Thurs, July 30: Voodoo Doughnuts presents Soul Clap and Dance-Off w/Mr. Jonathan Toubin and guest DJ Beyonda and judges Charlie Salas-Humara (Panther), Gabe Lageson (Nice Boys/East End), Maggie Vail (Kill Rock Stars/The Bangs), Maxamillion (Get Hustle, Magick Daggers, etc.), Scout Niblett, and Tres Shannon (Voodoo Doughnuts) at Rotture (Portland, OR)



What is it? The Soul Clap and Dance-Off is not only New York Night Train’s biggest and most famous party, but one of the NYC underground’s more popular monthly nightlife institutions. The first all-soul night of subterranean maximum rock and soul DJ Mr. Jonathan Toubin, the concept is elegant – all night dancing to wild amazing 45s and a dance contest in the middle. The party has grown to sell out every month – draw nearly 500 paid patrons while remaining true to its DIY aesthetics – garnering acclaim in practically every NYC publication, featuring judges from every edge of music from Monotonix to MGMT – and now spreading around the world – from Calgary to Mexico to Israel.

What’s different about the Soul Clap than other soul nights? Because New York Night Train and Mr. Jonathan Toubin emerged not from the soul scene but the punk, post-punk, and general independent rock’n’roll underground, Soul Clap grew as a uniting force for various subcultural groups. Toubin began playing obscure soul 45s for these social circles rather than soul fans – converting non-believers to the religion of the raw power of his favorite genre of music. Thus by both necessity and personal aesthetics, the selections were faster, louder, grittier, and weirder than the typical fare of a soul, funk, northern soul, or other retro specialty night. Also featuring plenty of selections either covered by or covering rock bands, these carefully selected records are frantically pitched up, EQ-ed low down, and strung together and chopped up with immediate turns, gospel screaming, and other momentum builders and tension devices. The sound and feel of this new format, standing in direct contrast to dusty museum collector nights or gratuitous hit nights, is so fresh and immediate that it pulls unlikely combination of folks from all over the cultural and subcultural rainbow who holler and clap, sometimes mosh, and, even riot (well… once). While Soul Clap has aided the New York Night Train mission of getting the rock underground dancing to raw immediate music, it’s simultaneously breathing new life back into these superior underappreciated recordings.

Tonight New York Night Train is particularly thrilled to feature one of our favorite DJs, Beyonda of the I’ve Got a Hole In My Soul Party, as Mr. Toubin’s special guest at the Soul Clap. Also, the winner of tonight’s Portland Dance-Off will be determined by judges Kathy Foster (The Thermals), Charlie Salas-Humara (Panther), Gabe Lageson (Nice Boys/East End), Maggie Vail (Kill Rock Stars/The Bangs), Maxamillion (Get Hustle, Magick Daggers, etc.), Scout Niblett, and Tres Shannon (Voodoo Doughnuts) at Rotture (Portland, OR)




Meanwhile back in New York…


- Thurs, July 30 New York: Thursday Thump with DJ Melissa Scaduto, Enid’s 10pm, FREE
-Thurs, July 30 Boogaloo Shampoo featuring DJ Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, Beauty Bar Brooklyn (921 Broadway, Bushwick, Brooklyn), 10PM: FREE: This week, while Mr. Jonathan Toubin is doing his Soul Clap and Dance off in Portland, OR tonight, New York Night Train, 3 Olives Vodka, and Beauty Bar New York are proud to announce that, as a consolation prize, Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus will be turning his world-famous trademark supreme platters all-night long. Phast Phreddie isn’t only one of the fathers of contemporary American rock/punk criticism and zine culture since his days as the founder of the seminal Back Door Man from 1975 to 1978, and the leader of the swingin’ post-punk/soul/jazz/garage/what-is-it? Los Angeles institution Phast Phreddie and the Precisions (who featured a rotating cast of notable Los Angeles musicians including a pre-Gun Club Jeffrey Lee Pierce!) but he’s one currently one of New York’s finest and best respected soul DJs, the sound behind such legendary parties as Wang Dang Doodle and the Subway Soul Club. Climb onboard and do the Phreddie!

- Fri, July 31: Mr. Jonathan Toubin at East End, Portland
- Fri, July 31: Shakin’ All Over Under Sideways Down w/DJs Howie Pyro and Kid Congo Powers, 10pm, $3
- Sat, Aug 1: Olympia Soul Clap w/DJ Mr. Jonathan Toubin

August Night Train Highlights:
- Sat, Aug. 8: Soul Clap and Dance-Off, Glasslands Gallery followed by late-night Todd P dance-party speakeasy at Market Hotel
- Sat, Aug 15: Green Project Festival w/Mika Miko (Monterrey, Mexico) – the first night of Mr. JT’s Mexican tour
- Sat, Aug 15 – Weds, Aug 27: MR JONATHAN TOUBIN’S MEXICAN TOUR! OLE’!
August 31 – Sept 8: Mr. Jonathan Toubin Israeli tour
- September and Beyond: Pop Montreal Fest, CMJ Fest, Fun Fun Fun Fest, Vice Garage Fest, Shonen Knife, Happening w/Chain and the Gang, New York Night Train Happenings and Soul Claps everywhere, and much much more…