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Seems like the majority of parties lately have been at the newest welcome addition to the BK underground rave scene, the 12 Spot (aka The Hindsdale). You've read about it in previous reviews (Mad World, Sugar Rush), but this time around, the party was predominately on the roof.
The 5th of May, a day immortalized in drowning in beer and partying it up. Why? Well other than the historical significance, to party! What better way than to stomp around in the early summer weather? This party was pretty cray, although when I first got there it seemed almost dead. Party starts at 2pm? Yea a lot of people aren't coming out that early. But, my eyes were deceiving me. You see, the party was on the roof. About 50-60 people were inside while close to 300 (when I got there) were jamming upstairs.
The place was alive! This event brought forward some new twists. In the house was The Brooklyn Salsa Company! The guys that run the company are all artists themselves. Playing in bands, spinning records, being themselves. Since they are all such vibrant personalities, these spicy connoisseurs are making a documentary about their company and themselves. Why were they at a BK rave? Simple, they are artists and want to reach the artistic people. Genius. So not only did they have an enormous box of chips and all different flavors of their salsa, Rob Behnke was on stage spinning some of his trancealicious tracks. It was great meeting them, and the salsa's pretty damn good too.
Although there weren't many people downstairs, Morgan Freeman had the place looking like light wonderland. His visuals never cease to amaze me, you need to check out his work. He is a very talented individual and we are lucky to be able to experience his work first hand the way we do. HOMAGE!! Also on lighting was Paradox Productions (pew pew). Greeting all the people as they came upstairs was the one and only Kevin Carpet. Always active with the crowd, this living piece of art even got a chance to squeeze in an interview with the Triple Threat Production team!
Triple Threat has been on the NYC scene for a little over a month now, and their videos are pretty kick ass (check out this one HERE). It's great to see more than just party videos going up. HOMAGE. They had set up shop with Electrik Graffiti the back right corner of the roof, offering a place to chill, get a light show, and buy rave goodies. Some interviews went down there, including one with the owners of Satellite Records. Their very own DJ Bill was spinning and TTP and EG were lucky enough to have them hanging out. I even saw them enjoying a couple light shows!
As for food, there was a BBQ and... Thai Food! Why, I don't know, but it smelled hella good! Another great party brought to you by Morgan Freeman, Biggie Stardust, Helen Pyre and Duke Live!
It is so awesome to see fresh party throwers rising up! You have the already known and established organizations like NYCR and Caffeine producing these amazingly huge events... and then you have the "little guy" working tirelessly to basically compete with what the other is offering. In this case you had an amazing party, with many great vibes, an awesome addition done in a new way, all with being the first production by this team ever! Big-Ole-Shout-Out to GreenmonkeyNYC's Murrmaidd and J Monster for pulling this one off!
Lets start with the Lab. It's a great spot! Power Ravers proved that to me back in December when the Megazord was put up. I mean, even before that when I watched Sam's (EpicLink) slide show video of Tight Crew's Super Mario Party 3 (!!), the decorations made for this place have been pretty epic! For Jungle Bungle the decor was sick with tiki men, roots and leaves strewn across the ceiling, cut and painted cloth, faux plants all over, and awesome lights bouncing all over! That was all thanks to the set up crew of Kevin Sarcastic, Sue Sarcastic, Sid Sprouts, Tara Tiger, and Michelle with Tomato at point! Place looked awesome, and even more so with the GreenMonkeyGogo girls! They were all decked out with the jungle look, Tara actually sported the craziest mask I've ever seen! It was her shaman headpiece that was the skull of what looked like a Cubone (pokemon [duh]) or something! It was great seeing people get into the mood of the theme!
The music was kicking ass all night, from sexy drum and bass tracks, to dubstep, to some moombahton, the bass was always kicking! I thoroughly enjoyed Jake Dukes and W@x's set together, that brought me back to a couple months ago when you always saw them spinning together. Even people that have never heard them before were telling me how much they loved it. For most of the hour set, Jake was sporting a scoodie made by Electrik Graffiti, which brings us to the "awesome addition in a new way"...
Jake Dukes Sporting an Electrik Graffiti Scoodie By: Paus3
...The Electrik Graffiti vendor table. I'm not a rave veteran, I've only seen so many within the past few months, but this was totally new. They had three tables set up under a white tent. Around the sides opposite the table they put up awesome backdrops, included one that had UV reactive paint on it. The whole place was glowing, which was quite appropriate with their wares... party toys (glove sets, glow sticks, light balls, LED pacifiers), and custom-furry-hand-made scoodies! Their scoodies are so warm and soft, and so many people were wearing them! The also served as a relaxation spot where people got light shows, massages, and just sat and chilled for a second. Electrik Graffiti will be around for more events, be sure to stop by and say hi!
The vibes were overall positive throughout the night. People were dancing, getting light shows going over to Pixel for UV body painting, or climbing over the beloved Kevin Carpet to grab a smoke or some fresh air outside. I actually hung out around Kevin for a little bit to see how people were reacting with him. Some people walked, scuttled, shuffled or danced across him, while a handful of people jumped over him. I even heard someone deny that there was anyone actually rolled up inside. He's one hell of a good carpet! Whether upstairs or downstairs, it felt great to be around so many smiling faces.
Bam Bam ad Cloud Melting Face in a Double By: Paus3
One thing that was a little disappointing was a fellow glover and [OWL] lost her glove that night. She was so upset about it. While there were many people on the hunt for the glove, it never turned up. Until pictures were released the next day and the photographer Teaz actually snapped a shot of the glove on the ground and a young lady bending over to pick it up. Anyone would hate to loose their stuff, so if you know this person, let's all reach out and find out if she has the glove, and to return it to it's rightful owner. If anyone was seen Yoyo glove, you know how talented she is, and she really misses her glove. A large portion of the gloving community is reaching out to help the glove find it's way back to Yoyo.
A Human Carpet?? At First I was as confused as DJ Ashley over here, but now it is a little more clear...keep reading, and Ashley, maybe this will answer your questions....
There are plenty of interesting and cool people in
the rave community. But I have not met anyone who can quite match up to Kevin
Carpet. Known around the states as the human carpet. He was at the last two
events I went to (Power Ravers/Pokèball). To say the
least, he's an intriguing individual. Being on the scene for a very long time,
Kevin has seen major changes to music, people coming to these events and the
community itself. Let's look together into the background and mind of The Human
Carpet!
Kevin Carpet!
[PAUS3] When did
you first joined the rave community, how were you introduced to them and what
was your first event like?
[KEVIN CARPET] I was at the Disco 2000 events at the
Limelight...where I was asked to participate and do my carpet thing. The head
guys doing the event knew me since I ran the doors of some famous clubs... My
first rave carpet was in the VIP area which overlooked the huge dance floor... And
I remember as I peered out during the night I had Joan Jett, Christina
Applegate, Billy Idol’s girlfriend and a lot of other cool people standing on
the carpets to view what was going on the dance floor...
It was a cool night and I went back every Wednesday for the same Disco 2000
party, but sometimes I laid by the bar and sometimes I was with the
Go-Go's... All depended on the night...
[P] Describe the rave community in your
own words.
[K] The Rave community in a whole is like friends getting
together at a party and enjoying great music and vibes and socializing... and
yes Dancing! As they say most Raves I go to are full of PLUR and Unity (I guess
that depends which ones you go to) but all the ones I go to are like that.
[P] How has the scene changed since the
time you've started attending raves?
[K] Well Raves were at least some underground ones
sometimes dangerous… meaning fights and all. Now it’s a Pleasure Peace Love
Harmony... again at most events. It’s great seeing everyone chillin and
enjoying themselves having a good time.
Helping People Over the Ledge Pokèball By: Sam Freund
[P] What is some of your favorite music
styles?
[K] Most people don’t know this but I DJed for years and
I played at a lot of electro, gothic and techno events along with 80's 90's and
industrial music....so I guess that’s what I like.
[P] Where does the name 'Carpet' come
from?
[K] When I first started doing clubs and bars as a carpet
people would say to me.."Hey it's Kevin the Carpet,” and "Hey Kevin
Carpet!” and Walla! The name has been born.
[P] What is it about wrapping yourself in carpets and getting stepped on? Is it a
fetish?
[K] When I first started doing this at gothic events I didn't
use a carpet just laid by the bar dressed in all black, gloves, a ski mask and
goggles... I laid very still all night and it was funny some people didn’t
think I was real they had to touch me. Then when I received a government grant
to do this. I had to think of other way to try and do this at different events
clubs and bars… So carpet idea came when some people told me it was hard to
stay on me cause my belly moved and they fell off sometimes, plus when girls
wore heels that would hurt so that wasn't too much fun.
Then a bar owner said to me if I came there early and lay in a carpet in the
corner where all the bartenders go and the shot girls and the patrons I could
be incognito and be a part of the bar. People would think I was bunch of
carpets there... Hmmm this sounded interesting....so it began. I got to this upper
east side bar that got packed by 10pm. I got there by 8pm before the staff got
in and set up. That lasted about 2 years and was fun except if I had 6 big guys
standing there for an hour and never left. Those times I was thinking I should
show myself, but didn’t. The owner also paid me and I got a ride home plus a
meal… So this was good! Then I started doing this at many other clubs and bars
all over NYC, NJ, Boston, and LA.
One thing about getting stepped on is not the main reason for the art… which is
a part of it, but the art factor comes to play when you’re at a space laying
there and being used as the object your portraying. Me a carpet... It’s about
being ONE with the venue as people go about their business and your there like
a chair, or a sofa. This IS a fetish for many, but to me this is an art. In
fact I get messages all the time from guys all over the USA and beyond saying
to me “Dude… How can you have guys walk on you? that’s gay.” I guess if I did
this for a fetish or other reason maybe. If a guy loves girls then he would
just want girls on him. Being a carpet is just that, being a carpet and carpets
can’t say you can go on ‘em and who can’t.
I have to delete (comments) on my Facebook. A bunch of guys every now and then
who do this for fetish and who write weird things on the pics and who may
harass the people on my page.
Let me take this opportunity to say I tried a rave at Rebel a few years ago and
I was by the bar and everyone looked at me, took pics and maybe went on the
carpet for a second to take pic and then came off. I remember I left that Rebel
after 2 hours and went to a downtown Hipster event where they loved me and had
fun.
My first idea was to be incognito doing this, however ravers are real cool
people and when they know when I'm there they bounce, jump and say hi to me as
they pass by… It’s a whole new idea and thus helping me to make my grant more
interesting. I do get some people who jump over saying sometimes “I don’t wanna
hurt him,” which is another misconception...I HATE PAIN! However, this is non
painful. When I lay where ever I'm at I get in a Zen like state and listen as
people trod on me and go by...hearing and sensing the environment. Being an
actual carpet... When this works it’s great... Doorways I like cause of the
interaction with people I hear... ”Love ya carpet guy...Hey Kevin...You Rock
Dude.”
It’s sad when I hear, “Oh no I hate stepping on him,” and then they gingerly
step or jump. Then I feel bad... For the people. But, for the most part I'm happy
and excited that I have been accepted at these events and people do write and
tell me these days.
It’s not a party if you’re not there or you’re a staple at these events... Of
course I know there are some who think otherwise and for that I'm sorry. It
really amazes me how people can adapt and have fun with this....the thing that
I do. Nowadays I have to thank ALL the cool promoters that ask me to join their
events...
[K] Gee I never thought about that...hmmm I think I try
to go almost weekly if there are events... And just until 5 months ago I never
could go to events for years on a Friday always missed those events cause I had
this Top 40, 80's 90's DJ gig... Paid well so I kept it, until I said to myself
I'd rather be carpeting and now I'm having a Ball at these Friday & Saturday
events.
[K] I forgot to mention Lady Gaga saw me at a few events (not raves) and
talked about me in a Youtube video I thought that was cool. She and her friends
stood on the carpet :D
I have to thank Kevin Bracken, Sam Black and Michael Dj
Ritalin for letting me carpet at their events (Refugee) in Brooklyn. Then when
that stopped I didn’t do raves for a long time till Ritalin said I could do The
Marvels event. That was at Ten Eckyk St... When I go there I ended up doing the
door for that one and it was cool cause it was there that when I went
inside I saw these cardboard boxes in front of the path to the outside smoking area.
That’s when doorway carpet came in effect....
And thanks to Aeryck NYCRAVERS Ritalin, Jeff Cohen and Atom C. At the
next one they found me a nice spot by the doorway... Which worked out great. No
one knew at the first event but the promoters by the end of the event some word
got around and it was cool the crowd had fun with it for the most part.
BIIIIG THANK YOU to Kevin for his time and honesty!! Make sure you say hi to him next time you see him at an event near you!!
Another weekend another awesome rave! This one a little different from the last with a lot of familiar faces! This event took place in a spot that I don't think has a name, you wouldn't even recognize it as a party going on if you were just walking by the place. It was a bit smaller compared to a warehouse, you actually had to walk up two flights of stairs to get into the spot. Once upstairs the party was raging! There were probably around 500 people at the height of the party, but it felt like a lot more due to the size.
You had two rooms, the main room and one behind it. This was actually a twelve hour party! So in that time you had 24 DJs spinning some dubstep, trance, and a whole lot of hardstyle. I'm not too much a fan of hardstyle, but it got pretty crazy at some points. To add to the atmosphere you had a kandi making table (that pretty much became a couch by the middle of the party), face painting by Pixel and his crew, Kevin Carpet, and a whole lot of lasers/projectors/lights illuminating both rooms. Aside from the two rooms there was also a rooftop you could go out onto to get some fresh air or a smoke. It was freezing outside, but that didn't stop many people from going out there to hang out.
For me, this was an awesome party to glove at. I met some sick glovers from 666 Lights, Liquid Emotions, and of course Emazinglights. This was a Pokemon themed party (duh), so I got into my blue suit and dressed up like Poliwhirl! At one point of the night, I was in the second room where the DJ was dropped some sick dubstep mixed with rap. I was giving one kid a show and three more gathered around to enjoy the lights. When the beat dropped it was almost as if my hands were moving the party and everyone started jumping, the vibes in the room were so tight everything was flowing!
Also at the party was a good friend and extremely talented glover SupaNova. I had the opportunity to watch him give a personal show to this one girl like I've never seen before. He incorporated her whole body into it, using her hands as tools to expand his show. Without sounding too corny, it was like watching his hands make love to hers. I've never seen anything like this, I was blown away by how in sync he was with the music and the connection he was having with the show. If you ever catch SupaNova at an event, you need to say hi and watch him do his thing, it's something else.
I gloved for hours on end, gave a kid his first show ever, did a couple doubles with SupaNova, and learned some new moves from the other glovers there. Practice really pays off, and being able to do it live is a totally different experience from practicing in front of a mirror.
Coming soon to Electric Ghost Punk will be a few interviews!! A DJ, a fellow glover, and party animal veteran Kevin Carpet! Stay tuned, there's so much more to come!
