NEPA Scene Staff

Enjoy a kinky Valentine’s Day with Noir Nights’ ‘Dark Circus’ at Stage West in Scranton on Feb. 14

Enjoy a kinky Valentine’s Day with Noir Nights’ ‘Dark Circus’ at Stage West in Scranton on Feb. 14
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From a press release:

For those who want to celebrate Valentine’s Day a bit differently this year, the sensual and mysterious Noir Nights pop-up bar series will return to Stage West in Scranton on Thursday, Feb. 14.

The fourth installment of the event has been dubbed “The Dark Circus” and is the follow-up to the sold-out masquerade party on New Year’s Eve. Stage West (301 N. Main Ave., Scranton) also hosted nearly sold-out Noir Nights on Mischief Night and Black Friday. After garnering national attention from the likes of Alternative Press magazine, organizers have added as second date at New York City rock club Arlene’s Grocery on Saturday, Feb. 16.

The kinky concept of Noir Nights was created by Josh Balz, owner of The Strange and Unusual Oddities Parlor in Kingston and former member of Scranton metal band Motionless In White.

The dark and sinful corners of the human psyche are be on full display as Balz transforms both venues into a dark circus from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. (3 a.m. in New York City). Attendees will be stimulated by a hedonistic evening that will feature themed drink specials, music, and a gathering of the provocative subculture. Organizers invite attendees to dive into the world of the occult and enjoy an evening of sensory overload.

The event will feature Balz in the DJ booth with special guests providing additional DJ sets. He will also mingle with attendees throughout the evening.

Tickets to Noir Nights at Stage West are $14, and only 100 advanced tickets are available online via Eventbrite. These tickets will grant guests early access to the event. General admission tickets can also be purchased at the door for $18.

Attendees are required to dress in all black, and no outside photography is permitted at this event. Those interested in learning more or seeing images from previous events can follow along at @DarkNoirNights on Instagram and on Facebook.

If anyone from Northeastern Pennsylvania has the credentials to host a truly freaky party, it’s Josh Balz. He is probably best known as the longtime keyboardist of Motionless In White, which he joined in 2006, about a year after the goth metal group was formed. He became an integral part of their sound, adding a layer of synth to their first three albums on Fearless Records and their 2017 Roadrunner Records debut, “Graveyard Shift,” before leaving the band early last year.

The 29-year-old entrepreneur has been keeping busy running The Strange and Unusual, an oddities shop he opened in Kingston in 2013 with tattoo artist and “Ink Master” winner Ryan Ashley Malarkey. The unconventional store, which sells clothing, antiques, vintage items, taxidermy, novelties, and more that have a distinct weird and/or creepy aesthetic, later expanded to a second location in Philadelphia and also supports an online shop.

In his farewell message to MIW fans, Balz emphasized that “this will not be the the last you see of me in the music industry,” even offering advice to fellow musicians during the panel discussions at the 2018 Electric City Music Conference. His new solo project, Strange Kids, released a single called “Wind Me Up” last February, and he closed 2018 with another track, “Ready to Die,” on Christmas day.

See NEPA Scene’s photos of Balz performing with MIW at the 2016 Vans Warped Tour in Scranton here. Listen to him talk about Noir Nights, his creepy collection and unique businesses that sell everything from dark clothing to taxidermy, 10 years of playing all over the world with MIW, Strange Kids, and more in Episode 81 of the NEPA Scene Podcast:

Photo by Tom Bonomo/Eyedesignstudios Photography