December 12–19, 1996

critic pick

six pick

Action!

Everybody wants a piece of the ACTION! as Electric Factory (finally) utilizes its spacious concrete, metal and windowed Willow St. warehouse for a masterclass rave event. While the party will be spun by some of electronica's finest manipulators of sound, like local DJs Nigel Richard (his 611 disc & club gear shop is a sponsor), Mace, Mike Panik, Marc Coleman and Long Island's legendary Micro (from Caffeine Records) and will benefit good causes like ActionAIDS and the Children's Crisis Treatment Center, the big story behind the party is that it was put together by a high schooler.

Newly elected Harriton High School student councilman Ryan Spivak, now 18, always listened to pals bitching that there was never anything good to do, places to go or people to meet. He came back for his senior year with the will and the ability to unify students from all over the area under the banner of a groovy party. As well as booking the space and gathering the DJs, the young Spivak has been enthusiastically ticketing and flyering, getting the word out to 15 high schools in the area to make ACTION! a fab under-age meeting place in real West Side Story fashion. With a call to drop all the usual rave excess of drugs and alcohol, Spivak is looking to unite the high school nation under ONE groove.

Fri., Dec.13, Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St. Love-222

— a.d. amorosi