The Juice Box

What an amazing weekend – SUNDANCE returned in grand style. Thank you Gus, Edgar, Phil, Luke, the guests on the bus, and all of you that made Sunday and SUNDANCE memorable. Now on with the reviews.

The Juice Box Party Bus to Sundance

Rating: 4 out of 5 Bottles of Water

by Ray Chalom

There are some sacrilegious things that New Yorkers just won’t ever do for fear of exile from their great city. For example, a New Yorker would never admit to living on Staten Island, wear black and brown together, or ride a public bus. Yet for some reason this Brooklynite took a chance and paid $45 for a bus ride up to the Russian River for this past weekend’s Sundance party. (Note: A 3^rd date was not had by someone a few months back because they made me take a bus.)

When Jim initially sent out an email to feel out interest he prefaced the word bus with “party”. It was this adjective that fueled my imagination. In my mind, two hours on a bus with 45 men itching to dance for six hours under the hot sun couldn’t be a bad time. It wasn’t.

With the bags packed under the bus I climbed aboard for my first glimpse of the party space. The interior of the bus had an uncharacteristic charter layout with two long black comfortable leather couches lining both sides with periodic built in coolers on either side for water and… um…whatnot. The black ceiling of the bus was inlaid with LED lights that changed colors along with two strips of LED lights that ran from front to back. About the only thing on the bus that wasn’t black was the faux dark amber stained wood floor, giving the bus its sole upscale look and warmed up the otherwise stark interior. On a more positive note the sound system on the bus was fantastic thumping out clean vocals and a deep base. The single laser whose sole objective seemed to be providing a free LASIK treatment to anyone within it’s range was otherwise superfluous and became annoying on the trip back home. (Anyone see a pattern here with my love of lights and lasers that assault the eye?)

The music heading up to the River was provided by DJ Steve Sherwood (click here to download the set) and had everyone pumped about the upcoming day before Peter the bus driver even stepped on the gas pedal. The set was a perfect T-dance set with upbeat vocals, strong beats and smooth transitions. And then it happened, Peter started driving. We all learned soon enough Peter’s favorite pedal was the one on the left. As much as I think he enjoyed driving this 10 ton bus up and down Van Ness at what felt like double the speed limit he enjoyed stopping the bus that much more. To add insult to injury the center of gravity was so high there was enough swaying (especially on River Road) to turn some of the party-goers a bit green. However, the other 95% of us really took advantage of being chauffeured. (Paris, Lindsay, Khloe; pay attention!)

With a cooler stocked with beer and mixers, a morning cocktail (cocktails for most) was in order for all. For two hours we braved the turbulence on the 101 walked back and forth to chat with friends, take deep breaths out of balloons and laugh our tits off. I felt like I did when I was 12 driving to Six Flags with camp and allowed to bring whatever goodies I wanted to enjoy responsibly.

The bus left roughly two hours after the party ended affording us time to change and grab a bite to eat if we were so inclined. On the ride back the much more subdued chill set was provided by DJ Bud Chism who really helped us come back to reality with softer beats and more a more mellow bass. This seemed to be ok with the riders who took advantage of the rocking to cuddle up to their neighbor or fall asleep on a friend’s shoulder. That isn’t to say there weren’t a few of us who still had enough energy to keep going – it simply wasn’t the vibe for the majority.

All in all as if spending a perfect day dancing with friends to an incredible set by Phil B wasn’t enough, we got to chat and reflect with friends in addition to making some new ones. So to answer the question, would I get on another bus in a year from now – YES!

Special note of thanks to Sanford and 440 Bar on Castro for the donation of Miller product to the Juice Box Sundance Party Bus. Please be sure if you see Sanford or stop in the 440 to thank them for all they do to support our community, these events and The Juice Box.

SUNDANCE Morning Party

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Bottles of Water (including a big gulp from the bus ride)

by Leif Wauters

It takes a lot to revive an event that was once a beloved summer jewel of the Bay Area. It’s unavoidable that whatever the event producers do, it’ll be laid against it’s preceding incarnations and compared inch by inch, memory by memory. But that’s too easy and completely unfair to the present, the hurdles that 2009 brings (economy included), and the family that gathered together in Guerneville last weekend for the anticipated return of Gus’ Sundance.

Setting up camp at the estate where fur and flesh invaded just weeks before during Lazy Bear, Sundance brought out a crowd that was generally less hirsute, but in no way less buoyant and equally as primed for a party. I mean come on! You’ve got the gorgeous Russian River and it’s sky-scraping redwoods cradling the heavy-weight sounds of San Francisco’s prodigal import, DJ Phil B. Bouncing around on the brightly painted wooded dance floor (as cushiony as the soft slats on the floor of London’s RVT), it was a candy-colored, UV-bathed day with friends, both fresh and firm. Idyllic, huh? It nearly was. Gus, Edgar, and their team (many of whom look too young to remember earlier Sundances) deserve rowdy applause for putting the paddles to an event many thought was dead. CLEAR! And we’re back up and dancing like Matthew Rush in “Another Gay Movie”. Woo hoo!

But for all it was, I wouldn’t be worthy of writing this review if I didn’t mention a few cracked squares on the mirror ball:

We stood on River Road thirty minutes past the scheduled noon start time before we were allowed through the gates. I didn’t see Jeffrey Sanker’s name on this, so why the pause in our day? If we had to be held back, perhaps a drink ticket might have made up for the lack of an announcement or an apology. We were on time, and by “we” I mean many of the same people Gus relies on for his livelihood throughout the year. A little respect and engagement goes a long way. Just something to keep in mind.

“Blue skies on a Sunday morning…” were the stellar lyrics that greeted the first of us who were foraging for base camp around the dance floor. One of my favorite songs of all time, and a rare dream to hear these days. Phil then lead us into a slow climb that eventually peaked but didn’t really seem to hold its altitude. There were great songs throughout the afternoon, but I never really got the jockey’s crop on a thoroughbred treatment I know he’s capable of dishing out. I always have faith in Phil’s music, but on this very important afternoon, passion seemed to be missing from his otherwise enjoyable set.

Maybe he was sharing my dread in the choice of performance songs. You know in Family Guy when Brian and Stewie stole Peter’s copy of “Bird Is The Word” and gleefully destroyed it? “Dive In The Pool” should suffer a similar fate, and I thought it had. I truly acknowledge the sweat and heart that every performer put into accentuating what was essentially an intermission in the set, from the fabulous flaggers to the wily water boys, but that song…! Sigh.

I will say that I should have taken a ride on the Kiddy Kopter amusement ride before it was shut down early, or taken a break from the music to flop around on the giant, inflated gorilla-bounce. But I was there to enjoy a final tour of the summer’s hits with my peeps, and except for the few times I wondered “why?”, the day was wonderful. From the jubilant ride up to the chill cruise home on the Juice Box Party Bus, Sundance gave my friends and I a tank-full of memories that’ll have us clicking BUY NOW when Sundance 2010 goes on sale.

SUNDANCE Closing Party

Rating: 4 out of 5 Bottles of Water

by Jim ‘Juicy Fruit’ Hauck

With only a little time after the Morning Party ended and before the Juice Box Party Bus departed the Russian River, a few of us decided to venture over to River Space and check out the closing party. Knowing it was early, and that most folks had retired to their cabins to freshen up, shower, and get ready for more dancing, or simply had gone home after a beautiful day of dancing in the sun, it was not a surprise the crowd was very light for the time we were at the closing party. However, as we were departing the boys were starting to show up and fill up the dance floor for one more night of Sundance partying. DJ Luke Johnston was playing what I would call an almost perfect set as a warm up for his evening of tribal music to come. In fact, at times I felt he read my mind as he layered in tracks of songs that bring back memories of clubbing in London for me. My favorite track was the Freemasons Michael Jackson mash up, which I did not catch the name of, but was brilliant and perfect to dance too. Overall, I spent my time from 6PM to 730PM (before having to leave) with my hands in the air, singing out, and feeling all warm and fuzzy about the perfect day. While River Space was sporting the bare minimum in decorations and the lighting was what appeared to be the basic lighting the club has, it was none the less, dark, and cool, which made for the perfect chilled out respite, with a great soundtrack, to end the day with my close friends. I was only too sad when I had to leave at 730, as the music was still calling me, and I had wished we could have held the bus one (or two) more hours. Luke, congratulations on closing Sundance on the highest of notes, with warm musical sounds in my head and love in my heart as I went home. Your the best thing!!