I’m writing this as I’m waiting for my flight to Toronto in the Phoenix airport. Last night at Bar Smith was AWESOME. I can’t tell you how many people I ran into that were from Chicago, plus duo RELIGION (that contributes to the blog quite often) showed up for support. Between playing tons of Chicago tunes, acting a fool and having a water bottle fight and being among hometown people, I couldn’t have had a better time. On a strange side note, I played last night with Gina Turner…and now we’re both headed to Toronto on the same flight, but playing different events there this evening. Wha? Tonight I’m playing the last ever Tight Knit event at Augusta House (a monthly that has been going on for 3+ years) plus their afterhours, so to say tonight will be insane is an understatement. Oh yeah, the above was taken last night in Phoenix – that guy wrote it on the wall and I told the two girls I was taking pics for the night and to pose with him. They were not happy with me afterward.
Only a few tracks as I have about thirty minutes before I board 
Remixes of the Swedish House Mafia’s “One” have been popping up all over the place, and while the Congorock remix is still my favorite, Chewy Chocolate Cookies, delivers a hard-hitting rendition that fills a needed void. With strong gritty lines that play off the original’s melody, this is still a sidechained, epic track…just a little more down and dirty.
Swedish House Mafia: One (Chewy Chocolate Cookies Remix)
Haven’t heard a Daddy Cool remix in a hot second, but Fake Moustache delivers on this rendition, which is a complete disco fest from the soaring strings to the near hidden percussion (methinks a woodblock?) that comes to the forefront during breaks. Tiny integrated stabs and luscious drum programming make the entire song sound effortless.
Boney M: Daddy Cool (Fake Moustache Remix)
A drum driven track, Dolby Anol‘s “American Express” is a dark, restrained, techno-influenced stunner that takes a few key elements and throws them in your face. Rollicking drums frame tiny vocal stabs and an ebbing bassline that all loop relentlessly without apology. Sure, we all love constant change-ups with our dancefloor ADD mentality, but there’s still something to be said for the songs that intentionally, slowly play out. Built for big speakers and drunkenness.
Two takes on “Airplanes” from Temabes and DJ Megaman/Panic City. Funny enough, I just got to see Paramore live as I played at the concert (and as we all know, leading lady Haley does guest vocals on “Airplanes”). Paramore isn’t entirely my cup of tea, but damn, she can work the stage. Ok, back to the songs at hand. Temabes imparts his characteristic high-energy, mainstream-ish touches with synths that swoop up in tone, drum rolls galore and constant brushes in the background. Good crossover tuneage. DJ Megaman & Panic City‘s take is demure in tone with a more emotional feel (I know that’s abstract, but deal) that’s reliant on gentle touches of piano and delicate, high octave and glassy synths.
B.O.B.: Airplanes (Temabes Remix)
B.O.B.: Airplanes (DJ Megaman & Panic City Remix)
A whoooole free EP from Hostage! To be honest I’ve been hit or miss with his work lately, but this EP is definitely worth a look. “The Ba$$” is really interesting and intricate – a quick pass and you might miss a lot of the uniqueness this track holds. Switching from more dubstep influences to house and electro (and even a little jungle nod towards the end) by not only switching up BPMs constantly but tweaking the sounds used accordingly makes this a track that will constantly have audiences on their toes. “Roll” holds much of the same effect, though not to the same level of craziness of “The Ba$$”. DJ Donna Summer changes the direction with a rougher production quality while Figure’s touch is straight up wobble.
Hostage: Roll (DJ Donna Summer Remix)
Chicago’s Radioaktives are back with a remix of Drake’s “Find Your Love”. The programming sensability belies their DJing style (i.e. party starters) but they mix it with housier sounds, leading to a cool blend much like, say, Risk One, but not as jacked up. I especially love the treatment of the melody with a panned echoed tail and the piano chords. The harsh claps and percussion at first sound a bit too contradictory but the more I listen, the more I’m liking it.
Drake: Find Your Love (Radioaktives Remix)
Me likee that Axwell, Laidback Luke and the rest of the Swedish House Mafia gang are getting tons of dirty remix treatment lately. Diesel Laws has remixed Axwell’s “Nothing But Love” with an interesting look – dirtying up especially pretty sounds while sill retaining their dreaminess. Case in point, the absurdly affected synths on the breaks that echo out, layer upon each other and break down, increasing in noisiness as time goes on, only to land into a wickedly catchy bass line.
Axwell: Nothing But Love (Diesel Laws Remix)
Since waiting in line, buying drinks and paying to get past the door simply sucks, those in the club will have access to perks like free swag, drink tickets, access to members-only contests, mixes, free tracks and first stab at guest lists. Now that's music to anyone's ears.
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My, my, my….What a handsome fellow. :p
Absolutely loving the Hostage Tracks and Remixes Dani. Great set at our afterparty for tight knit, the party was bumping and the vibes were great!
Dan
that Daddy Cool song sounds like “I Like It” by Fake Blood and “I’m Crazy Baby” by Mr Vega . . . definitely hear the same samples in there!!!
Thanks so much for the feature and little write up Dani!
Good ear Adam – they’re both from Arabesque’s “In The Heat Of A Disco Night”…which I now can’t get out of my head. Thanks.