From the looks of this past Saturday in Cleveland, Ohio, you’d think the damp permachill that’s seemingly anchored over Lake Erie has moved away for good. Rock n’ roll revelers were out and about as if summer had already bestowed the “north coast” with her bounty of warmth.
From Collinwood to Lakewood and a few points in between, bands not only roared, but vinyl was spun in abundance.The Beachland Ballroom and Tavern hosted the Soul Clap & Dance Off tour, a roving record party hosted by friendly and energetic NYC DJ Jonathan Toubin (below).
A brief conversation with the tired but unstoppable Toubin mentioned nothing of his lifelong, almost monastic devotion to hoarding rare soul 45s. Rather than the image of the dowdy collector that can plague any vinyl freak, he portrayed himself as more of a music-for-the-masses type. As Toubin explained in a recent Time Out New York interview, he’s committed to a party vibe.
Crossing the Cuyahoga River and leaping with a triple sowkow went this correspondent, into the quasi-suburban city of Lakewood, which is shouldered right up against the very west edge of Cleveland proper. There, at the small and scrappy Five O’ Clock bar, omnipresent rocker, party host, and all around swell guy Dave Petrovich was spinning records at one of his “New Wave Raves” (see top).
The Five O’ Clock’s carved a sweet spot in many a goth and punk’s heart for years now, so the unfinished party room that hosted the New Wave Rave was a perfect locale. Even more perfect was the mixture of vinyl and digital that Petrovich and friends spun all night: heavy on the Bauhaus, Siouxie, Joy Division, and other such.
Day-glo colors were in evidence, yet curiously enough, not a single “eye of Horus.” What was even more prevalent was the vibe of fun-loving irreverance that sides like Ministry’s “(Everyday Is) Halloween” summoned. That’s the kind of party that D-Rock, Castle Spooktacular and Dave P. brought to the huddled masses looking to freak out on Saturday night.
Partying with platters is a way of life in old-school Cleveland. Stay tuned for more of record-related news in the near future.
