Join us as we thrust into house music..

06.08.03

Hey all.. sorry for the delay in updating. I've been very busy since returning from London. As most of you know, I spent 10 days there on tour with My Robot Friend. I haven't had time to write about it, but I'll now give you a lovely photographic tour of the journey.

As you look, enjoy the most popular song in London at this time. We heard it everywhere we went.

'Satisfaction' by Benny Benassi

London, I found, is a land of street signs that puerile Americans such as myself can laugh at.

London is also the land of meat-flavored potato "crisps":

And, overly meaty breakfasts.

My Robot Friend ate this one.

Below, a police car?

No, it's a movie starring George Clooney.

One thing missing from London is Latin Americans. This is a tragedy for anyone with my advanced sexual taste. I did walk by London's "Best Latin Shop", but unfortunately inside they were only selling seltzer, coconut ice cream bars and assorted trinkets.

The biggest event we performed at was Arthur Baker's "Return to New York" party, where Peaches, 2 Many DJs, DJ Hell, and many others also performed. Conveniently, it was also at our hotel, the Great Eastern, the only robot friendly hotel in London.

Here's what the main room looked like from our floor before the party.

And after.

"Return to New York" had crazy NYC images projected onto the main room wall, over 6 stories high.

Here's another ominous view down from our floor at the hotel.

We played at all of the "hip" clubs, so I was told. On stage I wore tight black with lights attached to my back that jutted out like antenna to illuminate my face.

Here I am on stage at a party called "Nag Nag Nag": The camera blurred me out! But somehow I like it.

Here's My Robot Friend at "Nag Nag Nag".

Here I am backstage at a club called Cargo, with some actual British people. As you can see, my touch drained them of their powers, rendering them completely harmless.

Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys came to our last show! I took a picture of Neil with My Robot Friend. Very exciting.

And here I am at a club called "The Cock".

I loved my time in London and hope to go back someday.

The music was a house/nu-electro/80s mix nearly everywhere we performed, and I found that the people generally dressed up more than they do here. However, their dancing was a lot more reserved. After a while, I began to miss being in a club with real house music and "real" dancing, and so on one of our free nights I went out alone to find it.

First I went to a club called "G-A-Y". It was incredibly cheesy.. 80s pop in the upstairs room and euro-dance in the big room. I loved it and met some nice guys but I didn't stay long because it wasn't exactly what I was looking for. I wanted to check out a house club that had been recommended to me called Discotech.

At Discotech I walked in to throbbing bass and familiar house beats. There is something elemental about house music that unites. I felt, finally, at home. Even better, people were actually dancing the way I prefer.. lost in the music.

I found myself some space in front of a speaker and danced, and I drew some girls towards me, and one very cute guy. They asked if I had an accent. We danced, lost in our own worlds but with each other.

The DJ dropped in an oldie. I savored it, and savored the irony, and savored the smiles of those around me, and I savored the beauty of being who I am and where I am from.

until next week, remember..
when you dance, we are a part of what you feel.

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