CultureMob, March 24, 2008
Kinetic III Moves the Pacific Science Center
Shilo Urban
On Saturday evening at the Pacific Science Center there was not a lecture on chemistry, a school bus tour of the Science Playground, or a 3D show at the IMAX. Seattle’s science museum was instead filled with the kinetic energy of hundreds of dancers, musicians, and artists who came together to raise hell at the annual event Kinetic, produced by Infinite Connections. The night was a living, breathing, dancing mix of beats and butterflies, dinosaurs and digital remixes, tide pools and trance, electronic music and museum madness...
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Seattle Weekly, March 19, 2008
Weekly Wire: Tripping Out
ERIKA HOBART
It sounds like the P.R. team behind dance party Kinetic 3 might have done some . . . experimenting . . . on their downtime. “We transcend the world around us, open the porthole through time and space to take you to another place, the deepest part of your soul . . . ,” reads their whimsical press release. The last time I opened the porthole through time and space was my freshman year of college—and while that’s a story for another time, let’s be clear: It didn’t happen after listening to DJ Tiesto. Yet one doesn’t need access to hallucinogens to feel sublime at Kinetic, when you have access to wholly entrancing terrain like the Pacific Science Center’s planetarium and butterfly room. If you’ve been looking for a loophole, here it is. Get that euphoric effect under the spell of DJs from Israel, live cellists, fire dancers, and more safe stimuli—sans the legal ramifications.
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Seattle Weekly, December 26, 2007
Weekly Wire: AION Costume Ball
Rachel Shimp
Maybe you want to have your cake and eat it too—to have a debauched but also spiritual New Years’ Eve celebration. Depending on your definition of spiritual, this costume ball might be just the thing. Following a similar, wildly successful soiree in the same space last year, Infinite Connections has assembled a gaggle of DJs and musicians playing everything from noise to psy-trance to bring in ’08 with a bang. These events have an art party signature, as each room is visually stamped with work from “emerging starving artists,” and erotic circus troupes and gorgeous fire dancers perform in the wee hours. Upping the ante on the unknown this year is the inclusion of palm reader Nikki Ross and Radio8Ball divinatory Andras Jones. Bring a date, or not—you never know what the future holds.
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The Stranger, May 30, 2007
Bug in the Bassbin
Donte Parks
If you're looking for more spectacle, you'll want to head over to Neumo's on Saturday, June 2, for Breaks & Freaks. A product of the Infinite Connections crew, Breaks & Freaks has been going on for two years strong—an admirable feat, especially considering how much is involved with each night. Sure, they've got the requisite music, but then they top that with a whole psychedelic circus vibe—clowns, acrobats, and fire performers doing their thing. It's a bit overwhelming, but since when is the occasional bout of sensory overload a bad thing?
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Seattle Weekly, December 27, 2006
Weekly Wire: Radical Women and Masquerade Balls
Rachel Shimp
Arcana Masquerade Ball
For those not hip on their Latin etymology, the word "arcana" literally defines itself. But while Merriam-Webster's interpretation is "mysterious or specialized knowledge, language, or information accessible or possessed only by the initiate," there are no target participants for this New Year's Eve gala, which is a typical trait of Infinite Connections parties. In tandem with Uniting Souls and IOSIS Art Party, they've thrown successful raves at unlikely locales like the Pacific Science Center (in that case, making a feeling of unity with nature no longer a drug-fueled abstraction). Tonight they usher in 2007 with "organic minimal" techno from New Zealanders Antix; DJ sets from Ramiro, Gordon Field, and Patrick Turner (among nine others); and a Pure Cirkus performance combining circus arts and body modification at the stroke of midnight. OK, that does seem a little esoteric. You don't have to hang, as it were, in that area, though—the upstairs Art Party room features dazzling mask art from Monica Roxburgh, Roger Wheeler, Icy, and Timothy Stephens. Styles range from Venetian to mythological to Stephens' phantasmagorical leather creations (pictured).
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Seattle PI Friday, February 17, 2006
The Club Scene: Power pop bands can spring your spirits forward
By TIZZY ASHER
In other unusual venue news, the Infinite Connections, IOSIS Art Party and Uniting Souls crews take over the Pacific Science Center on Saturday for "Kinetic," another of their massive themed dance parties (9 p.m.; $18 at www.brownpapertickets.com or $25 at the door). Music ranges from downtempo ambient to high-energy house. Where else can you learn about science as you indulge your urge for rhythm?
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Seattle Weekly Notable Shows February 15 - 22, 2006
Kinetic
Last summer's "Magnetic" event in the same unconventional location allowed you to pet sea urchins and watch butterflies shed their cocoons to the beat of pounding house music—and this year's lineup is twice as eclectic and solid: Atmos, DJ Heather, Lusine, Deru, Osiris Indriya, Nordic Soul, Ramiro and Jeromy Nail, Amanita, Jerry Abstract, Julie Herrera, Son of Rose, Kris Moon, and more appear. Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave. N., 9 p.m. $18 adv./$25 18+
The Stranger Suggests February 16-22, 2006
Dave Segal
Kinetic
(MUSIC/VISUALS) How much audio-visual stimulation is too much? Kinetic will force you to answer that question. Nothing succeeds like excess, and the Decibel, Uniting Souls, and IOSIS crews have assembled a potent lineup to prove it. Feast on the gamut of electronic styles flaunted by Lusine, Deru, Nordic Soul, Son of Rose, Kris Moon, Atmos, Osiris Indriya, Jerry Abstract, Heather, and others. It's like a week of beats crammed into one glorious night. (Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave N, 686-4622. 9 pm, $18 adv/$25 DOS, 18+.)
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Seattle Weekly August 10, 2005
Magnetic at the Pacific Science Center
By Rachel Shimp
Good raves historically go off in the unlikeliest of places. Having not been lucky enough to experience the partying-under-stars desert rave scene of Southern California, my previous nonclub adventures include just one ice-skating rink, at an event called "55 Degrees." And now: Magnetic, an 18+ party imaginatively held at the Pacific Science Center on Saturday, Aug. 6. Postings on nwtekno.com promised an evening of frolicking among the butterflies and naked mole rats (an inclusion that grossed out a number of my friends, though the poor things were behind glass, naturally) to the sounds of headliner Mark Farina, and a live set from Sweden's Human Blue. As rave flyers tend to do, Magnetic's urged partygoers to "explore the infinite with child-like wonder." Mm-hmm. So, how many people would be chemically inducing their childlike wonder? My need to witness the larger spectacle of this "costumes encouraged" party among the exhibits' microcosms, which I'd never seen, was intense.
The Pacific Science Center is a beautiful place, and moving through the entrance's concrete islands, surrounded by water, to the "Polarity Patio" felt like embarking a journey. Only that journey could have been to Pioneer Square, as this was one of the event's two bars, featuring the most boring music and—as the night wore on—the drunkest patrons. Inside, nearly every exhibit was open and staffed by amused-looking workers. As a sea anemone kissed my fingers in the ocean petting pool, I noticed an unfortunate lack of costumes—I expected to see people dressed as glittery pythons, or at least find more of them outfitted in rave-tested, rave-approved butterfly wings. Regardless, the human animal proved interesting enough to watch in its own right.
Inside the bright and humid butterfly room, a goth girl cried, "Oh my God!" and pointed at a quivering chrysalis. In the "Animal Attractions" main area, two girls on roller skates spun each other while a man did capoeira in a corner to surprisingly excellent tribal drumming. Near the "Tots Only" playpen, which had been converted into the second bar, I spotted the curious juxtaposition of a "Lost Kids" sign next to a makeshift drink menu—was that on purpose?
The "Insect Repellent" room, hosted in part by Iosis Art Party, featured expensive, psychedelic art that was begging to be stolen from the seemingly unsupervised easels. Human Blue played there, next to the planetarium, for two and a half hours. I spoke with a woman about my mother's age who favored the "warmer" sound in the other rooms, though her husband, slender and tattooed with a white beard, preferred the energetic onslaught of Human Blue's hard trance.
Back in "Animal Attractions," we climbed inside toy cars and sipped vodka and Red Bull while watching people get down to the night's best lineup: Uniting Souls' Ramiro and Jeromy Nail, Carlos Mendoza, and San Francisco's funky house king Farina. At 3 a.m., the lights weren't dim enough, but nobody seemed to mind. To my relief, they all looked high . . . on life.
rshimp@seattlweekly.com
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Seattle Weekly Notable Shows August 5 - 9, 2005
Mark Farina
A rave among the 'animal attractions,' this unusually venued dance event ("Magnetic") will go on till 4 a.m. and, in addition to the mushroom-jazzy house of the headliner, will also include Carlos Mendoza, Human Blue, Mr. Supreme, Spektra, Johnny Love, Ramiro, Jeromy Nail, Osiris Indriya, Anamita, DjML, and lots of learning. Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave. N., 206-443-2001, 9 p.m. $15
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Arts & Enterainment August 5, 2005
The Club Scene: Opposites attract: Science Center hosts Magnetic party
TIZZY ASHER
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Naked mole rats are nature's party animals. They're like Paris Hilton: Once their weird little faces appear at your event, you're guaranteed instant success. Which is why promoters IOSIS Art Party and Uniting Souls decided to host their first grand-scale joint party, Magnetic, at the Pacific Science Center.
We're kidding about mole rats, they're actually nature's wallflowers and they rarely enjoy parties, but we aren't kidding about Magnetic. The party will overtake three massive rooms at the Pacific Science Center on tomorrow(9 p.m.; $18 at www.brownpapertickets.com or $25 at the door).
IOSIS organizer Yvette Soler says that the Science Center's size presents challenges for organizers, which is why so few parties have occurred there. However, IOSIS Art Party is used to hosting in unusual circumstances. She describes the massive sound system they use with the sort of reverence usually used for enormous cruise ships.
Magnetic's three rooms will offer distinctly different musical and dancing experiences. Mark Farina, Ramiro and Jeromy Nail offer funky house in the Animal Attractions room (where the mole rats are housed). Human Blue brings progressive trance to the Insect Repellent room, while a cadre of local artists entertain with visual spectacles and live art. Outside, local DJs Mr. Supreme, Spektra and Johnny Love spin hip-hop on the Polarity Patio. Incidentally, this room is the only one where alcohol will be available. All other areas are 18-and-over.
In addition to dancing, music, mole rats and drinks, attendees will be able to gaze at the planetarium, wander among butterflies and touch ocean creatures in the petting zoo until midnight. Other interactive exhibits will stay open until the party ends at 4 a.m.
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The Stranger Theatre News July 28 - August 3, 2005
Theater News
Breaks and Freaks
BY BRENDAN KILEY
The bawdy songs and physical feats of the circus underground have begun to ooze into their proper home: the club scene. The annual Carnival Reverie will hit Neumo's August 7 and downtown club Contour has begun Breaks and Freaks, a monthly mix 'n' match of DJs, dancing, and circus entertainment. This Thursday's show, July 28, seems especially intriguing, with suspension (people hanging from hooks in their flesh), clowns, and a road show of old-fashioned genetic freaks that go by the lugubrious name Thee 999 Eyes ov Endless Dream Traveling Carnival Sideshow and Museum ov thee Damned.
Breaks and Freaks evolved from a regular Thursday gig at Contour featuring DJ Osiris Indriya. He and his manager Yvette Soler added live percussion, guest DJs, fire performers, and spiritual readings to the club night, attracting some of the Burning Man crowd and generating interesting results.
"The commercial and underground scenes have different ways of dancing," Indriya said. The former favors small movements, partnering, and grinding while the latter is "more expressive, with energy exchange. By the end of the night you can see how the two groups have affected each other. The commercial people make grander gestures and the underground crowd dances closer together."
Guest DJ Lorin Bassnectar brought circus performers to one of the Thursday nights, and Breaks and Freaks was born.
Dig, the 999 Eyes ringmaster, did our interview in character, and preached an apocalyptic sermon of the freak revolution against the "barons of bipedalism and the grinding heel of conformism." A showman to the hilt, Dig boasted that his troupe includes the last authentic collection of traveling freaks, including Pegleg (who, according to Dig, "has the Elephant Man's disease and was liberated from a bloodthirsty institution"), the Lobster Girl, and Jackie of All Trades, a "human tripod" from Eugene, Oregon, who saw 999 Eyes a few weeks ago and abandoned grad school to join the circus. There is also a collection of preserved freaks, including Patches the Two-Headed Calf, who made his first midway appearance in 1907.
999 Eyes has never performed at a dance club and I asked Dig how the cirque noir phenomenon had reached so far.
"The world has gotten a bit gray, hasn't it?" Dig asked. "It wasn't that long ago when conjoined twins could make a living, marry, become celebrities, but now they cut them in half and force them to live as cripples in institutions. As General Tom Thumb said when they shut down Coney Island: 'What am I supposed to do? Go on welfare?' People have accepted the yoke of homogeneity so readily—the more people are called on to live lives free of brightness and difference, the more some of us will refuse."
And the more people who will pay a few bucks to spend an evening surrounded by freaks, clowns, and other colorful refuseniks.
brendan@thestranger.com
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The Stranger Party Listings February 17 - 23, 2005
DJ BANEL
All the way from Denmark comes DJ Banel to spin "deep tribal progressive" and trance. The Iboga Records boss apparently rules this terrain, though I've never seen his name before. My bad. Banel's joined by Osiris Indriya, BlueTech, Rezin, Waater, and Lara. If you don't get your psychedelic groove on and have your chakras aligned at this Iosis-organized event, you can poke out my third eye. JEM Studios, 6004 12th Ave S, 763-5830, 9 pm-2 am, all ages, $15 adv. SATURDAY FEBRUARY 19
