Article By: Mark Dommu
Photos By: Jenna Gard

This Saturday night those of us looking to boogie made the irritatingly inconvenient trip to Terminal 5 (seriously, T5 is so out of the way) for HARD X MOUTH TAPED SHUT, a party in celebration of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. The night promised to be a good one, with LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy opening for Italian electronic duo The Bloody Beetroots. I’m a long time Beetroots fan and have seen them spin several times, always waking up sore and happy the next day, so I went in with high expectations.

The event was 18 and over and free, which meant that about 80% of the crowd had black x’s on their hands. I wondered several times if HARD had been handing out flyers to NYU freshman in Washington Square Park. I’m also not sure how exactly the event had anything to do with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, aside from the fact that Rooney Mara’s head was everywhere…I guess that’s enough?

Proxy and Eye started out the evening, getting the initially small crowd dancing. When Proxy finished up the audience started calling eagerly for James Murphy, only to be met with a ridiculously long wait for his set. After about half an hour someone finally announced that there were technical difficulties and we were placated with Trent Reznor and Karen O’s cover of “Immigrant Song”, which debuted this summer with the first trailer for The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

After an hour of oddly low-tempo filler music (one prolific teenager behind me commented that, “this music is not, like, nice”) Murphy finally appeared and rather halfheartedly apologized for the wait, citing problems with a turntable…or something. He promised the audience, “We’re gonna have as much fun as you can in a short period of time with your clothes on.”

He was…not exactly telling the truth. After such a long wait, Murphy’s set was rather anticlimactic. The set started off with a funky tribal beat that stayed smooth and easy and got everyone dancing. For the most part Murphy’s set sounded like Miami in the 70s, and also maybe the 90s. There were a few interesting moments throughout, one drawn out warping sounded like a spaceship taking off, but for the most part it was an altogether uninspired set and Murphy seemed to be disinterested in the whole affair.

Almost the second Murphy finished the crowd started chanting for the Bloody Beetroots, and the crowd went wild when they appeared. They started with a bang and tore relentlessly through a thrashing, thumping and glorious set. If you’ve never seen the Bloody Beetroots spin before than you are seriously missing out. It’s the kind of set that you have to flail and jump around too. I could feel the bass pounding in my chest, making my face throb with every pulse.

The Bloody Beetroots are certifiable bad asses and they also clearly care about their audience having a good time, They were invested in the crowd’s enjoyment, at one point coming out form behind the DJ booth to rev everyone up. The crowd was losing their shit, I was almost kicked in the head by three different crowd surfers and did not care.

The Bloody Beetroots definitely made the entire night worthwhile, and on the way home I kept thinking about alien’s in boat shoes dancing to James Murphy’s set…so there’s that. I did wake up the next morning sore and happy wit the thump-thump still pulsing in my head, so mission accomplished.

For Jenna Gard’s full photo gallery: click here

Looking to dance your ass off this weekend? This Saturday night the Bloody Beetroots will rock the shit out of Terminal 5 for HARD x MOUTH TAPED SHUT, an event celebrating the release of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. The electronic duo will spin a DJ set, supported by James Murphy (of LCD Soundsystem), Proxy and Eye. Surprisingly this show is FREE! All you need to do is RSVP! Unfortunately, the RSVP list is now full, but if you get to the venue early chances are high that you will be able to get in for free! Terminal 5 will be the place to be at 7 PM. See you there! For more information about the event, click here.

Tuesday, October 11th, RJD2 and Icebird, Brooklyn Bowl, Tickets $15
10 years! My god, that is a LIFETIME! I cant believe I have been making records on a national level for 10 years. In 1999, I was just making these little beats in my bedroom for release on an independent label. Fast forward to 2009, and I’m….making these little beats in my bedroom for release on an independent label. But when it all comes down to its most base level, the goal is still the same: to make a piece of music that is going to hopefully rearrange your brain, or at least provide some relief from real life for a moment or two. Icebird is a new group featuring RJD2 with Aaron Livingston. They recently completed an album together in a singer/producer collaborative fashion. Tickets

Wednesday, October 12th-22nd, Stop The Virgens, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Tickets $55
The Creators Project & St. Ann’s Warehouse presents Karen O in STOP THE VIRGENS. Co-created by Karen O & KK Barrett Music Direction by Sam Spiegel & Nick Zinner Directed by Adam Rapp Produced by The Creators Project An assault on the tragic joys of youth, fever dreams drenched in visual seduction, a cathartic spell spun through a cycle of nine songs. Tickets
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Friday, October 14th, Trentemoller, Webster Hall, Sold Out
This Friday, October 14, Danish DJ, producer, and live musician Trentemøller returns to New York City to perform at Webster Hall with his full band. Trentemøller is known for his incredible innovation within the realm of electronic music and beyond, and now that his show has integrated live instrumentalists, vocalists, and striking visuals, he has taken the experience of seeing live music to a whole new level. Tickets

Saturday & Sunday, October 15-16, The Creators Project, DUMBO, Free with RSVP
The Creators Project is an ongoing global arts initiative dedicated to supporting musicians, artists and filmmakers who are using technology to push the bounds of creative expression. This October, The Creators Project will host an event series, featuring original works, major installations, musical performances, films, panels and workshops throughout DUMBO. More info. Free with RSVP. Musical performances by: ARCHWAY, Queen Sea Big Shark, The Field, A$AP Rocky + Clams Casino, Four Tet, Florence + The Machine, Nic Thorburn (from Islands, DJ Set), Tobacco Warehouse, Emicida, Teen Daze, John Maus, Yuksek, Atlas Sound, Company Flow, Justice (DJ Set), DJ Ravves + more, 55 Washingon, Optimo, Nosaj Thing  + jj and Koreless, Girl Unit, Juan MacLean (DJ Set).

Tuesday, October 18th, Smashing Pumpkins, Terminal 5, Sold Out
The Smashing Pumpkins have created one of the most acclaimed bodies of work in musical history and sold over 30 million albums. Formed in Chicago in 1988, they released Gish, their influential (and platinum) debut in 1991,
which was followed by more platinum and multi-platinum albums including the nine-time platinum Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness and the four-time platinum Siamese Dream as well as the platinum certified 1998 album Adore. In December 2009 The group’s BILLY CORGAN has said the band’s new music “harkens back to the original psychedelic roots of The Smashing Pumpkins; atmospheric, melodic, heavy, and pretty.”

Sunday, October 2nd, The 37th Annual Atlantic Antic at Atlantic Avenue, Free
The Atlantic Antic is a longstanding tradition in New York City. Spanning four neighborhoods through the heart of brownstone Brooklyn, the Atlantic Antic is the largest and most celebrated street festival in New York City! With over 500 artists, craftspeople, musicians, and food merchants purveying an eclectic variety of goods and services, the Antic is the perfect place to explore everything the city has to offer! More Info

Tuesday & Wednesday, October 4th & 5th, Portishead, Hammerstein Ballroom
Portishead is a band from Bristol, UK, named after a small coastal town twelve miles west of said musical hotbed, in North Somerset. They were initially known for their use of jazz samples and some hip-hop beats along with various synth sounds and the hauntingly beautiful vocals of singer Beth Gibbons. Their current sound drops the samples in favour of a harder, more abrasive edge, but retains Gibbons’ vocals. Their tunes are legendary and hauntingly mesmerizing.  Tickets

Tuesday-Sunday, October 4th-9th, Deadmau5, Roseland Ballroom
Born and raised in Niagara Falls, Canada, Joel Zimmerman (aka “deadmau5”) has become one of the most sought-after artists on the electronic music scene in recent times. He is known for his highly entertaining live gigs, often performing wearing a large cartoon mouse head. ‘Deadmau5’, Zimmermans’ DJ name, originates from an incident where a mouse crawled into his computer and died. He then posted on an internet forum of his shenanigans, and the members began calling him TheDeadMouseGuy. ‘Dead Mouse’ was too long for an IRC login name, so he abbreviated it to “deadmau5”. Tickets

Wednesday & Thursday, October 5th & 6th, James Blake, Webster Hall & Music Hall of Williamsburg
James Blake is a producer, DJ, and live musician based out of the United Kingdom. James Blake first garnered attention through his deep and melodic dubstep productions that began to emerge in 2009. The release of his EP The Bells Sketch in March of 2010, and of CMYK a few months later, represented a maturation of his sound; a movement away from his more dubstep centered production and towards the more stripped down melody that would characterize his first full length album. Released in February of this year, the album falls safely within the realm of the electronic genre, while heavily emphasizing piano and the increased integration of vocal elements, both of which are performed by James himself. This ability has set James apart and caused him to skyrocket to such notoriety at such a young age. Unfortunately both shows are sold out, we suggest trying your luck on Craigslist!

Friday, October 7th, Mickey Avalon, Webster Hall
Mickey Avalon (real name Yeshe Perl) is a rap artist from Hollywood, California. His debut self-titled solo album was released Nov. 7, 2006 on Interscope/Shoot to Kill Records in association with MySpace Records. Avalon blends dark, lewd, and crizzled lyrical hooks with hip-hop beats. Frequent topics of Avalon’s songs are his experiences with substance abuse and prostitution, but don’t let that discourage you- he knows how to deliver an epic performance. $5 til midnight with RSVP, Advance Tickets $15

Saturday, October 8th, Ladytron, Terminal 5
What transpired in the studio as a result of that confidence and freedom enhanced the vision they achieved on Witching Hour, and in doing so, has simultaneously redefined and escaped the genre. Produced by Ladytron with assistance from Vicarious Bliss (Ed Banger Records) and Alessandro Cortini (Nine Inch Nails), VELOCIFERO fully transcends the confines of electro-pop with a fresh wave of distorted soul. Mira and Helen—whose disparate vocal styles already provide considerable depth—have evolved both as musicians and songwriters, lending provocative harmonies to songs like “Runaway” and “I’m Not Scared.” While, rhythmically, there are moments reminiscent of their old favorites Os Mutantes and the Birthday Party. Tickets

Crystal Castles, Thursday, September 15th, Good Units:
Smoke & Mirrors is your favorite new party, brought to you by RCRD LBL. Smoke & Mirrors brings big names to small rooms. Be prepared to get lost in the music and enjoy some smoky surprises. This event is free for RCRD LBL Subscribers with RSVP. Come early, stay late. We will be cutting off RSVPs once the demand is wildly out of control. This is a small room for big talent. Once the room is filled, all others will be turned away. Good Units (Beneath the Hudson Hotel), 356 W 58th Street (Between 8th and 9th Ave) RSVP

The Official Launch of VICE.COM, Thursday, September 15th, One Hanson Place, Brooklyn:
Following years of hard work, arm wrestling over domain names, and a little bit of high-tech stuff that we can’t even begin to understand, we’re proud to announce that VICE.COM is here. We’ve combined VBS.TV and Viceland.com to create a super dupe one-stop-content-shop for all the videos and words you’ve come to expect from VICE. Being that we’re VICE, we decided to throw a party to celebrate our new URL with our best friends, like you and Rick Ross. RSVP is now open, details and flier below. Space will be limited. Performances by Rick Ross, A-Trak, and Death From Above 1979. Skylight One Hanson, One Hanson Place, Brooklyn, 9PM-3AM. General Public can RSVP (space will be limited 21): RSVP

Trouble and Bass, 5th Anniversary Party, Friday, September 16th, Webster Hall:
Trouble & Bass is the sound of staying up all night and getting wild in the streets, sweat dripping off the walls and speakers pounding in your face. For the last four years, these rowdy ravers have brought raw energy back to the world’s dancefloors by effortlessly flipping bass music in all its forms. Taking influences from house, electro, dubstep, drum & bass, metal, and hip-hop, T&B has created an entirely new genre known simply as “heavy bass.” Purchase Tickets

Blkmarket Membership, Friday, September 16th, TBA:
Blkmarket Membership is back from vacation on Friday 16th September as we commence our fall lineups which we are very excited to announce. Kicking things off we bring you Planetary Assault Systems (aka Luke Slater), Barem, Kollektiv Turmstrasse live, Taimur & Fahad and Zach Rosenberg. Purchase Tickets

Ghostland Observatory, Saturday, September 17th, Terminal 5:
Ghostland Observatory is the duo of frontman Aaron Behrens and producer/drummer Thomas Turner. Behrens’ vocal style and stage performances are unique and uncompromising, and he has drawn early comparisons to Freddie Mercury and Prince. Turner is heavily influenced by electronic artists such as Daft Punk, Laurent Garnier and Green Velvet, as well as rockers such as The Animals, David Bowie, and The Clash. With their spectral blend of electronics, drums, guitar and vocals, they have emerged with a sound that is the culmination of past influence and present inspiration, and can only be described as BALLSY. Purchase Tickets

For the second year in a row, HARD is bringing their night of electronic music mayhem to New York with Digitalism, Caspa, Switch, Designer Drugs and Destructo on Saturday, August 20th at Terminal 5.  Each with their own brand of heavy bass drops and digital wobble, this will be an amazing way to hear what music some of the best dub-step and eletro DJs are currently producing.

Click here to purchase your tickets and check out videos from Digitalism and Destructo after the jump.

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Six weeks have passed since I last witnessed A-Trak create a sea of bodies shake the floor at Webster Hall for the Downtown 5^th Anniversary Party. Next Saturday, April 30, A-Trak will be gracing New York with his presence once again. Scion is bringing the Magic 8-Ball Tour to Terminal 5, featuring A-Trak, Kid Sister and The Gaslamp Killer.

For those who don’t know, A-Trak was the first DJ to take home all three competition titles (DMC, ITF, Vestax) and the first to win five World Championships. He won DMC’s World DJ Championship at the mere age of 15, making him the youngest person to ever win this competition. However, when A-Trak performs live, his main concern is the audience, making sure they dance and flow in sync with his roaring beats of disco, house, funk, and occasional rap. But his magnetic scratch techniques and turntable skills will inevitably be apart of the equation. The new Ducksauce (DJ A-Trak and DJ Armand Van Helden) album is just about complete, so I’m looking forward to novel up and coming tunes weaving their way into his set.

Performing alongside A-Trak will be Melisa Young (a.k.a. Kid Sister) whom A-Trak produces and has signed to his label Fool’s Gold. Kid Sister draws inspiration from the music of her youth. She blends electro pop, hip-hop, ghetto house, and Chicago house into one cohesive sound and performs it with deep soul.

The third on the line up is The Ghostland Killer, a LA based DJ who releases his mixes off of Flying Lotus’s label Brainfeeder. His sound is unique and has ample range. From Indian instruments, jazz horn lines, symphonic string melodies, and light percussion to dubstep, heavy basslines, and controlled static, he does it all.

Comfortable shoes are encouraged because this will be an entire night of hard dancing. Join us at Terminal 5 for this show as we jump into the New York summer scene together. This show will be a treat.

Tickets range from $25 to $35 and can be purchased HERE.

With the lengthy introduction aside, Rusko is landing on Wednesday April 27^th shaking New York City with his seismic sound.  Hoppin’ all throughout the nation on his 2011 USA Tour, he will be stopping at Terminal 5 to inject a bit of the nightlife into the midweek.  Alongside tracks recently released from his EP “Everyday” we can assume absolute attendance of his ecstatic energy.  While launching the audience into pools of bass, it is sure to see him fly from the stage, jumping hollering and raging along with the crowd.  Although it lacks his appearance the tour teaser accurately portrays the sonic spectacle that will ensue.

Fueling entertainment that night will also be Doorly.  An equally acclaimed act from across the Atlantic, this keystone to the music industry will be none other than exceptional.  Shredded electro, warped wubs, and teched out glitches are all on the menu for his performance.  He is a regular on BBC Radio 1, and Ibiza Rocks Podcast, a curator for the future sounds for all DJs.  In his roster of collaborators includes but is not limited to Groove Armada, Armand van Helden, Chase and Status, Kissy Sell Out, Tiga, Fake Blood, Skream, Jon Carter, Noisia, Diplo, Proxy, Scratch Perverts, Sinden and Soulwax.

Along with the previously mentioned, Destructo will tear through the ocean of excited ears.  Rooted deep in a history of music prduction and management, his taste for savory sounds is unmistakable.  Founder of the electro rager HARD, Los Angeles local Gary Richards totes his experience to this night for a certainly massive set.

For Tickets and more Info on the event click HERE.

Check out photos from Rusko’s visit to Webster Hall last October HERE.

Next month, A-Trak will embark on a cross-country tour with Kid Sister and The Gaslamp Killer. A-Trak has a knack for combining electro and hip hop (if you don’t know what we mean, CLICK HERE to check out his last mixtape, Dirty South Dance 2), and is best known for his legendary scratching skills, for which he won the DMC World Championship at the tender age of 15 (the youngest winner to date). Lately, A-Trak has kept busy as one half of Duck Sauce, who’s single, “Barbra Streisand” was an international hit. We’re hoping this tour will give us a preview of what we can expect from A-Trak’s upcoming album.

Joining the Magic 8-Ball Tour on the ones and twos is The Gaslamp Killer, who we saw this past weekend at A Taste of Sonar in London. From what we saw, GLK is a perfect match-up for this tour; like A-Trak, he has an uncanny way of mixing hip hop with electro (and has some scratching skills to boot), but the two artists’ styles are completely different.

The Magic 8-Ball Tour hits NYC’s Terminal 5 on Saturday, April 30 with special guest The Clipse. Get a full list of tour dates and links to purchase tickets HERE.

More often than not, when I see a band perform on multiple occasions they fail to live up to the magic of the first time. Last Friday at Terminal 5, Chromeo proved to be one of few anomalies as they continue to elevate their game from show to show.

This was their first New York performance since the release of Business Casual, and for the first time since I initially saw them live (in 2009 at street Scene in San Diego) they had an album’s worth of new material to add to their show. Chromeo presented a well-balanced set list, playing favorites drawn from all three albums. They hit it out of the park with the encore, which included my two favorite tracks from Business Casual, “J’ai Claqué La Porte” and “Grow Up”.

CLICK HERE to view photos from the night, which also featured The Suzan and MNDR. Don’t miss The Suzan on March 4 when they perform at the Downtown Music Festival at Webster Hall. Tickets available HERE.