[My Weekender] - Michael Ohlsson

The weekend cure with Michael Ohlsson - Aug 08, 08

Michael does the Antidote parties, the Weirdmeat.com blog, and occasionally gets paid to eat and complain for SmartShanghai.

Wednesday night, and I'm just about to DJ at LOgO, when Gaz calls with some bad news. The authorities have shut The Shelter for a month. I've got two days to find another venue for my Antidote party Saturday night.

Thursday, me and Fish run around town looking at venues, making frantic calls. Atanu the lighthouse is lost adrift in a sea of construction -- did you know they knocked down that overpass? I'm gutted, that was one of my favorite views in Shanghai! Jeff at ILS has lost his phone again. All the other venues just aren't right -- they don't have DJ gear, they can't run a bar competently, they have plans already... then I remember Carsten has taken up managing the Bulldog, so we have a quick meeting and we decide to go for it there. The Bulldog used to host local punk rock bands years back and I always liked the venue. It's got a warm, inviting pub feel that I like -- I really can't stand those new clubs that are all metal and glass and obnoxious. I'm bummed about The Shelter going on holiday, but the Bulldog will be fun. I'm looking forward to it.

Friday night. Me, Hector, and Ben Huang are throwing down a party at Bar Hulu on the Bund. 8 DJs, 3 VJs, and a stellar view of the skyline.

Saturday 10am, iLoop's flight arrives from Beijing. iLoop is one of the headliners for my party Saturday night. He plays live digital hardcore, and I think he holds the world record for most "Amen Breaks" per minute. After lunch, probably at Charmant, I'll check iLoop into a hotel and head home to get a few hours of much needed sleep. Up at 5pm (naps must be done before sunset!). I'll catch up on emails, and drink some tea to cleanse my poor liver before another night of abuse. I usually fit in a yoga class Saturday afternoon, but after a long night, it's not happening this time.

5pm sound check with my headliners for the night's party -- iLoop, Lon, Neon Echo Fucks. It's going to be messy with two live electronic acts (all that gear!) plus CD, Laptop, and Turntable DJs all on the bill.

9pm dinner with the party crew (probably Charmant again, it's easy). Sanford and friends are at the table next to us and promise to come by the party later.

9:55pm hustle back to Shelter Bulldog to get the party going. There's a group of shy young innocents there already, waiting eagerly.

The rest of the night I'm constantly running around -- keeping the talents on schedule, getting drinks, checking on door issues, greeting media, and catching up with friends, and getting more drinks. I step in to play a few tracks throughout the night between acts. At 6am we lug our gear up the dark tunnel into the light. Hop on my bicycle for a five minute ride home listening to the city waking up, shower, sleep.

Sunday 2pm. One hour foot massage, one hour back massage. Sunday is "no computer day." I chill at a cafe in post-massage bliss, study my Chinese characters (I find these very easy to learn, as opposed to oral Chinese, maybe because I'm left-handed). John Paul drops in and we discuss an upcoming art event. Fish calls me and asks if I'd like to go fishing with him (that's not a joke). B6 sends me design work for his upcoming solo album, I briefly break my no-computer rule to check it out. 9pm dinner at home with my lady. We're lazy today so we've picked up some, well I'm not going to tell you where we get them, sorry, but they're the best empanadas in town. Bottle of cheap, easy-going drinkable red wine from Fei Dan. Fresh asparagus from the vegetable lady in my courtyard, organic olive oil and Maldon Salt from Sogo Fresh Mart. After dinner passagiata around the neighborhood, stop at DVD shop. She wants to watch a chick flick, I want a mindless Hollywood action film. We toss a coin, she wins again.

Fade out into Monday.

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