Monster Energy Presents....

The best way to watch the Olympic Men's Halfpipe final. 8 50-inch flat screens, custom ice bar with professional mixologist, food, and best of all, an all-star dj lineup. All with the best view in Vancouver.  Altitudes Bistro at the top of Grouse Mountain.

KID SISTER * DJ FASHEN * DAVE NADA * SAMMY BANANAS * DJ SPIDER * MAT THE ALIEN * MIKE B * NEOTERIC

This one is going to be harder to get into than Shaun White's hotel room.

Vancouver, B.C., Canada (Dec. 17, 2009)

 

The Rickshaw Theatre was the perfect  location for a Standard Films' "Black Winter" screening and the notorious Partysnake's "Again" premier.

 

People started lining up in the rain almost an hour before the doors opened and soon filled the sidewalk. The Rickshaw was packed with a who's who of Vancouver's snowboard scene and they were treated to a screening of "Black Winter" that had them screaming for more. Nobody captures snowboarding like the guys from Standard Films.

 

After a product toss stoked out the crowd the infamous Partysnake slithered its way onstage and "Again?" was unleashed on the loyal crowd of snake lovers. "Again?" is the latest in a long tradition of partyshred movies from Canada and is the unloved orphan of Whiskey and Wildcat parents. After all was said and done we had packed 550 people in the theatre.

Last week the team at Monster Energy and HIFI club sat in a circle and linked arms in the presence of a toothless clairvoyant. She instructed everyone to stare deep into her steamy Halloween cauldron and with a moldy crooked finger she stirred the pot until there was a ghostly dancer apparition.

The beautiful melancholy dancer spoke of the historical GRANDE theatre built in 1912 and how it’s one of the last few remaining pre-World War I buildings in Canada. She said there is no rest until she shakes it to the ground to a music menu featuring some of Canada’s most incredible party rockers including the MC and DJ duo of Thunderheist (you might recognize their track “Jerk It” from the 2008 critically acclaimed movie The Wrestler with Mickey Rourke).

Alongside Thunderheist will be the otherworldly turntable skills of Mat the Alien, bone crushing party rhythms of Smalltown DJs and casting spells on everyone will be Vinyl Ritchie who’s medium is records only – no digital music. And no parapsychology. Just real deal deadly dance floor anthems.

Rounding out the GRANDE THEATRES most haunting performance will be the supernatural Homebreakin' DJs featuring Wax Romeo, Lorne B and Cal Bass. Hosted by the fiery and lovely Miss Ange from the Vibe 98.5 fm.

9 DJs / PERFORMERS
2 ROOMS
1 HAUNTED STAIRCASE
ALL IN THE HISTORICAL “THEATRE JUNCTION GRANDE” IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN.

TICKETS $10 in advance at GIANT 45 and CLUBZONE.com.
A very limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

BUY TICKETS ONLINE NOW:
http://www.clubzone.com/tickets/1/Calgary/76924.html

FACEBOOK PAGE:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=147739963927

August 16, 2009 – Whistler, BC – I lost count somewhere around 17,234 and instead decided to just write that A LOT of people were huddled at the base of Whistler mountain for the revered main event of the Crankworx mountain bike festival; the Monster Energy Slopestyle. There are thirteen sanctioned Crankworx events over nine days but it’s Saturday’s main feature that will leave the greatest impression in most people’s minds. Deservedly so with large imaginative features and dare devilish maneuvers from the likes of Cam McCaul, Cameron Zink, local favorite Brandon Semenuk and 2008’s champion Andreu Lacondeguy. Brandon Semenuk seemed poised to continue his incredible winning streak but in the end was edged out by an incredibly solid run by Greg Watts. Martin Soederstrom rounded out the podium in 3^rd place.

17,000 give or take a few. Photo by Blake Jorgenson

Photo: Russell Dalby

 A dreamy vantage point for the slopestyle finals was the Monster Energy Hospitality Rig nestled beside the SRAM Tunnel of Love feature on the course. Here you could catch the perfectly stomped landings alternated by bone crushing slams including Cam Zink’s over-rotated front flip which left him with a broken foot (but I heard he enjoyed a self-administered cocktail of over-the-counter pain killers and bubbly to ensure he didn’t miss a moment of the slopestyle). The crowd reaction was insane! “This is our X Games!”, exclaimed Kona’s Graham Agassiz who was sidelined because of a broken collarbone from a previous event. Other contenders joining Graham on the bench were injured Monster athletes, and Kranked's "Revolve" film stars, Jamie Goldman and Lance McDermott.

Monster rig: deluxe roastbeef sandwiches and premier viewing for Monster Energy Slopestyle. Photo by Blake Jorgenson.

Contributing to the allure of one of Whistler’s most anticipated annual events were the professional athlete sightings including Monster Energy Athletes Sam Hill and legend Shaun Palmer. Twenty-four year old Australian Sam Hill is infamous for crushing races with massive time gaps and Sunday’s Canadian Open DH (Downhill) event unfolded accordingly with Sam crossing the finish line eight seconds ahead of fellow Monster Energy athlete, UK’s Brendan Fairclough. Steve Smith rounded out an impressively stacked podium by placing third. Racing in a different category was Monster Energy athlete and action sports legend Shaun Palmer who dropped into the Giant Dual Slalom course and made an impressive Quarter Final finish.  An amazing achievement for someone who is pushing fourty years old and is simultaneously a professional mountain biker, snowboarder, skier, and amateur tattoo artist (the latter is just a speculation).

Shaun Palmer. Pushing fourty….and his bike. Photo by Russell Dalby.

As the slopestyle acrobatics came to a close, anticipation began to build for the grande finale party presented by Monster Energy at the Longhorn Bar featuring Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys. Joining Mix Master Mike were some of the finest music makers in Canada; DJ Illo from the EH Team DJs, Vinyl Ritchie and Mat the Alien. People arrived exceptionally early to claim a piece of Longhorn property so they wouldn’t miss one of the world’s most celebrated turntablists perform. When Mix Master Mike finally took the stage it was body-sardines all the way to his turntables. He blazed through songs in one-minute intervals providing a constant blast of ear candy and turntablism with a good number of Beastie Boys songs thrown into the set. Hands were up in the air for a long time and when they finally came to rest and the bar lights turned on and the smoke machine turned off there was satisfaction in the air. Before the gang at Troy Lee Designs headed out, including Troy Lee himself, Mix Master Mike was handed a limited edition helmet signed by Shaun Palmer and Troy Lee. An appropriate gesture at an event that celebrates the evolution of mountain biking and having a collective good time.

Dont' let the lasers cut your fingers. Mix Master Mike show. Photo: Blake Jorgenson.

Mix Master Mike show at the Longhorn Bar. Photo: Russell Dalby.

And this is what he looks like. Photo: Russell Dalby.

This time around our roving band of motocross fans and party pushers settled into the Union Hall Night Club for Round 3 of the “SEND IT” party series. This write-up arrives before my headache has had a chance to depart. Self inflicted. Can’t blame it on anything but a concoction of good vibes and unexpected twists.

Our transition into the evening began with a limo ride courtesy of the Union Hall. I only mention it here because this service is available to the public --  and you might come across this fine travel vestibule in the Whyte Ave area if you keep your eyes peeled.

This post comes on the eve of the Round 3 party. I’ll blame it on the 6 days it took to wipe the laser dust from my eyes. Snatch Nightclub, whose name can make even an exotic dancer blush, hosted the 2nd round of the SEND IT party series. Snatch is a beautiful big venue, lavishly decorated with rock n’ roll tapestry like motorbikes, snakeskin, leopardskin, zebraskin, and bare skin. And for this night only, a massive striking laser show; with lasers typical of large stadiums and even larger rock star egos. But this headlining act is made up of humble djs that are bestowed with mad skills. They stepped to the plate armed with 45s (7” records courtesy of DJ Vinyl Ritchie) and a donkey mask (courtesy of Mat the Alien). While most of the crowed was dancing feverishly and oblivious to the musical manifestation surrounding them there was a particular loyal audience present just for these guys. Hanging on to every scratch and juggle in particular was a young guy, and his birthday entourage, who turned 18 that exact day and arrived at the venue promptly at 9pm to not miss a beat. Legit! And not missing a beat, or anyone’s gaze, was Calgary’s premier radio personality Miss Ange, Canada’s famous breaks dj Mama Miche and their sassy female entourage. They were dressed like a bowl of festive fruit and summed up the fun dance vibe.

Now both the lasers and motocross schedule are pointed northward. The SEND IT Party, Round 3, unfolds at Union Rock Bar in Edmonton, Alberta. City of Champions, home of the 2nd largest mall in North America and 1st ranked dance floor on Saturday. See you at Castrol Raceway or among the lasers and hasers at Union Hall Nightclub this Saturday, June 20.

UNION HALL is located on Argyll and 99 Street (6240 99 Street NW).
Edmonton, AB.

Limited number of COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS available at:
* CYCLE WORKS
* EASY RIDER
* THE SOURCE SNOW & SKATE

MONSTER FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=107103601404&ref=ts

UNION HALL NIGHTCLUB EVENT PAGE:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=92495523290

The 2009 Monster Energy Motocross Nationals had one of the most anticipated starts in recent Canadian motocross history. Athletes from Hungary, South Africa, United States and the host country collected at the dusty and sun flushed Whispering Pines motocross track. The field was uncharacteristically stacked at the first stop of the tour and made the final podium hard to predict. It was also hard to predict how many speaker dancers there would be for DJs Mat the Alien and Vinyl Ritchie at the Monster Energy “Send It” Party.

Green lasers and lights illuminated the Thirsty Dog Night Club to keep the MX energy going through into the night. A collection of club regulars, motocross industry types and a loyal DJ fan base convoluted on the dance floor in an electronic flurry and very dense speaker dancing session. The energy, or…. errr…other enhancements, produced the sort of shirtless show that are usually reserved for much later in the night, if at all. Vinyl Ritchie began the party with a tribute to CCR since John Fogerty was also in town for a gig. That set the show off on the right foot. The party progressed as good parties do although time stood still for a moment while Mat the Alien unleashed some scratching skills. Guys went from ‘gawking at girls’ to ‘gawking at Mat’. And then it turned into a lazer light show until the….well…lights went out for those that indulged a little too heavily.

That was just a warm up kids. See you in Calgary on Saturday, June 13, 2009. SEND IT PARTY – ROUND 2 is at SNATCH Night Club, not too far from the track. Mat the Alien and Vinyl Ritchie are back. And so is one massive light and sound show.

Facebook Event page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=90674219474