Nocturnal Vibe by Doug Van Sant

Last week we hit several parties around town, spent the better part of the evenings dancing and watched the sunrise on several occasions. I found myself making breakfast at 2 in the afternoon and wondering what had just hit me. I was a victim of another Tampa blowout. I'm not complaining, really! Sure, the sunrise part can be tough when you have plans to enjoy lunch at the Undertow on St. Pete Beach. But I find myself enjoying these memorable blowouts more often than not. And I keep going back for more.

Take last Thursday for example. My good friends enjoyed a wild evening at Bahasa for their Latin Ladies Night. They had a VIP table, bottle service and came calling me around 3 a.m. charged and ready for more. Ya know when the phone rings at 3 a.m.; it's got to be someone coming from a party. Needless to say, Bahasa left them ranting and raving about the beautiful people, the great music and an evening of pure entertainment. Then on Saturday night, I spent half my evening enjoying Richard "Humpty" Vission at the Amp, followed by DJ Trashy at Floyd's. Both clubs combined the sounds of world-class DJs, with flame throwers, stage dancers, even trapeze artists. While all the sights and sounds seem like a blur at 6 a.m., it was the next day I recall the mind-bending experience. To quote an 80's euro-pop band, it was "pure energy."

So each week we sit here and give you an inside look at upcoming parties and shows. We tell you why you should go, and what you'll see. But trust me kids, until you walk into a mega-club pulsing with a sound you can feel in your bones, you just won't understand. Until you see first hand the flames shooting from the mouth of Lamont "the human volcano", you won't have a clue. And until you watch over 1000 people raise their hands to high energy music driving their souls to the brink of meltdown, everything else will just be something to forget.

But thankfully there is another full lineup of parties that you'll remember for years to come. We have the world-class Crystal Method headlining a night to remember at Club Underground on Friday. We have a new event at a new location on the downtown waterfront. And we have the hottest house music party this side of the state. It's a tough life, but someone has to do it...

The Love & Light 10 Year Anniversary brings to the stage the widely popular Crystal Method at Club Underground in downtown Tampa on Friday, April 29th. The show is part of a 25 DJ blowout that also includes names such as Evil Nine, J-Break, R-Fresh, Davie D, MC Dread, Daveaux, Brian Busto, Matty and many more. It's a party on multiple levels, featuring four areas of sound inside one of Tampa's largest nightclubs at the historic Parthenon building.

Fresh off their Legion of Boom Tour, the Vegas duo of Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland will mix booming bass lines, big beats and hypnotic guitar hooks. It's basically a style that reconnects them with the ecstatic, bare-bones rave vibe that was the source of their dance music inspiration more than a decade ago. If you plan on going, get your tickets early. This is a big show and tickets are going very fast! This show is sure to get your head spinning, make you dance, and come back begging for more. What can I say, 25 DJs is one heck of a party.

Tampa's own Joshua Wilkins will get the party started with an opening set to melt your heart with funk desires. After this house music magician drops the beat, JASK will follow up with his usual array of soulful and exquisite sounds for the rest of the evening. Make sure you get over to the Cafe early, because lines will form and make things tough on getting inside. And you don't want to be listening to the sets from the sidewalk, now do you? Of course, ladies are always welcome free of charge at the Cafe. HPC is located at 1806 W. Platt Street in the heart of Hyde Park. For more info call 813-254-CAFE or visit Thehydeparkcafe.com.

Every Thursday evening at Bahasa Lounge, the local scene is boiling with a little Latin flavor and passion. Latin World Ladies Night, presented by Latin Pop Promo is setting a new standard as the best Latin night in the Bay area. Blending the diverse sounds of Latin pop, rock, tropical, house, tribal, as well as salsa and merengue, it's obvious why this party bumps. In the main room, Pedro M kicks out world beats and Latin Pop unlike any you've heard. In the blue room, Chino, Tony and their new addition to the team, Colombian House DJ Christian mix it up with smooth and sexy tribal/Latin house. On the patio, Salsa & Merengue are the main dish serve by three of the best Latin DJs in the Tampa Bay Area Walter Soto "El Tiburon de la Salsa", DJ JC and Danny D.

If music isn't enough to grab ya, ladies receive free entrance and free drinks until 1 a.m. And for those looking for other qualities of a hot party, high-end fashion is always on tap. Marc Jacob, Armani, Ecko, and many other famous labels will be noticed walking through the door, so don't go light on couture. For more info on this party, reservations, VIP tables or the guest list, contact Pedro at 813-839-4430 or Chino.

But the party isn't just on Thursday anymore. Saturday night in The Blue Room, Bahasa will feature Subliminal Sessions with Chino, Tony and Christian. Banging out Tribal, Latin, Progressive and straight-up House sounds, Subliminal will catch the fancy of everybody that is looking for the real side of Bahasa. Teaming up with PiedPiper Productions, Chino and crew bring you only the freshest music in a uniquely Latin vibe of pure house.