Freak Fest 2000, 05-27-2000, State Palace Theater, Free Bass Society,
Review by D.Groove
FREAK FEST 2000 PICS click here
Talk about a bad moon rising. Despite having boux coups, international talent on the bill, party goers showing up from all over the country, a negative veil hung heavy over the State Palace Theater this hot summer night. The violence and threats of violence started before we even got in da' joint. The now beefed up and buffed up, over aggressive Free Bass security squad had their hands full right away with a run away, bull elephant of a man, weighing nearly 350 lbs., in an out of control, violent rampage ( shades of PCP ). They escorted him into the ticket booth metal door with extreme prejudice to say the least, then released him. He then stampeded into a crowd of red rag wearing gang members on the sidewalk, shouting racial slurs all the way down to the hard, New Orleans banquette, which took the assaulted members a fraction of a second to slam his face into ( along with assorted kicks, punches, blows to the head and their own insults). This prompted the Free Bass squad back into action, restraining the beast while awaiting N.O.P.D.'s services.
Lil' Greg from Trip Hop came running up to me, all excited, " Man, did you see that?"
"Yeah, I saw it, but that's not my idea of entertainment. What's on the stage is entertainment," was my reply.
Ok, it wasn't all negative. Besides the violence, heat exhaustion, rumors of a death ( unconfirmed ), OD's and arrest, there was plenty good times to be had by many. I met many first timers to Free Bass parties from places like Kansas, Northern Mississippi, Alabama, Memphis, and Florida, all of whom had a wonderful time. OK, one more negative thing, then on with the review. What was available that night ranged from "fire" to "fake" to "wack", and it was a good thing the wack went to vets that could handle it, rather than to the many first timers there that night.
The only act I got to really observe on the main stage was Cirrus from California. They are a two man tag team that bounce around their stage full of toys, creating a funky, kind of "Gang of Four", jungle-house, Miles Davis groove. They jumped between 2 turntables, drum machines, samplers, finger poppin', slappin' funky Fender Jazz Bass (ala Bootsy), wah-wah propelled Stratocaster (like Shaft, well I can dig it) and a full trap set, treated of course. I've never seen a drummer hold a techno's audience attention like this drummer did during his groovy 10 minute solo, very hot !
My next stop on my tension filled odyssey was the Red Room, usually my favorite room. There I caught a long performance piece by Louisiana's own techno ensemble known as Teen Squab. Made up of two guys and a girl in black uniforms with red aprons, a girl photographer, they played a kind of pedestrian, pop brand of house. Armed with two laptops, three turntables, a Quisinart (food processor), and a table full of food, condiments, Easter egg grass and plastic Easter eggs. The food processing and distribution by means of hurling it at the audience, proved to be as much of their art as the music (all pretty tame compared to acts like Gwar, Machine Screw or The Impotent Sea Snakes, where wearing disposable clothes is mandatory). The audience was invited to participate in all this, I myself unwrapped some processed cheese during the set and made a hungry Raver a sandwich. The whole set had a calming effect on me on this not so calm night. Learn more about this group at their web site, http://www.chromsome57.com .
I killed an hour by running around the building, arriving just in time in the Jungle Room for Dara's set. I got comfortable against the wall, awaited the onslaught and assisted the B-Boys with their valuables. Right off the bat, 40 seconds into his first song, Dara threw the turntable out of gear, killing the beat and employing his backward scratching Technique, then proceeded to slay his fans for the rest of his non-stop, hour and a half barrage. Most of it seemed like new material (as usual with Dara live) and all was very "Daraesique". I don't think anyone was disappointed by his set. I know I wasn't.
Alright, so I only caught part of Ak1200's set and totally messed Terra Firma (who I'd really come there to see on DJ Delux's advice) and for this I apologize for not covering them. In conclusion, the whole course of events were pretty hardcore. Dredging up memories of what the old Acid Test must have been like. This of course takes it's toll on both the body and soul. Would I do it again ? You bettcha' !!
Review by D. Groove
Greetings and salutations to all. This is the all mighty, the all powerful D. Groove reporting on the Free Bass Society's latest big budget party at The State Palace Theater, celebrating the Chinese New Year, complete with Chinese lanterns and oriental decorations. Now some older musicians like myself (as in older I mean over 18) have expressed to me that Techno, i.e. created music from a DJ with turntables and a bag of tricks does not constitute music. Well, "Hello?", when you have thousands of kids willing to pay $ 30 a pop on any giving night to dance to this,
not to mention have a great time as well, plus the millions generated in CD sales and the related fashion sales that accompany the genre, any thinking man would have to conclude that this whole scene validates itself simply by being. " It grooves, therefore it is!"
Well, the sub freezing temperatures keep the attendance down slightly, We incorrectly reported that the roof stage had been cancelled (thanks for the update J-Groove), but still allowed for easier access to the main floor. The featured attraction that more than half the people came there to see and groove to was the intense master of House, DJ Richard " Humpty" Vission. It had been almost a year since his last New Orleans show and this skilled spinner disappointed no one. Humpty employed a variety of samples throughout his set, the Average White Band, Miles, Monk, and his now trademark use ( yeah, I know) of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, but didn't close with it as usual.
Instead mixed King's speech in with his cacophony of house rhythms, while doing all of his "hit jams" that these kids came to see. Entertaining and creative, Humpty's unique mixes had all on their feet and screaming throughout his hour long set.
My next stop on this long night of music was the Red Room, home to non-stop "drum & bass". Now I know that "Jungle" is all the craze these days and that all the B-Boys displayed their best shit in the jungle room all night, but for this reviewer, drum & bass is the closest thing to rock in the whole Techno field. You can actually play air guitar to it. The next 3 hours of my life were gleefully taken up by the whole crew from 32nd Degree Pruductions (thanks to MC Alias and Melle Mel for their updates, keep it coming). Their DJ's and MC's ripped through song after song of Hip-Hop, drum & bass movements, beat killing cadences, gut wrenching low frequencies, backwards scratching on the turntables ( ala DJ Dara), all mixed to familiar and classic Hip-Hop and Rap standards. The whole marathon set was engaging and had many happily dancing the night away to this crew's funky variations.
In closing I'd like to add that this was one the best times I've had at a Free Bass Society party. License plates from all over the South surrounded the theater, a wide variety of outfits were displayed by the party goers, there were plenty familar, smiling faces and the place was still packed when the show ended at 7 a.m.. And to the best of my knowledge, there were no fights, no arrests, no incidents and no OD's. One couldn't ask for a better night of pure FUN !!
A VERY DISCO PORNO CHRISTMAS, 12/04/99, State Palace Theater,
Review by Duval
(DFW) & Amy.
A very long, talent filled, over crowded, over sold show, but overall a good time had by most that attended.
The vast majority of the throngs of folks there were Candy Ravers at best, at worse, young, naive suburbanites who had no idea what to expect or any concept of Rave Etiquette.
Not that this was these poor kids' fault, owing to the fact that The Free Base Society has now turned to mass marketing their parties via Radio Ads, etc.
Instead of trying to attract the right type of audience, is now opting to attract any and all to it's shows. Rumour has it that the ZOOLU 2000 shows this Mardi Gras will be the Swan Song for Free Base, thus explaining the recent grab for the masses ( and their dollars).
This all nighter featured no less than 23 acts on 4 different stages, all going down at the same time. Besides the main hall of the old,
art deco State Palace Theater (which was inaccessible most of the night due to the crowd), the other 3 rooms buried deep in the building's belly
featured the more intimate performances. These other rooms are The Jungle Room, The Red Room and The Drum & Bass Room.
The Bomb got dropped on the main stage early in the night when 'round Midnight, AK 1200 attacked the swelling masses with a
double barrel assault from his twin customized turntables, armed with a suitcase of 12" ammunition and a passion for vinyl and a Drum & Bass Techno barrage.
For most of the party vets at the show, this was the featured act and he left none of the laser coated minions disappointed. AK 1200 hails from Orlando, FL and is approaching the cult status
of N.Y.'s DJ Dara in the Drum & Bass world.
Spearheading the local representation at this annual Christmas Party, for the second year in a row, was non other than PNC ( Partners N'Crime ). Direct from the Melpomene Project in New Orleans, this long established Hip-Hop rap group
seemed to bring most of the G's from the project into the Drum & Bass room with them. No problems, on or off stage with this outfit, the band and the audience loosing themselves
in the groove of the music and songs that both celebrate and document their social condition. Incorrectly credited for starting the whole New Orleans Project Rap scene, ( God knows the people that really kicked this scene off
never made it to records or CD's, exist only as legends to today's rappers and more than likely are dead now), they're still one
the oldest established Project Bands that still make their home there. PNC turned in another great set, as usual,... So,
do yourself a favour next time they play, and DON'T MISS 'UM.
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