So a few blogs ago I mentioned discovering that the AMNH throws a party once every 2 months or so, to raise funds and get new bodies into the building. Without doing too much (or indeed, any!) research, I just got a small group of people together and we went. (as an aside, people tell you that they want to dance, but life inevitably gets in the way, in the end there were 5 of us, and that is actually a perfect number, enough for a group feel but not so many that we pulled in different directions)
Anyways, we were driven there, which is untold luxury in new york city by one of my friends, who then parked in the AMNH, really, I realize that I drive everywhere in Sydney and to non Manhattanites this may not be such a big deal, but I'm never driven anywhere within the city, so that added to our excitement.
We got there, and I realized that I had no idea what was meant to happen. I thought there would be a dj and lots of dancing. Instead there was some music, but there were 3 acts and a focal stage point. DH's immediate criticism was that the lighting was awful, especially when the potential was so high. The room is so interesting and you could do all sorts of things, but they did the most minimal, and it was way too light from the ordinary lights upstairs.
And then the first act came on. Everyone sang to click tracks, so they weren't bands strictly speaking. I thought that was a bit odd, but no one else seemed to mind, so they must be used to that concept.
The first act was called ninjasonik and they were just appalling. So bad they were like a send up. They had this kind of beat back ground and would shout 'fuck' every second word, and had lyrics like 'I want a fuck, someone's gonna get pregnant' and that was the entire song, just repeat for 3 mins.
I had that dreadful embarrassment you get when you set something up and it becomes your responsibility if it was good or bad. DH went and looked up on his iphone if there was somewhere better near by. But thankfully their set ended and some danceable if bland music came on, and so we bopped and waited to see what would happen next.
Thankfully the next guy - Theophilus London- was much better. He sang some songs that I actually liked, especially the humdrum town song, and had a lovely smooth voice and was danceable. So we stayed and danced some more and thought, well, that was an experience.
But then the third and final act came on - the Very Best (such a stupid name!) with people from all over, but with a real African flavor. So it was African hip hop and it was just amazing. We were all jumping by the end, they had such energy and an fantastic sound, so much better!
So I'm going to try for the next one... because I'll dance every chance I can get!
