Who dances to live music anymore?

November 21, 2006 9:36 PM

One of my greatest joys is dancing to live music. When I go to shows, all I see is hipsters nodding and smoking. Life is too short for this shit — help! (Rock fan, but all genres welcome. Pittsburgh area, but all answers welcome. More inside!)

Where do I go — in Pittsburgh, Philly, DC or farther afield — to find enthusiastic crowds dancing to good music? Pointers to a good venue or band would be nice. Pointers to a whole scene where the kids like to dance would be even better, but maybe that's too much to ask? I really, honestly do not care what sort of music it is, as long as it's live, hot, and is causing dozens of sweaty people to move around vigorously.

1. Bonus points for sincerity and spontaneity. Points off for posturing and hipster bullshit.
2. Bonus points for beer or whiskey. Hippie drugs okay, but points off if I'll be bored or lonely when they wear off. Major points off for the drugs that steal your soul.
3. Bonus points for real live instrumentalists right there in front of you. Points off if all I get is a DJ or a knob-twiddler, although I don't mind one or two of them mixed in with a real rhythm section.
4. Huge bonus points for an active scene in Pittsburgh, Philadephia or DC. Drinks on me if you live there and will show me around.

posted by nebulawindphone to media & arts (27 comments total)

It depends on the band. I see a lot of shows in Baltimore/DC and it varies. I'm going to see the Brazilian Girls this Thursday which should bring out the dancers. Other bands that I've seen this happen with are MIA, Spank Rock and Ra Ra Riot. Those are just the first ones that come to mind...
posted by youcancallmeal at 9:41 PM on November 21, 2006

if you EVER get the chance, go see jason anderson play. his live shows almost always involve many, many people dancing, lots of singalongs and shoutalongs and he wins over every crowd i've ever seen.

you'll thank me if you go!
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:08 PM on November 21, 2006

Pittsburgh was kind of infamous for the hipster head-nod when I lived there, & I can't imagine much has changed. If the Johnsons Big Band is still around they'll get people dancing, and Centipede E'st is rumored to be equally fun. If you go to hardcore shows at the Roboto Project there'll invariably moshing, if that counts as dancing to you.
posted by soviet sleepover at 10:43 PM on November 21, 2006

I saw The Brazilian Girls at the 930 club in DC. Everyone was too cool to dance.
posted by phrontist at 10:45 PM on November 21, 2006

I became disgusted with the so-called dance scene in the rock world, and thankfully discovered swing dancing. The music took a little getting used to, but I enjoyed broadening my horizons. It was a great workout, and much more sociable. I don't dance much since our daughter was born a few months ago, but look forward to returning to the floor.
posted by markhu at 10:52 PM on November 21, 2006

To bad for you that the Dead are dead.
posted by caddis at 11:22 PM on November 21, 2006

Yeah, the problem here is rock. Who dances to rock?
posted by phrontist at 11:30 PM on November 21, 2006

I make my own crowd. If everyone else in the world is not cool enough to dance, screw them.

I have found that even getting one or two more people to dance, especially if one of them is a lady, can have a domino effect.

I really, honestly do not care what sort of music it is, as long as it's live, hot, and is causing dozens of sweaty people to move around vigorously.

I don't know if there is a gypsy music scene in your area but that is definitely the genre to go for for sweaty, vigorous moving.
posted by Deathalicious at 12:27 AM on November 22, 2006

Try goan' dahn ta Chauncey's on Thursdays! (Just kidding.) Seconding the observation that in the Burgh, folks don't seem to dance that much. However, during a couple really funky sets by Medeski, Martin and Wood down at Metropol [in the Strip District] a few years ago, Chris Wood's thumping bassline got us yinzers to break that trend. I highly recommend that you go see them the next time they pass through (check here ).
posted by rudster at 12:56 AM on November 22, 2006

You are describing Making Time, which is a recent Philly institution. It's a giant hipster dance party held at a big club, but the crowd is much better than any other crowd that would dance (Bridge & Tunnel, for example), and there is far less pretense than at, say, a straight indie rock show. They usually have a band or two from 10 until 12 or 1, and several floors of DJs (great DJs, and I don't like DJs) after that. Usually a dance punk kinda thing on the main floor, old school rock upstairs (think Rolling Stones with a beat), and indie hip hop downstairs. The last Making Time, earlier this month, featured Hot Chip, The Rapture, and several other bands, as well as the usual RVNG DJs. They traditionally have a New Year's Eve show each year, which is a $40 open bar blowout (I've been... wow). They're infrequent (sometimes monthly, sometimes more or less), but well worth attending. The RVNG site linked above will have information as it's available. There are other smaller parties called [click] hosted by the same people, with info at the RVNG site.
posted by The Michael The at 5:50 AM on November 22, 2006

Oh, to your points:
1. some sincerity, and lots of spontaneity. Minimal but present hipster bullshit.
2. lots of beer and whiskey, and sometimes free Sparks from 9-10.
3. live instruments, check.
4. Philthadelphia.
posted by The Michael The at 5:53 AM on November 22, 2006

You should go see an OK Go show. They're very sincere, and from what I've seen, at least, inspire a lot of dancing. It's just in their music—so danceable. When I saw them at Logan Square in Chicago a couple weeks ago, the bar was flowing, so that's a check as well. Live instruments—ohhhh yes.

Perhaps see when they're playing next in PA?
posted by limeonaire at 5:58 AM on November 22, 2006

Anything remotely related to the jam-band / festival / hippie scene brings out lots and lots of free spirited dancers. Any band that ever has, or will, play Bonnaroo. It's really an eclectic selection - from jazz [Medeski, Martin, and Wood], to indie(ish) [Modest Mouse, My Morning Jacket, The Flaming Lips], to southern(ish) rock [Gov't Mule, Widespread Panic, MoFro, Drive-By Truckers], bluegrass [Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band, String Cheese Incident] to funky or bluesy rock [G. Love straight from Philly, anything Les Claypool]. Anything with a former Phish or Dead member will bring the house down with dancing.

But if you really, really want to have a blast... go see one of the brass bands from New Orleans that are always touring, like Dirty Dozen or Rebirth or even Karl Denson. That shits a blast man. Last time I saw Rebirth I stood stage right at Freebird's in Jville and danced with the bands family. Amazing night.

JamBase is the best resource for these kind of shows. Check out the festival guide and spend a weekend camping and dancing. It's such a perfect combination...
posted by trinarian at 6:38 AM on November 22, 2006

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

Yeah, the problem here is rock. Who dances to rock?

So what should I be listening to instead? Like I said in the question, if there's another scene with live music where people dance — jazz, folk, "world," country, whichever bin it goes in — I'm there.

I don't know if there is a gypsy music scene....

Like, traditional gypsy music? Or something else? Would a white anglo guy be welcome? I am definitely envious of the awesome awesome folk dancing at Bulgarian weddings and such, but never quite envious enough to crash one and join in. Maybe I need to marry a Bulgarian.

You are describing Making Time....

Sounds awesome. Thanks!

To bad for you that the Dead are dead.

Anything remotely related to the jam-band / festival / hippie scene....

Some of this still falls into the "boring when the drugs wear off" category for me. I did have a wonderful time at a Gov't Mule show this summer, though, and I'll probably be digging deeper. The brass bands are a great suggestion — exactly the sort of thing I was looking for — and I'll definitely keep an eye out for when they're in town.
posted by nebulawindphone at 7:15 AM on November 22, 2006

Go to ANY rockabilly concert, ive never been to one where people havent danced.
posted by freddymetz at 7:17 AM on November 22, 2006

Can't speak for Philly but I love live shows and Reggae shows have lotsa people dancing.
posted by beccaj at 7:55 AM on November 22, 2006

Like, traditional gypsy music? Or something else? Would a white anglo guy be welcome?

Yes, traditional gypsy music. But not necessarily played by Romas. Most of the band members and audience will probably be white European, so you shouldn't stand out at all. Again, not sure if there's anything like this in Philly, but I was thinking of something along the lines of Kazum in London.
posted by Deathalicious at 8:16 AM on November 22, 2006

nebulawindphone: for what it's worth, I tend to go to shows sober. There's nothing worse than being at an amazing show and being in that grumpy / not-high-anymore/ is-this-the-encore-yet that comes about two hours after getting baked on the way to the show. I won't even drink till the second set. There's always a loss of energy after a buzz wears off.

So I've seen most of the jam bands touring today whilst sober and had a thoroughly enjoyable time. I think the whole "they suck when your not stoned/tripping" is a really undeserved stereotype.

Two more bands in your area: Disco Biscuits are from Philly, kind of an electronica-rock mix that's a lot of fun and the Benevento-Russo Duo are an electronic-jazz group that's really, really neat.
posted by trinarian at 8:37 AM on November 22, 2006

I think I also underplayed bluegrass... it's so much damn fun live. I think it's the only dance music written explicitly for white people.
posted by trinarian at 8:40 AM on November 22, 2006

(Sorry, trinarian — didn't mean to imply you were on drugs. I was introduced to that music by a bunch of stoners who played nonstop concert tapes, and at the time it just got on my nerves unless I was high. But I'm sure that — like most things — it's more compelling live and more interesting when you work your way into it.)
posted by nebulawindphone at 9:33 AM on November 22, 2006

Thievery Corporation has the ability to melt hipsters into groovy jello unlike any act I've seen (and I've seen alot).

If you're in the front of the crowd (bonus points for being female), they'll get you up on stage to bust a move for their encore jam. At least that's what's gone on in past years.

They're playing a landmark 4 straight shows at the 9:30 at the end of December!
posted by cowbellemoo at 9:43 AM on November 22, 2006

Speaking as a guy who can not dance to save his life, you should be thanking those nodding hipsters for not stinking up the dance floor and leaving more room for you to get your thing on.

They won't mind. I love it when other people dance! I usually nod approvingly...
posted by Aquaman at 9:51 AM on November 22, 2006

I second not giving a shit if you're the only one dancing. All those too-cool hipsters are secretly jealous that you're having a better time and don't have a stick up your ass. Chicks dig it too, even if you're short on skills.
posted by SBMike at 9:59 AM on November 22, 2006

Sadly, this is universal at indie shows. People stand there like they're waiting in line at the ATM.

How anyone can be in front of a live band without so much as tapping a foot is beyond me. I'm a pretty self-conscious person, but when I'm at a show, I just don't give a fuck.

The best dancing I've seen was at a show with this traditional salsa band playing. It was awesome.
posted by GS1977 at 10:25 AM on November 22, 2006

In Pittsburgh, I recommend checking out The Boogie Hustlers and Omega Love.
posted by njm at 11:18 AM on November 22, 2006

this post makes me so, so nostalgic for pittsburgh. stiff noddin' hipsters and all.

people dance at grindcore shows, and i remember some wonderful dancing at alpha control group c's shows. i admit, though, this was years ago...
posted by ifjuly at 10:41 AM on November 30, 2006

Do you know about This Is Happening or the Roboto board? Roboto board posters can be unbelievably cranky, but there's an incredibly wide variety of musical tastes represented among the posters.
posted by soviet sleepover at 8:56 PM on December 2, 2006