HARDER BALL
The Chocolate Factory70 Scott Ave Brooklyn, NY 11237 · Map
This night happened — Sat 26 Apr 2025
Press play
Who was billed6 artists
In the order the promoter listed them.
- next: Berghain in Berlin, Sat 14 NovTom Peters
- next: Gabriela, Sat 24 OctJustin Strauss
- DJ NSA
- FadeFace
- next: Good Room, Thu 22 OctS'aint Panic
- Riccardo Tavarez
Set times were not published.
Who they are
“Rooted in the golden lineage of NYC’s queer nightlife, Tom Peters carries forward the legacy of legends.”
their own biography
the whole biography
Rooted in the golden lineage of NYC’s queer nightlife, Tom Peters carries forward the legacy of legends. Mentored by Kevin McHugh, the visionary behind Danny Tenaglia, Maxi Records, and Club Vinyl, Tom’s sound is steeped in the hypnotic pulse of tribal house and groovy techno. As a resident DJ for Susanne Bartsch’s ON TOP at The Standard’s legendary LeBain, he spins under the roof of a nightlife icon who gave RuPaul her first stage and founded the iconic Love Ball. Blending the raw energy of Berlin’s underground with the flamboyant glamour of NYC, Tom crafts dancefloors that are both liberating and technically refined. His sets are more than music, they're lineage, legacy, and liberation. Founder of DESSERT...is serving and BERLINCIAGAY, Tom Peters continues to make waves in the electronic music world. Known for fusing diva vocals, Latin percussion, and tribal rhythms into his sets and productions, his sound reflects the influence of McHugh, who managed him for four years and left a lasting mark on his artistic path. With standout performances at Berghain for SNAX, Basement NYC, the Gegen x Pornceptual NYE marathon at RSO Berlin, and a long-running residency with Susanne Bartsch at LeBain, as well as a collaboration with Honey Dijon, Tom has cemented his reputation as a powerhouse in the queer club-focused house and groovy techno world.Tech House on 10, Deep House on 6, Techno on 5 and Progressive House on 5. styles on their catalogued releasesReleased on ...is serving (1), Innervisions (1) and Selador Recordings (1); their RA profile also lists Get Physical Music, Kompakt, Kompakt Extra, Kinetika Records and 4 more. labels on their catalogued releases and on their RA profileRecently at BASEMENT, Le Bain, The Office · often with Berghain, Cormac, Lab.oratory, none of them here that night
“Bio Few DJs could adequately represent the last three decades of New York nightclub history - no less do so with such iconic credentials as Justin Strauss.”
their own biography
the whole biography
Bio Few DJs could adequately represent the last three decades of New York nightclub history - no less do so with such iconic credentials as Justin Strauss. Since he was 17, when his first band was signed to Island Records, Justin has had a career that reads like a Who’s-Who of the music scene, spinning at nearly every dance club that you’d ever want to go to. Starting as DJ at New York’s legendary Mudd Club, he spun his way through The Ritz, Limelight, Area, Tunnel, M.K., Life, Centro Fly and more, pioneering his own distinctive sound, and becoming one of the most sought-after remixers and producers not just in New York, but in the world. He has worked with the gamut of artists - Depeche Mode, Sergio Mendez, Tina Turner, Jimmy Cliff, B-52s, Luther Vandross, Malcolm McClaren, Skinny Puppy, Goldfrapp, to name a few (see full list) – and on over 200 records! Much of the new dance crowd that goes to hear Justin DJ today, whether at subMercer, The Standard, Highbar, Soho House, or Love, doesn’t necessarily know his history; they simply love his spinning because he always keeps them dancing and surprised, seamlessly mixing between choice classics, delectable rarities and innovative beats. For Justin, no genre or style is off-limits – he can and will mix anything, so long as he can keep the crowd enthralled. His self-proclaimed mission is “connecting the dots” between what might otherwise seem disparate musical periods and styles, while introducing exciting new sounds. He does so with infectious passion, subverting preconceptions about what’s old and new, and inspiring young DJs with his masterful skill and ever-youthful spirit. But Justin Strauss doesn’t stop there. As half of the production duo, Whatever/Whatever, he continues to produce and mix records, working on remixes for the likes of LCD Soundsystem, Beyonce, La Roux and more. In fact, he doesn’t stop at all. Like the amazing city he’s dedicatedly kept dancing since 1980, Justin just keeps going. Coming Soon. a/jus/ted . New project with Eddie Mars. 2013Synth-pop on 46, Pop Rock on 21, House on 34 and Disco on 13. styles on their catalogued releasesReleased on DFA (1) and Demon Records (1); their RA profile also lists Southern Fried Records, Under the Shade, Dither Down, Plant Music and 3 more. labels on their catalogued releases and on their RA profileRecently at Eavesdrop, Outer Heaven, public records · often with Seth Magoon, Mike Guimond, Amelia Holt, none of them here that night
“at the function”
their own biography
Their RA profile lists Trax Only.Recently at public records · often with Clark Price, Mutualism, Mondo Nexus, none of them here that night
“DJ | Producer | Live Performer | Founder of Lemos”
their own biography
Their RA profile lists Lemos.Recently at Bossa Nova Civic Club, Symmetry, ZION · often with Secret Raver, jay york, Ambivalent, none of them here that night
- House on 1. styles on their catalogued releasesTheir RA profile lists Nervous Records.
Recently at Signal, SILO, Rash · often with Alissa Brianna, Will Automagic, The Carry Nation, none of them here that night
Recently at Body by Brooklyn, The Chocolate Factory · often with Mark Holcomb, Greg Scarnici, Eric Umble, none of them here that night
names these artists often play with — not that night
- Ron Like Hell3 with S'aint Panic and 2 with Tom Peters
- Sterling Juan Diaz3 with S'aint Panic and 2 with Riccardo Tavarez
- Mondo Nexus3 with Riccardo Tavarez and 1 with DJ NSA
- Alissa Brianna18 with S'aint Panic
- Will Automagic15 with S'aint Panic
- Nita Aviance14 with S'aint Panic
- The Carry Nation14 with S'aint Panic
- Patrick Kyle8 with Riccardo Tavarez
Sound
how this compares
- Median final count, Saturdays at The Chocolate Factory188
- Middle half finished between65 and 470
- Past Saturdays at this venue counted65
The room
The Chocolate Factory — 150 events and 569 distinct artists since Aug 2023.
Who put it on
HARDER — 44 events and 74 artists since Oct 2023.