There are some things you're guaranteed to see at any Sadisco event, such as people in wild outfits, industrial rock bands ripping out killer sets, and some crazy mischief taking place.
Another hallmark of the dance party crew, which showcases industrial and noise music, is its resident selectors, who have spun up crunchy rivethead rock at every single Sadisco since it formed in 2004. And one of the DJs who's been with the collective since the beginning is Shelley Winegarner, also known as ///She///.
While the blonde bombshell got her start in the DJ world with Sadisco, she's performed at number of other clubs and events with a variety of mixmasters, including a onetime gig with William Fucking Reed at the old Homme Lounge, her current duties at Sanctum's monthly tekNOIR night, and even some appearances at LA's renowned industrial club Das Bunker. In honor of Sadisco's S*PUNK event tonight at Chasers in Scottsdale, we recently spoke with Winegarner about some of her memories of performing with the crew.
Name: Shelley Winegarner
AKA: ///she///
Preferred genres: Mostly hard EBM, powernoise, [and] anything electronic. I kinda go all over the place. I've been known for my sythpopish stuff, too.
Current schedule: tekNOIR at Sanctum is my monthly gig.
How did you get into the DJ game? I've always loved music and I immersed myself in it and knew a lot of bands. The first time I DJ'd was at the old Crowbar while a friend of mine cleaned up the place. I learned and used the equipment here and then I DJ'd in Tucson [at] Sadisco a year later
How did you join Sadisco? I met [DJ Squalor] at a show years ago and he told me about a party he was having called Sadisco. He asked me to bring CDs, so I did. That was the first [Sadisco]. Our friendship grew from that and before you knew it, we where having a party once a month.
How would you describe a typical Sadisco party? A crazy time.
So what's the craziest thing you've seen at a Sadisco party? The cops coming at us with guns and the ghetto bird [flying] above. This happened because someone had a fake gun and waved it in the air.
When did this take place? At Jugheads [during] the Cowboys and Industrial Sadisco.
What happened next? Lots of fun. They came in SWAT style. We didn't know that guns [were] all around us. I think we told them it was a misunderstanding and I remember them leaving quickly and the night went on.
Any other crazy times at Sadisco that you'd like to share? There are too many. I'll leave it at that for now.
What do you enjoy about Sadisco? I get to hang with my good friends and see all the bands and just have fun. Although there is a lot of work, too. And I get to play the music I want to hear.
How do you go about picking songs for your set? I have a general idea of what I want to play. I use CDs so I only bring an ammo case full. I go with the crowd mostly and match the beat and tempo. I never have a set list [because] I think it limits me too much.
What is the role of the DJs at Sadisco? The DJs bring the new music and everyone gets the chance to dance. Sadisco started as a DJ night and the SJs are the ones who put their heart into the night. Without us there is no Sadisco. It's just a show with the bands, not an event. Don't get me wrong, I love the bands that come in [too].
Do you miss having monthly Sadisco parties? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It's a lot of work and we all have lives and it's hard to get us all together. And I have another monthly gig, too.
