MIX is truly living up to its name.
The monthly party linking dance music, drag/performance art, and visuals in the basement of Club One welcomes a diverse roster of acts to its next installment.
Created by Best Local DJ C Powers, House of Gunt member/QuoLab facilitator Raine Raine, and QuoLab facilitator/video artist Greg Hornak, the party’s ninth installment features three acts from New York-based label Sweat Equity. The label recently released music by C Powers and even teamed up with Hornak, the talent behind Greg’s Famous hot sauces, for a one-of-a-kind concoction.
“[Sweat Equity] always expressed interest in getting out of New York,” Powers says. “Their crew is cool, because they’re very active in New York, but that’s not the end goal for them...they are certainly interested in playing the Southeast, and if people express interest, we try to do whatever we can, with our limited funds.”
Thursday’s roster features sets from Deli Girls, Church, RGB Dealers, Alien D, and more.
Deli Girls broke out on the underground with the debut record Evidence. Recently named one of “10 artists to fall in love with this spring” by The Fader, Danny Orlowski and Tommi Kelly’s noise duo is earning a fan base far and wide, fusing pop, noise, industrial, and hardcore into a sound that’s entirely their own.
Savannahians have seen traces of Church before: its creator has performed in Savannah and at Savannah Stopover Music Festival as Fine Peduncle in the past. Church offers expeRimental techno sounds that snap like bubblegum, best heard on their latest EP, ‘Edging,’ available via Sweat Equity on Bandcamp.
“Church is from Knoxville and has a real appreciation for the South and being able to go back,” Raine says. “Speaking for Deli Girls and Church, since both of them are comprised of people in the queer and trans community, being in New York is important to their survival. And being able to make the work they do, that is, in a particular way, underground club music, is not something you can necessarily get away with in the South.”
Sweat Equity label head Dan Creahan will perform as Alien D, taking a breaks—heavy, atmospheric approach to production.
RGB Dealers offers dark, hypnotic sounds with a wicked underbelly and techno backbone.
“This isn’t going to be like other MIXes,” Powers says.
“There’s going to be a big variety in the music that’s happening,” Raine adds. “You’ve got dancey, screamo music to more R&B, bouncy, pop music.”
As they approach the ninth MIX, Powers, Hornak, and Raine are learning how to best use the venue and offer something that can’t be found elsewhere in Savannah.
“Club One has cool lighting, but in a certain way it’s dated, and being able to do something that isn’t happening there any other day of the week is nice for people, especially people who go there a lot,” says Raine. “The basement is a nice place to hang out in, but I think in a certain way to be able to reinvigorate it is important, because there aren’t really any other spaces like that socio-politically in Savannah.”
“Lately, Greg’s been moving the visual installations ot the front so things will spill out into the bar,” Powers says. “It is kind of like a multiuse space, so I try to encourage people to come out. Even if you don’t know how to dance, that’s okay! You can be at the bar, hear the music, enjoy yourself, and talk to friends.”
Savannah isn’t starved for clubs with a dance floor and pumping music, but MIX’s intention shifts the focus to the music itself and making a comfortable, safe place.
“We bring dance and visuals to the venue, and that is the main offering,” Powers explains. “It’s definitely set up for people who are more focused on music or really understand the pleasure in releasing yourself through dance...which is not a thing that has been an element in Savannah’s landscape prominently. In Detroit, Chicago, New York, we’d look pretty basic, but hey! We’re not there. So we get extra-special credit.”
House of Gunt’s presence has been intrinsic to MIX since the beginning; uniquely, a drag number doesn’t start when the musician stops. Rather, Vegina George, Raine, and other performers meld into the fluidity of the night without alternating sets between musical artists and performing artists.
If you have yet to check out a MIX event, Powers and Raine think this week’s event is a perfect introduction.
“I feel like me, Greg and Raine are like, ‘This is the best lineup I’ve ever seen in Savannah!’” laughs Powers. “I hope other people will come and discover that for themselves too. Three out of three underground house music weird noise doctors would recommend this show!”
