It was only open for ten years, but the Paradise Garage and resident DJ Larry Levan are now the stuff of nightlife legend. It’s been more than 35 years since the club closed in 1987 but it’s still revered as one of the best clubs in dance music history. Levan’s mind-blowing, hands-in-the-sets, Richard Long’s soundsystem, and live performances by the likes of Grace Jones, Patti LaBelle, and Chaka Khan are all still talked about today.
“From being there I can say the reverence is deserved,” Danny Krivit said in an interview with Resident Advisor. “It's not just a room and this great soundsystem, which was always a work in progress, it's Larry Levan himself. Larry Levan was the club. There was no Garage without Larry Levan. He took it in a direction for ten years, and if it hadn't closed he would have kept doing that. He had a very strong personality. He had very strong DJ emotions and instinct. A lot of integrity in what he's putting forth, not only in the music, but the direction.”
Another lasting impression the Garage left on the scene was their membership cards. While they weren’t the first club to be members only, as The Loft and 12 West were before it, their cards have become iconic.
In the spirit of old New York, Good Room is holding a Membership Party this Thursday night. Although Good Room is not a members only club, the card was created for locals so they can skip queues, and get free or discounted entry to parties. If you want to join this unique clubbing tradition, just show up at Good Room this Thursday (entry is free) where they will take your photo onsite, print your card, and you’ll have your own piece club memorabilia to take home and show to your grandkids one day.
3.1 - Love Games with Session Victim at Good Room
It was a love of vinyl that brought Hauke Freer and Matthias Reiling together 20 years ago. Today, the duo known as Session Victim are one of Germany’s most accomplished electronic producers. Their signature brand of sunny, sample-laden house has been released on labels like Delusions of Grandeur, Toy Tonics, and Rhythm Section. As DJs, they’re known for inducing wall-to-wall smiles on any dancefloor so you better brush your teeth before Session Victim headlines Love Games’ 7th Anniversary at Good Room this Friday.
3.2 - DJ Harvey at Knockdown Center
Nobody does it quite like DJ Harvey. In his own words, “You can't understand the blues 'till you've had your heart broken, you can't understand my music 'till you've had group sex on ecstasy.” Now that doesn’t tell you exactly what to expect when the veteran DJ headlines the Knockdown Center this Saturday but it will give you some idea of the vibe - sex, sleaze and adult dance music. He’ll be joined by local disco heroes Eli Escobar and Anna Collecta.
3.2 - Blacktronika at Public Records
A night celebrating Afrofuturism in electronic music, Blacktronika returns to Public Records this Saturday. The university course turn festival curated by King Britt honors the pioneers of color that continue to contribute to the advancement of music across genres like Chicago house, Detroit techno, Drum n Bass, and Jamaican dub. For this edition, Blacktronika will host sonic journeys by Shelter NY’s Timmy Regisford and world-renowned tabla player Suphala in the Sound Room, King Britt and original Blacktronika founder Charlie Dark in the Atrium, and rare grooves collector Car0zilla in the Upstairs bar.
Follow the links for mixes and playlists from the DJs and Musical Hosts who will be playing at these venues.
