First off, let me say big thanks to everyone who has supported The Glamour’s first release, the Fly By Night EP on Calamity Jane Recordings over the past week- the response has been amazing and we’ve hit the Beatport charts in Electro, Indie Dance and Top Downloads! If you haven’t picked it up yet, all the info is in the post directly before this one.

On a side note, Chicago for the first time hosted UFC (that’s Ultimate Fighting Championship) and I went with a group of about twenty people. Minus the awesome and classy people in the seats around us (see vid below), it was a fun night even though the headlining bout between Anderson Silva and Patrick Cote ended disappointingly short in the third after Cote blew his knee out. It’s really too bad because it was obvious Silva hadn’t even started to try to take Cote out, instead joking around in the Octagon, even extending his hand to a fallen Cote after releasing him from a hold. Eight other fights were also on the card. Even through the bummer of a finale I was totally giddy and loved every minute of it. That’s right, I like UFC and guess what, I also go to gun ranges. I guess I’m a bit of an urban hick…

Also, if you’re interested, here’s my recent review for URB Magazine on Steve Smooth and JJ Flores’ new Amp’d album on Ultra Records.

Oh yeah, there’s some music too. Stuff has piling up in my inbox over the past, wow, twelve days and I picked my favorites. Apologies for the short written intros to the tracks…there’s eight of them and I’m a bit hung over.

Steve Ryback from California has some heaters here. I love how his tunes alternate from being ridiculously hard to pulling back and letting the melodies play center stage. I could see these tunes working in a multitude of settings.

Steve Ryback: Flask In My Fanny Pack
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Steve Ryback: Interstellar Pimp Sauce
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BSBTRGDClub always comes through for me on their tunes. Here’s a hot remix of Crookers’ “Big Money Comin.” Straight banger.

Crookers: Big Money Comin (BSBTRGDClub Rai Tsuchi Edit)
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Yes, FnDannyBoy’s newest is a bit on the more commercial tip, but this is still a fun listen and I bet will get people moving. Suck it.

FnDannyBoy: Drop On The Dancefloor
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Ah, another hot remix from DJ Kue… this time taking on the Gym Class Heroes, it’s a straightforward electro remix that strays a little from his normal programming style.

Gym Class Heroes: Cookie Jar (DJ Kue’s Squirrel Funk Mix)
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Moulinex’s remix of Kap10kurt resulted in a tune that made me smile and reminisce about disco-ravey goodness, the kind I used to listen to at places like the Harvey Expo. Joy!

Kap10kurt: Mission Complete (Moulinex Remix)
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I love The Presets, I love the Bang Gang DJs…I love this remix. My only complaint with this song is that the percussion and drum programming is a bit simplistic, but hey, it works.

The Presets: Kicking and Screaming (Bang Gang’s E is for Edit)
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Yay, another Paul Anthony and ZXX remix! You know the drill, total fire, hot synth lines and lots o swooshy noises. Their boots are being played by everyone it seems. At Crobar last night I heard two of their tunes played in the three hours I was there.

Rick Ross: Hustlin (Paul Anthony & ZXX Remix)
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Hey everyone - I’m so happy to be sharing this news with you today. Calamity Jane Recordings, the newest Strictly Rhythm associated label I run with Scott Richmond, is launching today with an amazing EP from Milwaukee’s The Glamour. You may think you have heard “Kidz Night” and “Fly By Nght” in the past, but the versions we present today have been re-imagined and re-engineered, showing what this talented duo is truly capable of achieving.

Calamity Jane Recordings, Strictly Rhythm’s newest imprint, has managed to rise above the fray with a unique formula focused on artist development. They discover burgeoning electro/indie-dance musicians, work with them to perfect their product, pair them with world-renowned remixers, and represent them with some of the most respected names in house music. The resulting sound features a fusion that incorporates the best of the indie-dance and house music, creating an appealing package for dance music lovers around the globe.

Their debut release features a Midwest group who capitalizes on just that. Meet The Glamour. Comprised of Richard Galling and Asher Gray, their “DIY” electro sound combines influence from the underground music of the 1970s and 80s with the contemporary Midwest dance scene, designing a sound uniquely their own. With a distinct and energetic voice, it’s no wonder The Glamour has been turning heads ever since their inception; not only were they recently selected as an URB Next 100 artist but they were also featured on the IHEARTCOMIX! Scion compilation. Their debut release, the “Fly By Night EP” with songs “Fly By Night” and “Kidz Night” features fun guitar riffs and party-orientated vocals that evoke carefree and sweaty underground club nights.

Remixing the “Fly By Night EP” is a host of internationally-recognized artists. Fresh off such Beatport hits as “The Rubdown” and “Get Blahsted” Toronto-based Hatiras of Hatrax fame provides a dance floor mix sure to attract fans of everyone from Deep Dish to Deadmau5. Brooklyn’s indie-dance king Tommie Sunshine uses the feel of basement parties as inspiration, producing a gritty undertone that still stays true to the original vocals. Lastly, Chicago favorites The House Moguls of Funktion Recordings produce an energetic and hard-edged techno influenced electro banger.

You can download extended clips from the songs below, but please support the artists we’ve worked so hard for and purchase any songs you enjoy on Beatport by following this link.

The Glamour: Fly By Night
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The Glamour: Kidz Night
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The Glamour: Fly By Night (Hatiras Vocal Mix)
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The Glamour: Fly By Night (Hatiras Instrumental)
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The Glamour: Fly By Night (Tommie Sunshine’s Brooklyn Fire Retouch)
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The Glamour: Fly By Night (Tommie Sunshine’s Brooklyn Fire & Brimstone Dub)
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The Glamour: Kidz Night (The House Moguls Mix)
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I know I haven’t posted in a bit, but with good reason…there will be some great news tomorrow

My latest article for TimeOut Chicago on Midwest native Thom Svast… I encourage you to read it, this guy has been through more in his life than anyone else I know.

BEATS TO REMEMBER

I got so many great remixes sent to me over the past couple of days, including a few that made me nostalgic for some amazing pieces of vinyl I used to play every single weekend… I’m sure you all will appreciate these as much as I did.

FnDannyBoy, who sent over “New Bomba Sound” at the end of August has two new remixes. This time it’s a rehash of Junior Senior’s “Move Your Feet” and a party break that includes, among other samples, Moby’s “Jam For The Ladies,” Kevin Irving’s “House Ain’t Givin’ Up,” Fedde Le Grand’s “Put Your Hands Up For Detroit” and Armand Van Helden’s “You Don’t Know Me.” Do I really need to describe these any further to you?

FnDannyBoy: Together (FnParty Break)
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FnDannyBoy: Move Your JrSr Feet (FnDannyBoy’s Fat Guy Touch)
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Cutoff of Sydney has an official remix coming out for Jackson Jackson’s “All Alone” and oooh, you get to hear it here. It’s quite nice and has great structure without overdoing the production. There are snippets of the vocals on the break but for the most part, constrains to manipulating the snippet “all alone.” Great drums and a killer bassline round the tune out.

Jackson Jackson: All Alone (Cutoff Remix)
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Ireland’s Alex Graham (oh yeah neOn, you’re not the only Irish person to be featured on here) totally sucker punched me with this remix of Shakedown’s “At Night.” I loved this song so god***n much when it came out and still have the vinyl sitting around somewhere. For good measure, he gives us two versions, a more straightforward electro mix, and one where the synths are shaken up a bit and layered with some panned percussion.

DJ Alex Graham: Wind Up Vs. Shakedown
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DJ Alex Graham: Wind Up Vs. Shakedown (Glitched Edit)
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There was some urgency in the inbox this morning. A note came in with a brand new Frankmusik and Boys Noize tune sans images, PR info, etc. The message? Just listen nooooow, and we will send everything later. Ok, ok, so here it is. The collaboration is called “When You’re Around” and is a (very) fast paced and fun melodic driven song that I think you’ll enjoy.

Frankmusik & Boys Noize: When You’re Around (Boys Noize Mix)
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