp edge" in Rochester art.

They pride themselves on the strange, the "avant garde" and the experimental as they showcase local art for artists on the "fringes, as owner Jeremy states.

They have been around for close to 2 years now and have been gaining steam as a strong leader in the First Fridays and art community.

If music is your thing, this a great spot to get that as well. They feature local and international "noise" artists weekly in their Output Noise segment on Sunday evenings.

Noise artists seem to have a hunger so fierce that they will travel hundreds of miles to play even the shortest sets. That must mean there is something very special in the air of there on Elton St.

One thing I really enjoy about the branding of their studio and philosophy is the imaging. The flier work and poster work is amazing. It's urban, fresh and has got that edge I keep talking about.

I sat down and spoke with Jeremy and Colleen, the husband and wife gallery partners that keep the studio alive weekly with fresh ideas and family like hospitality.

Here's what they had to say...

ACT:LIVE: What brought you to Rochester, NY from Pennsylvania, Jeremy?

I came up to go to RIT for graphic design. That’s what brought me up. I was born in Redding, Pennsylvania.

That’s also where I met Colleen, she was a photo student. We have also been active as creators of art, but wasn’t until we opened the gallery that we started giving Rochester artists that are kind of on the fringes a place to exhibit their art.

There’s a lot going on in Rochester, but not a lot that caters to the experimental or ‘avant garde’ artists.

ACT:LIVE: When did you open the gallery doors to the public?

Colleen: We had our first show was in July, 2007. We kicked off with a theme exhibit and a few noise bands.

Everyone in our building was like, “Uh, can you shut your doors, please?” (laughs)

Jeremy: The theme of the first show was based on origami pink elephants…the art was all focused on the details and process of creating these origami elephants. We did some photo shoots for those that are pretty bizarre.

The music portion of the opening was a noise production comprised of the actual sound effects gathered from the creasing and folding of the (origami) paper.

ACT:LIVE: What kind of exhibits and shows do you like to produce?

We have lots of different elements we like to explore. We have installation based art, performance art, audio and video as well. It’s a lot to pull together and organize.

ACT:LIVE: What’s the response been in the community from your experience?

Colleen: I think that the more people have heard about the gallery and what we are doing, the more they are into it.

Word of mouth has been everything for us. Both of us moved back to Rochester after two years, so we have had to build our social network back up and gather artists, but as we do the exhibits will expand more and more.

Jeremy: I think the word on the street is fairly strong. We hear from many people that want to come down and check out what we’re doing but haven’t been able to make it yet.

When they do make it down they are really into what we’re doing.

We would like to get out more and explore some of the other art spaces, on days like First Fridays, but having our own studio limits our time to get other places.

ACT:LIVE: Explain to our audience the space you are working with. (The gallery is located at 34 Elton St. on the first floor, just past the Freetime Magazine offices at the corner of University and Elton St.)

Jeremy: It’s a loft space that was constructed by the building owner to suit our needs.

There is a pretty diverse crowd in the building. The landlord is pretty laid back, which is good and bad. The owner also appreciates and seeks for diversity among tenants in the building.

Colleen: I’m not sure what the building used to be, but I think it was some form of manufacturing space.

ACT:LIVE: Experimental music seems to place a large part in your events. Tell us about that.

Jeremy: A lot of bands in the noise and experimental community contact us regularly to perform. We have a hard time booking them during the week because of neighboring tenants that we don’t want to disturb. Those are usually weeknights.

Despite the fact that we have to turn down a lot of musician’s requests, but there is definitely a lot of intrigue from that community.

ACT:LIVE: Are these out of town acts that are contacting you?

Colleen: Yeah, from all over the map. We had a duo from Norway play and countless people who are touring and want to play at our gallery.

Jeremy: We’ve even had a man drive from Long Island, only to play for 16 minutes and then drive home. And, he said he would do it again. (laughs)

These noise artists will travel far and long to perform their music and they usually have short sets. Their dedication is amazing.

There aren’t many opportunities to play noise music outside of major cities.

Colleen: Rochester has a really good noise scene, but it’s mostly in people’s basements.

We really like bringing them into our space.

Jeremy: We always try to have some sort of interesting art displayed as the musicians perform. I know one bands that was here recently stated that playing in front of (.chickenbone.’s) ‘shrine’ of art on the wall was like playing to all these strange faces that were watching them. The band really got a kick out of it and some inspiration, too.

ACT:LIVE: What are some challenges that you face as a young gallery in this city?

Colleen: The number one challenge is having a family and the time and energy to spend after that.

The number two problem is helping people to find the location of the gallery. (laughs)

Jeremy: Finding the money to fund advertising is tough, too. We end up relying on a lot of word of mouth at the moment and that takes time to develop.

It took City Newspaper almost a year to even acknowledge us.

Luckily, we meet people like you, but it just takes time.

ACT:LIVE: What are some of your favorite things about being in Rochester?

Colleen: The reason I wanted to return to Rochester from Buffalo was the fact that there really is a lot going on here for being a ‘small’ city.

There are so many quality events going on, there is so much art, there are so many creative people.

We also like the fact that so many people are into what we are doing. I know that sometimes the house mom from Pittsford may not get it, but we have so many other people that wished they had known about us sooner.

Not to knock anybody else, but this city is filled with more paintings of landscapes and flowers than I can stand. We are the alternative to that, something new.

ACT:LIVE: What are some goals that you two have planned for the gallery?

Jeremy: Eventually I would like to open up a bigger space that has a bar. I’m not trying to start a bar, but the space would serve alcohol. I guess that might qualify as a bar (laughs), but that’s not the goal.

Something with cool music playing all the time and local art on display. I’d like a place that I could invest some time into and create from the ground up, per say.

Colleen: I think the first goal we actually have is to be at the point where we can pay the rent.

Jeremy: Yes, we need to be at a point where we can cover our expenses. Hopefully, I could quit my day job and work at the gallery full-time.

You can join them every Sunday evening from 6-9 for the 'Output Noise' jam, or, be sure to stop down for the Gregory Paul CD release that's going on January 24th @ 8pm.

The Gallery At Potential Life Studios is located at 34 Elton St. (behind Freetime Magazine on University Ave.)

- Games

Right now, we're watching

ACT:LIVE presents!

2009-01-06T09:01:00.000-08:00

THE ACT:LIVE MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERE

The kickoff event of the new year @ ONE Nightclub (1 Ryan Alley)

THIS IS NOT HIP-HOP AS USUAL!
The music video premiere of Reece Q and The Soul Slingers!

A red carpet event to showcase the talent of area music video director Mike Dispenza, preview things to come from ACT:LIVE and highlight the explosive talent of Reece Q, DJ Nugz, Sam.I.Am, Tim Tones, Ric Rude and The Soul Slingers!

Reece Q
(ACT:LIVE MUSIC)

Reece has just recently finished his debut video for the first single, ‘Promotional Use Only’, off of his debut CD, ‘Quote To Self’.

We will be premiering his video for the first time on 27 feet of screen at ONE restaurant and nightclub! Sick!

Here’s what Frank DeBlase (City Newspaper) had to say about Reece:

"He may be new to the scene, but not to the game. Rochester rapper Reece Q...has a languid, lyrical style rooted in words and their meanings, not just their rhythmic convenience. Language is his monkey bars. He raps rapid and slick though stories and diatribes while The Goonies Crew - Husky, DJ Nugz, Sam.I.Am and Woody - lays it down.

Amidst a wash of mainstream hip-hop with all its real and imagined pitfalls, artists like Reece Q keep it positive, honest, and real. It's tight, it's right. It's relevant hip-hop."

- Frank DeBlase (City Newspaper)

Soul Slingers
We will also be showing The Soul Slingers video, ‘Native of the City’ as well as see them perform live. Mike Dispenza directed ‘Native of the City’ this past summer..

All of this leading to a high energy DJ set from none other than international superstar, Kill The Noise on the 1s and 2s until 2am.

The evening will go as follows:

10:00pm Welcoming w/ Tim Tones and finger foods

11:00pm Introduction w/ James Niche (founder, ACT:LIVE) - video premiere and performances

12:00am Kill The Noise

The night will be filled with local celebrity appearances, surprises and videos that can arguably be labeled as the best to ever come out of Rochester, NY.

This is an 18+ event and has no certain dress code, HOWEVER….

This will be a press heavy event and I urge all of you who plan to attend to dress nicely and represent hip-hop with some class.

Make sure you arrive on time!

Pricing at the door will be $10 at the time of the event; pricing will reduce at midnight.

Tickets are available for $5 now at the following outlets in Rochester, as well as through ACT:LIVE.

Krud Co.
(Howell St.)

Lakeshore Record Exchange
(Park Ave.)

Love Hate Tattoo
(Alexander St.)

Dorje Adornments
(Alexander St.)

Thread Clothing
(South Ave.)

Record Archive
(Rockwood St.)

World Hair
(Park Ave.)

Red Bull is sponsoring the event, so all Red Bull drinks will be drastically reduced in price!

All brought to you by the good folks at ACT:LIVE, RIPROC, Ekonomix Clothing, Mike Dispenza, Red Bull and ONE Nightclub.

ALL GOING DOWN JANUARY 10th!

The ACT:LIVE Music Video Premierew/ Reece Q, Soul Slingers & Kill The Noise

2009-01-05T22:01:00.000-08:00

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT!
Tickets will be more at the door!

Act:Live will be hosting a very fashionably upscale event to ring in the new year on January 10th, 2009 @ One (1 Ryan Alley) to premiere the eagerly-anticipated Reece Q music video, "Promotional Use Only" (2008, Act:Live), directed by Mike Dispenza @ Blue Monk Films and produced by James Niche of Act:Live. The event will also showcase the burgeoning talents of Kill The Noise and The Soul Slingers.

This is going down on:
Saturday, January 10th 2009

10:00 PM - grazing
11:00 PM - video premiere
12:00 PM - kill the noise

This event will be open to:
Anyone over the age of 18+ with proper identification...
18+

This will take place inside the venue of:
One Restaurant & Lounge
1 Ryan Alley Rochester, NY 14607

One is located a few paces down Ryan Alley on the right hand side if you're coming from East Avenue. Walk right past Pearl (349 East Avenue), down the alley, and it's right there.

Right now, we're watching:

Coach Build Parsells"Here I Go Again"

2009-01-04T14:11:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

Yesterday, January 3rd, I had the privilege of working on local hip-hop icon and artist, Coach Build Parsells', video shoot for his single "Here I go Again".

We spent the day bouncing around locations like his recording studio, a bodega on Parsells Ave. and underneath the Hope bridge downtown.

Working on this shoot was a lot of fun and I learned a lot about Coach P and his crew. Being the person I am, I find it interesting to see the many sides of the people and artists I work with in this city.

Rochester is not Hollywood, there is no Hollywood money, there are no Hollywood crews. But for what we don't have financially in this town amongst artist, we make up in heart and hunger.

We do the best with what we have in this town and community is all we have. The relationships I have gained through doing what I do and being involved with others is more rewarding than any dollar amount you could put in my hand. I love my city, I love the people working hard here and I wish the best to every artist here who are really doing their thing.

Don't ever let someone tell you you can't do something you want to.

Don't ever let any one in the industry of entertainment tell you who you are and how your art should be created. Don't ever bow down for dollars. Do the best you can and believe in what you do to the fullest. Sometimes you have to be your biggest fan. The results have been proven through the hard work of many area artists who have grown over the years and are progressing through sacrifice.

It takes a lot of volunteer work and selflessness on all parties involved in any production.

Coach P and his daughter, Snacks, Destroy, Kill, Scrag and all the other artists were a pleasure to work with at the shoot yesterday and when this video comes through, the hard work and hunger will come through with a million dollar looking video.

(coincidentally, Coach just called me as I am writing this...ha)

As for Coach, he has a number of projects in the works including videos, music and a feature to come onto ACT:LIVE tentatively called "Coach's Corner".

He has a daughter, bills to pay and works hard to get it all done along side producing some of the best tracks to come out of Rochester.

He has a new studio space above the Eyeconz Entertainment studios on Central Ave. We can expect a lot more from him coming within the next year. And, speaking of Eyeconz, I have to say a few things...

Those guys work. Period. Now, I know there are a lot of producers in this city who do their thing (I work for some of them, so no disrespect), but these guys are in the studio every morning with coffee in hand and ready to work. These guys aren't out blowing money at the bar and clothes, they invest everything they have into what they do.

For wherever it takes them, I wish them all the best and I look forward to working with them in the future.

Cheers to Coach P, Destroy, Snacks, Nikal Fieldz and God Money Music.

Keep your eyes and ears open for Coach's video "Here I go Again", available on Vimeo and YouTube soon.

- Games

Right now, we're watching:

SURG3ON G3N3RAL TREEO!Rochester's Latest Addition To A New Sound

2009-01-02T11:30:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

Hip-hop has a new member to it's team here in Rochester and with just a few small shows under their belt and an opening slot at the Cassidy after-party at Dub Land Underground. Who, you ask? The Surgeon General Trio, comprised of Miguel Urbina on the skins, Dusted Diamonds (Woody) on the MPC and none other than Melvin Dovewing (Reece Q's alter ego) on the mic.

They have a really slick sound and the whole concept is a lot of fun.

The stage set-up is very lounge-y, with candles adorning the stage and comfortable, plush furniture that gives the audience a very home-like feel.

I've seen them several times within the past two months and it gets better every time. Melvin (Dovewing) has decided to take vocals from the Reece Q CD, Quote To Self, and translate them into a live remix with live instrumentation.

The boys may be onto something that is quickly gaining attention from Dub Land Underground patrons. Cheers to them for bringing the funk.

The Surgeon General Trio! will be performing as an opening act for the upcoming show with Louis Logic (Fat Beats Records, NYC) at Dub Land Underground on January 17th.

Be there or you will most likely die in a car accident if you go somewhere else...that's what I was told.

- Games

Right now, we're watching:

R.I.P.Spike's on Monroe

2009-01-02T11:01:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

After about five years of serving Rochester, Spike's on Monroe Ave (across from Oxford's), has closed it's doors to drunken misfits of Monroe. Just as Tim Tones, Rochester hip-hop DJ, began to create a steady night for local artists to practice their craft away from the big stage.

We had a lot of fun there for the past six months, throwing some great parties right before the holidays, sneaking in our own liquor and passing blunts in the parking lot.

It was a place where hip-hoppers could do their own thing amongst their peers and test new material.

It was also a place that never got cleaned and was falling apart. The fact that the tap beer tasted worse than big-foot's dick probably didn't help either.

We wish Donna, the now ex-owner, the best of luck if she is planning another venture in town. It's too bad.

So, now we find the next great spot to fill with our pre-holiday madness and hip-hop mayhem.

Rest In Peace, Spike's. It was good while it lasted.

- Games

Right now, we're watching:

Pearwood JamesBenefit Show @ Lovin' CupJanuary 8th, 2009

2009-01-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

Indie rock's two-headed stepchild, Pearwood James, is hitting the stage January 8th for an unforgettable evening of triumphant guitars and quaking drums balanced between the sheets of sanity in the bed of the not-so-sane.

There's an interview I did with the guys you can find in the archives, but to refresh your memory, it's a talented folk-ish duo from Rochester, NY.

They have an EP out at the moment and you can check out a few of their songs on MySpace.

They both have worked in the metal genre here in Rochester with a few bands, but their music now is much more minimalist. Influences of classic Seattle nonsense is metaphorically dubbed over tasty blues and jazz references in the percussion and guitar.

The boys will be performing with a complete back-up band, for the first time I believe.

The proceeds for the event go to the Foster family. The Foster family lost their house to a fire this past November.

Appearing with Pearwood James will be:

(Common)
Lauren O'Connell
Paul's Grandfather
Zach H

All this goes down on January 8th, 2009 @ 8:00pm
@ Lovin' Cup (300 Park Point, Rochester, NY)

- Games

Right now, we're watching:

Daryl Palumbo Of Glassjaw and Head Automatica, Appears In Cage Video

2008-12-28T10:33:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

Daryl Palumbo, front man for the infamous, Long island hardcore group, Glassjaw and singer for the electronic-pop outfit, Head Automatica, (produced by Dan The Automator)
has made a recent appearance in Cage's video, 'Shoot Frank'.

Not only has Glassjaw been one of the most illusive bands of our time, but Daryl's struggle with Chrohn's disease has limited almost every bit of touring they have been scheduled to do for the past seven years.

One could assume that he has a good amount of down-time while not being out on the road, so I could see that leading to more and more practice on his electronic craft.

In Palumbo's spare time, he has spent many hours on the wheels of steel, be it at a hip-hop joint or various dance clubs around Manhattan. That's where I am assuming he has made this connection with Cage.

Cage, also a member of the Manhattan music community and high on the Definitive Jux Records roster, has crossed paths with Palumbo on this airy hip-hop track, 'Shoot Frank'.

Check out the video, not too shabby.

- Games

Rebel Radio 4 & 5Buffalo, NY 12/27

2008-12-25T21:24:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

This Saturday is my birthday. It's my dirty, f-in' 30 to be exact, and I'll be spending my night as manager of Reece Q and ACT:LIVE representative.

It's not exactly what I thought I would be doing for my thirtieth, but it's another chance to kill some shit on the road.

Why am I going to be in Buffalo, you ask? Well, Reece Q's 'Jazz Couplets 2.3' from the 'Quote To Self' album, has just been released on 'Rebel Radio 4 & 5'.

The Rebel Radio compilation is something that has been put out for the past four years by Deep Thinka Records, out of Buffalo, NY. I believe that the hip-hop group, Fresh Guac, are the founders of this label. Fresh Guac are also natives of Buffalo.

About 5,000 copies of the discs are made and it's all for charity.

There are artists on the compilation ranging from Skyzoo, Pacewon, Kanser, Edreys, Pete Rock, Styles P all the way to Reece Q.

The artists come from all over the country to meet, network and have a good time. Once again, all for charity. I know each performer will only be performing two songs each, so it will be fast-paced and more of a party atmosphere as opposed to a long concert.

So, I'm going out to spread the good word of the Rochester hip-hop gospel. If you can make it out, definitely do.

The event is at Broadway Joe's on Main Street in Amherst, right down the street from UB. Afterwards, some of us will be heading to a drum and bass party going on. The name of which escapes me. But, for more info, ask this gentleman...SMD. You can contact him by clicking HERE.

The Rebel Radio Community Jam, Saturday, December 27th. Broadway Joe's, Buffalo.

- Games

Right now, we're watching:

White Winter Hymnal from Grandchildren on Vimeo.

G Inc.Victor Gomez On The Mic

2008-12-22T08:59:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

Victor Gomez (owner and designer, G Inc. Clothing, Monroe Ave.) is a man I can definitely relate to. A man many of us independent thinkers and entrepreneurs can relate to believe it or not.

He grew up like many of us, was never really a student of the classroom, but studied the streets.

He has worked all over Rochester in the retail industry until it became very apparent to him that no matter where he was working, the top is just not good enough.

He makes his own rules, he writes his own checks and he's got the goods to cash them checks.

He's a proud father, independent thinker, man of the streets and a guy with a lot of heart for this city.

Out of his retail experience and employment pitfalls, came G Inc.. A free-thinking clothing company founded by Gomez and designed exclusively by Gomez.

He has made his mark in Rochester through fashion exhibits, word of mouth, club mayhem and just plain hard work.

His clothes have been seen on celebrities across the country, he has made numerous attempts to brand his name out of state and has adorned the pages of the Rochester Insider for the past two years.

Victor, as he told me, feels he has hit a cap here in Rochester and wants to move onto the next big thing.

He has a son to care for, a business to run and a life to live to the fullest.

He spent some time with me recently to talk about the possibility of G Inc. moving and Method Man donning his gear.

Here's a few minutes with Victor Gomez. Dig In...

ACT:LIVE: So what the hell is new man? I’ve heard some things…

Right now, we are coming up on our three year anniversary. February 1st, we might be moving.

We are definitely getting out of this space, but we’re not sure as to where we are going yet. We are debating moving in with Skyehigh, but we’re keeping our options open.

For now, its Christmas time so we are busy pushing the clothes out the door. People have been coming out of the woodwork to get their custom designs made.

ACT:LIVE: The custom work…are these customers requesting custom work, or is it you just creating personalized clothing?

Some of them are custom designs…most times people bring piles of clothes, including children's clothes, for me to fit my designs onto. When I say custom designs, I mean one of a kind for that piece of clothing. People will bring their clothes to me so I can press my own designs and dress it up.

ACT:LIVE: What is the thought behind moving out of your space, and why Skyehigh?

For one, they are on Monroe Ave. They are neighborhood people who have a client base that I don’t have and I have a client base that they don’t have.

The rent in the space I am in now is exorbitant.

They (property owners) feel that anything on this stretch of Monroe is prime real estate. There’s no ‘prime’ anything around here. We need more local people shopping on the street instead of going to the mall.

We need local love. Everybody is out sweating the malls while we wait for customers down here.

ACT:LIVE: How relevant do you think your product is to this area and this market?

I think there is a sub-culture of people in this city, whether it’s skateboarders, club kids, ravers, rock kids…I would like to think that I offer a product that they can all enjoy. So, I think what I’m doing is definitely relevant to Rochester.

I think I have reached a point of ‘graduation’ with the company, it’s onto the next thing now.

ACT:LIVE: What is the next thing in your eyes?

I hope that things develop further with some of the people I am reaching out to.

I’m sending some clothes out to the producer of a new film, ‘Sinners and Saints’. Method Man will be in the movie and hopefully we will see him rocking G Inc. designs.

I just sent out a box of clothes to them, so I’m hoping to see Method Man, as the lead actor, rocking my hoody.

I’m really pushing my clothes out of town right now.

I have people in Atlanta, Florida and all over looking for our clothes. I’m not saying fuck Rochester, because I have a lot of work to do here at home, but I am definitely expanding my market.

I owe a lot to this city. I opened up my shop a mile away from where I grew up.

I’m here; it’s just time to get more local love.

I don’t sell posters and knick-knacks, I sell clothes and I make them.

You can go to the mall and buy an $80 hoody, but my hoody would smash it.

ACT:LIVE: Have you advertised at all?

I push my clothes out at the clubs, through fashion shows and word of mouth. I don’t spend money on advertising; the clothes speak for themselves and bring people in.

Guerrilla marketing man, you gotta get out there and do it for you.

I go out with my crew, bring cameras and take pictures. It’s all about the vanity of the public. They love to see pictures of themselves, so I put them up on the website and the MySpace.

They love to see themselves and I love seeing them in my clothes.

ACT:LIVE: Is there a message that you would like to convey to your audience and mine?

We all need more local love, man. Just like with the article you did with Nick (Nick Giordano, owner Dorje Adornments), we need more awareness to reach out the city and the suburbs.

People are really missing out on how special our little neighborhoods are.

There are a lot of unique people, unique places to shop, get pierced and get tatted up.

Still, after three years, there are people that don’t know about me. So, is my job done here yet? No.

It’s a continuous battle to get people downtown to shop.

People can be like sheep. There’s a path, it’s called 590, it leads you right to the mall. There’s another path, it’s called the mall parking lot, people will park a mile away and still go there to shop. Why?

Down here is a different path and people don’t choose to take it. I don’t know why, because there are some really fun places to go down here.

Aaron's Alley, Poster Art, Mercury Posters, Lucky Lotus Tattoo, Thread Clothing on South Ave. and even the little pizza shops are a great places to go and you won’t get anything like these places at the mall.

Plus, you can support independent businesses created by people who have lived here their whole lives. Why would you not want to support that?

Don’t be seasonal either. You walk through the mall parking lot in the snow, so why not on Monroe Ave.? It’s warm in here, we have music, movies and we will treat you like family.

The bottom line is this…my customers like to look good and have a good time. I would like to think that we offer that good time and keep people looking good and happy…period.

I've said it before and I'll preach it until the day I die in this city...

SUPPORT LOCALS!

G Inc. has a unique thing going on downtown, Victor will be sure to help you out with whatever you need (unless it's directions to the mall), so get off your suburban boat and sink that shit.

Rochester is where it's at. Rochester has the fashion sources you want and need.

Do you really want to look like every other toolbag that buys clothes from the mall?

You preach that you don't, so once again...Fuck The Mall.

G Inc. is located at 639 Monroe Ave., right across from Oxfords.

- Games

Right now, we're watching:

White & Nerdy from waymoby on Vimeo.

"Indy Dude Of The Year"James Niche

2008-12-20T23:45:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

In-dy [in-dee]

(noun)
1. Indianapolis, Ind.
2. the Indianapolis 500
(adjective)
3. of or pertaining to the Indianapolis 500
(pronoun)
4. A person who performs an act that makes them seem 'whipped' to their significant other
5. Short for Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford

Dude [dood,dyood]

(noun)
1. A man excessively concerned with his clothes, grooming and manners
2. Slang. fellow, chap
3. A person reared in a large city
4. An urban easterner who vacations on a ranch

I want to sincerely thank the Rochester Insider for thinking of ACT:LIVE and finally paying a bit more attention to the local scene within the past few months.

There are a couple people over at Insider that I really like and would like to give a shout out to...

Rich Paprocki - photography
Emily Shearing - writer

These guys have been helping out a lot and have a great attitude. So, cheers guys.

The title is a bit vague and almost funny, but I'm flattered.

Thanks really goes to all of you who have been attending events and having a good time. The people are really what keep us going.

Cheers, Rochester.

- Games

Right now we're watching:

Life as a Movie from Gun on Vimeo.

RIPROC & Turntable Throwdown Presents...The Turntable Throwback

2008-12-17T19:21:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

Every promoter knows that the best nights of the year to be out with friends is right before the holidays, be it Thanksgiving or Christmas, everyone wants to go out and see their friends and get wasted before they return to their families the next day.

The boys at RIPROC and Tim Tones put on a show this past Thanksgiving Eve titled the 'Turntable Throwback', at Spike's of all places, and it went off like a bomb.

They are returning to Spike's this coming Tuesday night for another night of musical mayhem.

These DJs play tunes from all over the musical map in case you're wondering. This isn't a drum and bass party, it's not a rave and it's not a hip-hop show. It's a pop amalgamation of everything you love, crammed into a tiny space and projected through some sick subs, compliments of Wi Sound.

Tim Tones, EWUN, Code-D and DJ Banshee take the floor Tuesday night, December 23rd at Spike's on Monroe Ave.

Check the flier for more details or go to RIPROC online.

- Games

Right now we're watching:

Girl's World from The Scratch on Vimeo.

The ACT:LIVE Interview WithDJ KLEVER

2008-12-16T13:15:00.000-08:00

video: mike dispenza
werd: james niche

Last Wednesday, I found the opportunity of a lifetime to interview not only one of the world's most renowned and sought after DJs, but a guy I have also been a great fan of for several years.

With the help of Mike Dispenza and Blue Monk Films, I sat down with him for a candid interview at The Ugly Sweater Party.

Sit back and enjoy this one. It looks like a million bucks. Cheers Mike.

That was a thrill. Big ups to Kill The Noise, Pat Gaffney, Mike Dispenza, Lucky Strike, RIPROC and DJ Klever.

Peace kids...

- Games

Channel 13 Throwback!

2008-12-15T16:52:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

I was born in 1978 and had no idea this was going on around me in Rochester...do you think this gave way for inspiration for a certain 'Ron Burgundy' tale?

This ad is ridiculous. Cheers WHAM 13.

- Games

"...fuck the mall."Dorje Adornments

2008-12-14T17:40:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche
foto: al fox

"You get what you give", reads the sticker on the scanner at Dorje Adornments, Nick Giordano and Bonnie Harter's body and fashion baby.

I think there is no slogan that suits the shop and it's attitude better.

Long time DJ and pierce-ologist, Nick Giordano has been helping to make the world a 'prettier place' since the late nineties and has taken his expertise and fashion taste to new heights with his space below Love Hate Tattoo.

To those that don't know, Dorje Adornments has been open for close to three years below Love Hate Tattoo on Alexander Street in downtown Rochester.

It's a great place to relax, learn about the culture of piercing in fashion and get back with some Erykah Badu.

I spent some time with Nick Giordano this week to find out a little more about this DJ/Owner and what really makes the business tick...

ACT:LIVE: Give us a brief history on the shop and yourself, Nick.

Well, I started out at another shop as an assistant manager, and then moved on to another shop as a piercer. I went through the whole piercing thing and doing it other people’s way, but other people weren’t doing what I really wanted to do.

They weren’t carrying the jewelry I wanted or taking piercing to the level I thought it should be at.

ACT:LIVE: What are your thoughts on what it should be like?

I thought it should be a more fashionable thing. It should be more than just going to the mall and buying plastic plugs that a million other people have.

It should be more about really beautiful jewelry and a great place to put it on yourself.

That’s how Dorje (Adornments) was born.

ACT:LIVE: How did you select the location for the shop? Did it just make sense to open up below Love Hate Tattoo?

Jett (owner, Love Hate Tattoo), called me one day and said that the record store was moving out downstairs and he wanted to offer the space to me because he thought I should open a piercing shop in it.

Sure enough everything fell into place and I got all the money needed to open it…that’s kind of how it started.

There is a lot of crap (jewelry) in this city…and people are charging a lot of money for it.

I would rather sell beautiful jewelry at a lower profit margin.

My biggest motivation behind opening was offering fabulous jewelry.

I know that not all of Rochester has seen all the jewelry I have, but I know when they see it, they will love it.

ACT:LIVE: What kind of jewelry do you offer?

We have stone, we have hand-carved wood designs and a lot more, but the most important thing to us is that they are all fair-traded and organic.

The idea of selling only fair traded jewelry is the belief that me and Bonnie (Harter, the not-so-silent partner and good friend of Nick) founded Dorje on.

We have expanded too. We just got a brand new line of 14k gold and leather in. We’re trying to show Rochester that the art is far deeper than just a few beads on your face.

You can come here and support fair trade and not buy cheap plastic plugs and cheap metals made in sweat shops for the masses.

ACT:LIVE: Where did the name ‘Dorje’ come from?

It’s a loose translation of the Tibetan word for indestructible. It can also be interpreted as an ‘indestructible or unshakeable foundation built on truth’.

I thought it was the perfect (name) for the shop…it’s timeless.

ACT:LIVE: How long have you been open?

Two and a half years. April will be our three year anniversary.

ACT:LIVE: Have you ever advertised much?

We never really advertised, word of mouth and keeping clients has been our biggest asset…the business just kind of formed from that.

We have a really tight knit group of friends and clients in this city that know when they come here they will get treated like family and will get beautiful, ethical products.

I love being apart of people’s lives and make people happy on a daily basis.

We also refer all of our clients to area merchants when they are from out of town or just don’t know where to go.

We will always refer to friends to places like World Hair, to get their hair done, or Thread or G Inc. to get some of the craziest clothes in Rochester.

Why go to the mall? Fuck the mall. You look a lot better when you don’t shop at the mall anyways.

ACT:LIVE: Well said.

That’s the way we think here.

That’s what really great about ACT:LIVE, too. You are supporting local talent and directing people to what is going on in Rochester.

Why not have people looking better and doing cooler things. We help to make the world a prettier place because, trust me, there are a lot of busted looking people running around out there.

ACT:LIVE: So what’s new with your personally? You have been DJ Nikl for years now and have a new mix, right?

I had a residency at Tilt for a long time and have a new mix out, yes. I’m spinning some records at 289 (289 E. Alexander), this Wednesday, with Jonny (Herbert).

ACT:LIVE: Any parting words?

I can’t express enough how important supporting local business is to me. We support it all the way and say fuck the mall.

There are so many creative businesses like Thread where you can get stylish clothing, G Inc. where you can get crazy designs, Victor (Gomez, owner G Inc.) is such a sweetheart.

Or, Godiva’s if you want some vintage, it’s all here. So…please support your local businesses.

Dorje Adornments carries these fine products:

Evolve - Stone PlugsHERE

Tawapa - Fair traded, hand carved organic designs in bloodwood, ebony, sabowood and buffalo horn. As well as Hill Tribe Silver, and eyelets in .925 Sterling Silver and 18k goldHERE

Maya Organics - Bloodwood, manzinita burlwood, areng wood, and granidillo plugsHERE

Heart on Sleeve - Locally made hardwood plugsHERE

Gorilla glass plugs - Soda lime, borosilicate and diachronic glass plugsHERE

Body Vision Los Angeles - 14k white and yellow gold jewelry with real gems (we are the only store in Rochester to carry their line, worn by Kimora Lee Simmons and Jenna Jameson)HERE

Industrial Strength - Stainless steel and titanium internally threaded body jewelryHERE

The Wildcard Collection - High fashion leather holster bags and beltsHERE

Once again, they are right below Love Hate Tattoo at 217 1/2 Alexander St. Rochester, NY and also online HERE

See you round kids...

- Games

Right now we're listening to:

Jill Scott "A Long Walk" ("Who Is Jill Scott? Words & Sounds Vol. 1", 2000, Hidden Beach)

Lucky Strike, RipRoc & ACT:LIVE present...DJ KLEVER

2008-12-13T12:56:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche
foto: al fox

Last Wednesday night the Lucky Strike Crew (Nickl Bag Of Funk, Handlebar & Flipsicle, RipRoc & ACT:LIVE), brought you the Ugly Sweater Party at Montage Music Hall.

The event was highlighted by the appearance of world-renowned DJ and producer, DJ Klever.

The downstairs looked great and everyone seemed to have a fun time with the sweater theme. If you look at some of the pictures, this party looked straight out of the Cosby Show. HA!

The upstairs, ACT:LIVE room was a lot of fun and I sincerely thank Downer, Cash, Crook, Murdock, Scatter, Toastmaster, Justin, Wi Sound, L.E.S.H., A-Ko, Audiowright, Reece Q, SMD, Ric Rude, Moon, Tim Tones, Nicholas G. Baish (Visualization), Ted from SubSoil, Grizzly and Hoogs for a good show up there. Big props to Elliot Kirby at Ekonomix Clothing.

Besides the pictures we have, and the ones yet to come in, ACT:LIVE with the help of Blue Monk Films, has recorded a timeless video interview with DJ Klever that will be released this coming week online, everywhere.

The interview looks like 10 million dollars and I would like to sincerely thank Mike Dispenza and his partner for an incredible job. It looks so amazing.

Look forward to that and more pictures elsewhere online.

Peace kids...

- Games

Right now we're listening to:

Snoop Dogg "For All my N***** & Bitches" ("DoggyStyle", 1993, Bad Boy Records)

REECE Q Video Premier Info

2008-12-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

There is more info coming soon, but what you need to know now is that ACT:LIVE is premiering Reece Q's video 'Promotional Use Only', along with The Soul Slingers 'Native of the City' January 10th at ONE Nightclub.

Tix are $5 presale and are available at these fine locations in Rochester....

Krud Co.

Dorje Adornments

Love Hate Tattoo

World Hair

Record Archive

Lakeshore Records

Thread

& all performers

It will be an evening to showcase the incredible talent of music video director Mike Dispenza and tow of the hottest hip-hop acts in Rochester, NY.

More info coming soon folks...plenty more.

- Games

Reece Q Cd ReleaseVideo Footage

2008-12-12T11:53:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche
video: mike dispenza

Here's a little footage from the August 23rd release of Reece Q's 'Quote To Self' CD. Available now on ACT:LIVE music and all indie record stores in Rochester, NY as well as Batavia.

Big ups to Mike Dispenza for the video and the edit.

- Games

ACT:LIVE presents...The Future Sound Pics & Thanks

2008-12-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche
foto: djb

Ok, so I can't be that guy that does a big review on his own event, but I have to at least got to get the pictures up online and acknowledge quite a few people who helped to make this event a success.

From the looks on everyone's faces, the event was another successful chip into the Rochester hip-hop scene. I really feel it's safe to say we are doing away with hip-hop as usual in Rochester.

To the performers, once again, you all did a great job. To Nicholas G. Baish, the visual display downstairs was incredible and set new tone to the stage. To Elliot at Ekonomix Clothing, thanks for the gear and great attitude. And, last but certainly not least...huge thanks go out to Crook, Downer and Cash for painting some sick hats all while being crammed in a two foot box.

Those hats looked sick and I know everybody dug it.

Those guys really do work their asses off at the events they attend, so please, make sure you tip them when you see them tomorrow at the Ugly Sweater Party. (Montage-9pm)

Crook, Downer and Cash will be painting on vinyl records at the party tomorrow, for free. Tip them....do it.

I need to thank Drew Nye and the staff at Dub Land Underground for being helpful every step of the way in planning events there, we all look forward to the next one.

I guess the list of thanks goes like this...

Big thanks go to:
Drew Nye, Mike Dispenza, Tim Tones, Elliot and Ekonomix Clothing, Pat Gaffney, Frank DeBlase, Betsy Matthews, Emily Shearing, Rich Paprocki, Dick Storms, Danny 'Knuckles' Sullivan, Jennifer Oster, Coach Build Parsells, Optix, D-Rock, E Moore, Rey Hook, Snacks, Destroy, SubSoil, Extreme Graphix Tattoo, Leonius, Thread, Krud Co., Colleen Condit, Jason Bayer, Lucy Warnett, PyInfamous, Sam.I.Am, DJ Nugz, Husky, Dusted Diamonds, Hrvi Who, Reece Q, Bobby Light, Hoogs, SMD, Grizzly, RIPROC, A-Ko, Crook, Downer, Cash, Nicholas G. Baish, Dub Land Underground...

That is in no particular order and if I forgot someone let me know...

Also, if anyone has pics or video from the event please submit it, we would love to put it up!

Check out the next attachment with info on the next event, Live! From The City Of Molotov, In The Province Of Gun

- Games

Right now we're listening to:

Ill Bill "My Uncle" ("The Hour Of Reprisal", 2008, Uncle Howie)

Live! From The City OfMolotovDecember 13thDub Land Underground

2008-12-07T11:51:00.000-08:00

ACT:LIVE Rochester & Dub Land Underground present...

LIVE! FROM THE CITY OF MOLOTOV
IN THE PROVINCE OF GUN

An event featuring live hip-hop acts from both Rochester and Buffalo, a debut performance from Dusted Diamonds (aka Woody) of The Goonies and a visual performance from the talent of animator, Nicholas G. Baish.

Come join us at Dub Land Underground (315 Alexander St.) for a night of regional networking for Rochester hip-hop artists, brand new performances and visual stimulation on Saturday, December 13th @ 9:00pm.

Everyone Wear White!
To aid with the visual show in the audience, we encourage everyone to wear white clothing. We know it's after Labor day, but get over it and have some fun. Dub Land has low ceilings so the light will be half covering the crowd, so wearing white will definitely add to the results of the projector!

:From The City Of Molotov:

Reece Q - ACT:LIVE, Rochester

Having recently released his debut disc, 'Quote To Self' and wrapping up his debut video for the single, 'Promotional Use Only', Reece Q is quickly making his mark in Rochester hip-hop with his signature lyrical style and tasteful jazz based sound.

Here's what Frank DeBlase of City Newspaper had to say...

"He may be new to the scene, but not to the game. Rochester rapper Reece Q...has a languid, lyrical style rooted in words and their meanings, not just their rhythmic convenience. Language is his monkey bars. He raps rapid and slick though stories and diatribes while The Goonies Crew - Husky, DJ Nugz, and Woody - lays it down.

Amidst a wash of mainstream hip-hop with all its real and imagined pitfalls, artists like Reece Q keep it positive, honest, and real. It's tight, it's right. It's relevant hip-hop."

Reece Q will be performing with:

DJ Nugz - Goonies, Rochester//Sam.I.Am - Goonies, Rochester

++++++++++

The Soul Slingers

Tim Tones - DIY, Rochester//RicRude - DIY, Rochester

Native Of The City
Directed By Mike Dispenza

++++++++++

The Dripps

DDs - Goonies, Rochester//Hrvi Who - ROC DNB, Rochester

++++++++++

Puppet

Grimey, Rochester

_______________
_______________

:From The Province Of Gun:

T-Ridd

(not pictured)

(Black Hoody 6, Buffalo)

++++++++++

Keith Concept

(Black Hoody 6, Buffalo)

++++++++++

C.H.A.N.C.E.

(Black Hoody 6, Buffalo)

_______________

:Visual Assault:

Nicholas G. Baish

RIT, Rochester

_______________

It All Goes Down December 13th 2008
Dub Land Underground
(315 Alexander St.)

Doors @ 9:00pm
18+
$5/$7

::Graciously Sponsored By::

::All Brought To You By::

Indie Music's Evil Genius'REHABDecember 12th

2008-12-06T21:27:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

Indie dance music's "evil genius", David 'Rehab' McGinnis, is working as hard as ever, with even more live instrumentation than ever, on the monthly rehabilitation from the norm known as Rehab.

I spoke with David a few nights ago at the Bug Jar as he was preparing for the show with posters and a few tasty brews from the bar. He was joined by his partner in crime, DJ Tanner, better known as Pauline, everyone's favorite employee at Open Face Eatery on South Ave.

David was expressing how he has been adding more live components to his vinyl record event and how excited he has been playing with all of his musical toys on stage.

(any given friday night behind the decks)

I have witnessed David's live remixing skills and am always impressed. It's a lot of fun to hear some of your favorite tracks with a bit more depth.

With hints of synth, samplers and mini keyboards, his live laboratory is expanding.

It's about two weeks out, but I encourage every one to get on down to one of the most fun monthly parties in Rochester.

For those that don't know, Rehab is all vinyl, all night. No Serato, no CDs, just records.

For the small price of two dollars, you can come down and have some fun with the opportunity to walk home with some of that precious wax. David gives away 20 mix Cds at the beginning of the evening and one of the lucky numbers typed on one of the sleeve is the winning number for the vinyl.

Get One!

The cutting of the wax is an art to be preserved, come have some fun!

Rehab hits the stage on Friday, December 12th at 10pm...

Enjoy Some Rehab Video

See you there kids!

- Games

Right now we're listening to:

Muse "Showbiz" ("Showbiz", 1999, Mushroom Records)

ACT:LIVE ON ART:First Friday, December 5thKurt Ketchum

2008-12-06T17:16:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

I made my rounds about town yesterday evening to get a glimpse at some recent works of art at several galleries boasting programs for the 'First Friday' events.

I couldn't make it to all of them, but did make it to The Rochester Contemporary Art Center, 'ROCO', and the Gallery At Potential Life Studios.

Of course my favorite Rochester painter was at Potential Life, .chickenbone., but also another artist that really hit a nerve, Kurt Ketchum.

Kurt has a design firm based in Rochester called SMUV-Single Minded Urban Vision.

Kurt has done work for Pepsi, AOL, Teaposy, Hanes and Def Jam.

His work is contemporary and deliberate. Very stylized.

I am a big fan of urban art and graphic design work like his.

When asked about his inspirations, he said this...

"Artists of all disciplines and those who have passion for what they spend most of their days pursuing. Bunnies are a source of great inspiration. Very courageous. They encounter life despite their great fears."

I really want to know more about Kurt and what the SMUV brand does, look for an interview in the coming weeks...

For now, check out Kurt and SMUV at this link HERE.

Peace kids...

I have an interview with Reef The Lost Cauze coming this week and also a brief interview with the guys performing at next Saturday's Live! From The City Of Molotov show.....!!

REHAB NEXT FRIDAY AT BUG JAR!!

- Games

Right now we're listening to:

Justice "DVNO" ("Cross", 2008, Ed Banger)

Young Bloods:Thirst For Thier FirstDecember 6th

2008-12-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

Some of you may recall a cover we made last summer with a young man named Joey Arena on it.

I did an interview with Joey about his new project,
Young Bloods.

If you haven't had a chance to listen to their music, definitely click the link on the page where our local links are.

In a world of recycled, pop hash, Young Bloods are bringing something fresh to the Rochester rock table.

Maybe they've discovered it takes more than some eyeliner and kitschy guitar moves to actually be a band. Rochester musicians take note.

The sound is fresh, it's clean and Joey Arena makes no apologies.

Out of the ashes of The Boy and His Machine, Joey and fellow band mate Andrew Champion have formed a rock act that seems to be ready to roll right out their van onto the mainstream stage.

The Young Bloods hit the stage this Saturday, December 6th, for their first show at Water Street Music Hall.

They will be performing with Rochester natives, Love or Lust. Love or Lust also being a band formed out of the defunct, Trustkill Records band, Roses Are Red.

Front man Tom Zenns, one time guitarist for Roses Are Red, has taken what he knows and likes about the pop-synth-rock genre and coupled that with a liking for groups like Head Automatica and Army of Freshmen, to make what we now know as Love or Lust (LOL).

Catch both bands, Mandy K, Scarletta and more bands TBA this Saturday at Water Street Music Hall.

Peace Kids...

- Games

Right now we're listening to:

Glassjaw "Cosmopolitan Bloodloss" ("Worship & Tribute", 2002, Warner Brothers)

Happy Birthday Dub Land!Drew Nye Speaks

2008-11-25T22:14:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

Amidst the weekend meat market, better known as East and Alexander, stand a few clubs actually striving for something different in Rochester.

You have One, soon opening their upstairs and utilizing their big screen with different contemporary events. Pearl has been remodeling not only it’s infrastructure but also it’s appeal to many whom have always wondered and Dub Land Underground, offering live music and a laid back atmosphere.

Owner, Drew Nye, native of Rochester and an East High School alumnus, has taken his Jamaican inspired, smoke filled dreams to the spot formerly known as Whiskey.

Dub Land has quickly become home to many people within the hip-hop and reggae community and Drew is looking to branch out beyond those genres as well.

It’s a two-level bar with a great jukebox upstairs and a live music stage downstairs, it literally IS underground.

Drew and company celebrate two years of parties, concerts, late nights and mayhem tonight at Dub Land Underground, 315 Alexander…next to Pontillo’s.

Performing for the evening will be Roots Collider, a live instrument presentation of drum and bass, and LuLu from Thievery Corporation. If you aren’t familiar with Thievery Corporation I suggest you check out this video and see what’s going on. The band is an incredible mix of electronic dance and organic world music.

Roots Collider

A lot of you may know Drew from around the way, but I sat down with him to get a little more out of him. I hope you enjoy…

ACT:LIVE: So, you’re a city guy, huh?

Born and raised, absolutely.

I went to RIT for college and didn’t want to move away from Rochester.

ACT:LIVE: Did you always enjoy music, is that why you opened the bar or was it just a business venture?

I definitely always enjoyed music. I never played music, but my friends were in bands. My older was in a band, even when I was a young teen, so I was always around guys playing music.

His music was always all over the place and so was my parents, so I am definitely a product of that.

ACT:LIVE: Do you know who most of the artists are that come in through the door? There are sometimes a lot of club owners that really don’t know what’s going on in the industry.

Yeah, I was pretty interested in the local music scene before I got into here.

ACT:LIVE: Where did the Dub Land name come from?

When I was in college, I started going to Jamaica every year. That’s where I really developed a love for reggae, as music and culture.

I think it’s very real and very organic as opposed to a lot of music that’s out there now.

It’s calm and peaceful. Those are qualities I look for in both people and music.

ACT:LIVE: So, the name stems from the reggae root obviously…

Yeah, and I was looking around the neighborhood and I saw a lot of clubs that appeal to people that aren’t necessarily coming down here for music or culture, but rather something more basic than that.

I though that we could appeal to the other crowd that is interested in music and is interested in seeing performances.

ACT:LIVE: I think you were the first to have real reggae at East and Alexander.

Tonic used to have a reggae night, but when you think of where the reggae was being played, you think of chasing tail, not love and peace.

I think we are the first at this corner to embrace things like jam bands and live hip-hop.

ACT:LIVE: What’s your relationship been with the other owners at this infamous corner?

Well, you know, I try to get along with everybody. It hasn’t really been a challenge; we all face the same struggles as business people.

We have pretty unique challenges being in the alcohol serving business.

ACT:LIVE: What are some of those challenges?

Marketing is one challenge and keeping violence to a minimum. I mean violence at the corner, not at any particular venue.

We’re also trying to get people into the city that may not normally come to downtown because of intimidation or whatever. Pan handlers never help either.

I think the word of mouth I’ve passed along for the past two years is starting to work.

ACT:LIVE: You really seem to have your ear to the local music pavement, that’s for sure.

Well, I know a lot of artists who have had many hard times with many club owners, whether it’s in Rochester or elsewhere, so I try to stay on the side of the musicians and be fair.

I think with any business, it’s good to be fair to the people you’re working with.

ACT:LIVE: I think you’ve done a very good job of that.

Thank you.

ACT:LIVE: What are your plans for Dub Land?

I would like to see more people come down on nights where they don’t even know what’s playing, but they come down because they know there is music playing period.

We love that everyone comes down for Filthy funk every time they’re in, but I would like to see more fresh faces on the nights when they don’t know who’s playing too. We just want to let everyone know they can come down, every act will be great, it’s priced at a value and it will be a good time regardless what genre of music.

ACT:LIVE: Any revamping in the works for the club?

I would like to see the patio expanded. I’ve considered doing some outdoor shows for more of a festival feel and Miguel has been working hard to upgrade the sound system, I know he’ll continue to work hard on that.

We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback on the sound upgrades since we’ve opened.

ACT:LIVE: The big two year anniversary party is the day before Thanksgiving; tell me about what’s going on.

Roots Collider is playing, I love all those guys. Will and Bill and Jimmy bring a really fun energy. You can’t help but at least bob your head to them.

We’re really excited about LuLu from Thievery Corporation. She’s been playing all over the world with them.

ACT:LIVE: Any other goodies going on for the night?

I’m just really trying to get the word out and treat it like a birthday party for the bar.

ACT:LIVE: One last question…what do you do when you’re not at the bar? I know you’re a golfer.

I would love to say I like to read, but the truth is, when I’m not at Dub Land…I spend time at other bars. (laughs)

Drew and family celebrate two fine years Wednesday, November 26th at Dub Land Underground. Be there.
Peace.

- Games

Right now we're listening to:

Thievery Corporation "The Glass Bead Game" ("Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi", 2006, Eighteenth Street Lounge Music)

RIPROC, LUCKY STRIKE & ACT:LIVE Present...

2008-11-25T13:48:00.000-08:00

GET YOUR TICKETS TO THIS EVENT!
Tickets will be more at the door!

CLICK HERE TO RSVP and be entered to win one of many Kill The Noise, Ludachrist, and RIPROC T-Shirts, among other giveaways for those that RSVP on both MySpace & Facebook...

REST IN PEACE ROCHESTER, LUCKY STRIKE, & ACT:LIVE present an event featuring a LIVE BAND, DJs, MCs, ARTISTS, & FASHION from acclaimed international and local talent.

Join us @ Montage Music Hall, as we fill both rooms of 50 Chestnut Street, Rochester, NY on Wednesday, December 10th, 2008!

Wear your UGLIEST sweater!
Everyone has at least one in their closet. You know what we're talking about. Break out that holiday sweater that your grandma gave you, or better yet, rock one of your dad's Cosby sweaters! Don't have one? Head down to Goodwill this weekend! It's always been a lot more fun when everyone follows the theme as most of you have done at the past events!

Doors Open @ 9:00!

We proudly present...

KLEVER - (Atlanta, GA)

Titles & Awards:
1999 Guitar Center South Eastern Regional 1st place Champion
1999 Kool Mixx Atlanta 1st place Champion
2000 Atlanta DMC Regional 1st place Champion
2000 USA DMC 1st place Champion
2001 USA DMC 1st place Champion
2001 DMC World Champion 2nd place Runner up
2001 ITF USA 1st place Champion (Advanced Categories)
2001 Atlanta Kool Mixx 1st place Champion
2002 USA Kool Mixx 1st place Champion
2003 Atlanta Nike Battle Ground 1st place Champion
2003 Rough Raleigh DJ Battle 1st place Champion
2004 Breaklanta 1st place Champion

"Klever is one of the few and best DJs who can balance technical skill and party rocking. His style is energetic and air-tight.
"
- DJ A-Trak

"...one of the illest DJs on the cut, Klever continues to break barriers with his signature style..."
- Tablist Magazine

There are few DJs that can boast to be the world's best. One such DJ known as KLEVER hails from Atlanta. With titles like 2000 & 2001 USA DMC Champion, he has been described by A-Trak to be "one of the few who can balance technical skill and party rocking", and is labelled one of the best DJs on the planet by DJ Craze. Klever has also proven the ability to adapt. He pushes the bleeding edge of dance music by combining electro house, baltimore club, indie dance, hip-hop, disco, and just about any other style of modern dance music into his sets. Klever has played almost every infamous club or dance party across the globe from Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and beyond. It's truly an honor to have him here in Rochester, and promises to be something not to be missed by anyone!.

It is with great pride that we will also feature local and regional talent...

Kill The Noise - (585)
Slow Roast, Lucky Strike, RIPROC - Electro

Handlebar & Flipsicle - (585)
WRUR - Electro

Nickel Bag Of Funk - (585)
Electro

Routine - (585)
Electro

do5e - (585)
AKA Tim Tones, Games, Nugz, Woody, and featuring Reece Q & Ric Rude
Act:Live - Funk

Hoogs & Murdok MC - (585)
St8cyde Jump Up - Jump Up

Grizzly - (585)
RIPROC - D&B

Wi - (585)
Wi Sound, Jungle Bums - Dubstep

Audiowright - (585)
Shift - Dubstep

L.E.S.H. & A-KO - (585)
Suga-Hi Gang, :Culture - Anything goes!

Scatter MC - (585)
St8cyde Jump Up

HRVI Who - (585)
ROC DNB, Act:Live

Featuring the photography and videography of...

Hanlon Photographic - (585)

Ysa Peréz - (585)

djb - (585)

Graf On Wax!
Crook (FUA), Downer, & Cash will be taking your requests and painting LIVE on vinyl records and giving them to YOU for free ('tis the season for tipping!).

+ =

$5 tickets.

LIMITED Presale Tickets Are Available.

Currently, tickets are available for the ridiculously low price of $5.00. This price will be more at the door, so get your ticket today from any of our outlets, or artists/performers on the line-up!.

Tickets are available for a limited time from these exquisite establishments...

Skyehigh (610 Monroe Avenue - Rochester)
Thread (654 South Avenue - Rochester)
The Ultimate Tattoo & Body Piercing (2933 West Henrietta Road - Henrietta)
Krudco (83 Howell Street - Rochester) (653 South Avenue - Rochester)

Tickets are also available from almost everyone involved in the show.

Graciously sponsored by...

CLICK HERE TO RSVP and be entered to win one of many Kill The Noise, Ludachrist, and RIPROC T-Shirts, among other giveaways for those that RSVP on both MySpace & Facebook.

Drink Specials:
9-10 pm - $2.00 Drafts

This is going down on:
Wednesday, December 10th 2008
Doors open @ 9:00 PM

This event will be open to:
Anyone over the age of 18+ with proper identification...
18+

This will take place inside the luxurious venue of:
Montage Music Hall (AKA Montage Grille)
50 Chestnut Street
Rochester, NY 14604

The main entrance is on Lawn Street, located right across from the Cadillac Hotel on Chestnut.

DJ KLEVER COMES TO ROCHESTER...WHAT?!

2008-11-18T15:04:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

News Flash!

December 10th at a venue to be announced, DJ KLEVER will be crashing through Rochester thanks to our boy EWUN (Kill The Noise, Ludachrist) and Pat Gaffney at RIPROC.

I'm going to be writing another promo piece for this event because ACT:LIVE is integrally involved with the event, but here's some info you might want to know.

If you don't know who KLEVER is, listen up.

He is a DMC World Champion and hails from the ATL, Atlanta, Georgia.

He has been producing music and DJing all over the world for the past ten years and is now a proud DJ for the Cool Kids out of Chicago.

He really came into the circuit through hip-hop, but as an intelligent DJ and producer, quickly moved into the dance scene and very skillfully blends the two styles.

He is a diverse DJ who can cut records like no other and take you to another world on the dance floor. The kid is a rock star.

Rochester's own, Kill The Noise, works with him very closely and we should be honored to be so close to such incredible talent.

Along side KLEVER will be a team of up and coming Rochester DJs such as Nickel Bag of Funk, Handlebar & Flipsicle, Hoogs and many more.

ACT:LIVE will be putting together the upstairs with visual stimulation from animator Nicholas Baish and graffiti art from several artists.

Musically, ACT:LIVE is putting together a live band to translate Reece Q's 'Quote To Self' album into live instrumentation and we will also have several special guests.

That's all for now on the show folks, but tickets are coming and it's going to be fun. December 10th, 2008.

This event is all in part of a monthly function being put together by RIPROC, keep your eyes and ears open.

Peace kids.

- Games

Right now we're listening to:

Chromeo "Momma's Boy" ("Fancy Footwork", 2007, Vice Records)

ACT:LIVE ON ART:Introducing .chickenbone.

2008-11-17T21:39:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

Many of you, who have attended any of the RIPROC events or have stopped in for a drink at Lux or Bug Jar, may have seen some large portraits gracing the walls with the name ‘.chickenbone.’ attached.

Many of the same people have said, ‘Who the hell is .chickenbone.’?

Here is the interview and piece to clear the air.

.chickenbone. is a native of Churchville-Chili and is also known by her government name of Rachael Kimmell.

Rachael is a picture framer and counter girl at Ultimate Tattoo by day and humorous portrait painter by night.

Her work has appeared at Tilt, Pearl, Bug Jar, Lux and she has even won the award for best painter at Artist’s Row (Public Market).

Her greatest accomplishment to date is having her work on exhibit at The Hyaena Gallery in Los Angeles. Her work was presented alongside the work of Scot Olson, Chuck Hodi and Gidget Gein, the one-time bassist for Marilyn Manson.

I have always been intrigued by her work and she seems to have a great personality to match.

I sat down with her last week to find out a bit more about what she does and also her opinion on the Rochester art scene and the progress being made…

ACT:LIVE: My first question is did you go to school for art and have you always lived in Rochester?

I’ve moved about, but lived in Brooklyn while going to school. I went to Pratt, but I don’t like to credit school with my talent.

Out of all the schools I’ve been to, MCC has the best art program.

I have one high school teacher who will always be solely responsible for my interest in art and pushing me in the right direction.

ACT:LIVE: Does that teacher have a name?

That was Mr. Woodard, at Churchville-Chili.

ACT:LIVE: How do you view your art? I mean, what’s the vibe you send out?

I think I have a sense of humor that other people may not see or don’t know how to react to.

I think that comes through with the titles.

ACT:LIVE: You paint a lot of face portraits, are these models in front of you while you paint?

I paint from a lot of photographs. I have a lot of these old journals and magazines and they have the greatest photographs of people. I use those for a basis, and then turn it into whatever it ends up as.

ACT:LIVE: What drove you to portraits?

I’ve always been drawn to people; even as a kid I would do portraits of Garth Brooks and New Kids On The Block. It’s hilarious to look at now.

ACT:LIVE: How old are you?

I just turned 25.

ACT:LIVE: How long have you been involved in the Rochester art community, and what has your involvement been?

Last year I kind of decided to use it or lose it, if you know what I mean.

ACT:LIVE: Meaning, get involved or stop doing it?

Yeah, I never really showed my art before.

ACT:LIVE: Have you found many opportunities to get your work out there?

Yeah, especially working with Pat (Gaffney), he helped me out a lot and gave me my first big push.

He threw the ‘Sunglasses Only’ party at Tilt and that got me back into it.

ACT:LIVE: So you won the award for best painter at Artist’s Row, tell me more about that.

This group of people came into my tent and began scrutinizing and asking what everything was, so at that point I thought I was in trouble because of my tent size.

I didn’t know if they were asking me all these questions because I am a painter and I had prints…I just thought I was in trouble.

So, then they left. Then, they came back and told me I was best in show for painting!

ACT:LIVE: Is there any sort of support that comes along with winning the award or is it just a pat on the back?

Honestly, I’m not really sure. I was just really interested to find out that my demographic is broader than I had imagined.

People that I would have never guessed to be interested in my art were approaching me all day.

It’s much nicer when a total stranger compliments your work than someone who may feel obligated.

ACT:LIVE: I have had many people tell me that the artists in this town desperately need more resources to help get their art sold and into the hands of the marketplace…what are your feelings on what can be done about that and is that important to you?

Well, selling things and making money is all well and good, but if you’re not doing it if you have to do it, then you shouldn’t be doing it.

I love all these alternative art spaces we have like Lux, Bug Jar, salons and Laundromats that want to hang our work. I mean, that’s great, but we also have places like Rochester Contemporary, too.

I can’t tell you the last time they had a big solo show for a Rochester artist.

I say represent the people that are here in Rochester, the people who are really working.

I just think Rochester Contemporary could do a lot more to represent.

ACT:LIVE: Do you know Bleu Cease, the director?

No, I don’t, but if he isn’t going to feature Rochesterians, he should take Rochester off the name.

That’s my only gripe, so to say.

I think we have a really great community though; everything you could ever want is here.

There is every kind of craft person, musician and so on.

ACT:LIVE: Pat Gaffney and the boys of RIPROC have made some really great headway to open the doors for a lot of different artists here in town with their events, how have you been received at those events and how was your experience at the Mash-Up?

I don’t think there was as much focus on the art as there was before, but more on the part of the audience. It’s Halloween and people just want to dress up and get drunk.
I just think there were 10 pounds stuffed into a five pound bag, but I always have a great time. It was a success in the sense that I could get my art on the wall and people could take it in. I win. (laughs)

I think shows like the Ludachrist show are more geared towards the art side of things and people were really more interested in it. They had questions left and right.

ACT:LIVE: What are some of your other favorite art venues…and what is this place, Café Vas?

Café Vas is a cool little place over on Merchants, Mike Hanlon from Hanlon Photographic and Beth Sumner were both showing some work there. It’s a fun little coffee shop in the Merchants neighborhood.

The Potential Life Gallery is a really awesome space, too. They have been bringing in a lot of fantastic art and music.

Every Sunday they do like, a noise music jam night. It’s really cool.

ACT:LIVE: Where did the .chickenbone. thing come from?

Ever have a nick-name that just stuck?

ACT:LIVE: Kind of.

Well, that’s where it comes from.

You won’t forget it, so it’s perfect.

ACT:LIVE: So, where is your next showing?

December 5th, The High Falls Gallery. They’re doing a show called ‘Portraits: Our City, Our People’.

I actually met Sally Winslow, the lady who runs The High Falls Gallery at Artists Row and she invited me into the show, so, big thumbs up to Artists Row, all the way around.

ACT:LIVE: So last question, what kind of music do you listen to?

Tom Waits is the most amazing, ever. I love Morphine, Black Heart Procession, Jedi Mind Tricks, Brother Ali.

ACT:LIVE: And, her superhero name is undoubtedly, .chickenbone..

She’s right, once again proving there ARE cool things to do besides just drink at the bar!!

You can find .chickenbone.’s art at The High Falls Gallery, December 5th and at almost any RIPROC event.

You can also find her at Ultimate Tattoo in Henrietta.

Peace kids!

- Games

Right now we're listening to:

Blu & Exile "The World Is" ("Below The Heavens", 2007, Indie)

Beats For Boards!A City SkateparkCelebrity Fundraiser

2008-11-17T21:00:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

Tim Tones and The Soul Slingers, along with the help of an army of locals including ACT:LIVE artist Reece Q, has put together a special night of music at Spike's on Monroe Ave to raise money for the Rochester city skate park.

If you haven't been reading, I did an interview with the men of Krud Co. to explain what the plans are for this park and they explained to me they were trying to raise a substantial amount of money to get this project under way.

If you want to see a real skate park that operates 24/7 and rides like a dream, then I strongly urge you to come down, donate and have dance to some great music.

If the money doesn't get raised, this city will have "a turd on a tennis court for a skate park", as Aaron Costa so eloquently said.

The party is this Thursday at Spike's. Come on down and meet some of the brightest talent in Rochester and give a little bit out of your pocket for the city.

For more information, contact Tim Tones HERE.

I'll see you all there...

- Games

Right now we're listening to:

Nine Inch Nails "Mr. Self Destruct" ("The Downward Spiral", 1994, Nothing Records)

These Stories And MoreComing Tonight Online

2008-11-17T11:57:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

Things have been pretty busy in the ACT:LIVE world here in Rochester.

We apologize for the lack of content over the past two weeks, but we will be back on track tonight with an interview with local artist, .chickenbone..

That and all the info on the 'Beats for Boards' show at Spike's Thursday, as well as some thoughts on last weekend's Future Sound event.

Peek back by tomorrow morning! Peace kids!....

- Games

FREE hit counter and Internet traffic statistics from freestats.com

ACT:LIVE PRESENTS:

2008-11-08T07:54:00.000-08:00

FUTURE SOUND ROCHESTER

ACT:LIVE ROCHESTER & EKONOMIX CLOTHING are proud to present the second edition of ACT:LIVE events entitled
FUTURE SOUND

This event is the highly demanded follow up to last August's Reece Q CD release party at Dub Land Underground.
It's a huge hip-hop party that will include a live band, MC's, DJ's, local graffiti artists, video animators and urban fashion.

Come join the crew at Dub Land Underground while we fill the upstairs and downstairs with crucial elements of true hip-hop, in a new way.

Here is a video of pics and music from the last show:

Be On Time!!
The doors open up at 9:30pm and the first 100 people who pay the $5 admission ($7 under 21), get a high quality blank trucker hat that will be custom designed by one of our three veteran graffiti artists. Peep them below:

CROOK - (FUA) SICK

(CLOWNER!oner) - (ROC) HOOKER KILLER

LAZ - (SubSoil, Extreme Graffix) Eye Candy

All three of these guys will be lined up at the booth downstairs waiting to design your hats, be sure to tip these guys!

Get Fresh Gear!
Eknomix Clothing will be setting up the booth upstairs and giving away free gear during Reece Q's set. With all the talent performing, you'll be sure to stick around for that and get your fall wardrobe on.

As with every ACT:LIVE event we strive to bring you a visual experience to take home with you. Last time it was with the art of Downer on the stage, creating an urban graffiti scene that took up the entire stage.

Now, we bring you Nicholas Baish. Nicholas is a local animator who will be projecting animations, stills and video anarchy across the entire stage at Dub Land. We are whiting out the back of the stage from corner to corner. Sick, right?

The Future Sound Lineup

.:REECE Q:.
(ACT:LIVE) - Hip-hop, Jazz, Space

Not much needs to be said about this young talent from Rochester, NY, because he shows it all on stage. He has quickly earned a respected spot in Rochester as a talented MC and personality. His verbal skills and syllable trickery lend hand to jazz based beats from space. Credit to his partners in crime on stage, DJ NUGZ and Sam.I.Am., they, along with Husky and Dusted Diamond, have created a classic CD of skillfully selected jazz samples.

DJ NUGZ - (GOONIES, PBR) Live
Sam.I.Am - (ROC, beats) Intelligent

:::::::::
PyInfamous
(Mississippi) - Hip-Hop, Intelligent Discussion

One half of the duo EBB & FLOW and hailing from Crystal Springs, Mississippi, PyInfamous has made a name for himself nationally as a thought provoking MC on a mission to spread the hip-hop gospel. He has just released his latest CD, 'Intelligent Discussion' with the help of local producer Sam.I.Am

::::::
SUBSOIL
(ROC) - earth, funk, Hip-Hop

This band has been making moves all over the region with it's original brand of organic hip-hop hash. Peep the set when LAZ and MOON set the stage for mayhem.

::::::
BUILD & DESTROY
(God Money Music) - Coach P & Destroy, Hip-Hop

Together, Build and Destroy have been making moves all over the eastern half of the United States and are now pushing the release of their latest CDs (pictured). They have started a new music company called 'God Money' and are telling us that the audience is in for a big surprise at the show. For more info, check the ACT:LIVE archives about them.

::::::
Mr. Mumblz
(Turntablist) ROC, Hip-Hop, Ninja

Mr. Mumblz has won a few competitions in the New York region and is gearing up for a turntable routine before Reece Q's set. He lit up the stage last time, get down and see him do it again!

::::::
OPTIX, D-ROCK
(ROC) Beats, Hip-Hop

OPTIX - (Freq Tweak)

D-ROCK - (D-MADDIX)

These guys have been producing local hits like 'Native of the City' with RICRUDE, and various tracks with Reece Q, Rey Hook and E Moore. ('Native of the City' produced by Optix)

They have been cooking up some serious music and are yet another example of the incredible talent in Rochester hip-hop.

The will be playing a few of their beats for you to check out, so instead of just some instrumentals looping, they will be presenting tracks done with E Moore and Rey Hook to get the night started.

E MOORE - (ROC, Hip-Hop)
Rey Hook - (Grey Land, Hip-Hop)

::::::
TIM TONES
(Soul Slingers) - Hip-Hopaholic, Turntablism

One half of the Rochester, hip-hop superduo, Soul Slingers. Tim Tones has made himself a part of Rochester DJ history and works his craft daily throughout the city. His is fresh off his latest release, The Soul Slingers RICRUDE Mix CD and will be warming up the crowd with some lessons.

::::::
Hosted By Hassel Harv
(ACT:LIVE) - Beast, MC, Hip-Hop

Harvey Who, Harvey Wallbanger, Hassell Harv...He's been working on an EP recently and will be keeping the crowd company between sets. He's also performing his local hit, 'Critical Funk'. It's the 'Critical Shit'!

$5!

This event is only five dollars folks. There's no tickets, just first come first serve. Make sure you get down early and get your spot in line to get your gear and custom designs from the sick graffiti crew, last time was pretty packed. There will be some food from Pontillo's and drink specials on both floors. Come and be part of what will be the best hip-hop party of the year in Rochester!

Sponsors and Thanks!

For more information go to any of the artists links on the upper right hand side of this page.

Rochester's Mr. Hollywood

2008-11-04T17:51:00.000-08:00

werd: james niche

One Fairport native and RIT student, is making some serious noise as a music video director here in Rochester. His name is Mike Dispenza.

Korean born and almost self taught, he has been putting out incredible work locally, with artists such as RICRUDE and The Soulingers, to ACT:LIVE's own, Reece Q.

I had the pleasure of working with Mike on a shoot last month for Reece Q's 'Promotional Use Only' video and really got some insight as to what kind of work truly goes into making a music video and film making in general.

Not only was I impressed but extremely thankful.

He has an eagle eye and a keen business sense for someone his age.

Read on as I sit down with mike and talk about the music video business in Rochester and also explore the ACT:LIVE music video premiere and red carpet event this coming January.

Mike: I’m Mike Dispenza, I’m twenty three and I’m from Fairport, NY.

I was born in Korea, I moved to Fairport when I was three years old.

I had a pretty normal childhood. I liked video games and electronics a lot. I really liked anything with moving images, which was the biggest thing for me.

ACT:LIVE: What was the movie spark?

When I was about six or seven, I went to a laser light show with my family for Christmas and was mesmerized by it. It was at the planetarium.

I remember asking my brother, who was next to me, “Can we do that”.

I asked because we always did little projects and arts and crafts things together.

He said yes, we can. I remember that moment vividly because I couldn’t believe it was possible, but it made me so excited to create something like that for a ceiling show at home.

We never actually did it, but I believe that if he hadn’t told me I could, I may have led down a different path.

My parents knew I was into film, so they would take me down to the community darkroom and they would get me into all the arts in general.

It was about ninth grade that I started to see it as a career.

ACT:LIVE: I heard you really got your start shooting skate videos with your friends. Is that true?

I was really into skating and I would steal my parent’s video camera and go film my friends skating all the time.

My parents didn’t like that, so somehow I got my own camera.

I have boxes and boxes full of 8mm tapes, VHS tapes and miniDVR tapes of all my friends. We made so many videos.

That’s where I really learned to become a camera operator.

I used to skate a lot but I sort of transitioned into the videographer.

This was all at about the age of sixteen and seventeen when it was fun and wasn’t a job. I just did it all for the hell of it never really expecting anything.

From there I just wanted to film more and more things.

ACT:LIVE: You are attending RIT and a graduating this year, right?

Yeah, when I got out of high school I went into the RIT Film School.

RIT has definitely been a lot of fun.

Going into college, I had already been doing crappy skating edits for years so that and camera work were nothing new for me.

Because I didn’t get into RIT right away, due to grades, when I got in I think I was a little bitter. I went in and kind of sized everyone up, wondering what they had that I didn’t.

It was a humbling experience; there are so many talented kids who go to school there.

There are so many resources you can utilize to become a better film maker.

Overall, I have learned that making professional films is a collaborative process and you really have to have trust in your friends and peers ideas and talents.

ACT:LIVE: Are music videos your focus and aim for a career?

I want to pursue music videos, short films and eventually, feature films.

When you’re doing music videos, you are basically labor for hire under the direction of a label or artist, so you are kind of under their control, but you can still make a great piece of work on someone else’s money. That’s a great thing about doing a commercial or video.

The end goal of almost any filmmaker is to do feature films, I think. I mean, that’s what we all fall in love with as kids going to theatres.

ACT:LIVE: What are your favorite types of movies?

The first movie I really loved was ‘Dumb and Dumber’. It was a really smart movie you could watch over and over.

I really like director Paul Thomas Anderson and the guy who made ‘City of God’.

ACT:LIVE: What is your take on film making in Rochester and the resources the city has?

I was talking with another filmmaker about this recently. We agree that there is a real need for filmmakers here and there are so many resources. There’s musicians who need video work and businesses as well. There’s no need to outsource to New York or elsewhere.

The video talent needs to unite and work together more often.

The filmmakers that I really respect are at RIT, and I really like Neil Dhand. Film making aside, he is a really entertaining person.

I learned so much from him about carrying yourself as a director and being helpful and respectful.

There’s an artistic side to directing, but there’s also a social responsibility as well.

Somebody that I really have to give respect to is Barry Sonders of Film Orange.

He has done a lot to get work into Rochester as opposed to taking it down to New York or Los Angeles.

He’s busting his ass to make sure big acts get into Rochester to shoot.

That helps to keep jobs here.

ACT:LIVE: There are an abundance of great locations here as well.

Yeah, there are.

ACT:LIVE: How did you make the RICRUDE connection to start work on their video?

I started going out to try to tap into the Rochester music scene and ended up meeting John Viviani of Filthy Funk, who then introduced me to RIC. I met John through Mike Catone, a sick trumpet player I did a video for last year at the Flatiron Café.

I have learned when to say no to a project if it’s something I don’t really want to do. There are many hip-hop artists out there that show up and do absolutely nothing on a set, are lazy and really think once they’re on set, they made it.

I never got that from RIC, ever. So, for me, it’s a pleasure to work with him and for him. I know that he is the type of guy that will work hard and do everything he can to get the job done, so I make sure that I give it right back. Guys like that make me want to work even harder.

There are so many talented and enthusiastic musicians here in Rochester.

ACT:LIVE: So at the end of the day, where do you want to be?

At the end of the day, I just want to be known for my work. I don’t care if people can recognize me, I just want my work to speak for me. There’s a reason I’m behind the scenes. (laughs)

So far, it’s been a very fun year. I never envisioned myself to be here five years ago, sitting here talking to you and having the relationships I have now.

I hope to stay here in Rochester and make more music videos and films and just try to develop and keep the scene going.

The video Mike and I referred to was the Soul Slingers video for 'Native of the City".

The video has opened up a can of work for Mike and has gained the attention of thousands since the release on YouTube.

ACT:LIVE has also worked with Mike recently, on a video for Reece Q's 'Promotional Use Only' single, which will be released in January.

I have never seen an independent crew of workers sweat so hard and put so much attention into a shoot in my life. These guys sweat sweat for eight hours straight in one of the most obnoxious party situations imaginable.

The footage has turned out amazing so far and we are set to release the video with the single at ONE Restaurant and Nightclub, January 10th.

This event will be a red carpet, celebrity event that people will be talking about for a long time to come.

The night will feature performances by Reece Q, The Soul Slingers, an introduction to ACT:LIVE and Mike Dispenza and then the presentation of the videos for the first time on a 27 foot digital video screen.

To end the night, none other than Rochester native and world-wide DJ sensation, Kill The Noise. He will be killing the set till 2am.

It's a night of glitz, celebration, stars and fun. All sponsored by ACT:LIVE, Red Bull and Ekonomix Clothing.

Stay tuned for more information coming soon about that!!

For the meantime, check out the video for 'Native of the City', directed by Mike Dispenza.

Check out Mike's website HERE.

Peace Kids...

Future Sound is coming....

- Games

Right now we're listening to:

Kill The Noise "Kill Kill Kill" ("Independent", 2008, AM Only)

RIPROC's Monster Mash-UpRe-Cap And Photos

2008-11-02T16:32:00.000-08:00

foto: al fox
werd: james niche

The party of the year has came and went.

It was another action packed night of visual art, hip-hop, drum and bass and funk that left you feeling like a sardine. (joke)

It was packed though.

Cheers to DJ EWUN and DJ Banshee for putting together another successful evening for Rochester.

As DJ Banshee puts it, this was his 'love letter to Rochester'. I definitely fell for it.

If you would like to know more about RIPROC and the thinsg they do, or would like more information about the artists involved, be sure to look in our archive for the end of last month. There is an article that explains it all there.

For now, enjoy the pics. Peace kids....

- Games

Right now we're listening to:

Blu "J & J" ("Johnson & Jonson", 2008, Indie)

KILL THE NOISE TALKS RIPROC

2008-10-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

werd: james niche

Happy Halloween everyone!

You’re going to party this week, you want to get down, you want to get dressed up and you definitely want to be entertained.

You need to pay attention to the news…..now.

This coming Thursday, the 30th, the day before Halloween, is a show at Pearl Nightclub that you do not want to miss.

RIPROC.com presents their follow up to last year’s party of the year, as selected by Rochester’s Insider magazine.

(Last Year's Party)

The night will be a celebration of local art talent, fashion, music, personality and mayhem.

There are few people to grace Rochester with such stellar ability to coordinate talent on this level and leave you with feeling you will talk about for years to come.

Patrick Gaffney, better known as DJ Banshee, and his partner Kill The Noise, also known as EWUN, LUDACHRIST, Ray Boardman, Minus Music and many other aliases, are two of these people.

Together, they have woven a very crucial web of Rochester talent over the past year.

They celebrate one year under the roof of RIPROC on October 30th.

RIPROC has evolved from a thought, to an image, to a blog, and now to the best parties Rochester has seen in years.

EWUN, having been a long-standing and very visible part of the electronic music scene, has taken the best of his relationships gained over the years and is applying them to a new generation of thought and musical enlightenment. This shows in his approach to the events he has thrown in the past year.

For example, the LUDACHRIST party. Last May, he assembled an army of painters, DJs, photographers and graffiti artists for the White T-Shirt Party at Pearl. That party was not only a huge commercial success, but also paved the way for artists from all over the region to meet one another and network.

That’s what I’m talking about people. ACT:LIVE would not be here today if it were not for these events and this mode of thinking.

I am going to leave you now with some words that Kill The Noise shared with me on Monroe Ave one night last week. He shares a bit of insight on what he does and what is really helping Rochester music and art promotion.

KTN: I guess more people in the scene would know me more as EWUN, as opposed to Kill The Noise.

ACT:LIVE: Let’s talk about the Monster Mash-Up and RIPROC for a bit. How did RIPROC evolve? You guys are working on a year anniversary of amazing events.

Right now, we are doing the RIPROC thing. The integral components of that are me and Pat (Gaffney, aka djb).

The concept of RIPROC is not something I came up with independently. ‘Infiltrata’ actually came up with the name.

I did this thing with ‘Meek’, Mike Matthys, called ROC DNB. We did that for a couple years and that was fairly successful, we did mainly drum and bass oriented events. We would dabble in a few other genres, but it was predominately drum and bass.

He and I pushed it as far as we could.

ACT:LIVE: What happened from there?

Well, we didn’t really have a falling out; we just decided it couldn’t really go any further. That’s when ‘Infiltrata’ came into the picture.

We were out in Los Angeles together and he was asking me when I was going to bring him out to Rochester for a ROC DNB show, but when I told him that ROC DNB was dead, he said…”R.I.P. ROC.”

I thought to myself, that has a good ring to it. So, I wanted to start something called that.

It has a dual meaning to me. After ROC DNB crashed, the scene kind of took a dip. That was part of the reason for us to stop doing the events; a lot people were saying the scene was dead.

It’s funny, because people were tagging our shit, ‘Rochester is dead’, but when they go and look at the scene, it’s not. It’s as alive as ever.

I really just like the idea of the dual meaning.

ACT:LIVE: How did Pat (Gaffney) come into this picture?

I’ve lived with him before, in the past. I knew he and I could work together, so I was shooting ideas off to him about trying to do some new things. He was just getting out of a project with a couple guys, so we decided to work together.

ACT:LIVE: To many in this city, you guys are the gurus of proper party coordination, what’s the secret? I try to tell these kids I work with that relationships are almost everything in this business. Wouldn’t you agree?

I think you nailed it right there, but I am also pretty fortunate to be able to travel and get different perspectives on events. I get to compare and contrast what works and what doesn’t.

You don’t get the same opportunities in Rochester, unfortunately, because there are not as many people putting on these kinds of events. The shows are kind of sparse.

But, if you compare Rochester to a lot of other parts of the country, there are a lot of things going on here if you look around. ACT:LIVE is doing shows, and even the clubs here are taking it upon themselves to bring in big name DJs from all over the world. Even in cities larger than Rochester, you can’t find that.

It helps to get out every night to all these different events in the city and get to know people.

I think that the biggest thing that we try to do is establish and create positive relationships. We like to get out and talk to people, find out what they may be into, where they stand and try to position ourselves in a place where we aren’t taking anything away from anyone.

If anything, we’re trying to bring everyone together.

(White T-Shirt Party)

ACT:LIVE: I think you guys have done an incredible job uniting artists of every medium together for your events. I would not be doing what I am today if it wasn’t for the LUDACHRIST show and the relationships I gained out of that party.

I have seen so many people connect and do things together, including venues working with new promoters and artists working together. Even when I am doing shows with other artists, they will put their friends on to what we are doing and together we can all build on bigger things.

ACT:LIVE: What’s your outlook on the Rochester scene, or even RIPROC?

We’ll see how things go, but I feel a real good energy around here. I remember when I was 17-18 years old and how things were going back then. I am feeling a lot of that same energy sprouting up again.

I think it’s really important to have a bunch of different promoters pushing for different causes.

A lot of clubs and even promoters don’t see that as a good thing, having so many independent people, but that’s what gets me inspired. I love to go to new places and meet new people.

I think the scene is really here right now.

ACT:LIVE: I agree. It can only go up from here, in my opinion.

I remember a time when we would promote shows, like this one, and would be saying to each other, “Where the hell are we going to go? There’s nothing going on.”

But, now, I think the soil is pretty fertile. There are a lot of interesting new ideas out there, between all the artists and musicians.

ACT:LIVE: So, you get to travel all over the world and work with some of the biggest names in the music industry…I assume you do your best to spread the good will of Rochester arts to these people and places, right?

Yeah, man.

ACT:LIVE: What’s the word on the street about Rochester when you are out of town?

I can only really speak on the electronic music scene, but I know that a lot of the guys I deal with are stunned by the resilience of the scene up here.

A specific example of this would be when Deiselboy came up last time. He told me that it was one of the best shows he had played in the past six months (at the time). I can quote him on that, which is great, and it says a lot about drum and bass, too.

These guys can come to Rochester, NY, which is smaller than most cities that harbor drum and bass, and they can say that coming to Rochester is sick. Deiselboy is really looking forward to coming back here now.

I think guys like DJ CRAZE like the fact that they can come here and play everything in their arsenal, not just hip-hop.

It’s a little bit different for guys like CRAZE because they will come here and play for 500 people at Pearl, but then the next night he will be performing with Kanye West in front of 30,000 people.

Rochester is a really good meting pot of musical tastes, which is great because everyone comes out and supports one another.

ACT:LIVE: RIPROC definitely keeps it pretty diverse, I love that.

Absolutely. Just look at the bill for the mash-up. Not only do we have an incredible drum and bass DJ performing, but we have hip-hop, funk, house, electro…you name it.

ACT:LIVE: Hence the mash-up.

Yeah, that way everybody can have a taste of something they really enjoy, the night becomes an experience.

I haven’t always been like that as a promoter or music listener. I went through my phase of drum and bass, and drum and bass only.

ACT:LIVE: That can get boring.

Yep. As time has gone on, I have realized I like everything. Now, I really like pushing in a lot of different directions because it’s exciting and you get to meet more people that way.

ACT:LIVE: So, the secret being…

Logically, things are just a lot better when everyone is involved.

I think the idea of having separate crews and alienating yourselves from other artists is a dying business model.

I think the music industry has evolved to a point where genres rely on each other to stay going.

ACT:LIVE: Were you nervous at first when you started reaching out?

At first I was like, “Oh man, are all the drum and bass kids going to leave if, like, somebody else goes on?”

It was a little scary at first.

It was people like DJ CRAZE and A-Trak that helped to really bridge that gap.

Another classic example is Herbie Hancock. He is a personal idol of mine. He was consistently about a couple steps ahead of the crowd.

ACT:LIVE: Is LUDACHRIST your homage to that way of thinking? You blend every sort of pop, hip-hop, house, drum and bass and electro break there is, on that album.

Yeah, man!

LUDACHRIST is like, the amalgamation of all the music I have listened to in my life.

It’s the idea of mashing all the components together and taking it to a freakishly new level, and it’s fun.

It’s a time when I can do something and not worry about what the ‘scene’ thinks about it. It doesn’t really fit into any particular genre.

Now that is good brain eats folks. Take that home, chew it, savor it and regurgitate it into the mouths of your young.

Once again, the party is this Thursday at Pearl. The only thing I have to say is...

It's going to be packed, so get your tickets. We may not be letting people in if it is sold out. If we are letting extra heads in, they will be paying a premium price of $25 for admission...so, my advice is get a ticket now!!!

ACT:LIVE has tickets available or you can check RIPROC.COM for ticket outlets.

Back to Kill The Noise...the man has many names and projects out there in the mix, the infamous 'Screw-Up' drum and bass track is on that list, but as of last year, he released a project entitled 'LUDACHRIST: Bangfest'.

I suggest going to the LUDACHRIST download link and getting it. Click it and you can download it.

If you like Girl Talk, you probably won't after you hear this mix created by Dr. Ray Boardman and Knick (Los Angeles).

As Kill The Noise says, it's an amalgamation of everything you hear growing up, cut with hip-hop, drum and bass and electro, all in a nice Ableton blender.

You need to listen to Bangfest if you haven't yet.

After that, I'll see you at the party of the year.

Peace kids...

- Games

Right now we're listening to:

LUDACHRIST "Metallitroy" ("Bangfest", 2007, Dr. Boardman/Knick)