[back to events page]	detroit contemporary presents Paris '68 1. Biography The idea for Paris '68 was hatched when we looked around Detroit and saw two intensely powerful but stubbornly segregated music scenes that were getting the attention of the world, but not each other. We observed that it was nearly impossible to get garage-rock and electronic-dance people into the same room together, never mind create hybrid forms out of each other's music, something that seemed the city's next logical musical extension. So we set out to create an imaginary sonic mise-en-scene where Slumber Party and Adult remixed each other's new LPs, Carl Craig deconstructed the Dirtbombs, & Jack White could be persuaded that computers were not the devil's technology. Detroit was underachieving, we reckoned, because it couldn't recognize how mighty it actually was. We created Paris '68 - named for a time & place in history filled with a delicious combination of rhetoric, romance & revolution - as a way to bring people together through 'situations,' food & music parties that encouraged dancing, eating & social mixing. Not to mention physical love. The DJs played French stoner-pop, Scandinavian glitch, German ambient, Japanese acid, Detroit garage-blues & post-techno. We christened ourselves DJs for a Better Dance Society. Our music was variously called 'maximum sonic-urbanism,' 'sonic neo-Marxism' or just 'strange music, played loud.' Words used to describe the emotional & psychological subtext of Paris '68's set lists included irreverent, literate, playful, stylish, confrontational, ethereal, elegant & sexy. 2. Gigography Our first gig was at Gandhi Indian Restaurant, April 6, 2002. We played the first of many brunch dates at Urban Break Coffeehouse on the weekend of the DEMF. That 'situation' was listed as a DEMF after-party by technotourist.com, a web site based in Germany. In June, we played at the Lager House and were told we played 'too much techno.' Wire, Mekons, Fugazi, Ziggy Stardust records were in the house that night, but the kids didn't hear it. In August, when we played the Study at Motor a week before the club closed forever, we delivered White Stripes to the rave crowd. A kid from Japan loved us; so did a guy who said he was a DJ from Toronto. Our fan base was growing. Better yet, it was confused. In September, it was Small's; then the Buddha Lounge in November, appearing as guest DJs on Michael Geiger's Sound Surroundings bill. On Thanksgiving weekend, Paris '68 performed for The Frequency, an all-electronic music event at detroit contemporary. The program, which included Tamion 12 Inch, Matt Dear & Carlos Souffront, was sponsored by the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit (CAID). In December at Gandhi, we hosted Holiday in the Sun, the first Paris '68 Christmas party. It featured an Indian food buffet, party music and a 'greatest video hits' selection of Paris 68 images & inspirations. In February, Paris '68 played inside Small's new band room and rocked non-stop for five hours. On May 17, Paris '68 will mark the 35th anniversary of one of the greatest revolutionary failures of the 20th century: the Paris uprising by students & workers in May 1968. Though it failed to change the world, the ideals of Paris '68 were re-seeded in the fertile ground of outsider art, giving life to the Sex Pistols, the 'Madchester' scene that spawned Joy Division, New Order & UK acid house, giving currency to the belief that dancing, thinking & loving are not mutually exclusive & theoretical. They should be practiced, in a variety of combinations. Often. Meanwhile, Paris '68 continues in its monthly residency at Urban Break, playing at the coffeehouse (10020 Jos. Campau) the last Sunday of each month. 3. Paris '68 Presents: the Year Zero. May 17, 2003, at detroit contemporary, 5141 Rosa Parks Blvd., Detroit. 313-898-4ART. Featuring reconstructed & de-constructed poster art inspired by the events of May 1968 in Paris, & the art & language leading up to it, and what followed in its wake. Six-hour sonic spectacle provided by DJs Paris '68. Beginning: 11 p.m. End: late. Door: $5. All ages welcome. The Year Zero also serves as an after-party for our friends from Adult., who are performing that night at the Magic Stick, and for Untitled, a weekly series at the Shelter sponsored by more friends from Ghostly International & Blackbx Productions. Thank you Adam & Nicola; thank you, Sam & Jonnie O.