Roger Shah Live at 1015

Saturday, May 8th 2010- San Francisco, CA- In the heart of San Francisco's Mission District, a group of young people gathered for a night of Balearic, melodic  tunes and smooth, layered Bass. In the hole-in-the-wall off of Folsom Street, in the main room of 1015 Folsom, a group of progressive trance DJs were giving San Franciscans a reprieve from the ever-present rap and hip-hop scene that has dominated the Bay Area for years.

Downstairs in the lounge, heavy-hitting Bass filled the airwaves as the crowd started walking in. About an hour into the set, the upstairs doors opened and the event took on a whole new persona. DJ John Beaver opened the evening with a heart-pumping vocal set that had the crowd preparing for what was to be an unforgettable evening. Raging on the turntables and throwing his hands in the air, Beaver entertained a diverse crowd of people between the ages of 21 and no less than 50. At around 12:15,  the headliner, Roger Shah, making his first appearance in San Francisco since 2009, appeared on stage for a quick smile and disappeared just as quickly backstage. By 12:30, the crowd became restless, and DJ Shah timed his set perfectly. As the crowd was screaming his name, the familiar female intro voice of Magic Island took over the airwaves.

Finally, after setting up his equipment, Shah turned a San Francisco nightclub into a Balearic island paradise. In a completely unexpected change of pace, Shah moved away from his traditional broadcast format of an hour of  layered melodic, followed by an hour of relaxed, chillout tunes. In fact, his set proved to be a beautifully mixed melange of extreme bass and melody. When everyone expected melody, Shah broke out with a track that could blow one's eardrums out due to its complex layers. With such a variety of styles, one wouldn't expect the set to flow. However, not for one moment during Shah's 3 hours did the crowd not dance and feel the music.

DJ Shah also proved to be an eccentric and friendly entertainer. Picking up his keyboard a number of times, he played it as if it were a harp. Giving out handshakes and loads of autographs, the DJ also brought to his DJ booth a number of people, and "assisted" them in mixing his set.

Unfortunately, having to leave prior to the 7am end of the show, I was not able to experience the DJs that closed out the evening after Shah's performance. However, judging by the quality of the three producers I did experience, there is no doubt in my mind that the closers did not disappoint. I think I speak for any one of the countless people that packed the nightclub when I say it was a night to remember, and hopefully one in a long line of memorable nights listening to the sounds of Magic Island: Music For Balearic People.

Photos courtesy of:
Roger Shah and Event Vibe






For More Information Contact:
Ilya Faynshteyn
ifaynshteyn@gmail.com

UC Davis Student Group turns Electronic Dance Music into Charity Work

There is no limit to the forms charity work can take. From marathons to restaurant drives, they can all do a good deed. At UC Davis, a group of students known as EMC, short for Electronic Music For Change, is changing the way UC Davis does charity! For over a year, this student group founded to promote the safe enjoyment of electronic dance music has been hosting dance music events under the banner Unity, and helping those in need. Veronica Coleman, Vice-Director of EMC states that the initial motivation and vision for the group was to “use electronic dance music for social change”. She later stated that “she loved dance music and giving back to the community. The opportunity just seemed too perfect to be true.” The organization has previously donated all proceeds to such charities as Children's Miracle Network, and Cal Aggie Camp, a summer camp for underprivileged kids in the greater Sacramento area.

According to Mrs. Coleman, another goal of EMC is to change the image the world has of electronic dance music events. Promoted as an electronic music event rather than a “rave” as it is commonly known to the public, this event aims to provide a safe and fun environment for young students to enjoy their campus while giving new artists exposure in college student circles.

Bringing a variety of both local and international up-and-coming dance DJs to the UC Davis campus, EMC hosts themed events. The first event, which spawned the Unity name, was themed Unite for a Change. Saturday, May 8th will see EMC hold its third Unity party. Simply titled Unity 2010, the evening will be spring-themed. Headlined by such artists as San Francisco's Ckay, new hit DJs Markus Schossow, Oroboros and Forest Green, this event promises to be a fantastic way to say goodbye to the 2009-2010 school year. In a year full of college turmoil with protests, budget cuts and a general feeling of unease at UC Davis, this event should be the shining light that will help the university pull through this difficult time.

Tickets for Unity 2010 are still available. Don your favorite party beads and glow-sticks, buy your tickets at Freeborn Hall for a mere $20 and prepare to enjoy an evening of the finest progressive trance, house and dubstep to ever come to the UC Davis campus!

For more information contact:


Ilya Faynshteyn at ifaynshteyn@gmail.com
or by phone at 415-812-5832


Veronica Coleman at vmcoleman@ucdavis.edu 

Welcome

Welcome to my Bay Area lifestyle and fashion blog. Now that I am graduating UC Davis I will be bringing you the inside scoop on hot fashion, music and cultural events going in San Francisco and the bay area! Tune in for reviews from the eye of a casual observer rather than the biased eye of the Bay Area's news-reporting elite! From a stop of the Ocean-Race in San Francisco to the hottest DJs spinning at the best lounges in the area, I will do my best to cover them all!