THESE HEARTS ADORE
Last week I got invited to Allen’s Birthday Bash, an event hosted by Allen Snow/Corey Holycross, a local rapper. Watch his pretty sick MV, filmed/edited by Zach Howard, here. As it’s summer and I’m living with my parents I was dying to get out, so come Monday night I cajoled my friend to go with me. While definitely not her scene, Sam agreed to attend/chauffeur me/tolerate being my photographic model for the evening—ily, SB!
For his birthday Allen Snow organized a small show, recruiting local talent including three rappers, two DJs, and two acoustic artists to perform alongside himself. For $5 a head guests enjoyed the live music and the art on display. The bash took place at The Nine 10, close enough to be considered part of DTSP but more accurately just-off-central. From the outside you would assume the rectangular, two-story building was home to an auto body shop or served as warehouse space—that is, if it weren’t for the striking (albeit bizarre) murals extending all the way around the building. It was well-into the evening when I arrived there so I didn’t get a good look at it, but let your imaginations jump off from this starting point—alienish girls in gold bikinis.
The place was not hoppin when we got there at 10—the event started at 9, but artists though, what can you do—and after confirming with the bartender that the show was to go until 1AM, Sam and I headed to DTSP proper to wait for the place to fill up a bit. I won’t bore you with the details—we just stopped at Paciugo (because if you don’t get lavender gelato did you even really go downtown?) and walked along the water. I will say if you go downtown this summer, make sure to go by the Vinoy and check out the sculpture art they have installed right now. It’s two elongated pyramids, one leaning against the other—like the cool older cousin of the scrotum sculpture in 22 Jump Street. If you go at night it makes for an especially good instagram photo, they’re spotlit and with a small enough aperture you can get some cute bokeh from the lights across the water.
I don’t mind if there’s not much to say, sometimes the silence guides our minds.
Sam and I got back to The Nine 1o around 11 (twelve, thirteen, fourteen!), and actually made it past the black velvet curtain dividing the foyer from the performance space. We settled/hid in the alcove at the back, taking refuge on the surprisingly clean and comfortable sofa. The guy performing was a DJ and from what I can remember his mix was good, but tbh I spent most of the performance coveting his manbun—seriously like 5x the volume my hair has. After Allen Snow rapped to a beat with him, one of the acoustic artists was next. A girl who played the ukulele and sang—again, really cool hair, she was wearing them in pom poms—and she did an excellent cover of Sweater Weather, which suited her voice well which was beautifully husky with a pretty tremulo.
Sam and I went back to the foyer between songs so I could get a drink because sitting quietly taking photos at the back of a gig can really make you thirsty, and shout out to the bartender who worked that night. She was very friendly and answered all my questions about the space. Apparently The Nine 1o has only been open for two years—just after my high school class graduated—and the murals were only done a few weeks ago. The bartender—I feel like such a shit person for not remembering her name, but I gave her a good tip so, karma balanced—also says that she hosts the open mic-night there every other Sunday, so if you’re looking for more places to perform Like The Nine 1o facebook page for info.
Refreshed, Sam and I headed upstairs—because yes, this place is that cool. The first floor houses the foyer with a bar in the corner—alcohol-drinkers: they only serve beers and wines—along with the bathrooms, and past the black velvet curtain divider is the performance space. There’s small stage lined along the front with sculpture art and bathed in red light that night, faced by tables and chairs, the aforementioned alcove and comfy couch, and stairs which also serve to seat guests. The walls downstairs are decorated with 2D art—grids of photographs and paintings—but there are also a few pieces upstairs. After awkwardly shuffling through the stair-seaters we found ourselves on an open landing and hallway. The doors off the hall—again, according the bartender—lead to recording and art studios which I’m assuming people can rent. The hall has open windows so you can see the performance space downstairs.
While Sam informed me this would be the last event there she would be attending with me—ily babe—The Nine 1o is a seriously cool spot and I hope they host more daytime events so I can get the full picture—literally, the nighttime event lighting is trippy but not enough even for my f/1.8. Definitely check them out if you’re a musician, spoken-word performer, or make 2D/3D art, and of course if you’re just looking for a cool new stop in the Burg.
TITS & ASPIRATION 