Festival Review: The Warehouse of Horrors 2017 Proves BangOn NYC Is Event King

I have reviewed several BangOn events, and have to say they are growing in power. As time flies, line-ups strengthen, decorations get more elaborate, and even activities become more outlandish. Warehouse of Horrors 2017 was proof that BangOn wants to become a powerhouse event-maker, and are daring enough to push the entertainment boundaries to do so.

From seeing a woman swinging from hooks attacked to her back skin (yeah) to going to Hotel Hades where “invisible” drinks, a spank room, and observing an old, naked man with a “memorable” package, Warehouse of Horrors 2017 was NOTHING like 2016. It was as if someone called BangOn NYC! to say, “Hey the stakes are rising? Are you?”. So they did, and, intriguingly, they did not go for the scares as much as the “creepiness” of Halloween. Walking into this giant warehouse, there were moments where I felt Ryan Murphy and the crew of American Horror Story had decorated the event. They certainly had some installations that made me here the series’ theme song. The vibe made the night feel consistently eventful. Everyone knows that a “club night” or “fest” has a rollercoaster of emotions. There are extreme highs and quiet lows that make you notice that adrenaline can surge and crash within a fifteen minute span. Yet, there was so much to look at that you always felt entertained. From free psychics, human bowling, pictures in a casket, or dildo ring toss, this 8 hour event went by pretty quickly and thanks to a great line-up.

Of course, the night was centered around Fatboy Slim’s House Stage performance. Surrounded by LED screens splashing images like lightyears, Slim danced as if he were his own audience. The crowd could not help but follow the funkadelic DJ’s surprisingly more EDM set, and give him his logo look: a happy face. The House Stage, in look and aesthetic, dominated for me, and made it hard for me to leave its side through sets from Dirty Looks and The Golden Pony. People looked forward at its screens like they were in a Clockwork Orange trance. Yet, huge heads, from human to elephant, were left hanging across the warehouse with digital, psychedelic videos playing across them. Walking around you felt like your were seeing the past and future of horror, or a digital hunting ground, as artists like Jubilee and Maximono played sets that seemed like chaos could take the form of heavy baselines and light synths. Overall, Warehouse of Horrors 2017 was a major upgrade from last years. If you thought 2016 was good, 2017 was phenomenal, and I CANNOT figure out what they can do to outdo this year. 2018 I AM READY! For More Information On BangON NYC Events Click Here.