Dance Mfr, Dance!

Laura Bock , , , , , , , , ,

Last night has to be one of the best nights I’ve had in such a long time. I went to the “9 of Clubs Nite” at The Phantasy in Lakewood, OH – a musical flashback to the 1980-90’s gothic-industrial scene.

I cannot remember the last time I danced to this music in a club. It was the best feeling ever. I was a stranger in a room full of people, yet we all were of the same mindset – we were there to reminisce and take a trip back in time through music.

The lights, dry ice smoke, and music combined in a magical whirlwind to transport me to simpler days where I looked forward to going out dancing a few times a week. I lived for my nights out at the gothic industrial music clubs. I’ve always been a gutsy gal and even back then I would venture out solo to the clubs. I always ended up meeting new people even though I was a bit socially awkward in those days. Come to think of it, I still am to an extent – I think it’s more my anxiety these days than awkwardness.

It was good to find out I could still dance and had the stamina for it – I don’t get to dance much these days. My life has been hectic, stressful and extremely complicated with demands of work and issues with my depression and anxiety. Add that to the clubs cater to the younger crowds with their dubstep and the newer EBM these days.

Last time I ventured out to get my dance on, I was surrounded by youngsters twirling glow balls and chewing on glow sticks, some even looked as if they hadn’t bathed in weeks. Raver brats. When the DJ played a few older songs in his set, the dance floor cleared and it was all mine. After 3 songs in a row, he went back to the raver crap. I exited stage left.

As soon as my feet hit the dance floor last night, I was 20 years old again. Even now as I write this, I get chills and smile with pure joy. All the stress and worries of the day were gone in an instant. I felt rejuvenated.

There’s something magical about hearing a song inside a club at deafening levels, with flashing lights and smoke all around. I have heard songs a million times on the radio and on CDs, but when it plays at a club, it’s almost as if I haven’t heard the song in a hundred years. I smile big and hit the dance floor full of life and energy.

The DJs killed their sets, taking everyone through a musical time warp to our younger days. It’s nice to know while we have grown older, we haven’t forgotten our roots. There was an atmosphere of great positive energy all around. I forgot how great it felt to be in this type of environment.

The people watching is always great as well, especially when taking a break from the dance floor. Just watching everyone feeling the music and dancing in their own style. Fluidity. It’s a beautiful thing to witness.

What is it about a man in a nice pair of jeans, a band or concert shirt, sport jacket or leather coat and sexy boots that is so incredibly sexy? Same with a man dressed in all black – and that these guys can dance on top of it all. It still does it for me. Every. Single. Time.

Feeling the music penetrate my soul with the thumping beats and melodic grooves – it’s euphoric and addictive. 

Doing this once every few months or so isn’t enough for me. I need it more often. Putting a playlist together and playing it at home just doesn’t cut it. I need all the elements coming into play. I really hope they consider doing this type of event at least once a month.

My ears are still ringing and my legs ache today – all worth it! Thank you to the awesome and amazing DJs who provided such a great night, and to The Phantasy Theater for hosting this event. 

Music and dance therapy. This is exactly what I need – not pharmaceutical intervention.

 

The following is a mixtape playlist of both songs played last night and songs I wish they would have played.

Crank it and dance mfrs, dance!

 

  1. Waiting For Mommie – My Life with The Thrill Kill Kult
  2. O Fortuna – Apotheosis
  3. I Sit on Acid (remix) – Lords of Acid
  4. Pump Up The Volume – M|A|R|R|S
  5. Work for Love (extended version) – Ministry
  6. Dogman/Helter Skelter – Meat Beat Manifesto
  7. Hey Poor – Front 242
  8. Lightning Man – Nitzer Ebb
  9. Testure (12″ mix) – Skinny Puppy
  10. Love Like Blood (12″ mix) – Killing Joke
  11. Stranger (remix) – Clan of Xymox
  12. The Bog (dance mix) – Bigod 20
  13. She’s in Parties – Bauhaus
  14. You Make Me Feel So Good (Flutter mix) – Book of Love
  15. Bizarre Love Triangle/Strangelove – New Order & Depeche Mode
  16. A Forest (extended mix) – The Cure
  17. Cities in Dust (extended eruption mix) – Siouxsie and The Banshees
  18. The Killing Moon (all night version) – Echo and The Bunnymen
  19. Blue Room – Kirlian Camera
  20. Looking from a Hilltop (megamix) – Section 25
  21. Nowhere Girl – B Movie
  22. The Great Commandment – Camouflage
  23. Lucretia, My Reflection – The Sisters of Mercy
  24. Wasteland – The Mission
  25. The Crypt – Southern Death Cult
  26. Is it a Dream (Hold Tight) – The Damned
  27. James Brown is Dead – L.A. Style
  28. Dominator – Human Resource
  29. What Time is Love? – The KLF
  30. Make it Mine (Progress 1 Vox) – The Shamen 
  31. Circling Overland – Front 242
  32. You’ve Got Foetus on Your Breath – Foetus
  33. How Soon is Now (extended version) – The Smiths
  34. Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You) (extended version) – Flock of Seagulls
  35. Physical (banned version) – Revolting Cocks
  36. The Days of Swine and Roses – My Life with The Thrill Kill Kult
  37. Money (Deutschmark mix) – KMFDM
  38. Mind the Gap – Ajax
  39. Geburt einer Nation (Opus Dei) – Laibach
  40. Ahead – Wire
  41. The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight – Dominatrix
  42. Route 66 (mix) – Depeche Mode
  43. Massive Retaliation – Sigue Sigue Sputnik
  44. I Touch Myself – Genitorturers
  45. Mindphaser (12″ mix) – Front Line Assembly
  46. I’ll Fall with Your Knife – Peter Murphy
  47. Severina – The Mission UK
  48. Sadeness (Us Violent mix) – Enigma & Nine Inch Nails
  49. Haunted – Gary Numan
  50. Bela Lugosi’s Dead (original 12″ mix) – Bauhaus