Not like I post here every day but definitely don’t expect to hear from me tomorrow. A friend of ours has a large boat so we’ll be cruising up to Wilmette and docking by the Baha’i temple where I have been told there are semi-shallow waters with white sand bottoms. A bit different from the gray water at Oak Street beach with the dead seaweed/fish bottom. For real, Lake Michigan is nasty downtown. Today should be filled with drunken-ness and tanning, perhaps a last ditch effort to feel Summer as Chicago heads into September…which means we’re heading into Fall…which means, in our heads, Winter is around the corner. So here’s a couple tunes to satisfy you through the weekend.
FnDannyBoy last sent over a track as a collaboration with DJ Kue. This time, it’s on his own, his interpretation of a mash with Cajmere with Afrika Bambaataa, and a pretty nice one at that. I’m pretty much a sucker for anything Cajmere/Green Velvet.
DJ Wool from The Glass sent over quite a few tracks the other day. With his new release on Pale Music coming up on September 5th, Wool has decided to straight up give away one of the remixes by Cobra Krames. Not only that, but he also threw in another song with a slew of remixes by Rampa, All Dom Wrong and Mike Dextro. Whatta guy. Remember to support DJ Wool when the official release comes out!
DJ Wool: Gangsters & Models (Cobra Krames Remix) Download
So again I missed my self-imposed deadline of posting something the other day. Just don’t believe me, apparently I’m full of shit…mostly. I guess I had better things to do like drink margaritas and sleep in until noon. Ugh. I do have some new things to post today, courtesy of my uber-favorite regular artists. I get so giddy when I see things in my inbox from the regulars who I know consistently blow it out of the water, and it’s also nice to see that they’ve been progressively doing better and better over time (DJ Kue just did a remix for OH SNAP!!! for example). Enjoy them while you can, there might not be freebies from these guys in the future if they keep doing this well.
The Black Holes, who recently sent over material, have a new track called “War Drums” which is just as banging as everything else they have been sending in. I love their bright, forward sounding synths, the drumwork, snaps in place of claps…I just love it.
DJ Kue apparently never sleeps - he’s either superhuman and doesn’t have to or consumes enough Red Bull to disintegrate his insides. It’s the only way to explain how he can produce such a volume of work in such a short period of time. This remix is of Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” and instead of the normal banging DJ Kue we’re all used to hearing, he takes a nod from Deadmau5, favoring staccato synths, prominent claps, and dreamy overtones. It’s a nice departure and done brilliantly.
Guns N’ Roses: November Rain (DJ Kue Remix) Download
Italy’s Biancardi has sent over material in the past, and this time he has sent over mixes. He prefaces it by saying he has played on the beach every day this summer and has recorded his best sets. Fucker…I have Lake Michigan. The mix I favored Biancardi has dubbed the “Breaks Mix” although I think something got lost in translation there…it’s not breaks, but it’s a good live mix nonetheless.
Tracklist Colin Hobbs - Coming Up (Riva Starr Remix) Black Eyed Peas - My Humps (Clark Bootleg) Randy Brusset & Jr - Jazz Ghetto City (Lee Mortimer Remix) Bass Kleph - Bump Uglies (Stupid Fresh Remix) Kelis - Milkshake (Man Eat dj Jizm Remix) Mowgli vs MJ. - Mowgli is Bad DMX - Up in here (Mightyfools Remix) Clash - Should I Stay Should I Go (Biancardi Remix) Chemical Brothers - Salmon Dance (Crookers Wow Remix) Elektrons - Dirty Basement (Sinden Remix) Crookers - Il Cattivo Plus Thunder
Ok, so the title has nothing to do with nothing - I’m just miffed that it felt like the beginning of Fall today in Chicago and we’re still in the month of August. How unfair. If you’re in Chicago, I have two events coming up.
This Saturday I’ll be playing the store opening of Aritzia from 2-6pm in Water Tower Place. If you’re not familiar with the store, they are “a fashion forward women’s clothing retailer and artists and DJs [Aritzia has worked with] in the past include Chromeo, Kid Sister, Team Canada, The Block Party, Samantha Ronson, Hercules and Love Affair, Lilly Allen, and The Black Kids.” Joining me this weekend and next to help celebrate will be A-Cup, Autobot, He Say She Say, Treasure Fingers and E-Six & Roan.
In a few weeks is the next installment of House Divas at Crobar, Chicago! These nights have been going so unbelievably well, I really encourage you to come out to the event on September 13th. I have some tickets to give away, so if you want to come and don’t want to pay a cover, email dani@danideahl.com with your name, address and number of tickets wanted. They’ll be in the mail
And now on to the music! I have more to put up tomorrow, but I’m a little tired (I know, weak) so I figured I would just post one tonight. This one popped up in the inbox today from Nael in Switzerland. He admitted in the email that he’s a bit new to all this, and in fact, his myspace profile only lists this one song. Despite his apparent freshness, he managed to put together this fun track in collaboration with The Cryptonites. I don’t enjoy that there’s no break from the vocal (carries through straight over breakdowns), making it verge on feeling repetitive even though it clocks in at only about 3:30, but it’s a solid tune despite the shortcoming. I mean, shit, it’s way better than my first track ever was (bitter?). Somehow I don’t think it’s beginner’s luck and I can’t wait to see what Nael sends over in the future.
This past weekend was my birthday, and what better way to spend it than DJing in Sin City? I flew in Friday the 15th, checked into the Palms and my boy and I decided to immediately go down to the pool to catch some sun. Unfortunately, a relaxing afternoon was ruined by DJ Skribble and a live performance by…Crazytown? At least it was a pool, I guess. Later on that evening we were snagged by promoter Dave-O who brought us to Rok bar (absolutely gorgeous) and then to our final destination of Tabu in the MGM Grand. I wish I could say I got crazy, but I had been feeling ill all week due to food poisoning so I had more Tums that night than shots. The set turned out amazing though, even got breakdancers up on the vip tables!
Saturday more of the same, Tao, sleep, Christian Audigier, sleep…Tabu…etc etc. My set that night (morning) was at Seamless, a strip club that turns into a dance afterhours at 4am. I played at 6:30, a time that would be absolute shit in Chicago, but in Vegas is pretty rock’n'roll. It’s pretty surreal to DJ to a packed dancing crowd and see naked chicks out of the corner of your eye giving lap dances.
We left Seamless at about 8am, grabbed a couple hours of sleep, checked out of the Palms and into the Hard Rock and went to Rehab to catch DJ Dan and Donald Glaude. Dave-O is Dan and Glaude’s manager so we had a sweet cabana right behind the decks. Talk about bananas - three thousand people all going bezerk to everything these two laid down. Whenever a track dropped, everyone in the pool screamed and started splashing the water around! Not so fun - the lead singer from Crazytown up in our VIP area seducing a Courtney Love look-alike (not a compliment), and a drunk chick who burned my foot with her cigarette. Minor in the grand scheme of things…all in all a fantastic birthday weekend.
Now that I’m back in town and on a semi-normal sleep schedule, I’m able to see what goodies people have left in my inbox. First up, local Chicago group Black Holes dropped off two tracks I’m geeked over. If these guys keep churning out tracks of this caliber, I think we’ll be seeing their name around a lot more often. Right up my alley with heavy peak-hour synths divided nicely with rhythmic breakdowns. Oh, bonus, they’re actually mastered nicely. Enjoy their remix of “Caked Up” as well as original track “I’m A Beast.” (”I’m A Beast” 320 obtained, link below updated).
Hollywood Holt: Caked Up (Black Holes Remix) Download
Mustard Pimp has delivered yet another remix of Bryan Cox’s “Let’s Go To Work.” Man this has proven to be an uber-popular track and acapella for people to screw around with. Based out of France, Mustard Pimp chops the heck out of the vox and slaps a hefty dose of grime onto the tune. Nicely done.
Bryan Cox: Let’s Go To Work (Mustard Pimp Remix) Download
The Young Punx, a group I’ve always been a big fan of, is releasing a slew of new releases of their song “Fire.” When the tune first came out I was a huge fan and played the heck out of it on a weekly basis, so it’s exciting to see new interpretations of it, especially one that can be posted and passed around. Phonat’s version is not a huge deviation from the original, which I actually enjoy. Offered at 262kbps…I’ll let it slide this time
DJ Kue is back once again, but this time he’s buddied up with FnDannyBoy to deliver a remix of one of my favorite artists, Bimbo Jones. Nice and bouncy, I’m totally in love with the crazy punchy snare in here with the right amount of reverb attached to it. Definitely a remix that’s on the lighter side, but done oh-so-well.
Bimbo Jones: I Tried (FnDannyBoy & DJ Kue Remix) Download
Another goodie from Culture Prophet dropped in the other day, his version of Nightsweats’ “CU Next Tuesday” (that’s C.U.N.T. for you un-squeamish types). The track starts off right with a wicked kickdrum and distorted to hell synth. It just gets darker from there. CP delivers on the heavy without lifting for a second. Even the breakdown isn’t much of a breather with only momentary lifts of the primary elements. My kind of tune.
Nightsweats: CU Next Tuesday (Culture Prophet Remix) Download
Last, but not least is DJ Phenom and DJ Mega Man’s interpretation of Rodney O & Joe Cooley’s “U Don’t Hear Me Tho.” I love that the track hints without dropping out into the full sample. Produced very well, big-room sounds and great use of panning…can’t wait to play this one out live.
Rodney O & Joe Cooley: U Don’t Hear Me Tho (DJ Phenom & DJ Mega Man HipTro Remix) Download
Grab bag time! Gotten lots of stuff sent in within the past few days! To be quite honest, I’m incredibly picky about what I post and rarely do I get sent so many tracks that make me go hmm…
Chicago’s Steve Smooth dropped off a boot he produced along with Bad Boy Bill and JJ Flores of Journey’s “Some Day Love Will Find You.” The track was originally featured on Behind The Decks Live in 2006 but due to the fact that it is no longer planned for official release, it is now free to be passed around and downloaded to your heart’s content. My god, I can’t escape Journey this week. Not only did Chromeo cover Journey at Lollapalooza, Kanye did as well, having his backup singers go acapella. Steve and JJ’s material has always had a nice chunkiness to it without sounding disconnected and this song is no different, featuring a Twocker-esque bassline without going dark in the slightest.
Bad Boy Bill, Steve Smooth & JJ Flores: Someday Download
My good friend Tittsworth sent me his new mix titled “McCain Mix 2008.” I was dubious, and before even listening to it, made him answer the obvious and impending question…Obama or McCain? Satisfied that he was, in fact, an Obama supporter, I went ahead and listened to the mix. It’s incredibly fun and enjoyable and has an intro capturing some choice moments from McCain. Grab it to listen to traditional Tittsworth beats (several tracks are his own remixes) along with unexpected picks such as an Axwell take on Hard-Fi.
Track list:
1. Tittsworth - John Mccain Intro
2. Will Roc & The Renaissance Man - Get Down & Party (Party Break) - Unruly
3. Will Roc & The Renaissance Man - Get Down & Party - Unruly
4. Rod Lee - Hola Back - ??
5. Jimmy Jones - Who U Wit - ??
6. Blaqstarr - Bang > Tease Blaqstarr - Throw That Ass Back - MadDecent
7. Lil Wanye - A Milli (Scottie B Remix) - Unruly White
8. Say Wut - Go Time Anthem - Unruly
9. Mike Mumbles - Crank Dat GI Joe - ??
10. Mike Mumbles - Da Last Fight Em - ??
11. Blaqstar - Get Your Handz Up - ??
12. Tittsworth - Haiku - Plant Music
13. Blaqstarr - Hands Up Thumbs Down (Bird Peterson Remix) - MadDecent
14. Tittsworth feat The Federation - Drunk as Fuck (Top Billin Remix) - Plant
15. Machines Don’t Care - Afro Jacker - Machine
16. Hi-Jack - Possessed - Potty Mouth Music
17. Fake Blood - Mars - (Tittsworth Popeyes Edit) - Cheap Thrills
18. Solange - I Decided (Tittsworth Rave Remix) - Interscope
19. Nadastrom - Pussy Soul - Dubsided
20. Subfocus - X-Ray (Tittsworth Remix) - ??
21. Nadastrom - The Way You Movin - Dubsided
22. Tittsworth - WTF feat Kid Sister & PaseRock - Plant Music
23. TIttsworth - WTF feat Kid Sister & PaseRock (Nadastrom Remix) - Plant Music
24. Estelle & Kanye West - American Boy (Nadastrom Remix) - WHITE
25. Surkin - Next Of Kin (Todd Edwards re-kindled mix) - Institubes
26. Chavy Boys - Friday Night Flu - Unruly
27. Hall & Oats - I can’t go for that (Ernest St.Laurent Club Mix) - WHITE
28. Hard-Fi - Hard To Beat (AXWell Remix) - Atlantic UK
29. Daft Punk - Primetime Of Your Life (Top Billin Remix) - WHITE
30. Gorillaz - Dirty Harry (Logistics Remix) - WHITE
31. Michael Jackson - Human Nature (Makoto and Specialist Remix) - WHITE
32. Ghostface & Neyo - Back Like That (Marky & Bungle Remix) - WHITE
33. George Michael versus Lil Wayne - Careless Lollipop (DJ Soap Mash-up)
OH SNAP!! must be excited for his upcoming Australian tour because the man has been spending a lot of time in the studio lately. Kudos to him, especially since he has been on the road (including a recent stop with DJ Bald Eagle at Lollapalooza this past week). He delivered a slamming remix of “Party All The Time” that has hints of Crookers and Nadastrom. That equals awesome. The conversational tone of the rap vox on top works so incredibly well with the accompanying production! I cannot wait to play this out.
Eddie Murphy: Party All The Time (OH SNAP!! Cover) Download
Vancouver’s DJ Neoteric and I seem to always have intersecting tastes so naturally I was excited when he passed along his latest mix for me to listen to. I immediately noticed the first track was by one of my current favorite artists, The Yank. The rest was just as amazing, featuring the likes of Surkin, Yuskek, and Laidback Luke’s hot track of the moment, “Shake It Down.” Officially stuck on repeat.
Track list:
1. The Yank - We Can’t Be Stopped
2. Yuksek - Ugodzilla
3. The Body Snatchers Feat. Sport Yolanda - Call Me (Lee Mortimer Mix)
4. Herve - Cheap Thrills (Armand Van Helden Remix)
5. Boy 8-Bit - Wolfen
6. Jesse Rose and Action Man - Take It to the Club
7. Tittsworth - WTF (Nadastrom’s on Drugs Mix)
8. Tittsworth - WTF (Smoke & Mirrors Remix)
9. Duke Dumont - Hoy
10.Treasure Fingers - Cross the Dancefloor (Laidback Luke Remix)
11.AC Slater - Jack Got Jacked (Jack Beats Remix)
12.Nadastrom - Pussy Soul
13.Machines Don’t Care - Beat Bang
14.Sharkslayer - Bad Ding
15.DJ Rob 3 - The Chase
16.The Count + Sinden ft Rye Rye - Hardcore Girls
17.Boy 8-Bit - Ready for War (Demo)
18.VND/LSM - Ready or Not
19.Kidda - Under the Sun (Herve Remix)
20.Bumblebeez - Zulu (Radioclit Remix)
21.Laidback Luke & A-trak - Shake It Down
22.Surkin - White Knight Two (Laidback Luke Remix)
23.Sam Sparro - 21st Century (The Count + Sinden Sidewinder Remix)
24.Detboi - Jump Up and Down
“Mad At You” by New York’s The Glass has been around for some time, but the band can’t seem to resist pumping out the remixes. Arveene & Misk’s take is organized chaos with stabs, ever changing patterns and a vocal that’s been pitched up (the only part of the remix I’m not fond of). Hot Pink Delorean’s version is driving with an unmistakable peak-hour sound with crossover potential. Both are great in their own ways while sounding entirely different. Hard to do…I like it!
The Glass: Mad At You (Arveene & Misk Remix) Download
The Glass: Mad At You (Hot Pink Delorean Remix) Download
Lollapalooza is finally over and Chicago is getting back to normal…dammit. IMO, this year’s collective Lolla experience was not as standout as last year’s, but there were some moments to speak of. Friday’s memorable performance for me was from Louis XIV, though of course Radiohead was exceptional as well. There were complaints that Radiohead’s performance was overly mellow (such a contrast from last year’s headliner show of Daft Punk) which I could certainly see, though I don’t think anyone was expecting a thrash reprise of Fake Plastic Trees.
Day 2 proved to have some unexpected twists. My set was at noon on Perry’s stage, and I rushed to arrive early (hoping that maybe, I could start ten or fifteen minutes early). When I arrived, I spotted a familiar face already up on stage - Perry Farrell was doing a sound check, score (photo op)! I was very happy with the way I played that day and had a packed tent by the time I was done, impressive given that I was opening the tent that day and had a crowd of…no one when I started. The big hits of the day, no surprise here, were the Pilotpriest remix of M.I.A.’s “Boyz” and the Crookers remix of Kid Cudi’s “Day ‘N’ Nite.” Afterwards we caught MGMT (not as good as expected), Booka Shade (better than expected), and then headed back to the DJ stage to catch Perry’s set with the rumored special guest in tow. After a quick hi to Clayton Hauck and DJ Alena, we found out the special guest was none other than Slash. What a f***ing performance. To make the moment even more surreal, I turned around and found Mark Ronson, Samantha Ronson and Lindsay Lohan walking towards me. Samantha popped on stage for a surprise guest set which was frankly the worst thing I had heard since the last wedding I went to. I heard her set at the afterparty that night was better, but what she played at Lolla was mixed poorly, had no flow and was utterly unoriginal.
The pickup for me that evening was surprisingly, DJ AM. I have truly never seen another DJ perform as quickly, flawlessly and creatively as he did, and, no less, with tracks from the likes of Laidback Luke and Soulwax. I interviewed him afterwards for URB.com (interview up in a few days), and he couldn’t have been nicer. We chatted about the scenes overseas, his favorite artists and the discrepancy between what he has to play versus what he loves to play. I encourage you to visit URB.com this week to check it out.
Day 3 was another mess of great bands, from Nicole Atkins & the Sea to the Black Kids, and oh my god, Chromeo. Kanye’s set was expected, full of smoke, stage effects and an ego-ridden Kanye waxing philosophical about how he was comparable to legends such as Jimi Hendrix and oh, by the way, make sure to tell your unborn children about your amazing Kanye West concert experience. Gag me. No wonder NIN fans yelled “fuck Kanye” as we made our way over to the stage.
After all the excitement, sunburns and greasy food, I am exhausted. I am also spoiled, since my artist wristband pretty much let me go and do whatever the hell I wanted to on the Lolla grounds all weekend. I leave you with Biancardi’s very appropriate remix of “Killing In The Name” by Lollapalooza 2008 headliner Rage Against The Machine. (UPDATED WITH 320 VERSION).
Rage Against The Machine: Killing In The Name (Biancardi Mix) Download
Just a friendly reminder to those of you in the Chicago area, I’ll be playing Perry’s Lounge at Lollapalooza tomorrow (that’s Saturday, August 2nd) at noon! Make sure to get your ass over there, the lounge was great today (caught sets from Zebo, Willy Joy and The Greenskeepers) and packed from open to close - tomorrow should be just as amazing!
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