Few things get me excited more than the idea of a Dirtybird party. The label and collective, run by none other than house veteran and all-around lovable guy Claude VonStroke (pictured above), is currently in the midst of its BBQ tour series, which his 5 cities and kicked off in Brooklyn last weekend. The parties take the format put forward by parties like Mad Decent’s Block Party – a label organizing an event with a bunch of its artists and hitting the road – with a unique Dirtybird flair. Not only does the BBQ, as its name would imply, serve up delicious food, but also features some of the best of the best when it comes to the house artists on the lineup.
The Brooklyn party, held just around the corner from Verboten and, interestingly enough, backed up to a flea market (Smörgåsbord, for those familiar) was undeniably minimal. In fact, there was little to differentiate this from a block party with some fat speakers – besides the expensive drinks, that is. No stage to speak of and the venue was nothing more than a large paved lot. I had to take time to decide whether this vibe was the result of a lack of planning or an intended feature of the event and I resolved to the latter, although I admit for an event that cost near $50, I had expected slightly more.
The focus was certainly on the music however, which is the reason everyone was there. I make a point to say this because, compared to the MDBP in Boston I had attended the Sunday previous, everyone here seemed to be there for the music and not just for the daytime party. That is to say, the rules did not require a clause forbidding kandi, because nobody in their right mind would bring any.
While I unfortunately showed up late and had to leave early, the highlight for the event was by far and away the set by Justin Martin. He never disappoints, whether it be live or in his productions, and this particular set was no exception. Justin is the co-founder of Dirtybird and is as big a part of their success as Claude himself. Sets from his brother, Christian Martin, Kill Frenzy, Justin Jay and Ardalan made up the rest of the day’s lineup and, with the night closing out with Claude headling, the groove was continuously bumping.
The low point, though, was the fact that much less emphasis was placed on the BBQ element than I had been expecting. Food looked good, but it was prohibitively expensive and, with $9 beers and the event being entirely cash only, made it more of a sideshow than the main event. Certainly, as a word to anyone attending any of the dates remaining on the tour, eat something filling beforehand and save yourself the cash.
The tour’s upcoming dates are listed below and tickets are still available for all dates. For any and all Dirtybird fans, this is a must see event.
8/31 – Detroit, MI @ Masonic Temple Lot ft. Claude VonStroke, Justin Martin, J. Phlip, Christian Martin
9/7 – Toronto, ON @ Sherbourne Common ft. Claude VonStroke, Justin Martin, J. Phlip, Christian Martin, Ardalan
9/14 – San Francisco @ Treasure Island ft. Claude VonStroke, Justin Martin, J. Phlip, Christian Martin, Worthy
November TBA – Los Angeles – Claude VonStroke, Justin Martin, J. Phlip, Christian Martin