FRIDAY, MAY 3

ASTRONAUTICO: Low Limit, Time Wharp, Dreams, Obey City, Paul Jones, Michael Jukeson at Free Candy [10PM/$5wRSVP]
Experimental beats label Astronautico’s monthly party is a mainstay of this list. Partly, it’s the badass space, partly the proper sound, but mostly, its the bookings. Consistently showcasing the most exciting North American experimental bass music is what has made Astronautico a crucial part of the NYC underground. This time, they feature the cleverly named Time Limit tour, comprised of Low Limit and Time Wharp. Both have a successful history with wonky beats, but the collaborative promo mix they put out leans more towards acid house and weird, energetic berlin techno. Also on the bill is up and coming beatmaker Dreams. His productions explore the RnB/future beats territory made popular by Shlohmo, but seethe with an urgency you don’t typically associate with that sound. Hoping for a fiery set from this one.
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Kastle (live!), Knxwledge at 285 Kent [8PM/$12]
Kastle is a major force in stateside bass music. As both a label head, (he runs Symbols recordings) and a producer, he specializes in lush, intricate and often emotional club tunes. Rarely is a Symbols release solidly one genre; more often its somewhere in a Venn diagram of house, garage, futuristic rnb (but it always has amazing art, thanks to Joyce Su). Kastle’s utterly fantastic LP dropped last week, and this is one of the first stops on his tour in support of the album AND the debut of his live show. As someone with extremely high standards for both his music and his label, I’m thinking his live set is gonna be top notch. Also playing is super prolific dusty beatmaker Knxwledge.
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SUPPLY RECORDS RELEASE PARTY: Taimur, Max Pearl, John Barera at Bossa Nova Civic Club [10PM/FREE]
Celebrating the release of SUPPLY 005, B-Tracks Flightless EP. Supply Records boss John Barera has invited BLKMARKET founder & resident Taimur and cluster mag editor & eclectic DJ Max Pearl to join him in playing some tunes at the Bossa Nova Civic Club. BNCC has a great soundsystem, no cover and one of the lowest incidences of douches per capita of any club in NYC (and they have Club Mate!)
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SATURDAY, MAY 4

IDLE 02: Rrose (live!), Prism House (live!), Dave Q, Dustmite, Max Von Cannon at TBA [10-5/$15]
IDLE is the second in a series of collaborative AV events put on by Reconstrvct and BigUp magazine (two of the most trustworthy names in bass music). Essentially a massive art show (this time featuring Kahori Maki, whose work is MINDBLOWING) with music from a host of experimental bass music acts with a heavy emphasis on a/v shows. But IDLE elevates that to a sumptuous sensory experience via their discerning curation, top notch production design, venue choice and the best sound in town (Tsunami Bass, duhhhh). Dense, mysterious techno from Rrose, wildly experimental live beats from Prism House, a set from NYC’s leading bass music futurist (and Dub War founder) Dave Q, and more. Venue is ONLY announced to advanced ticket holders, so go cop those before it’s too late.
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Record Release Party: a/jus/ted with Jeremy Glenn LIVE at Kinfolk Studios [10PM/FREE]
a/jus/ted is the duo of Eddie Mars (aka Teddy Stuart) and Justin Strauss. United by their love of analogue disco production, what makes them so interesting is that they’re separated by a dozen generations of clubbers. Justin Strauss is an NYC institution, with 3 decades of NYC nightlife experience, who has played literally everywhere. Eddie Mars is a young gun, who has already produced and remixed for labels like UNO and DFA, and before that had 4 years experience throwing epicly dark, sweaty Vietcong Disco loft parties. Tho it’s just one 12”, they clearly have a synergy as a production team – as their record clearly shows. A shimmering, vital, timeless piece of disco.
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Beats Antique, Russ Liquid at Brooklyn Bowl [8PM/$15]
Beats Antique have carved out a unique sound, marrying party-starting glitch-hop beats with live musicianship. Fiddle and mandolin riff off sequenced and live drums (and often a host of bellydancers) creating a gypsy crunk vibe that goes over really well with the Burner and Bisco scenes. Support from west coast producer Russ Liquid, who has really distinguished himself from the field with his slyly funky, heavily textured, sinuous, intricate beats.
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RBMA x The Bunker: Andy Stott, Atom TM, Objekt, Octo Octa, Patrick Pulsinger, Kloke, Smax at Public Assembly [10PM-6AM/$20]
Buncha dudes playin really good techno.
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A recent live set from the Archie Pelago, recorded live at Glasslands for Discovery Party on  March 9. One of the reasons I love these dudes so much is their versatility. You could say that’s by design; the trio is a DJ (Dan Hirshorn) and two live musicians (Zach Koeber on Saxaphone and Greg Heffernan on Cello) which gives them a lot of range, stylistically.

But it’s also by choice. A week before this set was recorded, I saw them at Freecandy where their set was largely 160 bpm stuff – juke, jungle and the like. That feel was perfect for the Astronautico party, which leans towards the experimental edges of bass music. Then they turn around and play an almost all-house set (with a fucking awesome techno curveball from Randomer towards the end) for Discovery. Judging by how the whole crowd was dancing, it was the right choice.  Enjoy.

Archie Pelago – Live at DISCOVERY March 2013 by Discovery Recordings on Mixcloud

TRACKLIST:
Throwing Shade (dub) – Distal
The BDA (Archie Pelago BFA Remix) – Aoim & Meveo
Madame Suede Nightshade (dub) – Archie Pelago
Remember (Azuni Remix) – Leif
Bop – Brandt Brauer Frick
Ghetto Kraviz – Nina Kraviz
Clammy Customer (dub) – Archie Pelago
Subway Gothic – Archie Pelago
Get Yourself Together – Randomer
Breezy Whey (forthcoming) – Archie Pelago

FRIDAY, APRIL 5

RINSED: Doc Daneeka (EP Release Party), Velcro, Soul 2 Seoul, plus Dan Wender, Blacky II at tba [12AM/$2wRSVP]
Rinsed brings us UK house producer Doc Daneeka. Doc has been making waves in the bass scene, pushing an exciting not-quite-house sound for the last few years. With nods to techno and UK Funky, Daneeka’s sets (like this one from 2011) are consistently engaging, surprising and full of fresh tunes you’ll hear for the first time tonight, but for months to come afterwards. Joining him is Velcro, a house production duo from LA whose tunes all overflow with a juicy, funky, uniquely west-coast vibe. Plus the Rinsed residents and guest DJs Soul 2 Seoul, all for just TWO DOLLARS when you RSVP. Location announced to RSVPs ONLY, but is off the Graham Ave L stop.
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#AOLTOO: DJ Funeral, Jubilee, bEEdEEgEE, Chippy Nonstop (live!), Signe Pierce (live!), Stryker Matthews, more at 330 Ellery [11PM/$10]
Another eclectic warehouse rave from Good Kids Present. The enigmatic DJ Funeral headlines – expect some seriously fun, dark, manic club music (juke, bmore, jersey etc) with a healthy dose of levity. BDG of experimental band Gang Gang Dance DJs, along with Jubilee, who I have to figure out a new way to describe every damn week because she’s always playing the best parties. Expect a bombastic set from Oakland rapper Chippy Nonstop and another live performance from Signe Pierce, who you’ll have to research on your own (adventure!). Open vodka bar from 11-12, and music till the sun comes up.
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ASTRONAUTICO: Sleepyhead, Dunes, Mohegan Son plus Obey City, The Range, Michael Jukeson at Free Candy [10PM/$5wRSVP]
Our favorite raved-out parking garage gets taken over by the Broke City residents, a party that champions partying on the cheap with your best friends. Who all happen to be amazing DJs and producers, articulating fresh perspectives on RnB-infused club music. Mohegan Son’s spastic, sexual production style exudes fun and danceability. Dunes has been putting out monstrous house jams nonstop for the last year. Sleepyhead is perhaps the most accomplished, having put out tracks on two of our favorite labels, Distal’s Embassy Recordings and Kastle’s Symbols Music. He’s also collaborated with Mimosa as SexyTime and a ton of other top–notch producers.
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SATURDAY, APRIL 6

SUBVERSE: Truth (NZ), Mesck (LA), I.N.I., Max Mischief, hosted by Diggadee Emcee at The Paper Box [10PM/$10]
Subverse is a new deep dubstep party, all about proper sound and bringing in international headliners. Truth are a top shelf dubstep duo from New Zealand, regularly headlining festivals all over the world, and Mesck is a young gun from LA. The soundsystem by Tsunami Bass Experience is also deserving of top billing. For the last few years, they’ve been providing mindblowing, chest rattling sound reinforcement for the finest bass music events (Reconstrvct, Unsound Festival, secret shows) and have earned their reputation as a name you trust. Saturday they unveil four brand new custom built Labhorn subs, which apparently are pretty next level.
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The Mast, Colorwar, Moon Furies at Glasslands [8:30PM/$10]
The Mast is a live electronic duo: vocalist Haale and percussionist/producer Matt Kilmer and oh my god they are so talented. Haale has a voice unlike anything I’ve ever heard – phenomenally powerful, nuanced, and with a compelling, hypnotic quality. Paired with Matt’s gorgeous, deft beats (both sequenced and live), they conjure lush electronica reminiscent of the Knife, Massive Attack or Bjork, while maintaining their own distinct, moody groove. Prepare to be entranced by their sound, and blown away by their musicianship.
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RVDIOVCTIVE: Mess Kid, Tony Quattro, Star Falcon plus Chemicals of Creation, String Theory, KRE8OR at Tutus [10PM/FREE]
Tony Quattro has been having a good year – Trouble & Bass put out his single New York Anthem/Forth and Seek to rave reviews and support from some of the biggest tastemakers in bass music (and us too!). Go listen to it – it’s encapsulates the genre-less heavy bass sound we love T&B for so much. Joining him are underground club demigod Mess Kid and Dubday resident Star Falcon, as well as RVDIOVCTIVE’s residents. You can’t argue with the price, and Tutus is steps from the Morgan L stop (which means you can get the best felafel ever on your way home).
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