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Learning Secrets turns eight: The DJs behind the parties tell us what songs slaythe dance floor... and the bedroom

Ian Orth and Jeramy Neugent
Photo by Greg Wormley

On the eve of Learning Secrets' eight-year anniversary, co-founders Ian Orth and Jeramy Neugent credit Austin as being "a city where you can take creative risks and have the end result be something that actually works."

Back in 2004, the two teamed up to fill a party void in Austin — that of sweaty dance floors and international DJs. They formed Learning Secrets that winter, and in the years that followed, they saw their fledgling party company turn into a fully developed event planning, PR, talent management and design boutique.

Now, Learning Secrets has earned cache in showcasing a certain type of music — dance music, mostly — that might not get exposure in Austin on a regular basis. On their roster of artists who've stopped by (rather, flown in) and played Learning Secrets parties are Woolfy, Moby, Pat Mahoney of LCD Soundsystem, Classixx, Annie Mac, Phoenix, Peaches and The Juan Maclean.

What's cool is that Learning Secrets parties are rather unpretentious considering the crowd drawn and the talent booked. Packed, but unpretentious. We're not talking bottle service and velvet ropes, we're talking divey dance floors of sheer abandon.

For Learning Secret's 8th birthday celebration on Saturday night, Orth and Neugent will fly Midnight Magic in from New York — a six-piece disco ensemble comprised of members of Hercules & Love Affair — for a special, one-off show.

Since Orth and Nuegent are so damn good at creating the "anything goes party vibe," we threw several social scenarios at the guys and asked them to flex their DJ muscles by telling us what tracks they'd play for each. Check out their unexpected answers below and start planning your next laud-worthy playlist.

Learning Secrets Party Pop Quiz

Bros Night

Jeramy: Dwight Yoakam "Guitars Cadillacs"

I don't have a single guy buddy that doesn't like this song, so I'd put it on to find out if there is an impostor.

Ian: Guns N' Roses "It's So Easy"

Guys like feeling badass, duh. This song helps to make us think we are.

Girls Night

Jeramy: Dead Prez "50 In The Clip"

Girls want you to think they get together and talk about crafting and boys while listening to Björk; reality is, they talk dirty and listen to gangsta rap.

Ian: Nine Inch Nails "Closer"

There's a long back story to my choice, you'll just have to trust me on this one.

Dinner Party

Jeramy: The Strokes "Is This It"

Let's face it, dinner parties are a little awkward until everyone finishes their first glass of wine. This album makes people feel comfortable. Put this song on and your guests will start saying things like, "Remember that one time when..." and "This reminds me of that time..."

Ian: Arthur Russell "Wild Combination/That's Us"

Sweetest love song ever written, and when everybody is sitting around the table waiting to break the ice, this song has to the power to bring people together.

Dance Party

Jeramy: Pioneers "Long Shot (Buss Me Bet)"

Nothing makes me feel more lose than classic 'rock steady.' Sure, Skank if you want to? I just flop around like a giddy toddler.

Ian: Q Lazzarus "Goodbye Horses"

Yeah, the Silence of the Lambs song. It slays on the dance floor every single time.

Road Trip

Jeramy: The Incredible Moses Leroy "1983"

The album this song is on, 'Electric Pocket Radio,' is all over the place and just plain fun, which is exactly where I'll be and what I'll be having.

Ian: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers "Listen To Her Heart"

On a road trip sometimes you just want to zone out and mouth the words to a song to yourself. Next to Son Volt, Tom Petty does that for me every time.

Workout

Jeramy: Madball "Set It Off"

This song works you out so you don't have to.

Ian: Isan "Fueled"

I actually enjoy jogging to something as ambient and beatless as possible. This classic album by Isan is hands down one of my favs of all time.

Bedroom Magic

Jeramy: Not Jeremy Enigk's 'Return of The Frog Queen'

It's tainted by once having that on and the girl was singing along the whole time...

Ian: Nothing

I can't have music on in the bedroom. I've been known to stop and say, "Oh this part is so amazing!" True Story.

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Learning Secrets' 8th anniversary party will go down at Beauty Bar Jan. 28, 9 p.m. You can purchase tickets here.

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Movie Review

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 really knows its audience: fans of the game

Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Sonic the Hedgehog (Ben Schwartz) in Sonic the Hedgehog 3

The first Sonic the Hedgehog movie in 2020 was one of the few video game adaptations that managed to appeal to both fans of the Sega game and those who just want to watch a fun movie. As the series moved into a second and now third film, though, it’s become increasingly reliant on giving the video game fans what they want, with not as much attention paid toward simply telling a good story.

In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) continues to live with human friends Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter), as well as Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (Idris Elba), who stuck around after the events of the second film. Dispensing with any kind of narrative coherence, the trio is called away by an undefined military force to help with the escape of Shadow (Keanu Reeves), another alien hedgehog who has been locked away off the coast of Japan for many years.

Suffice it to say that the trio does not initially fare well against the powerful Shadow, forcing Sonic to do the unthinkable: Ask his nemesis, Dr. Ivo Robotnik (Jim Carrey), for help. What Sonic doesn’t anticipate is that Shadow has a history that left him with a grudge against most of human society, and he’s intent on using his powers — with a little help from his former mentor, Gerald Robotnik (also Carrey) — to exact his plans for revenge.

Made by the same team of director Jeff Fowler and writers Pat Casey, Josh Miller, and John Whittington from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the film is a combination of manic action, jokey sequences, and a dash of heart. The addition of Shadow ups the mayhem considerably, and the filmmakers rarely slow things down (although, oddly, the super-speed of Sonic and company feels lessened this time around).

The initial casting of Carrey gave the comic actor permission to indulge in whatever wackiness he could imagine, and giving him two roles in this film means double the nonsense. Ivo and Gerald (who’s Ivo’s grandfather, for the record) face off in a number of silly scenes, none more absurd than a dance sequence aboard a space station threatening to explode Earth (yeah, this movie is a lot).

Does the plot make a lick of sense? Absolutely not, but the filmmakers seem to acknowledge that fact, throwing anything and everything at the screen to try to entertain kids and/or fans of the video game series. It should come as no surprise that the end credits tease yet more characters from the video games joining the franchise, making it abundantly clear who is expected to get the most enjoyment out of the series going forward.

In addition to Carrey, the voice actors continue to make the characters fun. Schwartz and O’Shaughnessey provide the cartoon-style acting, while Elba and now Reeves give a nice counterbalance with their deep and serious voices. Marsden and Sumpter aren’t given much to do this time around, and Krysten Ritter shows up as Director Rockwell, a character who’s mostly there to move what little plot there is further along.

A four-quadrant movie is one that appeals to all ages and genders; Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a one or maybe two-quadrant movie at most. But it’s more fun than the other family-friendly offering this Christmas season, and fans of the video game will likely love the depiction of their favorite characters on screen, so it’s doing something right.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is now playing in theaters.

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