all words: Marcus K. Dowling
all AWESOME photos: Sexy Fitsum and Mike Danko
So the collective known as the Party Bros, Gavin Holland and Chris Burns released a track earlier this year titled "Ooh Bay Bay." I know both as DJs spin the track a ton at their gigs, so if you've been anywhere in the city this year, you've likely heard it. It's a slow burning, late 80s and early 90s club scene recalling, synth and drum machine laden track with the only vocal being a sample of the New Kids on the Block hit "Step by Step." As with most any and everything Gavin Holland is up to these days, the irony, deprecating wit and silly fun vibe is high, but, at the end of the day, it's the addition of Chris Burns as well as a producer and co-conspirator that ties the whole project, "Oooh Bay Bay" included, together. As a stand alone production, it's solid, but, in this ever increasing visual era, it absolutely needs a video to reach it's fullest potential. And, if you were in any way wondering if that was at all possible, the video shoot that occurred this weekend at the Kensington, MD home and pool of the DURKL fashion line's co-founders Will and Cole Sharp is clear and obvious proof.
Not to spoil much of the video, but it's a raucous good time that, not shockingly enough, given the laundry list I'm about to unfurl, actually became one of the more relaxed and loose parties of the year. Matthew Lesko makes an appearance. Yes, the same man who is the bane of commercials while watching Rachael Ray and Tyra Banks while playing hooky from the 9 to 5, advocating all the FREE MONEY the government wants to give you, with his ubiquitous question mark suit, is there.
There are also tons of pretty local women, neon colors, said attractive women splashing around in water in slow motion, a fly Corvette, child actors impersonating Burns and Holland, the active use of what seemed like a metric ton of cold Pabst Blue Ribbon, a Van Halen video reminding usage of fog machines, a lifeguard saving someone, pogo stick activities, a naked chef, an Atari 2600, Radio Raheem's jukebox resurrected from a landfill 20 minutes from Bed-Stuy, attempted imitations of scenes of Dr. Dre's "Nuthin' But a G Thang" video, and pretty much anything else that would recall anything of particular comfortable kitsch between 1980 and 1995. Sure, it may be the "hipster" way, but, in 2009, it's all 10 to 20 years old, and, presently popular or lambasted in the public consciousness or not, it's the celebration of the fondness with which we hold our memories that makes the track, as well as the video, ultimately enjoyable.
The eight hour shoot was wonderful in that it celebrated what has really been a phenomenal summer and year altogether in the Capital City. Sure, we may get the knock from our neighbors in Philly, Baltimore and Richmond as being a bit stuffier than necessary, but, between pool parties, cool breezes on rooftop overlooks, and ultimately it's wnderful to have a video and track like this to encapsulate that scene, and the time that we all should experience at least once or actually be in the midst of having. Hopefully we're preparing to enter an era where DC as a whole can take an actual look at ourselves in the mirror, and like everyone else nationwide it seems, and realize that we're in recessionary times, they don't seem like they're ending anytime soon, and if there's anybody, anywhere attempting to take this life and make it fun and somehow worthwhile, there's ultimately nothing wrong, and something VERY commendable in that.
AND NOW SOME SHOTS BY MIKE DANKO, always at the ready:
Previously in I Heart DC:
- 5/24: DC NEWS YOU CAN (MAYBE) USE...
- 5/23: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 5/23: BYT Patio and Outdoor Dining Guide - Spring/Summer 2012
- 5/22: DC NEWS YOU CAN (MAYBE) USE...
- 5/21: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 5/21: PHOTOS: Artomatic 2012 Opening
- 5/18: DC NEWS YOU CAN (MAYBE) USE...
- 5/17: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 5/16: D.C. NEWS YOU CAN (MAYBE) USE...
- 5/16: Photos: Dance In The Circle @ Dupont Circle
God loves a cheerful giver.
Look at all these hipsters. Ya'll should have filmed this at Target.
Speaking of stereotype perpetuating
I'm cross-covering. Multi-linking. Covering all avenues of approach to ensure fullest possible thread reading.
Just trying to figure out how to tie this in with the obituary for the guy who gave us the Eagle.
whoever got Matthew Lesko involved in this is a genius!!!!
Patrick Longstreth is a Michael Bay protege.
Is that like a '79 or '80 vette? I'm going with '80. It's missing the little rally center cap on the passenger side rear wheel but still sweet.
Michael, it's an '81. It was a dream to drive. Pure american horsepower. It had been kept in immaculate condition.
Damn. So jealous. I used to drive my dad's '79 when I was a kid and would sit in his lap on Racetrack Rd outside of Jacksonville, FL. About 10 miles of straight road with no one on it. Then he had a '77 and a '78, too. Now he drives an Oldsmobile.
Party looked like fun though. I would have come but never got around to losing my belly fat from the winter so I look just horrid in a bikini.
My full set here
This one that Danko shot has an eerie deja vu touch to it. like I'm 10 walking by the skate rink and I'm seeing this out of my own eyes.
like the girl with the orange top, black n white bottoms - who she is? did lesko get crunk too?
@joshsisk - that would be me.
but true credit goes to my old XM coworker trish willard who is super awesome and is good friends with his son.
and everything chris burns said is true, that car is amazing, and is apparently currently FOR SALE for the low price of $12,500.
you ever see Matthew's scooter? that dude seriously walks around in that suit. that's not just for commercials. his scooter is decked out in the ?'s as well. crazy.
these photos make me laugh, cry, and want to see "cats" all at once
makes me dream of the days of zipping around in my grandpa's gold T top corvette (no lovely ladies though). do these guys throw parties in DC?
guys: "I like the girl with the orange top, black n white bottoms – who she is? did lesko get crunk too?"
Once again, Lucy called out in a BYT photo set.
Great write up! Although you forgot to mention the director
www.patricklongstreth.com
Thanks to everyone who helped out! It was a wild and crazy day with rain, bee attacks, prop malfunctions, broken high heels, and a bunch of stuff I didn't even see. There were a lot of last minute changes, but we got all the shots I was looking for. We will surely be doing a premier party, so stay tuned for the final edit at the end of August!
Also, we're shooting some more footage on August 16th, so let me know if you want to help out... patrick@patricklongstreth.com
hahaha. OH do we. schedules:
http://www.myspace.com/djgavinholland
http://www.myspace.com/chrisburnsdc
chris burns is pure american horsepower.
I heard Patrick was the director of the Peter Gabriel Sledgehammer Video. Before he even was in preschool.
red and pink bikini girl is on my turtle..
This video shoot was soooo much fun! props to everyone, especially the ladies that got their asses up at 8am to be at a 9am call time for the shoot (on a Saturday morning). I hope the success of this video will inspire more shoots and more music. This is how a scene really grows! Great work people....