About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (May 31, 2000)
(l-f) ROSIN & CAMERON PHOTO BY HICHAElIACHQWSKI Danee It Around: DJ Cameron 6 DJ Robin Return T_^. what some skeptics might call a sort of Mission: XI1 Impossible, local DJs Robin Blanchard and Cameron Brooks—performing under the guise "Centripetal Force"—want to revitalize the downtown progressive dance music scene and get people out on the dance floors again. "There's a lot of dance events that draw very large crowds, yet there is no consistent club event where people know they can go to blow off some steam and dance," says Blanchard. "It has hap pened in the past, but for some reason, it died off in 1597," One needn't look far for the answer. The Athens dance scene was significantly hindered when Athens passed a law requiring clubs to close their doors by 2:45 a,m. Traditionally, dandng was the last stop of the evening for much of the Athens late night crowd, so attendance at various "dance nights" dropped signifi cantly, "It used to be bands early and DJs until 4 a,m.," Blanchard remembers, "The lines used to wrap around the comer. It could happen again, People love to dance." Robin Blanchard and Cameron Brooks hope to rekindle the fun of the Athens dance scene by holding bi-weekly Wednesday night gigs at one of their old dancing venues during tire days of local disco: the 40 Watt Club, The duo calls its current dance setup "Oasis" and likens it to a bombastic watering hole where they pound out sizzling, percussive vibes for those wishing to quench their thirst with dance. Overall, DJs Cameron and Robin strive to hold a regularly scheduled time, spot geared toward any apprecia tive audience that loves to get its collective ass in motion. "I want to pound people into the floor whether they like it or not. I want to hold on to their energy. For me, it's about momentum and keeping it going," says Brooks. "We're trying to re-igrate the idea that it's fun to go out to dance," adds Blanchard. "It doesn't have to be non-existent because the clubs dose early. We're not showcasing ourselves, but modern dance music in a format all can understand and hopefully appreciate. We think doing it at the 40 Watt Club provides a means to do this. We could capture a wide audience, be it college students or post-college students." The two BJ's used to dance regularly at the Monday and Saturday Night Disco at the 40 Watt Club {circa 1995) and met officially at the now defunct O'Malley's club back in 1996, a venue where they would later spin during the club's regular "Beat Bar" for Wonderland Productions. They were both members of the mid- 9P's DJ-collective/ promotions company Phungus, which held events at Boneshakers. Their styles—inspired by artists such as Sasha, Guiwer, Union Jack, Timo Maas, Leftfield and U2—range from deep, tribal, progressive and dub house, to minimal techno and trance. "Techno is a universal sound that hasn't caught on over here," says Brooks. "Techno has pop appeal over in Europe, but not here," adds Blanchard. "We want to show people that techno music is not some dark underworld music. It's a replacement of disco. It's a natural progression using the available technology. It's not a verse and a chord telling you a story. It's what you make of it." The pair have just released a debut hull-length mix CD, Centripttal force, a compilation of slightly deeper and darker pro gressive styles ranging from deep tribal house music to trance. The two "hope to recapture the spirit of that period in Athens music." Geoff Ccrr ^ i WHO,. -’CMinjscfc! fine* v/iiSi Dj (q-suon fcW fiote , ;s gi 'V.-’VV'i it...-:, -■ . MUSIC Li? To It r i Mr ■> ) T ,JV*‘ (' C.C*, ^ WWWiATHENSMUSICFACTORY.COM , V . y\ 420 E. CLAYTON ST. * DOWNTOWN ^KM^HUmJnMCRlI ITHUnSnAYfflgHETTsTl Quarter Night with DJ Quasar 250 Miller Lites • 250 Drinks All Night BAND K THEORY V $2 PINTS GUINNESS J LOWBROW ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS THUMB ATTACK NO COVER tiEia snrRipjE be er _ MAY 31, 2000 FLAGPOLE ffl
