DJ Afrika Bambataa

History Lesson with Grandmaster Caz

Art Dept. & Thugfucker at Panther's Rooftop Grand Openeing

One of the more exciting and popping scenes in electronic music and all things funky, Williamsburg is home to quaint and intimate venue right next to Output called Panther (74 Wythe St.) Great sound system, the bass lines are thorough and solid. Highs are crisp without being earsplitting and the mids are strong enough too punch you in the throat, leaving you gasping for your next breath. The rooftop garden is spectacular, albeit a rainy night in metropolis. A nice gazebo style entryway emerges once you enter after crossing over the stairway bridge which beckons you to party or intermingle with other party goers. Facing north, views of the riverside; south, overshadowed by the also funky Wythe Hotel, which served as kind a big brother/sister protecting it's younger sibling in the event of something unspeakable. To the east, a deck perched upon the edge of the building and offering a great view of the buzzing streets below. The club itself had an amazing decor centered around, you guessed it, the DJ booth. It's the first thing you pass entering the club. A raised fireplace near the entrance and stairs, exposed wooden beams and an open floor plan with a balcony on the second floor overlooking the main floor gave the space a very mountainesque vibe right in the middle of the city. I really felt like I should've have had some ski equipment on hand for a quick morning run. That being said, let's get to the music. I arrived with my compadres around midnight. Typical for NY partygoers, so I didn't catch the early sounds. As we entered, Art Departments Jonny White was spinning with Kenny Glasgow jumping in here or there. 3 CDJ 2000 Nexus's and an N.I. F1, alongside a Macbook Pro comprised the flight controls for the night. The two of them played together like jazz instrumentalists trading bass lines and riffs, cutting highs and lows, and offering an eclectic mix of transitions that kept party goers moving. I felt that there was a little too much eq'ing for my taste and occasionally the crowd seemed stiff but overall the sound was pretty even toned and kept a decent vibe... I spoke to a fan and a regular and she told me, they were experimenting for the night. My attitude changed. I understood that sort of musical quest and opened my mind to what they were trying to accomplish. Next up was Thugfucker. Hell of a name imho. These guys closed out the night in grand fashion. They played some seriously off kelter grooves that didn't adhere to the typical 4 to floor mentality. There were 1/3's over 1/32's and then some; bass lines that took a couple of measures to really get into and some really dope synth work. Track selection was incredible. The night ended on a high note and I and my compadres, who happen to be very discerning music aficionados themselves, had had our fix. We were off.