[Dynagroove] jujubeats OC WEEKLY review

[Jason Blakemore]

pretty cool review someone sent me (even mentioned me hehe)...  thought i'd
pass it on:
 
 

 
<http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/last-night-reviews/last-night-juju
-beats-festival/> Last Night: Juju Beats Festival @ Oak Canyon Ranch


Posted by  <https://ocweekly.com/> Nathan Jackson in
<http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/lastnight/> Last Night reviews


August 17, 2008 9:26 AM


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Better than: Going on an all night bender of Red Bull and Dance Dance
Revolution at the neighborhood arcade

After its long-time hiatus, the legendary Juju Beats Festival swarmed the
lawn of Oak Canyon Ranch in Orange. The party stretched until after 3 am,
with freaky beats, bouncing bodies and insatiable neon party animals.

Our sorely missed music editor Dave Segal mentioned in his last column at
the Weekly that OC hadn't satisfied his taste for Techno and "fucked up
sounds", and he's probably right. But had he stayed in town a little longer
I'm sure he would have been salivating over the prospect of 4 stages
flashing behind the turn table wizardry of beatsmiths like DJ Dan, The
Glitch Mob and Jason Blakemore. Not to mention the 68 acre sprawl filled
with lakes and trees tucked behind a maze of canyons and dark roads. 

Unlike most inner city raves, Juju Beats didn't even wait for the sun to
set, as cars charged through the dusty makeshift parking lot around 4 p.m.
As I darted down Santiago Canyon, a flash back of Coachella came over me as
waves of beat up old Hondas packed with kids rocking pink rimmed glasses and
Mad Hatter lids passed me on the highway. 

By the time I shuffled into the front gates, the festival was kicking on all
cylinders as I walked to the "Bumble Bee Love Swarm" Stage to catch a set by
dynamic duo Jeno and Garth. Right away, I was glued to the blazing lights
and cartoon foam plants that seemed to sprout in front of the turntables.
Before I knew it, I was absorbed into the hypnotic dance party in the center
of the crowd. But if there's one mistake you could've made last night at
Juju Beats (besides taking E from some creep posted next to the barbeque
sandwich trailer) it was staying in one place for too long.

Each stage was spread out to let each stage throw it's own party
simultaneously while wanderers like me batted back and forth discovering new
sounds. One stage where I definitely felt some raw underground energy was
the Drum'n'Bass tent that hosted the maniacal styles of London's own Crissy
Criss and Kenny Ken, who kicked a non stop flurry of Jungle and Grime behind
an avalanche for tongue twisting toasters and emcees. The bass rumbled so
low that snapping pictures next to the stage almost cost me my hearing.

But if you felt like spinning your glow sticks to something less harsh, the
Butterfly Oasis Stage was the place to get your fix of fairies, fire and
flesh. DJ Dan was definitely the biggest crowd pleaser of the night, besides
the endless circuit of half naked hotties shaking it cabaret style on the
towers mounted at every corner of the stage. I also got discover a new
favorite in Jason Blakemore. Though house and techno were never really my
main musical obsessions, I've got to admit that I pretty much abandoned my
responsibilities as a reporter" during his set in favor of rocking out.

As a newcomer to the rave scene, Juju Beats gave me a whole new respect for
the neon party life. And although I you won't see me sucking a glittery
pacifier, covering my arms in Tall Mouse arts and crafts, or dancing in leg
warmers any time soon, I'll definitely by in line the next time this
"musical and visual orgasm" rolls into town.

Critic's Notebook
Personal Bias: I'm a fan of any party where half naked girls playing with
fire are present.

Random Detail: I came to the rave with white shoes...I left with green
shoes.

By the Way: Hope everyone had a good time.

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
Jason Blakemore
 
 <http://www.jasonblakemore.com/> www.JasonBlakemore.com
 <http://www.jasonblakemore.com/linx.html> 

New interview:
 
http://www.pubdistrict.com/articles/jason_blakemore.php