Wednesday, December 7, 11:20 p.m. "You missed my set!" I've just walked in the door and already I'm in trouble. But DJ Mikey Swift is only playfully mad. On a narrow platform, DJ Who Man spins "Back That Ass Up," so I take a cue and park myself on one of the 20 bar stools in Ra Sushi's Flying Fish Lounge. The bar, according to Ra's visionary sushi-slingers, has an atmosphere "as stimulating as a big bite of wasabi." Tonight, it also has free margaritas for the ladies and shot specials for the guys.
Last week, I ducked into Tabú to enjoy Tuesday's Open Decks with its weekly guest DJ. Tonight, I have followed my curiosity a bit outside of the nightclub sphere for Ra's Open Tables Wednesdays. Similar yet different. There will be anywhere from 80 to 100 bodies in this small space, all with faces flushed from drink and excitement. Nine DJs will spin, one every half-hour from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., as scheduled by host DJ Inferno.
To hear Inferno tell it, GM Mike Marowski had issued a challenge: "If you can do something with Wednesday, I'll be really impressed." That was all Inferno needed to hear; this is the second week of his event, accomplished with much toil and a lot of help from Swift.
"MySpace.com is working very well, and we're getting a lot of business from Las Vegas, especially from our local DJs." Sure enough, on tonight's playlist, 90 percent of the DJs are local, with one DJ standing out as a Big Name. Not so much "world renowned" as "regional and revered." There are also plenty of groupies, hangers-on and veterans, as well as some newbie spinners. What do the newbies want out of this night? Swift answers: "Exposure and practice. We call them Bedroom DJs." For obvious reasons, it's tough to go from playing at home to a club—there must be an in-between. "And this audience is a little more forgiving," Inferno continues. "Most of us are here for the camaraderie. We're here to appreciate each other. There's no ego in this room."
Then tragedy strikes. DJ Dave Onyx—tonight's Big Name—is working and can't make it. No worries, Swift will jump back in at 1 a.m. The DJs are organized by genre, with the electronic music beginning between 11:30 p.m. and midnight. Three-quarters of the DJs want to spin house, breakbeats, trance and techno. That's where Inferno and Swift sometimes enter, as filler and hook. Other notables such as DJs Hollywood and David Christian will draw in the crowd. The difficult thing, says Inferno, is working with the existing musical format. "There's a restaurant crowd here at 8 o'clock. The satellite [radio] is on rock; you have to bring them out of it without them noticing."
At 12:30 a.m., after DJs Incognito and Joey Mazolla complete the transition from hip-hop to electronic, Inferno breaks out some funky house. And that means rock, '80s, and hip-hop with an underlying house beat. To prove his point, he lays Irene Cara's "What a Feeling" from Flashdance over a thumping house track. Then Yes' "Owner of a Lonely Heart." And with that, the dancing begins.
The crowd ranges in age from 21 to 45, and the look is everything from grunge to the surf winter collection. Furry boots, bucket hats, cropped jackets, mile-long scarves, tastefully rebellious piercings and cheekily distressed T-shirts. Drifting into my own world—and a kickin' sake buzz—I'm staring at a girl's shearling boots and tanned, bare legs and thinking, Damn, I could never pull that look off.
With the White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army," the torch is passed. Inferno starts and Swift takes over, playing with the remainder of the track as if it were clay. Inferno summarizes and reaches out for a little karmic good fortune: "I'm just trying to create a positive vibe that doesn't cost anyone anything." Amen to that.
Lauren, mistress of the sake-tron, keeps feeding me warm sake from the dispenser. Addressing my two flanking wingmen, I mouth a silent toast against the music and bring the ceramic thimble to my lips. Sake-muted but still immersed in sound, I've got a groovy, Zen, yin-yang vibe going. Judging by the sake rings on my playlist, my cup runneth over.
Xania Woodman thinks globally and parties locally. And frequently. E-mail her at
[email protected].
Xania's Hot Spots for December 15 - December 21
Thursday, December 15
Ghostbar: DJ Five's birthday party
Light: Nip/Tuck season wrap party
Mist: Toys For Tots holiday toy drive
Friday, December 16
Body English: Wedding Crasher's Naureen Zaim hosts
Ice: DJ Donald Glaude's birthday with guest DJ Charles Feelgood
Saturday, December 17
Tangerine: Marciano fashion show hosted by model Kim Smith
Seamless Adult Ultralounge: Grand opening
Sunday, December 18
Body English: Love Jones Lingerie's Bad Santa party and benefit for Toys For Tots
Light: Spearmint Rhino holiday party
OPM: Notorius Sundays with Goldie Gold
Monday, December 19
Foundation Room: A Night Before Christmas party hosted by Santa
Tuesday, December 20
Ra Sushi: House of Geisha
Wednesday, December 21
Ra Sushi: Open Tables with host DJs Inferno and Mikey Swift
Tao: Bad Santa Holiday Ball with Jeff Beacher as Santa
V Bar: Reinvented Wednesdays casting for the Amazon Maxim magazine tour
For more Hot Spots and weekly parties visit
www.TheCircuitLV.com and sign up for Xania's free weekly newsletter.