The Hogstad Brothers have consistently strived to find new ways to use the dance floor to elevate souls to a higher level. While the backbone of their work will always be amazing music woven together to lift bodies into another, ecstatic plane, over the years they have pushed this further with added layers of psychedelic and interactive visuals that create a fully three-dimensional experience. A trademark of this interactive experience: a hacked infrared camera pipes abstracted images of dancers into massive projections surrounding the dance floor. With National Stardust The Hogstad Brothers have endeavored to take the next step towards an immersive experience by partnering with MinuteZero, an amazing immersive theater company founded by dancers and performers that cut their teeth in the storied two-year run of Queen of the Night, a creation of the producer of Sleep No More.
The immersive dance party we’re creating together is centered on elevating the dance floor experience. While there are theatrical elements, partygoers will never move into a passive performer-audience relationship. Dancers will move through the crowd, interact with individuals, highlight dramatic moments with beautiful staged choreography, and play games with revelers between interludes. The action, like the music, will never stop.
This night will be centered around David Bowie, his web of musical influence, and his fearless, loving spirit. Bowie was a performer that could not tolerate borders, whether between genres, genders, or races. Bowie loved music for its beauty and universality. If he heard something amazing, he gravitated toward it, praised it, emulated it, and left his own mark on it through his songwriting genius. During an interview in 1983, Bowie unapologetically cut into MTV’s newly dominant practice of ignoring black artists. The hypocrisy of loving Bowie and ignoring pieces of what made Bowie was too much.
He loved early electronic music from bands like Kraftwerk, funk music from bands like Parliament and Mandrill, and 80s disco like that produced by Nile Rogers, along with other genres such as New Wave (e.g. Joy Division) and Punk (e.g., The Clash). While this music had a strong influence on Bowie, Bowie’s resulting work impacted the progression of the genre as well. James Brown himself sampled Bowie’s plastic soul anthem “Fame”. Kraftwerk explicitly talked about their relationship with Bowie on their groundbreaking electronic single “Trans Europe Express”, which was eventually sampled by Afrika Bambaata on Planet Rock, one of the foundational tracks of early hip hop. Eventually hip hop would sample several Bowie tracks directly. There is maybe no artist with a wider web of influence in music.
Music was one aspect where he trampled borders, and fashion was another, as he set trends with his wildly theatrical and androgynous costumes. Bowie’s images now permeate our culture and encourage a fearlessness that many aspire to emulate.
Our creative team is looking forward to bringing you this unparalleled experience for one amazing night, at one of the most beautiful venues in the city: National Sawdust. National Sawdust’s graphic, striking architecture will be fully exploited in our visuals and dance choreography. Get fabulous and get ready. There will be surprises, delights, and joy abounding.
-The Hogstad Brothers & Kristin Yancy of MinuteZero
Purple Rain NYE IV pics
With National Stardust coming up in less than a week we wanted to publish some of our pics from our last homage to an androgynous god: Purple Rain NYE Dance Party IV. Tix to National Stardust. Photos by Beto O'Byrne
#4 for Purple Rain NYE IV
Timeout NYC just ranked the Hogstad Brothers' fourth annual Purple Rain New Year's Eve dance party right at #4! Tickets moving fast and this will definitely sell out before New Years. Looking forward to another amazing one with you all this year!
Tropical Heat in Winter Dance Party-Friday, March 10
March 10th at Syndicated in Bushwick. Tropical Heat in Winter Dance Party featuring live DJ/VJ duo the Hogstad Brothers. Save your last threads of winter sanity. Come dressed for the tropics, grab your specialty tiki drink at the bar and get moving on the dance floor to searing hot music that will move from tropical bass (eg, buraka som systema, systema solar) to classic dancehall reggae (eg supercat) and more. The jungle will include psychedelic, wall-sized, audience-interactive visual projections.
Music warms up at 1030pm, dance party starts at 11. No cover. RSVP for guaranteed entry. This event is 21+.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tropical-heat-in-winter-dance-party-tickets-32394863910
Aright, folks this one is gonna be interesting. You'll love this party if you love blaizin hot, soulful house music and you'll love this if you geek down with some Harry Potter. If you're in both of those circles on the Venn diagram, ... well you might just pee yourself. No cover, RSVP for guaranteed entry at eventbrite link by clicking on flyer. And now, we'll see you all at the marches today!
Thank You Prince for Another One
Thank you Prince for the most amazing Purple Rain NYE yet. It was a magical, dance-filled night. A couple hundred Prince heads on the dance floor honoring the man months after his passing. Syndicated was a beautiful venue and the midnight moment was something special followed by a full crowd sing along of Purple Rain, lighters and phones in the air. Feeling refreshed to take on 2017 like nobody's biz.
#7 in TimeOut New York's list of best NYE events!
Our 3rd annual Purple rain New Year's Eve just made #7 in TimeOut's list of the best NYC New Year's Eve events! We came just under the Times Square ball drop at #6 and edged out a Dirk Diggler themed party. :)It's going to be an amazing at Syndicated Bar • Theater • Kitchen!! Thank you Time Out New York!
Get tix now, they're moving fast!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/purple-rain-dance-party-ticket…
Purple Rain III
This is going to be the most epic yet, our 3rd Purple Rain New Years Eve Party, and this time at the beautiful Syndicated in Bushwick! This is going to sell out, so get tix soon--$20 advance at link below includes champagne toast. We'll be busting out some new visual tricks for this one. Come celebrate and remember the artist we’ve loved for so long.
eventbrite.com/e/purple-rain-dance-party-tickets-29852292009
