Sadomasochism, bondage, leather, public kinkiness, etc. It's time, once again, for the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco. Easily one of the city's largest outdoor events, you might think that everything else would get drowned out in the excitement leading up to Sunday. However, from we're standing things are looking pretty good, with a full-on list of parties that'll either keep you busy 'til the big day or provide a viable alternative. Read on -- your weekend awaits.
5. Galaxy Radio @ Underground SF
Friday, Sept. 21, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.
This is possibly the only party with its own theme song -- well, at least the only one we know of, anyway. Galaxy Radio is a new radio-themed thing at Underground SF that specializes in disco sounds both cosmic and Italian. As it says on the event's Facebook page, "Part discotheque, part radio show, Galaxy Radio is where San Francisco's underground community of spacelings, droids, robots, robettes and cybernetic organisms gather in secret to re-broadcast mankind's vision of its arpeggiated future." Sounds deep, right? Guest DJ/girl-about-town Holly B. will be on hand to help ring in the station's second "broadcast" with a wide-ranging set that ought to fit right in with the sounds that can be heard on the party's promo mixes and radio jingles (yes, jingles, you've gotta check 'em out). As someone astutely pointed out about Underground SF in the comments, "Glow in the dark hairspray? Check. Giant disco ball? Check. Best dancefloor west of Van Ness Ave? Double Check."
4. Damian Lazarus @ Monarch
Friday, Sept. 21, 10 p.m. - 4 a.m.
Crosstown Rebels isn't just a label, it's a movement. Started in 2003, it's almost solely responsible for the proliferation and popularity of the new tech house sound that's been dominating the clubs for the past decade. Maceo Plex, Seth Troxler, Jamie Jones, Art Department -- the label's roster is like a who's-who of the business end of Resident Advisor's "Top 100 DJs of 2011" chart. Which, by the way, counts Crosstown Rebels founder/label-head Damian Lazarus as its No. 30 top DJ in the world. It's warranted, too; the native Londoner turned Angelino has held residencies at some of the world's most prestigious venues (like Ibiza's mammoth DC10 club). Check out Lazpod 25, the latest entry in his podcast mix series, for a feel for his broad reaching style. He's also a talented producer in his own right, with tracks like "Moment" and "Different Now" speaking to the breadth of his abilities. Now, he's set to play Monarch this Friday alongside locals Rooz, Bo, ShinyObjects, and M3
3. Lights Down Low presents Miracles Club, Kim Ann Foxman, jozif, MikeQ, Kingdom @ Public Works
Saturday, Sept. 22, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Lights Down Low returns on an oddly uncontested Saturday night with one of its strongest lineups yet. One of a handful of promotional entities behind the megaparty phenomenon, this weekend's line-up includes a handful of major acts that would each be newsworthy headliners in their own right. Topping the bill, however, is a live performance by Portland-based '90s house-revival outfit Miracles Club. Its tracks, "Church Song," "I Can't Help It," and "The Wheel" all show off the group's uniquely indie-influenced spin on the jack tracks of the past. DJ support comes by way of a diverse cast of characters pulled from across the spectrum: there's the house-slinging/Hercules and Love Affair-affiliated Kim Ann Foxman, uptempo vogue maestro MikeQ, hi-nrg bass innovator Kingdom, and UK tech-house player Jozif. Add No Way Back's Conor, Honey Soundsystem's Kendig, the LDL residents, and a vogue dance performance, and you have the makings of a serious party. As it says on its Facebook event page, "Get your look together. Prepare to energize. Bring a friend and find a lover."
2. Icee Hot Label Launch Party @ 222 Hyde
Friday, Sept. 21, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Few parties have defined the past three years in San Francisco better than Icee Hot. The XLR8R-sponsored party has consistently set new trends with its uniquely prescient booking policy, which pushes past traditional genre boundaries to include almost all aspects of the dance music spectrum. Now, it's taken the logical step forward with the unveiling of a new, eponymous record label. To celebrate, all four of the party's resident DJs will be at 222 Hyde -- its original home -- for a free residents-only night in honor of Ghosts on Tape's "Nature's Law"/"No Go," the imprint's debut release. Expect a crazy time with a soundtrack of bleeding-edge techno and house that'll probably include a few of the bangers on this freshly dropped mix for LuckyMe.
1. Deviants 2012 @ Public Works
Sunday, Sept 23, 3 p.m. - 3 a.m.
Last year saw the debut of a new kind of Folsom Street Fair closing party. Put on by a coalition of local party entities, it's quickly become the way to ease out of the leather-clad shenanigans of the city's most distinct event. Like last year, it all begins early, at 3 p.m., with a '60s soul-fueled outdoor party setup on Eerie Alley in front of Public Works. Honey Soundsystem will pick it up from there, with an "Adult Arcade"-themed takeover headlined by London outfit Horse Meat Disco -- check out its just released mix on Strong Room Alive's radio show. Also on deck is Australia's Stereogamous, a group that specilaizes in awesomely sleazy bath house-oriented re-edits of cuts like Itch-e & Scratch-e's "Imperial Rockets," Light Asylum's "A Certain Person," and Khan's "Ride Me." It's all made even more wild by the inclusion of avant-garde drag performances by SOME THING performers VivvyAnne ForeverMORE!, DIAmanda Kallas, Trixxie Carr, and Honey Mahogany.
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