To some, the idea of a Boiler Room set conjures images of sweaty basements, room-shaking 808 drums and crowded, tough-to-please audiences standing mere inches from the DJ. The intimacy of such a setup can be a turn-off to partygoers that favor the impersonality of typical haunts within the Lower East Side. However, deep within transportation-deserted venues in Brooklyn and Queens, Boiler Room set culture thrives, bringing individuals together under low ceilings and well-chosen tracklists. And this past Saturday night, on the terrace of the unassuming Michaelangelo’s of Arthur Avenue, was Fordham University’s very own Boiler Room set night featuring student DJs!
1ST GEN, an entertainment company that is dedicated to encouraging individuality in the music industry, hosted the event. With upcoming events in university-centric cities and communities such as Dallas, Texas, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Santa Clara, California, they have fostered community through empowering young musicians. One of these creatives was Izzy Randazzo, FCRH ’28, who was approached by an organizer for the Michaelangelo’s event after her DJ set at Howl At The Moon, where she plays every Friday.
Randazzo began her DJ journey the summer before her first year at Fordham, stating that she is entirely self-taught. “My main incentive behind teaching myself was this: if all men across the world were thriving in the EDM and DJ scene, why couldn’t I, a music-loving girl, do it too? The rest is history,” she said.
The venue is a hidden terrace reminiscent of Italy’s “trattorias,” nestled in the back of Michaelangelo’s. Chairs and tables from the day’s restaurant patrons make way for an open dance floor; purple washes of light illuminate ruddy brick walls and the DJ booth stands at the heart of the patio.
As the first track dropped, people trickled in, slowly garnering a small yet steady group of enthusiastic EDM fans. True to Boiler Room style, the music started shifting the crowd’s attention center-stage, tightening the atmosphere. Newly arrived friend groups gingerly center around the booth, creating an intimate bubble of people moving in tandem with electrifying dance-wave hits.
Performing a lively mix of 2000s hits and house tracks, Randazzo kept the crowd moving alongside a bill of other young DJs. High BPM cuts, such as Crystal Waters’ 90s hit “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless),” seamlessly transition into one another, developing a sense of collective effervescence throughout the now-packed venue.
What began as a tight-knit, intimate listening experience had evolved into a performing artist’s dream, with a crowd of anticipatory students waiting for entry just outside Michaelangelo’s, spilling out onto Arthur Avenue.
“My experience as a DJ at Fordham has been incredible … There are always different kinds of nights and different crowds, and I love meeting new people and forming new connections through DJing. I’ve grown close with the staff at Howl and gotten to know a lot of the Fordham undergraduate class,” Randazzo reflected.
Randazzo also stated her thoughts on the implications the event has for the future of Fordham’s community, commenting that she thinks 1ST GEN’s involvement is “huge for our social scene.” In the aftermath of iconic Arthur Avenue joints Mugz’s and Last Call’s closures, many students have been left wondering what the social scene of Fordham will look like now. I know I have.
However, if Saturday night was anything to go by, not all hope is lost (or pinned on the chance of Howl having a cover fee under $20).
From the kinetic energy culminating from both the crowd and artists all night to spirits unshaken by the late-night drizzle, it’s clear that Fordham’s social scene faces an optimistic prognosis.
Because of the unique community energy of Boiler Room sets, Randazzo has high hopes for reinvigorating Fordham’s nightlife: “I hope the event brings people together and expands our social events beyond just bars and house parties. I would love to do more events like this in the future, because I love my job and I love connecting with the Fordham community.”
