Dusty Crates

So my Aussie pal Rowan turned me on to Pittsburgh’s Girl Talk (aka Greg Gillis).  He somehow figured that my various taste in music would eventually gravitate toward this undeniable ADHD’s mash-up dream. And, well, he was right.

He quickly unloaded Girl Talk’s latest release, Feed the Animals. I was very impressed. With a frenzied pace, a gang of change-ups, ’80s pop selections and seemless transitions, the compilation was jam packed and jammin! Needless to say, it’s in heavy rotation here at work (especially on deadline)!

Next month, Scion is bringing Girl Talk to Houston’s Warehouse Live. I don’t know what to expect from him live, but I’m sure Girl Talk will satisfy almost any musical palate.

RSVP now at ScionEvents.com to see the show for FREE.

Read more on Girl Talk’s Feed the Animals at PitchFork.com.

Congratulations are in order for our boy Squincy Jones. He just copped a big nod from Houston Press for Best DJ in 2008. He can now add this title to his many others: DJ, producer, remixer, geek-out master extraordinaire.  And may I add that he did an excellent job on this Mami’s mixtape.

Check out his mixes and discography, then give him a shout at Awwready.blogspot.com and Myspace.com/SquincyJones.  You’ll see why his notoriety is well deserved.

Best DJ: Squincy Jones

Way too few DJs manage to do anything original; many just seem to play the same records and never dare to venture outside the box. There’s no room for mediocrity in a good DJ, and we’re glad Squincy Jones figured this one out. As co-founder of the genre-splitting night Speakerboxx at The Backroom with his partner Dayta, he’s pushed as many boundaries and/or genres as he can find into one DJ set. From guilty pleasure ’80s to the latest in electro or local hip-hop, he’s throwing it all in a pot and cooking a big kick-ass stew of “I don’t give a fuck and I’m going to make you dance your ass off.” –Houston Press, 2008

Keep on DIRB! Big ups boy!!

DustyCrates <3’s you!

We’ve been waiting for a perfect opportunity to get the DIRB! DJ posse together for something like this. We’re able to make it happen at Boondocks Bar. 

With no repeats of “the incident,” we do wanna Do It Real Big (DIRB! in case you thinkin’ we ain’t) on the decks and bring the mezzanine down!

P.S. Look for the DIRB! Backup Dancers on the flo! Thanks for the flyer, Gwen!

Many of you know that Sista Stroke has deep roots in Texas. Since leaving Houston in 2002, she’s made big strides and big tunes in Chicago. She’s released coveted whites and jackin’ tracks for Revolutionary Music, Rebel Crew, D’Lectable, Chi/Fi, Knockin’ Boots, DustTraxx, Hook-up Tunes, et. al.

My girl now calls Los Angeles home and she’s wasted no time in making herself comfortable there. More recently she was part of a podcast, “Sexual Toast,” with her Chicago mate funk/soul DJ S.

Here’s what he had to say about Stroke:

A truly inspiring lass in the Chicago house tradition, it’s our pleasure to give her a big smooch and welcome her to the studio for a solid mix that is sure to keep you movin’ wherever you at.
 
DJ S | Track Listing:

Ramsey Lewis – Sun Goddess
Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band – Journey Inward
Rondenion – Necessary One For Me
Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band – Fashion
Sylvester – Over and Over (Special 12″ Disco Mix)

Sista Stroke | Track Listing:

Karl The Voice – Music Makin Tool
Blackliquid feat. Sin-Q – Blame It
Scott Watson – Tight Summer
Lawnchair Generals – Imagine
Hustle & Flow – Step It Up
Eric Davenport & Smitty – Freak You
Natural Rhythm – Nacho Brass
Kinky Movement – State Of Mind

You can tune in or add the podcast mix to your iTunes here:

Sunstroke mix – DJ S and Sista Stroke

Sista Stroke also released a classic house mix for DJ Blackliquid’s radio show “L.A. Nights” called Put Some Grit In It (link includes a track listing, too). This mix soothed me and “I’ll Be There!” got me through some rough times this summer.

And as Stroke would put it, it’s sending you “nothin but love!”

Ditto, girl.

Download Put Some Grit In It. For more on Sista Stroke, visit her at SistaStroke.com.

Gwen chillin’ with Tina.

Our homegirl Gwen just revived her blog. She’s a super talented designer (she designed my Yo! Mami CD cover art), fantastic friend and my flyest backup dancer!

Welcome back to the blogosphere, Gwen!

Check out her pure randomness at Gwenniespace.blogspot.com.

A little late on this recap, but Squincy and I took over Jukebot for DJ cMo while he was out of town on Labor Day Weekend. It’s always fun to play with Squincy, but it got a lot more fun once we got a Michael Bolton request!

And, NO, we did not play his sappy crap at The Flat, right Squince?

Check out how it went down at Awwready.blogspot.com >>

Git Down Brown disapprovingly looked on.

More AWSM pics on Flickr.

After a wild weekend at Boondocks and a new school year resumed, the Scion BEAT Tour continued on at Houston’s Warehouse Live. On TUE, August 26, locals flowed in to see the likes of Fashen, The Knux, Klever and our opening 2×4 set. I took Witnes’ spot and got it goin’ early, with Dayta and Squincy Jones jumping in about an hour later. I met up with Fashen chillin backstage as Big Sky Media’s Adam Bauer and Shan paced the halls preparing for the upcoming acts.

Meanwhile, The Knux were entertaining a couple of local ladies and enjoying a cigarette or two—to calm the nerves no doubt. On stage, Fashen wrapped up his assorted set and Squincy stepped up to play beats for The Knux. The NOLA natives came out to perform “Capuccino” and other songs with style and energy. They swayed the crowd along and even ribbed Squincy about his Humble (Texas, that is) roots. (It’s all good, Squince—just own it!)

And finally, a waxen Klever, in his spotless whitewashed jeans nonetheless, put down an impeccable and vibrant set. Big shouts go out to G.Wizz, DIRB’s Antonio, El Roy Boogie, Leo, Gwen & Julie, cMo & Oahn, Nonsense, Cashless, Shina Rae, Reko Trill, reps from HoustonsMostHated.com, Hater Magazine and H-town folks for making it out that night.

Shina thought she was gonna get kicked out. Ooops!

Tonio was feelin it!

Wonder twin powers…

Klever & Gracie

Click for more BEAT Tour pics at DustyCrates.com and Tamra’s Scion Event set (www.flickr.com/tamgutlitch), and HoustonsMostHated.com.

The Scion BEAT Tour blew through Houston a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve just had a chance to recap some of those nights. And here it goes…

On FRI, August 22, Witnes touched back down in Texas to jam with us for Shake & Pop at Boondocks. Ruff Cutt DJs G.Wizz and El Jeffe warmed up the night with mid-tempo electro, funk and disco edits. Folks were ready to dance when I stepped up to the plate. With El Roy Boogie on the mic, I kept the energy up and crowd dancing with everything from old club classics to new club bangers. I even had Daniel Allen (aka DJ DZ), who taught me how to DJ, at my side watching my every mix. Wit and Shane just killed it after that! There was absolutely no room in that place to dance until things cleared out 5 minutes too early.

A Shake & Pop reunion in NYC is in the works before the year’s out, indeed.

Corporate-sponsored partying ensued.

G.Wizz (aka My Babies’ Daddy)

El Jeffe’s best Ruff Cutt look. Ouch!

Gwen and Lil’ Sis Julie

Mrs. G.Wizz workin’ it, too!

Shane & Pop!

Click for more Shake & Pop pics at DustyCrates.com , FunkyFreshFlicks and Tamra’s Boondocks set.