The M1 Fringe Fest was absolutely DA BOMB. My only gripe was with the theme Art & The Law. I initially thought we would see some wily acts of mischief artfully executed all in the name of art. You know, like urinating in a cup in public, “defacing” structures, snipping off pubes, that sort of stuff. But hey, the eventual offerings were still all provocative, edgy and definitely on the fringe (think giant bananas, inflatable prison cells, blown up surgical gloves). The Necessary Stage’s ____ Can Change was on the top of my list this year and they didn’t disappoint, tackling issues closer to home like our conservative mainstream homosexuality, Marxism, and singles. My favourite visual artist Robert Zhao and the (imaginary) Institute of Critical Zoologists were up to their usual tricks again as well.
Feeling all artsy and cultured up, I went to the festival’s opening at ION Orchard where photographer Philip Toledano was showing his America the Gift Shop exhibition in which he took the Mickey out of Bush’s foreign policy. There I was, looking at some slabs of chocolate bars which the artist called “Choc & Awe” (get it?) and then came the artist with some other guests and thus explained his confectionary work. “This one is based on ‘shock and awe’,” says the artist, “you guys know who said that right?” “Willy Wonka?” exclaims a young lady in the group.
Cue: Imaginary glass shattering sound.
“Let’s move on to the next work,” says Toledano.
OK, enough about art already and let’s get back to Night Life. Our cool magazine held its monthly TGIF party at good old Hard Rock Café so whoever considers themselves cool, considers I-S cool and/or loves free booze (very important)—they were there that evening. There was a Calvin Klein fashion party at the Queenstown Remand Prison the same night. I just love fashion parties, especially how debauched they can be and how they just ooze the exhibitionist wank-offery of our lovely city but alas, duty calls. I wouldn’t want to miss Istanblue vodka cocktails and Tiger Beer for the world (riiighttt) so there I was at Hard Rock Café. Usual I-S styled tomfoolery was aplenty here. Hunky twins A&B were all dolled up in drag (fierce cheongsam outfits) for the occasion and were doling out red-packets to everyone. Somehow, my night took a rather interesting turn when the twins ambushed me and egged me to cop a feel of their faux-boobs. I asked A why his were smaller than his bro’s. And he said, “B brought more socks!” After which a clutch of preschoolers came over to terrorize the duo.
Did I mention that I went to Zouk for THREE straight nights in a row? Talk about overdoing it. Dixon, Prins Thomas, Chus & Ceballos, Verbal, Kiri and Busy P were playing back-to-back gigs and it was one of those weeks where you just want to lose yourself in dance. Dixon rocked the house at Velvet on Thursday, playing a cool set of deep house, deep tech and minimal numbers. It felt more like a house party really. The crowd was made up of the hipsters I usually see pulling shapes together. I don’t want to name names, you know who you are. I chanced upon Riz, the creative brains behind Zouk’s wicked flyers and design. And in his usual inebriated self, he graciously offered to buy me and my partner a drink. Thanks Riz!
On Friday, the Norwegian beatmeister Prins Thomas indulged us in a ferosh set of nu-disco, funk, soul and other assorted psychedelica I’ve ever heard. It’s hard not to go all cataclysmic. Everyone was hot-mess dancing and got their bitch on that night. Riz (man, can he drink or what?) with a bottle of JW in tow, was pouring out its contents into the mouths of a privileged few (like moi, of course).
Oh yes, I made an appearance at Chivas’ chivalrous soiree at KPO before Zouk on Saturday and bumped into DJ Nomsta who’d just finished his radio show at Orchard Central. You guys should tune in to Lush 99.5 every third Saturday of the month at 8pm as he plays the illest house tunes on the air. We were discussing (over wicked Chivas on the rocks) how nu-rave and electro is the nu-cheesy-trance while DJs Dave and Don were lashing out funk, soul, house and techno. Somehow, the conversation turned into how the Chivas cognac girl’s outfits have improved over the years. They don’t look so much like Japanese race queens anymore. Ooooh.
Saturday’s Zouk do with the triumvirate of Verbal, Kiri and Busy P was more like a double-u-tee-eff moment. Erm…like where’s the usual throng of “indies” who’re usually game for a spot of nu-rave and mash-ups? Oh right…Sentosa for the kick-ass beach party at Wave House. But since posse and I were more dressed in Night Life and not Beach Chic, we decided to give getting sand in our fab kicks a miss. Monsieur P finally came on at the unearthly hour of 3am—dropping Justice and Daft Punk while a bunch of Ed Banger groupies were head-banging and making crosses with their fingers like poor P was a vampire from Twilight, maybe Laurent. Mari-san from Zouk was such a sweetheart and thanked us for making repeated guest appearances.
At the rate I’m going, I’ll have to charge someone for my dance-to-the-brink-of-dementia jaunts. So where can I send my invoice and where’s the next party?