Portland Events, Music, Art, Entertainment, Sustainability | PDXPIPELINE.com

By Kimberly Gehl

She got the power in her hand…To shock you like you won't believe.

The “she” is DJ Rhienna, whose new hot dance party “Electric Feel” has its second night this Saturday (‘Portland is better than Brooklyn' + Weekend Events: February 19-22 ) at the Fez. “I chose the name (after the MGMT song),” she says, “because it seemed to represent what I was trying to convey in the music – electronica, technology, synth – but also the tactile elements of rock and pop in how it seems to instinctually make people physically respond through contact, movement, dance.”

What I experienced at the first Electric Feel was certainly a deeply satisfying dancegasm, induced by a sexy mix of modern indie electro/dance + 80s new wave/alternative + 90s Brit pop + rock and roll/glam pop + a few of 90s “grinding classics” like “Hypnotize” by The Notorious B.I.G. and “I Wish” by Skee-Lo. A little taste of what you can expect to hear this Saturday night ranges from New Order and Depeche Mode, to Franz Ferdinand and Blur, to White Stripes and Arcade Fire, to Ladytron and the Smiths; DJ Rheinna will have a clipboard available for requests and I guarantee you will hear some amazing dance mixes that you won't hear at any other event or venue in town.

Rhienna has been DJing at the Fez at its weekly “Shut Up and Dance” night as a resident DJ on the second Floor lounge for over a year, is at the Matador two times a month, and routinely DJs at TIGA, Ground Control and other clubs around PDX. She is often accompanied by electric dance mixing master DJ F and told me that she's “…on a mission to spin at least once at every venue in Portland.”

I had a chance to snag an interview with the manager of the Fez – a rad, friendly fellow named Mike – who told me about some of the new upcoming events he has in store for Fez fangirls (and boys) such as myself. The 1st Saturday of the month they have “Eyecandy Assshake,” a sexy video dance party featuring VJ Norto and the Phantom Hillbilly. The 2nd Saturdays resident DJs Mattie Valentine and Chazz Madrigal and guest DJs spin 45s of soul classics for “Ghost Town Soul Club.” 3rd Saturdays you will find DJ Rhienna and guest DJs mixing dance and electro music at “Electric Feel.” The last Saturday of the month will continue to feature w/ DJ Anjali and The Incredible Kid mixing Bhangra/Bollywood/HipHop/Desi Beats for “Andaz.” They will also continue to host live bands, fundraising events and various dance parties, and, of course, “Shut Up and Dance” 80s amazingness every Friday, which also features DJ Rhienna every 1st and 2nd Friday in the second floor lounge and another resident Fez DJ, DJ FlightRisk in the lounge on the 3rd and 4th Fridays of the month.

This coming Saturday the Fez is hosting a special event, ” Doom Town Productions Presents: Sweet F.A.- A Rock and Roll Fashion Show,” which will be mean that Electric Feel will be starting at 11 PM instead of 9 PM. The fashion show has doors at 8 PM and event starts at 9. Admission to the show is $10 advance and $12 at the door and once you are in, you can stay and get groovy to Electric Feel right after the show. Your best bet is to go to the fashion show and stay for Electric Feel, but if you want to skip the fashion show, you can show up at 11 for Electric Feel and only pay the usual $5 cover.

Photos courtesy of Eitan Tsur.

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Kimberly Gehl is an independent filmmaker, devoted cinephile , dancing/karaoke/concert enthusiast and die-hard portvangelist. Keep up with her on twitter by following @writeinmovement.