In Chinese astrology, each zodiac year is not just associated with an animal sign, but also one of five elements: Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, or Earth. Both the zodiac sign and the element shape the astrology of the year. For example, 2017 is a Fire Rooster year. Element-sign combinations recur every 60 years. Bob Marley (born 6 February 1945), was a Wood Rooster. Britney Spears (born December 2, 1981) is a Gold Rooster. To commemorate the Fire Rooster and ring in the new lunar year, Little John and Raindance Presents delivered a massive party on January 28 at 1015 Folsom in San Francisco, offering a slice of every flavor in experimental bass music. I can attest, having personally attended, that both Nesta and Brit would have had themselves a time.
Some people have taken exception to the event’s appropriating Chinese culture for a good time, but in reference and reverence to that notion, I would like to report that there was a large contingent of Asian Americans attending and enjoying the event, participating in the traditional parade, and adorning the space accordingly. In addition, Little John, the event’s main coordinator, conceived of the whole shindig as a way to extend the beloved Grateful Dead’s annual February tradition of hosting a Chinese New Year concert in Oakland. Safe to say the psychedelic cultural mantle is in good hands, and Little John as well as The Pirate are to be commended on throwing such a righteous and respectful rager.
The party itself had phenomenal vibes throughout, as an old school crew meshed with newbies and star-struck spunions alike, everybody vibing it up properly on the dance floor and milling about with aplomb. Dance culture and fashion flavors were in the fullest effect, as the 1015 Folsom was hummin’! A modest bazaar of craft and clothing vendors lined the front room, and before long the music got underway proper. Early in the evening, highlights included The Pirate fighting through laptop malfunctions to crush the game with authority, while later the wifey, aka Smasheltooth, made her long awaited return to her rightful place behind the decks, with an atypically light-weight ratchet set of bombastic beats drenched in patois steez and a few thizzley flourishes. Sound pieces bossman BOGL also stepped up to the plate with proper swerve, determined to deliver a set a bit adjacent to the norm, but still firmly entrenched in low-end theory.
Andreilien held court in the basement, dropping that weird and warbly crunkalogic
To bring the people home, British Columbia’s magnificent Librarian taught a proverbial clinic and how to move the feet and get the mind right. Those who remained past the 4am hour were treated to an otherworldly strut and groove as Andrea Graham solidified her rep as a purveyor of what’s really hot in the streets. Meanwhile, Little John, the man behind the whole she-bang, uncorked a grown-n-sexy set of all types in the Lounge, classy as it comes ‘til the sun rose, remembering those Bill Graham breakfasts served many a Chinese New Years passed.
