warm up with a week southern dj charm

as 2007 dwindles down to nothing but a few sets of clownshoe footprints in the snow, and the weather continues to remain my personal vision of hell, and i keep foolishly bustin ‘out phil spector, james brown, and elvis christmas jams, i recognize that we need a change of pace and temperature. and, while global warming doesn’t seem to really be doing its job yet to move the mercury up to a reasonable height on the thermometer, you can count on new york night train to ix-nae on the x-mas and warm the depressing frigidness of yr holy-daze with a group of djs who all represent musical communities south of the mason dixon line…. so wiper yr brow, bust out some kudzu, savor those 11 herbs and spices, and fill up a tall glass of lemonade. this week’s gonna be a scorcher..

LOUISIANA - weds, dec 19, motor city: while you may be mistaking this man’s image for that of a different louisiana killer (the one from ferriday), MIKE HURTT, leader of New Orleans’ legendary surf’n'garage stompers the Royal Pendletons, currently living the evacuee lifestyle in the real motor city, arrived last week in our humbler burg just in time to storm the norton christmas party saturday and has been twirling his unique mix of early r&b, rockabilly, soul, hillbilly, cajun, and garage 45s all over the city. don’t miss this cat before he turns back around and slinks his way back to michigan-ah…

FLORIDA - thurs, dec 20, beauty bar back room: while we got native new yorker/hardcore legend MARK RYAN in the front, i’ll be in the back with miami’s own MELISSA FANNY TUTTI. while it’s true that she’s not really a special guest because she does this with me every week - maybe that makes her even more special… together we serve up more 60s than billie jean king… melissa gets more pop and i get more boogaloo every day…

TEXAS - fri, dec 21, ants in yr pants dance party - savalas: tonight’s guest, MICHAEL GERNER of Vietnam isn’t only the leader of one of nyc’s more notable bands and a regular dj at new york night train events, but he’s also a longtime fixture in the austin, tx underground. expect him to add his rough riding mix of rockabilly, doo-wop, and a truckload of misfits and alan vega to ants in yr pants’ already eclectic styleeee. a biker party without the bikers….

TEXAS - sat, dec 22, nynt soul clap and dance off - glasslands: ok, i know texas was already represented last night, but is anyone gonna argue that the state ain’t big and mighty enough to deserve at least one extra night? and heck, it’s the only state i hail from. anyhow, at this thing i spin the finest in soul 45s, obscurities, novelties, and classics spanning late-r&b to early funk but centering on mid-60s burners - exclusively for your dancing pleasure. this month’s neighborhood celebrity judges include AUDREY from Shock Cinema and Dragons of Zynth, Conrad Keeley of …And You Will Know Us By the Train of Dead, Nick Ray of Golden Triangle, Viva l’American Death Ray Music, etc., Shula the sex psychologists, and one secret surprise judge. The soul clap and dance off is rapidly turning out to be one of the city’s more unusual dance contests and one of my kookiest events as more and more freaks from god knows where show up to win the pot of gold. bring yr feet on down and see if you can bank off yr skills in a big way, or just watch. either way crazy dancin’ all night. only $2.

TENNESSEE, GEORGIA - sun, dec 23, exile on ludlow street - motor city: since i’m hijacking this party for one week only, i’m bringing along DJ HIJACK aka ALIX BROWN who just got fell off a truck from memphis, tn. the talented ms. brown, already a member of two of NYC’s finest, Golden Triangle and Blankdogs, has played in a number of other renowned memphis and atlanta acts like Angry Angles (w/jay retard), Wet Dreams (w/bradford from deerhunter), memphis supergroup Arch Rivals, and many more… currently employed at academy and formerly working at goner records, ms brown is a bit of a snob with no shortage of taste and expertise - but knows that rocking you comes first. no christmas music this time but instead a trick bag of generally misanthropic stuff for all y’awl that couldn’t make it back to where ever u is from… i assure you that neither i nor ms. brown like anything or anyone - including you. grinch night indeedl…

and don’t forget New York Night Train’s R’n'R New Years Bang with Stalkers, Puddin’ Tang, Electric Shadows, Sorceress, DJ Josh Styles of Smashed Blocked, and Mr. Jonathan Toubin of New York Night Train and free champagne. Plus for brave souls, a Motor City party that starts at 4am and goes deep into the next day, again DJ-ed by the Soul Proprietor.

I sould my soul to the devil and all i got was this lousy week of parties

New York Night Train’s soul proprietor returns from the Big Easy with a satchel full of gris gris in his hand and a brand new pact with satan himself - trading his soul for the ability to make you sweat and salivate and speak in tongues…

Wednesday, Dec 12, Motor City (127 Ludlow, Manhattan), 10pm, FREE: DJ Black Ops, AKA Social Registry co-owner/manager Joe Gaer is one of the city’s most distinguished DJs with selections that are every bit as quality, diverse, and unique as the releases on his label. Get down to sounds you’ve never heard and wish you could hear again.

Thursday, Dec 13, Matador/Beggar’s Banquet Party (25 Ave B, Manhattan), 9pm, FREE: The Conductor will this time be paired with noneother than frequent DJ partner Mr. Ivan Sunshine (Berko) currently of Love as Laughter and Ghost Exits and most recently of Vietnam. Ivan likes to throw down everything from indie and classic rock to oldies and international flavours… He’s my man… If he can’t do it, Melissa can.

Thursday, Dec 13, On! Sixties Discotheque Party, Beauty Bar (231 E. 14th, Manhattan), 11pm, FREE: New York Night Train’s latest venture is a collaboration between the Soul Proprietor and walking musical encyclopedia and rock machine, the indomitable Ms. Melissa Fanni Tutti. While the soul proprietor will make only a cameo tonight, Melissa will have an extra special secret surprise guest to help her play dance music hits centered smack dab in the center of popular music’s greatest and most diverse decade and, in an attempt to channel the variety inherent in the playlists of the discotheques and radio of the era, are intent on exploring: soul, garage, mod, and freakbeat plus a dash of boogaloo, girl groups, bubblegum, frat r&b, psychedelics, discotheque, boogaloos, tropicalia, yé-yé, latin delights, etc. Get it? ON! C’mON, get ON! Get off at ON!

Friday, December 14, Ants In Yr Pants Dance Party, Savalas (285 Bedford, Williamsburg), 10pm, FREE: Whoah!!!! Can you believe it JAMES CHANCE!!! that’s right James White himself, Contortion brutha #1, along with the very stylish, energetic, and Lovable Speedball brutha #1, Ron Ward of Speedball Baby and Five Dollar Priest will be joining the Soul Proprietor behind the decks. Anyone who witnessed this terrible two at the Animal Train Party will tell you that they positively destroyed the joint. This time is extra-special because JAMES CHANCE WILL BE TOTING ALONG HIS SAXOPHONE AND PERFORMING!!!!

Saturday, December 15, Swooon Magazine Masquerade Benefit Ball at Shangri La (100 Sutton Street, Greenpoint), 9pm, $12/$15 (includes free booze all night): Mr Jonathan Toubin will be up in the boothe with DJ Sune of The Raveonettes while the mighty Stalkers headline a bill that will include Young Lords, Brightside, Jock and Austin Donohue. This multi-media specatacle will also include a fashion show, performance art, tarot and palm readings, and a lot more…

James Chance to Contort Ants In Yr Pants!

get warm dancing! get ON! 60s discotheque tonight and Ants In Yr Pants with Kid Congo Powers tomorrow!

Baby it’s cold outside! So what better time to toast your feet on the smoky sizzle of our dancefloor, bask in our bright orange glow, and get ants in your pants all night long?

Thursday, Dec 6, On! Sixties Discotheque Party, Beauty Bar (231 E. 14th, Manhattan), 11pm, FREE: New York Night Train’s latest venture is a collaboration between the Soul Proprietor and walking musical encyclopedia and rock machine, the indomitable Ms. Melissa Fanni Tutti. The dynamic duo play you the dance music hits centered smack dab in the center of popular music’s greatest and most diverse decade and, in an attempt to channel the variety inherent in the playlists of the discotheques and radio of the era, are intent on exploring: pop, soul, garage, mod, freakbeat, bluebeat, boogaloo, girl groups, bubblegum, frathouse r&b, surf, psychedelics, discotheque, boogaloos, tropicalia, yé-yé, latin delights, and more. “Let the evening pass by by playing records, the sounds of groovy hi fi. I say “Yeh yeh!” That’s what I say, I say “Yeh, yeh!” - Georgy Fame “Yeh Yeh.” Get it?… ON! C’mON, get ON! Get off at ON!

Friday, December 7, Ants In Yr Pants Dance Party, Savalas (285 Bedford, Williamsburg), 10pm, FREE: Still recovering from Quintron’s Drum Buddy assault last week, New York Night Train is proud to announce the return of one of subcultural music’s most important figures, all the way up from the District of Columbia, the legendary post-punk journeyman Mssr. Kid Congo Powers. While its a long established fact that, via his seminal work with everyone from the Gun Club to The Cramps to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds all the way to his current career fronting the Pink Monkey Birds, Kid Congo is a supreme guitar stylist, performer, and dresser, very few are aware that he’s also one of the East Coast’s finest DJ’s – distinctively tasteful yet broad while still super-fun… And a fine dancer to boot. Kid and New York Night Train Soul Proprietor Mr. Jonathan Toubin will be juggling plate after plate of garage, glam, soul, funk, punk, and beyond from 10pm to the wee wee hours. Fall by post-King Khan and BBQ Show…

Also, come back every week in December as thee James Chance (toting his sax nonetheless!) and Speedball Baby’s Ron Ward (Dec 14), Vietnam’s Michael Gerner (Dec 21), and TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone (Dec 28) offer you their own distinct recipes for Ants In Yr Pants….

Creature from the Vinyl Lagoon Terrorizes City

Despite the exhaustive heroism of last week’s parties, soul proprietor Mr. Jonathan Toubiin refuses to let the city rest - bringing yet another blurred frenzy of jams, kung fu, and depravity…

Wednesday, Dec 5, Motor City (127 Ludlow, Manhattan), 10pm, FREE: Tonight the Conductor will be joined by none other than Ryan Sawyer of Tall Firs,Celebration, Stars Like Fleas, Eye Contace, Lone Wolf, etc., formerly of everyone from San Antonio’s El Santo to the Union Pool and a fellow Texan, expect scortchin’ selections and a disproportionate amount from the Lone Star state… and then lots of fightin’ and shootin’ stuff!

Thursday, Dec 6, On! Sixties Discotheque Party, Beauty Bar (231 E. 14th, Manhattan), 11pm, FREE: New York Night Train’s latest venture is a collaboration between the Soul Proprietor and walking musical encyclopedia and rock machine, the indomitable Ms. Melissa Fanni Tutti. The dynamic duo play you the dance music hits centered smack dab in the center of popular music’s greatest and most diverse decade and, in an attempt to channel the variety inherent in the playlists of the discotheques and radio of the era, are intent on exploring: soul, garage, mod, and freakbeat plus a dash of boogaloo, girl groups, bubblegum, frat r&b, psychedelics, discotheque, boogaloos, tropicalia, yé-yé, latin delights, etc. Get it? ON! C’mON, get ON! Get off at ON! “Let the evening pass by by playing records, the sounds of groovy hi fi. I say “Yeh yeh!” That’s what I say, I say “Yeh, yeh!” - Georgy Fame “Yeh Yeh”

Friday, December 7, Ants In Yr Pants Dance Party, Savalas (285 Bedford, Williamsburg), 10pm, FREE: Baby it’s cold outside! So what better time to toast your feet on the smoky sizzle of our dancefloor, bask in our bright orange glow, and get ants in your pants all night long? Still recovering from Quintron’s Drum Buddy assault last week, New York Night Train is proud to announce the return of one of subcultural music’s most important figures, all the way up from the District of Columbia, Mssr. Kid Congo Powers. While its a long established fact that, via his seminal work with everyone from the Gun Club to The Cramps to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds all the way to his current career fronting the Pink Monkey Birds, Kid Congo is a supreme guitar stylist, performer, and dresser, very few are aware that he’s also one of the East Coast’s finest DJ’s – distinctively tasteful yet broad while still super-fun… Kid and New York Night Train Soul Proprietor Mr. Jonathan Toubin will be juggling plate after plate of garage, glam, soul, funk, punk, and beyond from 10pm to the wee wee hours. Fall by post King Khan and BBQ Show…

Also, come back every week in December as thee James Chance (toting his sax nonetheless!) and Speedball Baby’s Ron Ward (Dec 14), Vietnam’s Michael Gerner (Dec 21), and TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone (Dec 28) give you their distinct recipes for Ants In Yr Pants….