Back in the 90's in NYC, during the Giuliani era, pre-911, or better said, when New York was New York, there lived a weekly gathering called NASA which stood for Nocturnal Audio Sensory Awakening which was basically the first rave party in the USA and the staple to any and all future techno parties. My wife and I would frequent NASA during it's final days back late 1997 - early 1998 when we lived in NY and met so many creative and
interesting people, it was a scene like no other. For several years it was held at this venue called 'The Shelter' on
157 Hudson street in the Tribeca neighborhood and housed the worlds first techno DJ's such as
Frankie Bones, Paul Oakenfold,
Aphex Twin,
Moby,
Richie Hawtin,
Sven Vath,
Keoki,
Soul Slinger and numerous others. It was conceived by none other than famous drum and bass mogul, DJ DB along with promoter extraordinaire
Scotto. The weekly night attained huge status and a serious following starting with an
appearance on NBC's Today Show back in 1992 featuring a very young Katie Couric leading to
A&E creating a documentary regarding this new "rave culture", even appearing on the silver screen in Larry Clark's film, '
Kids', NASA blew the fuck up!
What stood out most, and what they were best known for was their flyer designs which were created by graphic mastermind
Mike Szabo. Attention screamed from these flyers, even if it wasn't your thing. They plastered them everywhere on the street including giant wheat pastings, and hitting up each and every store below Union Square. I used to make it a ritual to go during my lunch to the now defunct rave mecca on Lafayette, Liquid Sky, and get my new NASA flyers each week. From New Jersey, Philly, Baltimore and Connecticut, each and every Friday club kids flocked to DB & Scotto's night as if it were Sunday Mass. Of course, the city evolved itself into a corporate theme park, venues closed, people changed and economic issues took it's course, there is nothing left of these days but memories. Sadly, it was the end of an era as we knew it.
Below are some of my favorite NASA flyer designs from back then, and
here and
here are some great archives featuring more of NASA's attention to detail.
