Joubin + Chus & Ceballos @ Stereo - Dec 15, 2006

I spent the whole day looking at my watch, because I couldn't wait to get in the dance floor and start dancing to the sounds of Chus & Ceballos at Stereo. After so much waiting, it was time and for my surprise, I'm guessing because of my birthday, I was given a pink ticket from Stereo - muchas gracias. I arrive a little bit after 2:00am and in not time we were inside, and I´m sure it was a good idea to come early, because I didn't fell like waiting in line for too long.

This time around a brought a friend, and it was her first time at the temple. She is one of those that claims everything in Europe is better, and I couldn't wait to show her a different side of my life that is neither better or worse, just different and special.

Joubin was the one setting the tunes before the arrival of the Spaniard duo, and is it my impression but he doesn't look that tall in the pictures as he did in the DJ booth. Music was slow at the beginning, I guess good tunes to let people come in and slowly set themselves around the dance floor. People arrived gradually, and by 3:00am the place was ready for take off. Joubin continued his in his relaxed mode until he thought people were ready to hear the real thing. This is when he started to drop so nice tribal sounds and other sounds, started to interact a little bit more with the public, and he even started to lift up his hands to the sounds of his tunes.

Not sure if it is because Christmas is right around the corner, or it is because some people are already in vacation, but everyone seemed to be in a good mood. Smiles in everyone, hugs here and there, and super energy was every where. By this time I had already given my friend the tour of the place, introduced her to different people, and she didn't stop saying: ¨why don´t we have more places like this in Montreal?¨ Only if my friend knew there is no way that someone could possibly replicate what happens at this little place.

Joubin could had been more energetic at the beginning, and he did catch up with himself in the second half of his set, and what a display of tunes he gave us. It was perfect warm up for what was to come. He was actually able to get me dancing in the podium during his set.

Interesting crowd for this evening, and the best was to see many people I haven´t seen in a long time at Stereo. Right at the beginning I didn't feel the vibe of the people, but it didn't take long for those smiles started to affect my mood, and next thing you know, there was magic in the dance floor. By the time Joubin had finished with the crowd, the place was out of control.

I believe Chus & Ceballos arrived before 5:00am, I think it was perhaps 4:30am when they came in, and all eyes and attention were put in the DJ booth. After some noise and clapping from the crowd, we heard the famous signature ¨Chus & Ceballos at Stereo¨, which made the people go wild for a bit.

The rest is history because those two boys were on fire for the night. The music was super inspiring, the mixing was just out of control, the interaction with the public was superb, and the magic that happens at Stereo didn't go away until the lights were turned on and people started to walk down the stairs.

The tribal sounds were super energetic, and this time around I felt a stronger presence of the Brazilian batucadas in their music. For a second I thought I was hearing house tribal music at its best display in the ¨Marquez de Sapucai¨ (Sambodromo of Rio de Janeiro). I couldn't stop dancing one second, and so the rest of the dancers. Talking about dancers, some very cute bodies moving around Stereo, both male and female - good treat to the eyes and the soul.

It didn't matter what time you looked up to see Chus & Ceballos, they were having a riot up there, they didn't stop smiling for one second, and it is just uplifting to see how the energy of the crowd irradiate more musical inspirations to those two boys.

Stereo got packed but not too crazy, there was enough room to dance, and the imaginary line of right and left was clearly created, but we all know we like to move from one side to the other of the those borders. By the time it was 10:00am I was ready to collapse from so much dancing, but the music was so intoxicating that my body did not allowed me to leave. It felt as if the music kept getting better and better with time, and the closer it got for the ending of the night, more energy was felt in the music. Absolute chaos in the dance floor, craziness at its best, and with such a timed and perfect set, how could one not go crazy?

People were sad by the time the end arrived, but happy because they had experienced one of the best sets this duo have giving us at Stereo, and let me tell you, the place stayed packed until the end. It felt as if the clapping didn't want to end, and the due was just too happy for another great night of good company, fine dancing, and great music.

After walking down the stairs, towards the coat check area, we were surprised by the new policy of picking up your coat here, and check it again downstairs if you want to stay. Not big deal, I got mine fast enough and as fast I checked it again downstairs, to continue dancing for another hour and a half. Chus & Ceballos joined us downstairs for a bit.

Stereo is slowly introducing new changes, and I guess is good that those changes are coming in stages, giving time for people to get used to them. Lets see what is next out of that bag of yours Stereo.

David Morales B-Day Bash @ Stereo - Aug 26, 2006

Disclaimer: this is how I spent my Saturday / Sunday - and I know your experience of the evening was different, but this how mine went.

After a little bit of confusion with the line outside, you know the normal "this is where pre-sale tickets holders stay, this one is guest list and VIP, and this one is for non-ticket holder", I made it in with no much problems.

Girl power to the security duo upstairs. If I'm not mistaken one of the girls checking everyone was new, and of course she was paired with the other lovely one, which I still don't know her name, and I will ask next time around.

Nothing special about the decor of the main room, but with the new sound system who cares if they put naked people hanging from the ceiling, it is all about the music, the people, and the good time.

Billy Carrol was already doing his thing in the booth, and I'm assuming he was given a crash curse on how to use the new machine. Classic opening set I was told was the music to expect from Billy Carrol, and I believe someone mentioned it was mostly David Morales work.

Good start from Billy, nice warm up, good happy tunes, but to tell you the truth I couldn't wait for David Morales to move over and take us in the trip of our lives. Last time I heard Billy Carrol was a day before my trip to South Africa, and if I'm not mistaken was for his birthday. Being brutally honest, I enjoyed more his set back in February than this time around. Don't take me wrong, last Saturday he did a good job. Perhaps because I couldn't wait any longer to see what Morales was going to do with his new toy, I didn't like it, or appreciated, Billy's set as much as the last time I saw him.

Stereo got packed very fast, having a whole mix of people from all walks of life. You cannot define the people that comes to Morales parties, actually thinking about it, you can, people that come to his parties are the ones that enjoy a good time. Not just because he is going to spin more vocal, more electro, more techno, tribal or anything else. People come because they are expecting the unexpected from him, and being his birthday bash, hey what do you expect?

Morales showed up a little bit after 4:00 am in the booth area, and he showed Carrol some new tricks in the machine. How do I know? I was dancing right in the podium in front of the booth and I could see David doing something, which I imagine was some final tutoring in the new sound system.

Billy did his job, and I'm sure he felt satisfied with what he had given to the crowd. In the other hand, I couldn't wait to start my trip with Morales. How do I feel about being at Stereo for Morales? Morales answered my question with his introduction for the night - which happened around 5:00 am. He took a couple of seconds to thank everyone, not just at Stereo staff, but also Stereoheads, for the support given during all this time. He then went to say he was happy to be at "....my house, my home ...". I won't be wrong in saying that not just David Morales considers Stereo as their second home, a place where we go for the same reason, to have a good time.

It does not matter if you are fat or fit, straight or gay, black or white, cute or ugly, we all go to Stereo to enjoy our time, to feel the music, to feel what is to be in a place where almost no one judge you, or bug you - except the girl that was harassing me for the first 2 hours on Saturday night, did she know I'm gay? It doesn't matter, it was nothing that I couldn't take care using the famous smile that everyone get when you are surrounded by an amazing vibe.

How do I feel? After having Morales dropped the song "how do you feel", which happened a little bit after his mini speech, how couldn't I just feel happy? It was amazing to see the crowd going nuts with the song, and of course given us the introduction of "Say Something". Morales knows it doesn't matter where he is, this song takes the crowd to the roof, but he waited a little bit to give us the whole song. How do I feel? Imagine myself coming back from the toilette and listening tons of voices singing "how do I feel"? It was the first time I noticed so many people singing together the same song at Stereo. This is not something usual for a Stereo crowd, and the first time I heard this happening was in a club in São Paulo called "The Week". Stereo crowd singing "How do I feel" was just out of this world.

Morales then went on and gave us everything he knows and more. Imagine anything that is possible, and he did it. I know some people don't like when the music is stopped for a couple of seconds, and then is turn back on, but if it is done properly, it does give you a special pause, when we just stop doing what we were doing, and can just look up to the DJ booth and say wow.

Stereo was a full house, but not over crowded, it got hot sometimes but those new fans placed strategically in the four metal towers work wonderfully. The fans not just cool you off, but sometimes if you close you eyes you feel like you are in the top of the mountains feeling the fresh windy breeze hitting your body, accompanied by waves of amazing music.

I've been going to Stereo for a while now, in a regular bases, and this night Morales was able to take me in a trip that was just an out of body experience of different level. Yes, we all know we have the technology for an enjoyable trip, but this one was just something I will always remember - I will remember for many reasons, and you can ask me next time you see me, and I will give you more details.

SSS - the triple S of the Stereo Sound System, I can't stop saying how amazing it feels. It is just an incredible sound. I have traveled to many places around the world, and please don't even think I'm technically trained to give any rating to any sound system out there, but I can tell you how my ears and my body feel. This system Stereo has brought to Montreal is probably one of the best I have heard. Now combine the sound system with the Stereo vibe, and how do you feel? You have to experience it, because it doesn't matter in what language I say it, you won't know it until you live it.

People kept coming and leaving the place as waves hitting beaches in the East and West Coast of Canada. I met people from different cities, and I was surprised to met up with a couple from South Africa that ended up coming to Stereo because they heard the music while walking outside the building. Met some beautiful female Russian and Mexican models, which where having the time of their lives. Saw some friends that I haven't seen in a long time, and saw some regulars of the afterhours scene. Everyone were having a good time.

The music I heard is the music I like, the one that makes my body move like nothing else can. Beautiful people came for this evening, friendly people, too friendly if I include the girl that was harassing me at the beginning of the night. Beautiful bodies, wonderful attitude of the people, great interaction between the DJ and the crowd, amazing synchronization between the lights and the music, such a great party. "Losing my religion" from REM was once again dropped for the dancers to destroy in the dance floor, amazing remix.

Not sure what time it was, maybe around 11:00 am, when Morales let Danny Torrence take care of the job for a while. Once again, one of my favourites DJs from Montreal taking care of the dancers while Morales took a deserved rest. Gracias Torrence, for continuing the amazing job Morales was doing so far.

Morales came back to the booth a while after to continue his birthday celebration. I tried to look at my watch, which displays the times of Montreal, London, and São Paulo (three different times because of my job), I couldn't see anything, but I knew it was time to go home. I almost stayed at Stereo Bar for a beer, but I have to listen to my body when it tells me it is time to go home.

Once I got outside I looked at my watch and it was 3:00pm, and it was raining. Almost went back to the main room, but no, I want to be able to keep going to Stereo, and I already had my share of dancing for the evening. Time to go home and "say something" to my bed. Can anyone tell me what time did the party end?

Thank you Stereo for an amazing evening of entertainment, happy birthday Morales, and gracias por mantener en Montreal, uno de los mejores lugares que he tenido la chance de divertirme en toda mi vida.

Stereo no es un bar, o un club, es el paraiso.

Black & Blue Recovery Party @ Stereo - Oct 9, 2006

Disclaimer: This is how I spent my Monday/Tuesday, and I'm pretty sure your experience was different to mine, and this is why you should write your review as well.

11:00pm and there I was, panicking because I couldn't find my ATM card. I remember I had used it on Sunday night, and didn't noticed I didn't have it until it was time to go to Stereo on Monday night. "What am I going to do?" My friends are still sleeping because they had gone to the big party the night before, and I had nothing on me, just my ticket to get in. Thanks to the not so integrated system of my bank, I still had my second bank card issued by a Winnipeg branch. "Do I have money in this other account?" Checked the internet, and yes, there I was on my way to the temple.

Not that many people at the door, went in very fast, and quickly I met up with some people I knew. "No, I didn't go to the Black & Blue" "what?" "yeah, I had to work on Monday - but now I'm ready to dance like I have never danced before in my life" I told them.

It was funny to see very well rested people, and some that looked like they had just landed at the airport in Baghdad. Music was already pumping, and people were taking their places around the dance floor. Checked the decor of the place, but at this point who cares, this is the Recovery party, and people will come with only one thing in their minds. Nevertheless, the shower curtains were out again, in addition to the black and blue balloons that kept popping during the whole evening, scaring some of our Americans tourists - specially because every time after a bum was heard, someone would say "terrorist".

I couldn't leave the dance floor empty, specially with such a delicious intro given by Eddy. Got in the dance floor, and it didn't take longer for other to start dancing as well. Eddy came come down to check out the sound coming out of those fantastic speaker, and to socialize a little bit as well.

Midnight and the place was still empty, I have to say I was getting a little bit concerned "what if everyone is super tired from last night?" "nuh, Stereo wouldn't be given out small plastic bags to put your coat ticket in if they didn't expect the place to get sweaty during the evening". Next thing you know and the whole place was jam packed with men, and 20 women, including this fantastic and fabulous lesbian couple from Miami - girls, you rocked, and let me tell you, the straight boys would kill to have you both at their side.

Eddy went from super happy tunes, to the electro industrial sound that most of the DJs are adapting to their sets now - I have noticed that even my way of dancing has changed because of those metallic industrial sounds. He dropped housy vocals, flirted with the proggy sounds, then started playing more sexy dark tunes more towards to what Calderone was expected to deliver during the evening. I have heard Eddy spin before, and this was a different set compared to what I've heard from him in previous events. Enjoyed his short set, and it did get me pumped for the headliner of the evening.

I don't think it was even 1:30am when Victor Calderone had taken over the control of the party already. Looked around, and the place was full of sexy T-shirtless sweaty men, dancing with each other or by themselves. The energy was just contagiously incredible sensual with beautiful and hot men everywhere.

You had two types of people at this party, the ones that had gone to the Black & Blue, and where already in their second length of their flight, and people like me, that had missed the main event, but in no way were going to miss the now infamous Calderone's Recovery Parties, specially the Black & Blue one - this was our non stop flight to Paradise.

Calderone was on fire, from the beginning his tunes were just out of control, and it was just amazing to see the reaction of all the out-of-town people. The vibe, and energy, the emotions from the crowd for sure helped to create the magic that Calderone used to take everyone in an incredible journey during the whole evening.

Music was not good, it was just unreal - different to what I experienced during the Twist Encore set back in August, I'm guessing it has to do with the fact was also different. I would say it was 85% men at Stereo on Monday night, and the girls dancing around where having the time of their lives - what a party, what a voiceless tribal party it was.

The magic of Stereo surrounded almost everyone, specially the first timers to this place. There was a whole group of people from Los Angeles, some came along because friends had told them if they were coming to the Black & Blue, they had to stay until the Recovery Party, otherwise it would be considered P.P.P. (Pour Party Planning). Some of them were people that I know, and every time I would find them in the dance floor, they would look at me, as if they were kids in Disneyland, and say "... what an incredible party..."

Met people from Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec City, Miami, Atlanta, Sydney, Paris, London, Madrid - you name it, and of course, some familiar faces from Montreal. The comments I also kept hearing was that some of them had the chance to see Calderone in other venues, but they had never seen him like this before, it was special, it was like he was super Calderone.

The synchronization of the lights with the music was almost perfect, not too much, not too little, just right to each moment. Job well done to whoever was taking care of the lights for this evening.

House music, sexy house music, deep sensual dark tunes, with splash of tribal attached everywhere. Not that many voices, the ones that I enjoy very much, but this DJ is always able to forget that I need to hear that many voices during my evening of dancing. One turn to the right and I'm hugging this guy that I always wanted to hug, one turn to the left and there was my special couple with whom I have had great time together. One step forward and there I was sharing a special time with my best friend, and one move backwards and I was received with a soft touch of a hand in my back, which is followed with a big smile and a great hello. Each of those moves was made special, because the music I was hearing was special, the moments I shared with everyone were superb and unique because the magic cannot be recreated, only enjoyed at that specific moment, and it always will be with me because of "that" music.

Move forward and it was already 8:00am on Tuesday, some people had already left, but they were replaced by a new batch of dancers. Incredible dancers during the whole evening, there are always people with great moves at Stereo, but I had never seen so many great dancers coming together in the same evening. It was not a competition to see who danced better, but an integration of moves, like as if everyone was learning something new from everybody else. I also just kept looking at those giant speakers with this pure sound coming out of them, and also thinking that those boys shouldn't be dancing up there, it can't be good for their hears, but hey, they are adults and they know what they are doing.

I can't get over with the high ratio of good looking men during this party. Everywhere you looked there was one man more gorgeous than the other. Now add the fantastic music to the moves of those amazing bodies in the dance floor, and there you have, amazing sensual and sexual vibe right underneath the disco ball, and beside the speakers, and in front of the podium, and ... loved it.

If you were compared the Recovery Party of 2005 and 2006, you would find people claiming that both were better than the other. I don't believe in looking at the past, but instead I like to enjoy my time now, and look forward to what is to come. If you didn't come to this amazing party, don't regret it, because there are many others to come - and when you do, enjoy your party until the moment you decide is time to go home.

It was already 11:00am when I decided my body had danced enough for the evening - I had to think twice before leaving, because those tribal tunes kept calling me back to the dance floor - Calderone once again did his fantastic job in the booth. Thank you Calderone for such an amazing party.