GRITS: Rollerboogie Nights This Friday

Back in the day, rollerskating was the shit. Every Friday night involved some four-wheeled, toe-braking action to the sounds of ZZ Top, The Bangles, Pseudo Echo, [insert ubiquitous 80s country/western singer/band for “slow skate”] and The Cars. Young kids flocked to the rinks for a night of profiling, chili-dog eating, and hoping no one would see them fall on their ass. Mustachioed post-high school goons set up shop in the parking lot to blast Rush's Windows from out their t-tops whilst convincing pimply-faced pre-teens that weed would get them laid. Then, the pimply-faced pre-teens would likely be beaten-up. Probably by the dealers.

But that was the 80s. Pac Man, Fruit Roll-Ups, Jordache, feathered hair-styles, and dudes striving to get chicks by wearing brighter lipstick. It was a period of brutal (yet horribly strange) competition, mounting excess, and good-times that had to be tempered by either thuggish-standoffs or a shared drug culture. Kinda like a mix between Wallstreet, Trainspotting, and Westside Story. And if you can’t see the undeniable draw of that tri-fecta of film brilliance, well, you’re beyond help.

Not that anyone would dare try and revitalize those Men-at-Work/Alex P. Keaton days of yore, but a couple of local DJs have started their own roller party. Daetron Vargas and The Young Adorable (aka John Angle) are hosting their monthly Rollerboogie Party: GRITS, which happens on the final Friday of every month. As an added bonus, Starsign will be guest spinning at this month’s event! Well drape me in a floral Mumu and call me Devine!

Wait, that makes no sense whatsoever.

We’re sure that the style of music won’t be limited to the early MTV days. They’ll play whatever works, even though we aren’t exactly sure what that will be just yet.

But we’re down to find out! Best of all, IT’S BYOB! No lines, no tipping, and no budget-crapping fistful of credit-tabs to sift through the morning after! $7 gets you in the door, and skates on your feet. Bruising your ass, applause for reverse skating, and potentially looking foolish while definitely enjoying life is free after entry.

Friday, February 24th
11pm – 2am
GRITS Rollerboogie Party
Daetron Vargas, The Young Adorable, DJ Starsign
Skateworld
9514 Anderson Mills, Austin TX [ map ]
$7 entrance (price includes skate rental)
18 and up
Bring Your Own Booze

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By truecraig in Arts & Entertainment on February 22, 2006 3:00 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

John Angle

Yup, this is the real deal. FYI: the format for music at Grits will be any and all kinds of quality dance music. Disco, electro, boogie, house, techno, pop, rock, and the kitchen sink. Roll deep.

odam

individual-servings of blue bell vanilla with little wooden spoons. our rink was Carousel. i think it was shutdown about 15 years ago for the sake of mcmantrification

truecraig

Back in Houston, in Alief, it was Starlight Roller Rink (now it's called Zenith Skating Rink, or "The Z" - a mad-geeehhhayyy name).

What. A. Shithole.

[I. Like. Superfluous. Periods. . .]

It smelled like an abandoned petting zoo. Bubble gum and nameless, well-aged hash-like crap on the wooden planked skate floor. Carpeted "benches" (blocks of oddly cut plywood, or hastily stacked 2x4s) to change into your skates on.

It was awesome. I loved it. I wanted to have every birthday party there. Forever...