Category Archives: notes

Hopefully you survived Cinco de Mayo (aka St. Patrick’s Day’s lame cousin) and you’re ready for the weekend, because it should be a good one.

Image courtesy but does it float via @FFFFound

The Plan

• Friday: It’s a weekend of sold-out shows. Tonight is Tame Impala and Yuck. Failing (or in addition to) that, Wolf + Lamb and Soul Clap hit U Hall in support of their DJ Kicks mix; it’s an important night for dance music.
• Saturday: Next up on Shows You Should Be At: CSS and Sleigh Bells co-headline at 9:30 Club. The perfect after-party, KIDS, is right down the street at DC9.
• Sunday: Two Next Big Things visit the nation’s capital: Donald Glover / Childish Gambino is at the Black Cat and James Blake is across town at the Rock and Roll Hotel. Predictably, both have been long sold out.

The Soundtrack

Low-Bee made his bones as half of Hollertronix with Diplo, so you know his party-starting skills are top notch. On Heavy Warmup Vol 6, Bee gets busy with some old school hip hop jams before breaking into some new school dancehall vibes. The perfect soundtrack for a BBQ this weekend.

After numerous false starts, it looks like spring has finally sprung. Let’s see what’s on the agenda that won’t require you to be inside (for too long, at least).

The Plan

• Friday: Head down to Subterranean A (good new DC venue or best new DC venue?) for an evening of laughter – the succinctly titled Comedy Underground. After that, Matthew Dear puts down the guitar and gets back in the DJ booth for Red Friday at U Hall.
• Saturday: Is there anything better than eating delicious food at a street fair? Taste of 8th takes over Barracks Row from 1-4PM, as twenty area restaurants present their signature dishes at reasonable prices. While you’re in SE, you might as well keep it martial and head from the Barracks to the Armory for the DC Rollergirls.
• Sunday: Take it easy Saturday night because the first Sunday of the month is always a good one. The folks behind Forward Fest are taking over Yards Park, and if you haven’t been to Tropixxx at Velvet Lounge yet, what are you waiting for?

The Soundtrack

A couple of moombahton minimixes should do the trick. First up, the preview for Dave Nada’s moombahton compilation (Blow Your Head, Vol. 2, out May 31st on Mad Decent), and then the promo mix for the forthcoming EP by Billy the Gent, Long Jawns, and DJ JWLS. Dale!

Last week, this piece took a vacation as I escaped to New York. In DC for the holiday weekend?

(Photo via FFFFOUND!)

The Plan

• Friday: It’s a TGIF for dancing. If you’re 22 or younger, head to the 411 Warehouse for the last Wild North of the season. Older than that and you should be at U Hall as the Beautiful Swimmers crew hosts Theo Parrish for Red Friday.
• Saturday: As mentioned earlier this week, both Menya (with Sherell Rowe and Lemz) and Christoph Andersson (at Bliss with Will Eastman and Mr. Bonkerz) will be performing on U Street. Can’t go wrong with either of these.
• Sunday: There’s a fully-loaded concert double header. The Kills, Cold Cave, and The Entrance Band play a sold-out crowd at 9:30, and hip-hop saviors Big K.R.I.T. and Freddie Gibbs take over U Hall.

The Soundtrack

Clockwork’s resident space disco expert Chris Nitti put out an hour-long mix of spring sounds titled simply “April.” Nitti’s profile is rising for a reason: add an encyclopedic knowledge of house music to a talent at seamless mixing and you can’t go wrong.

Tracklist:

Coma – Raindrops
Ron Deacon – Untitled B2
Pantha Du Prince – A Nomad’s Retreat (The Sight Below Remix)
Azari & III – Into The Night (Nicolas Jaar Remix)
Dinky – Polvo
Lee Foss – Cabin Party
Todd Terje – Ragysh
Cut Copy – Need You Now (Carl Craig Remix)
Andre Obin – Soft Rain (Patrice Baumel Future Mix)
Lone – Once In A While (Midland Mix)
Bloc Party – Signs (Pantha Du Prince Remix)
Harald Grosskopf – Synthesist (Snoretex Remix)

The government might shut down, but you don’t have to. Are you ready for the Weeknd?

(Chemtrail by Paul Tebbott via #ffffound)

The Plan:

• Friday: Melissa Auf der Maur (ex-Hole, Smashing Pumpkins bassist) discusses the intersection of music and photography at the National Geographic Museum. Jessica 6 is the guest band at the BYGays Happy Hour at U Hall, their last party before a summer hiatus. Then celebrate DJ Matt Rose’s birthday at Clockwork, with guests DJ Will Power and DJ Sega.
• Saturday: In a surprising turn of events, Source Code is supposed to be good, and Your Highness a failure; I don’t want to live in a world where Danny McBride and James Franco can’t make medieval stoner comedy. At night: Nouveau Riche is for dancing and Ra Ra Rasputin is for rocking. The last Polaroid Retrospective got by on a quirky premise; hopefully the Lamont Bishop Gallery is less crowded than Sova.
• Sunday: TV on the Radio plays Rams Head Live (all the way in Baltimore, I know) in support of Nine Types of Light. Expect a review of either or both on Monday, but tickets are still available.

The Soundtrack:

Blaqstarr drops a brief but exciting mix for Fact Magazine in advance of next week’s mixtape release. Apparently the tracklist he provided to Fact didn’t actually resemble the contents of the mix, but enjoy this journey through Blaqstarr’s universe, anyway.

As a bonus, here are two tracks off the mixtape; Blaqstarr, meet Black Star.

Blaqstarr – War Of Roses (ft. Talib Kweli)
Blaqstarr – Kiss Me On My Lips (ft. Mos Def)

Well, hopefully you’ve survived the day without embarrassing yourself too badly. Better late than never, here’s this weekend’s electronic-music heavy agenda (even more so than usual).

The Plan:

• Friday: The first American party to feature dubstep – New York’s Dub War – comes to DC as part of the Forward Fest. Dub War residents Dave Q and Joe Nice throw down at Sweet Spot. If you’re on H Street tonight, the team behind the superb, Cuban-inspired El Floridano food truck takes over the kitchen at Rock and Roll. Plus, ramen-dumpling haven Toki Underground finally opens, as well.
• Saturday: The is only one real option: the Trouble and Bass takeover of U Hall brings an all-star cast over from the UK: Toddla T, Redlight, and Untold. Possibly U Hall’s biggest night ever. Do not miss this.
• Sunday: Relax, take it easy, or continue to party on the Day of Rest. The Forward Fest closes shop with a free daytime party down at Yards Park, but leave yourself enough time to get pretty for the “Pendejas” video shoot at Tropixxx.

The Soundtrack:

Digital Boy + Shark make their online home at gangsterrave.com, which should give you some sense of their sound. Their Serious Business mixtape for Karmaloop is an unrelenting mix of dubstep, grime, and UK ‘ardcore that will help you power through the end of your workweek (or the beginning of a killing spree).

Deathface’s excellent “Blood Rave” shows up about halfway through the mix. Check out the brand new, Blade-inspired video (directed by Patrick Rood aka The Captain) for the track, and keep an eye out for DC’s little ray of darkness: Denman.

This is the kind of weekend that requires a clone or two to fully appreciate. Failing that, be prepared to make some tough decisions. (Image via #ffffound)

The Plan:

• Friday: BYT takes over the Newseum, so the city should be relatively hipster-free tonight. Deep Sugar DC, featuring Ultra Naté and Lisa Moody, handles Red Friday duties at U Hall. Alternatively, TMY and Vanniety Kills check their french for Maison at Napoleon. Late night, get slushied at Sweat Shop with Denman and Jackie O at the 9:30 Backbar.
• Saturday: Baltimore collective Wham City invades Subterranean A for a night of comedy. At the same time, Painted Face and Miami Horror play electro-pop live at U Hall; stick around for the Japan benefit afterwords.
• Sunday: Catching a DC Rollergirls bout at the Armory is always a blast. Also, Sunday is the perfect day for a matinee: skip Sucker Punch and see Paul.

The Soundtrack:

Helping bring together the Culipandeo moombahton mixes (with DJs A-Mac, David Heartbreak, and Melo) was one of the most rewarding parts of co-editing True Genius Requires Insanity. My partner-in-crime Marcus Dowling took care of this one on his own, and it’s a killer.

Lithuania’s Boyfriend is pushing the boundaries of moombahton, both sonically and geographically. The DJ, who first came to my attention when he flipped Heartbreak’s “Chavvi,” drops a mix that is full of moombah-offshoots, including plenty of moombahsoul. The movement continues!

TGRI x Boyfriend present Culipandeo Volumen Quatro
1. Intro Sabali
2. Phi Unit – Home
3. Munchi – Me And My Bitch
4. Jon Kwest – Angie’s Song (Making Of you)
5. Heartbreak – My Grown Man Shit
6. Boyfriend & Ckrono – Born Slippython
7. Dj Melo – Star Time
8. Draft 3 – Boom Blast
9. Missy Elliot – Get Your Freak On (Rampage & Nader bootleg)
10. Mastiksoul ft. Buraka Som Sistema – Sabalo (Booty Shakerz moombahton edit)
11. Keith – Get Up Ouch (Samar Boy moombahton edit)
12. Ying Yang Twins – Wait (The Whisper Song) (JWLS ‘DTF’ Booty)
13. Jon Kwest – Fr33ks Theme
14. Thomas Blondet – Stevies Cherie Amour MoombahSoul Remix
15. Outro Sabali

Last month was a tease: this weekend seems to be the real start of spring. If you’re reading this, you’re probably not in Austin. Here’s the run-down for nightlife in the nation’s capital.

The Plan:

• Friday: DC’s underground comedy scene (i.e. not the Improv) is small but vibrant. The semi-monthly comedy happy hour at Velvet Lounge (“Cool Dudes Hanging Out“) goes down tonight, but get there early – the upstairs stage fills quickly.
• Saturday: If you didn’t wish U Hall a happy birthday last night (or even if you did), get your Bliss on with Will Eastman, Micah Vellian and Chris Nitti.
• Sunday: What a depressing night – in a good way. Personal favorites Salem takeover the Rock and Roll Hotel. If that’s too mainstream for you, Denman and Sean Gray spin their No Love Lost party at Velvet.

The Soundtrack:

A lot of people claim to be “your DJ’s favorite DJ,” but Willy Joy actually earns the distinction. The Chicago-based DJ, when not touring with Kid Sister, can be found tearing up clubs across the country. This mix, commissioned for Chicagoist, finds Willy Joy elbow-deep in rich house tunage, both old and new (do you remember Dreem Teem vs. Artful Dodger on “It Ain’t Enough”?). It’s the perfect mix for the daylight hours on a lovely spring weekend.

Tracklist:
1. Shades Of Rhythm – Sweet Sensation 2011 (Lone Remix)
2. Cassius – Shark Simple (L-Vis 1990 & The Neon Dreams Regeneration Remix)
3. Hostage – Evrybyrdy (Willy Joy Remix)
4. Warrior One – Lord Of Bashy (Doc Daneeka 2 Step Militia Remix)
5. Freq Nasty – Move Back
6. Toy Selectah – Ani Riddim feat. Mumdance
7. Sampology ft. Spoek Mothambo & Gnucci Banana – Piggy Bank (Willy Joy Remix)
8. Mele – Trappin
9. Lil’ Keke – Chunk Up The Deuce (Syko Baltimore Remix)
10. Bird Peterson – Kingdom Of The Dead (Willy Joy remix)
11. Two Banks Of Four – Street Lullaby (Four Tet Remix)
12. Dreem Teem vs. The Artful Dodger – It Ain’t Enough (Dub Version)
13. Willy Joy – A Woman Like Me (Bird Peterson Remix)
14. Burns & Fred Falke – Y.S.L.M. (Burns European Sex Dub)

I’d rather be at Bloc (this awe-inspiring lineup at a beach resort in Bristol), but DC will have to do. C’est la vie.

The Plan

• Friday: Come to Clockwork, okay? But don’t forget to stop by Little Miss Whiskey’s and see Starks, Nacey, Meistro, and Deep Sang get down to Bizness.
• Saturday: Nouveau Riche is five years old (which means some of the kids there were 13 when it started *shudder*), so remember the times at DC9 and get crazy at U Hall.
• Sunday: Future booty bass artists Cubic Zirconia take the small stage at U Hall for a spin. Here’s hoping it’s anything like their video for “Hoes Come Out At Night.” Alternatively, Verge artists True Womanhood play the new-and-improved Red Palace.

The Soundtrack

LOL Boys (who released the mutated tropical jam “123” last year) did a mix for Kick Out the Jam that gets real deep into tropical bass and house hybrids. It includes loads of exclusives off the Boys’ forthcoming releases, along with their take on some Heartbreak and Munchi favorites.

Tracklist:
01. Boyfriend – Baltoji Varnele Edit (CDR)
02. Munchi – Hope (T&A Records)
03. LOL Boys – Sweet Cinnamon (CDR)
04. Heartbreak – My Grown Man Shit (M4 EP)
05. LOL Boys – Aisle Seat (Forthcoming Discobelle Records)
06. LOL Boys – Runaways (Forthcoming Discobelle Records)
07. LOL Boys ft. Teki Latex – Modern (Forthcoming Truants Records)
08. Destiny’s Child – For Da Girls (K2 Re-Edit) (K2 Edits)
09. Gucci Vump – Shashtilism (Erick Rincon Remix) (CDR)
10. DJ Javier Estrada – Eclipse (CDR)
11. Julius Sylvest – Djemba (CDR)
12. Munchi – Hope (LOL Boys Remix) (Forthcoming T&A Records)
13. 702 – Steelo (LOL Boys & Sinjin Hawke Remix) (CDR)
14. Mackpaye – Fragrance (12-3 Recordings)
15. Waya Waya – Nomada (Self-Release)
16. XXXY – Ordinary Things (Ten Thousand Yen)
17. Deborah Cox – It’s Over (Dubbel Dutch Refix) (CDR)
18. Art Nouveau & LOL Boys – Air France II (Demento Mori)
19. LOL Boys – Nomads (Forthcoming Cool Records)

This may be double-dipping, since I already covered the glut of concerts in DC this weekend, but there is too much going on that demands posting.

The Plan

• Friday: A couple of laid-back DJ nights, Stereofaith’s PEEL at the Black Cat and Sova Sessions featuring Philip Goyette, provide the eclectic soundtracks for a night of chilling out. It’s been a long week – you deserve it.
• Saturday: The Adjustment Bureau looks to have something for everyone, with a romance between charismatic leads (Matt Damon and Emily Blunt) and the stylish sci-fi of Inception and Dark City. Screenwriter George Nolfi (Ocean’s Twelve, The Bourne Ultimatum) takes the director’s chair for the first time. At night, get your fill of bass with Tittsworth, Torro Torro, and Denman at U Hall, or kick it with KIDS crew at DC9.
• Sunday: Cam Jus and Billy the Gent hit Velvet Lounge for their monthly TropiXXX, carrying on the tradition of Moombahton Mondays (a day earlier). Their tropical bass party is always a treat.

The Soundtrack

Speaking of KIDS, DJ Lil’ Elle may not be in DC anymore (sadface), but she’s still doing her thing on the West Coast. The lucky denizens of San Fran can catch her on Saturday at Get Loose. The rest of us will have to make-do with the appropriately-titled Bro Mix. Get your Becky/Chad on with these hip-hop hits.