Magical Meatball Memories.

So. Hi. How are you? I'm OK. A little tired. I had a rather heavy lunch. But I followed it with a Diet Pepsi. So that kinda woke me up. I'm back on track now. Thinkin' about having another Diet Pepsi. I haven't decided yet. Not sure if the soda machine in the break room has any left. I drink them too much. We'll see. Anyway, I'm ready to start this blog now.

Let's start with this: Fresno's beloved electro dance party, Meatball Magic, is celebrating its one-year anniversary this Friday, February 3rd. In honor of the FREE extravaganza, "DJs"/founders Heinz, Cuddles and Princess Cuckoo have invited local indie favs It'll Grow Back, The Batteries, and Rademacher to provide live music/chaos. It starts at 10 p.m. at the Red Lantern on Belmont. And this time, 10 means 10. Probably not, but you never know. Stranger things have happened. I think the "DJs" will be playing some music in between or after the bands finish. You'll have to ask. If not, you can just dance to the music the bands are playing.

Now that we have all the facts outta the way, let's get to the fun shit. I was sittin' back the other day trying to figure out a blog I could write to promote this week's Meatball Magic. Then I though to myself, "Hmmmm. Why not e-mail the 'DJs' and the bands and ask what their most memorable Meatball Magic experience has been this past year." So I did. Unfortunately, not every one responded. But I didn't get them much time. So it's partly my fault. Well, not really, but whatever. I do what I can.

p.s. If you're wondering why I'm putting quotes around "DJs," go here. You'll find your answer there.

Mitch on Speed's memory:
I guess we'll start this off. Don't worry, I'll it keep it short. It happened a couple weeks ago. I was at the bar ordering up a Bud Light in the bottle, and some guy at the end of the bar told the bartender, "I got that." I wasn't sure what to do. Do I refuse him and say, "No, thanks, I can pay for it." Did this mean I have to go talk to the guy??? I was baffled. A guy had never bought me a drink before... So I just looked at his and said, "Thanks," and rushed off. Ha. (In case you haven't figured out, this place is a Gay bar. But Meatball Magic nights are all-encompassing). I have more memories, but that is the freshest one in my mind.

Let's move on to other peoples' memories. By the way, feel free to post your own favorite Meatball Magic memory in the comments section. Let's do this interactive style...

Princess Cuckoo (aka Miss CoCo):
It was sometime last fall or maybe late summer, one of those t-shirt nights when everyone wants to sit outside and drink, and that's exactly what we did. It was early-ish in the night, before my set and after Vance's, and probably Sandra was spinning something everyone remembered and loved. I'm standing with Vance on the Red Lantern's outside patio drinking a vodka press and smoking a cigarette and someone calls my name, but when I look over to my left I realize it could have been anyone. Then I look to my right and realize it could have been anyone there too. It takes a few seconds for it to dawn on me, and it seems that Vance comes to the same realization at the same exact moment. "Wow," I say. "Look around, Vance." And he does and he sort of nods and says "It's all our friends." Every single person we've ever called a close friend, it seems like, along with new ones and people we'd just met -- they were all out there on that patio talking and smoking and drinking and bopping their heads to the music wafting out the door. And when I look inside, I notice that there are even more people we love just swarming the dancefloor. It was the perfect culmination of all these elements conspiring to create one perfect night that I'll never forget.

Heinz:
There was this one Friday; it was totally packed. Madonna and I were breakdancing to Neutral Milk Hotel when suddenly Missy Elliott decided to join in. She totally did a backflip off of Annie. She totally stole our thunder. Totally. This really happened. And if you don't remember, well you probably weren't cool (or sober if you're me or Cuddles or Cuckoo) enough back then to have known what was up. There is a moral. Go to Meatball Magic. I love you.

Cuddles:
*"DJ" Cuddles was too busy making a birthday cake. She'll answer shortly.

Guest "DJ" Dexter:
I love Meatball Magic with all my flailing limbs. Fresno has hungered for something both danceable and substantial and the Meat to satisfy has finally been served. It's been a great privilege to witness the growing number of guests reserve their Fridays to enjoy each set... and they always do, whether they like it well-done, medium-rare or raw. And as Meatball Magic continues to attract true body-breakers, great music makers and Fresno socialites, what I'll remember is a moment that proved that the night does not only cater to the indie elite, but welcomes any ol' fool who'll move their meat.

On the eve of my debut performance as DJ Dexter I arrive at the Red Lantern and am met with a flash from the camera of my number one fan: my mom. "Now pose in the DJ booth!" she coaxes. Oh dear lord no. The 61-year-old mother of seven struts to the dance floor in the sparkly clothes purchased at Wet Seal and proceeds to raise her arms, shake her hips, and kick out her boots in a dance fashion she developed from aerobics classes in the '80s. I ask my brother why he brought her as I imagine a guaranteed empty dancefloor (besides the Vic) the rest of our set. Yet I find as the folks begin arriving, they are much more accepting than am I. People either ignore the spectacle and dance and converse without regard, or they meet and greet and hug my old lady. Everyone is extremely friendly to her (although it may have helped that she bought anybody who talked to her a drink) and she continued to dance and sparkle and smile and glow. She kept commenting on how great the beat was and after two glasses of Chardonnay and a taste of somebody's Malibu & pineapple juice she confided to me: I think I should have been gay.

Mom, you are gay.

As for the Magic of the Meatball, I must compliment the chefs and clientele for providing an environment where even the most unlikely guest leaves a satisfied customer.

Crazy It'll Grow Back singer, Josh:
So I don't have an specific favorite Meatball Magic memory. That said: I love to dance. I mean-freak-out, body-thrashing arm-flailing all-out-dance-party dance. And that's Meatball Magic's magic, right? When you're out on the smoke-filled dance floor, packed in with sweaty fools, and time just sort of slips away and suddenly it's last call and someone's yelling 'cause they didn't hear their favoritre song and all you can think is...Damn, I'm sweaty and tired. Or something like that.

Batteries singer/guitarist, Mike B (the "B" stands for Batteries):
A Meatball Magic memory hmm... When someone played the new Madonna song "Hung Up" and I realized for the first time that it was actually a great dance song. I think if it weren't for Meatball Magic, I wouldn't go out dancing let alone to Madonna songs.

Rademacher (Fresno indie-rock gods):
*Members of Rademacher were too busy trying to take over the world to answer my e-mail.

Now it's YOUR turn.... any favorite memories you'd like to share. Come one, I know you have AT LEAST one...

Event info:
Meatball Magic
Friday Feb 03, 2006
10:00 PM
The Red Lantern
4618 E. Belmont Ave.