Sanctuary Labor Day San Francisco
Posted 7-Sep-2010 to ReviewsRating: 2.5 out of 5 bottles of water!
by Juicy Fruit Jim Hauck
Not all journeys lead to a destination, and so it could be said about the journey of finding Sanctuary this past Labor Day weekend in San Francisco.
We arrived near 11PM at the club – the famous Club Ten15 Folsom. There was no line, as was much expected, and we quickly got into the club and situated with a virtually no hassle security check. The music was blazing out of the speakers in the front room and an almost overbearing bass rumbled the floors, and this did not change as we entered the main room to establish a point of dancing.
Matt Consola was on the decks and seemed to be favoring very high volumes to the point where I was convinced the one speaker near the stage where we danced was starting to crackle and buzz a bit. The music was flat for me, not much of the energy swings I like to get the crowd riled up and having fun, and not dark enough for a Sanctuary. However the set improved as Matt’s time on the decks was winding up and I think a grove started to catch with some occasional hits including Happiness. The music had however gotten to such a loud level, my ear plugs needed ear plugs – this was a case were louder did not make it better and it was a bit bothersome at times just how loud the music was and how many people had no hearing protection.
Ted Eiel was next up on the decks. Now, I know Ted has been working on developing a bit of a different sound, and I was really hoping for the Chunk House sound he is infamous for delivering – a sound that gets your moving in your soul, heart and head, and ready to enjoy all that is thrown at you. During moments Ted did drop that sound into the mix and the crowd would swell to the floor and enjoy, but it would slip in and out. However, in a classic Ted Eiel selection, ranked right up there with the theme to Flash Gordon, he dropped in My Sharona and a smile seemed to creep across the faces of all those dancing in our clan, but that may have been the best of moment of the night. Not the best I have heard from Ted, sad to say.
Now the crowd on the other hand was what brought the review to the level it got for me – a group of hot, sexy, chunky, muscled, furry and frolicking fun men on the dance floor. Smiles every where, people greeting each other and saying hello (in all sorts of ways) and generally a great attitude and demeanor on the dance floor. With so many people just coming home from Burning Man and other attending the 10th anniversary of Alegria in New York, this crowd was fun and just right for an end of summer fling on the dance floor.
So a good night with my friends, many of whom have not been out dancing in a while, gives this review a middle of the road mark for me.
Next up at Ten15 is Real Bad and personally I can not wait!
Tags: Matt Consola, Sanctuary, Ted Eiel
I am very sad to hear that the volume was so loud. You would think that after decades of DJing Matt would know that you only have to turn it up “a bit” during a “get your butt to the floor” track to get the party going. Hearing loss is something every clubber should be concerned about. Cranking a system to the point where high end speakers like the have at 1015 are about to blow is irresponsible and in some ways insulting to those of us on the floor.
As far as Ted developing a different sound….well that is sad too. For those that do not know, Chunkhouse is a delightful blend of heavy beats, driving house mixes and loops with just the “right” amount of vocals and even a little funk and soul that keeps the boyz (and girls) bouncy, smiley and frisky. It is not light and fluffly, but it is not droning tribal either. It is sexy and fun and a welcomed fresh experience on the dance scene. I am not saying Chunkhouse should not evolve, but it has to keep the elements of what makes it stand out or it will get lost. I hope Ted finds his groove and does not end up sounding like in order to fit in or get more gigs.
Steve…a serious “Chunk-head”