Meet The DJs And Creatives Leading Pittsburghs Increasingly Vibrant Queer Nightlife Scene
At this point, it's probably a cliché to tell non-Pittsburghians that Pittsburgh is home to great nightlife events and electronic shows. The word is already spreading.
Ricky Moslen, co-founder and DJ of Jellyfish, arguably Pittsburgh's most popular queer dance night, has even heard of the city's reputation internationally.
"Even people who travel outside the US ask, 'Oh, have you ever heard of jellyfish?' And I was like, 'Yeah, that's me,'' Moslen told the Pittsburgh City paper . "I feel like it's happening. People know that Pittsburgh is a great place.
While it may be the biggest party and the only one with Wikipedia fame, Jellievis represents just one perspective on Pittsburgh's exotic nightlife. A five-minute scroll through Instagram will show you the dates, times and dress codes of dozens of queer parties at local clubs, bars and breweries, many of which aren't overtly queer spaces.
While former gay venue Hot Mass has become the industry standard for both established and dedicated DJs, former Cobra, Spirit, Trace Brewing and Mixtape have also become queer party hot spots.
Things were not always like this. Before Medusa, queer nightlife options were limited to the mainstream, and events drew smaller audiences, Moslen told City Paper .
"At the time, I didn't know of any other party in Pittsburgh that immediately called itself the queer party," Moslen said. “And parties at gay bars were always male, you know, mostly white males. And the rest of us?
While the creation of Hot Mass in late 2012 helped make room for professional DJs, Sweet Abyss co-founder Jules Malzoff says the scene has long been uninterested in portraying a specific style of music. . .
"What I would like to see, and what we've seen so far in various places, is not just open spaces or parties, not just the gay crowd like Sisterhood, but to host people who have hope," Malzoff said. . But who cares about music and bringing top quality musicians and DJs?
Created in March 2023 by Malzoff and his partner Kiernan Lovo, Sweet Abyss is one of the newest programs to highlight the creativity of DJs. On select Wednesday and Saturday nights of each month on Mixtape, guests can join Transgender Dance Music Nights. Created by fellow DJs 30,000AD, Transgender Dance Music, or TDM, revolves around IDM, a subgenre of electronic music known as "intelligent dance music." It has broad definitions, but simply put, TDM is about ignoring convention and taking a more gender-free approach to DJing, says Malzoff.
“It's more about the approach to playing music and playing it. So be open, know how to lay down beats, know how to mix,” Malzoff said. "It's like finding an expression of transcendence in the way of creating a sound collage."
At Saturday night shows this means a mix of drum and bass, experimental samples and classic house and techno. On Wednesday nights, expect synthwave, triphop, dub, disco, and "gay psychedelic vibes," according to Malzoff.
Malzoff, who has lived in Pittsburgh for the past 15 years, says hosting an event like Sweet Abyss is a privilege, especially given the city's quirky nightlife scene today.
"On any given night, there can be five or more events that can reach multiple overlapping audiences, all happening at the same time, plus different events," says Malzoff. “I think it's a little new for Pittsburgh right now. People have to choose or be absorbed by the sounds and sights to match."
While Mixtape isn't a dark place, the venue's cozy and friendly amenities like free soda and water make it a perfect match for Sweet Abyss, Malzoff says.
“There is a place in fantasy, especially for trans people and dance music. [Mixtape] was a place to try to experiment, Malzoff said. - We were really impressed that Mixtape had a history of being an increasingly weird place.
For IC Pisces and Gin & Juice, it was their desire to create a welcoming space, says Keuchi Nana, a queer girl group for house music fans who "grew up on 'Take You' by Chris Brown and Frankie Beverley." Rubbish,” says Ice Fish.
Since its inception, Keuchi Nana has had several hits in Cuban Doll's "Drug Dealer," which takes its name from rapper Tsukihana's line. Bachelorette Party Night, the annual Pink Friday Afternoon Dance and more.
After meeting a DJ friend and finding common ground in musical taste, Gin and Juice and Ice Fish decided to start a band.
"We realized what we wanted to do and we wanted to put our voices together," says IC Pisces. I mean, playing dance music but still feeling black.
Along with other popular collectives and dance parties like MostBeautifullest and BLVCK T3K, Keuchi Nana prides itself on being a permanent part of the black crowd in Pittsburgh nightlife. It's important to let black DJs play what they want, especially since clubs don't always attract DJs with experimental tastes, IC Pisces said.
“I think it was me and [Gin and Juice],” says Ice Fish.
Jin and Juice added: "I sat at the box and played a lot of Top 40 and said, yes, I can play it. But I'm sorry? I'm happy?"
Gin & Juice and Icy Fish have played together at Hot Mass and Jellyfish, but most of their gigs are at places like Track Brewing and Spirits, places that don't always have the same welcoming atmosphere as Odd Places.
Jin & Juice talks about his negative experience DJing at a great venue and how he warned dance floor developer Keuchi Nana.
“For example, some very basic or bar-type places are not conducive to work, at least in my opinion. I had some experiences where I felt comfortable in that position,” he said. "And this is one of our priorities, to give free water to take care of our people. We want everyone to feel comfortable so they can stay.
While Gin & Juice appreciates places like Mixtape for their inclusive atmosphere, it also emphasizes the importance of quirky spaces.
"If there were more strange spaces, I think we would have more platforms, but now...it's hungry. We can't get enough. “And I can see it growing as a mixtape. An event with that kind of atmosphere is all we need to get together and sit and drink and not look back or get punched or anything like that.
Feeling comfortable and supported helped Violet, who goes by Ceresa Online, make the transition from releasing SoundCloud mixes to playing behind the decks at local DIY events. At her first show in Pittsburgh, at the late-night electronic music series at Eden, a former indoor venue in South Oakland, Violet said the audience reception allowed her to work instinctively.
"I plan my sets a bit, but mostly I feel where the crowd is and where I am," says Violet. “I think it's because I have a very supportive community where I can step up and try something and people are very responsive and supportive. So I think my credibility as an actor depends on those little spots."
Violet moved from Washington DC to Pittsburgh in 2020, and I learned about the Hot Mass electronic music scene through online articles. Since then he has also played DIY venues such as The Deli, West Egg and Under 40 in St. Louis. The Bridge as a local college radio station.
He believes that any place can collect based on his music, but he cherishes fond memories of evenings at Eden, a small basement venue suitable for meeting young people and other fun artists.
"I remember spending the whole night with seven other women in my arms on the couch," says Violet. “Now it's a place where trans women sit together on the sofa. And it's a powerful thing that you don't get in real places, I mean.
Compared to many public outdoor parties, DIY venues don't have to worry about dealing with club promoters or high alcohol prices. But with that freedom comes the challenge of maintaining that position.
"It's very frustrating to do a show at home," Violet said. "So I think if you want to have a really healthy DIY scene, you have to have people who are willing to support you with love, money, or hard work, like keeping the room clean and, you know, organizing and to organize.walk This is the work that supports the scene and is invisible.
You'll find a variety of exotic nightlife in Pittsburgh, from packed basement parties to outdoor patios, but if there's one thing that's important, it's that there's a supportive community that allows people to be themselves on the dance floor.
"This is how they inspire the celebration, making people feel safe and comfortable," says IC Pisces. "You can't shake your ass if you don't feel comfortable."
