DUSTY CRATES

We here at DustyCrates are digging the underground sounds of London and all the ways that 2-step, garage and UK funky is intermingling with dubstep, house and other genres. One of those newer sounds on the scene is known as “funky” and it’s highlighted by hard-hitting, syncopated drum beats and upfront percussion.

But all along in Houston, it’s been the Lamborghini Crew who have been driving us in that direction with DJs Brad Slack (aka Bugatti) and Vince Garcia (aka Maserati) riding shotgun. They’re joining fellow DJ Antonio and I this Friday night, October 23, for our 2nd DIRB! RECESS at Boondocks (1417 Westheimer, 77006).

I caught up with Bugatti for a quick 5 ON IT Q&A and this is how he broke it down:

DustyCrates: How did Lamborghini Crew come about and who’s a card-carrying member?
Bugatti: Basically, a few of the guys like Shawn (Vishnu) and Vince (Criminal V), were playin’ 2-step and pushin’ that sound back in the day (early 2000). They joked about starting a Lamborghini crew; you know how silly Vince is. Well, I was there one time when they were talkin’ about it and loved the idea. So when we started gettin’ back into this (2-step, UKG) sound, I told him we should revive that.

Now the members are: Vicente Garcia a.k.a. Maserati; Brad Slack a.k.a. Bugatti; Dwayne Turner a.k.a. Bimmer; Shawn Jimenez a.k.a. Aston Martin; Michael Davila a.k.a. Cadillac; Ryan Boland a.k.a. Bentley; and Steve Swift a.k.a. Rolls Royce.

DC: What other forms of music were you involved with before?
B: DJ wise, it has been jungle/drum & bass, techno, ’80s and house. But I love panty droppin’ music mostly!

DC: So why are you in bed now with arrhythmic 4/4 “funky” beats?
B: Because it makes the ladies shake their ass and that motivates me.

DC: How is d&b and vinyl dealing with your breakup?
B: I still play d&b and when I do, I play 99% vinyl.

As far as playin’ on Serato, when I play UKG stuff or UK funky it’s mainly because there is so much out there and so many different takes on it that I don’t want to be limited to one vibe for my whole set. I would have to recruit a whole gaggle of record bitches, and I love the ladies too much to put ‘em through that. (DC: Gee, thanks…)

DC: What do you consider the UKG/funky/2-step anthem? And which artists are pimpin’ it hard?
B: Attacca Pesante “Make It Funky For Me” would be the “anthem,” I guess. There so many different vibes of funky it’s really tough to say just one. That tune has been in everyone’s box, though.

Also, Roska, MA1, Warrior One, Geeneus, Sticky, Greenmoney and MJ Cole are my favorite (artists) at the moment.

Roska XLR8R Mix (mp3)

Bodytronic Podcast: Greenmoney (stream/mp3)

Make your way out on Friday for the funky, fresh sounds of the newest tunes selected by our own Lamborghini Crew. There’s no cover and the show starts at 10 p.m.

I met artist Christian Navarrete over the weekend. This guy has been on the Houston art and music scene for a few years. I finally put a face to a name and his artwork. He’s part of an upcoming show, ROCK EM’ DEAD, on Tuesday, October 27th at the Continental Club (3700 Main @ West Alabama, 77002).

The mixed media show includes art not only by Christian, Lizabeth Ortiz, Catfish and more, but also live music acts, belly dancers, human torch performers, Aztec dancers, body art and fortune tellers. If you can make it out on a night during the work week, stop by and support your local artists at this free–yes, FREE–event. Doors open at 8 p.m. www.myspace.com/artelibre

FRIDAY 9/25

We look fly! We feel GOOD!…Come out and play with us!

FB RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=131841798479

SATURDAY 9/26

11am-3pm – GRACIE CHAVEZ DJs DANA DAVIS Fall ’09 Trunk Show
at Nordstrom – Galleria, Houston.

THEN…

10pm-2am – Nacional Records, Fahrenheit-Media & Lunaface Promotions combine forces to present PACHA MASSIVE listening party & KINKY after party with DJ GIL CEREZO (Kinky, MEX) at DEAN’s Montrose.

The Pacha listening party is followed by the official Kinky after party with none other than Kinky lead vocalist DJing Gil Cerezo on the 1s and 2s. Check out the interview with Gil and more info at Lunaface’s blog.

Be the first to hear their NEW sophomore album, If You Want It, and get FREE CDs. Their music is a funky bilingual fusion of traditional Latin rhythms, like Colombian cumbia, Dominican palo, reggae, dancehall, sexy dub and electronica.

Then, DJ Gil joins Gracie & G.Wizz as we spin new sounds of Latin music (bajo tropical, cumbia bounce, dance rock, disco, electro and beyond) for the night.

FB RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=131405053068

See you on the dance floor!

Pioneering turntablist Grand Master Roc Raida passed away on Saturday, September 19. Roc Raida was a founding member of the New York DJ crew X-Ecutioners, whose pyrotechnic scratching helped redefine the art of turntablism in the ’90s. (AllHipHop.com)

In 1998, I had the pleasure of interviewing and writing a feature on the X-men, including Roc, for a national ‘zine for posterity. As it turns out, it was their turntablist skills–orchestrated together and individually–that seemed unprecedented, leaving a personal lasting impression. Literally, I was blown away.

In the wake of yet another seminal DJ’s passing, DJ AM, it brings to light the fact that disc jockeys and DJing have become such an integral part of our, dare I say, pop music culture. From celebrity DJs to celebrated turntablists, these individuals have helped craft DJing into a true artform.

One way to keep that legacy going has been thru the Scratch DJ Academy. Founded in 2002 by the legendary Jam Master Jay (Run DMC), Scratch aims to legitimize, validate and extend the role and importance of the DJ and producer into new arenas. The Academy has set up shop in NYC, LA and Miami and also books talent for top-notch events nationwide. I may just be one of the few hundreds, but I’m glad to be representing Scratch in the H. I’ve just been added to their roster of DJs. I plan on doing my part and taking it to the next.

In the meantime, respect and may you rest in peace Roc Raida and AM.

The 1982 Madness original is a great ska/pop classic…there’s something about the piano and string combo that makes me skip a little higher and smile a little brighter. So the fact that the tune has not only been updated, but also brought back home (so to speak) resonates a whole lot better with me.

A couple of Houston’s leading electro house remixers (and stylists), DJ 0045 & Fixture, take “Our House” in bit of a far-out, skitzo direction. The synths swirl, bassline grinds harder and the breakdown pulses–definitely up to date for any intelligently-lit club in this millennium.

An additional catwalk-stompy remix by fellow local DJs Red & Josh Dupont is also included for good measure.

Our House – 2009 Club Mixes
Includes new remixes of the classic anthem by Madness:

Our House (DJ 0045 & Fixture) (preview)

Our House (DJ Red & Josh Dupont) (128KB)

Buy the 320s here.

Here’s a new video release from our dear and talented friend Ben Godfrey, lead singer of Listen Listen. Their video for “On the Water” from Hymns from Rhodesia (out September 22nd), is now up on youtube and vimeo!

So, Watch Watch! “Shall We Meet” with Interview >>

Hymns from Rhodesia (Murkville Music) by Listen Listen will be available in gold-embossed packaging.

Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve written here. What, maybe two weeks? Well, that’s way too long. Since then we experienced Oktoberfest in August, the start/end of a *ahem* new monthly (it had potential–just sayin), and the close of a high-flying venue (it went three months strong, yay! *applause*). Here’s the long-overdue recap:

Lasting longer than the requisite 16-day beer fest, Sista Stroke‘s tour through Texas evidently still has some of us in an intoxicating honeymoon phase. The newlywed popped into the H for special “homecoming” performance at The Flat’s Sideways Tuesday with DJ Pooks & Drew and then played along with Eddie Spettro in her original hometown, San Antonio. Who knows how long she’ll be in the Lone Star State or if she’ll make another cameo behind the decks before jumping the pond back to London. But if you happen to somehow miss her Freaking Freely here, you can always tune into Mr. and Mrs. Hun‘s Brick City House podcast sponsored by ChicagoHouseFM.com on Wednesdays.

Meanwhile, the DIRBY! came out of the starting gates at a slow trot. I’ll admit, we enjoyed the pageantry and newish spot; who cares if there wasn’t much participation–we still had fun. We did manage to declare a DIRBY! mustache winner at the end of the night. Thanks to TABC’s late entry, we thought G.Wizz had it in the bag until said agent and pahtnah swaggered in at 1:45 a.m. He won, hand(lebar)s down!

Speaking of going down, let’s all pause for a moment of silence for the untimely demise of the indirigible airship-themed venue. In it’s heyday it was a mecca for Rich’s over-spill; in its most recent short-lived rendering, it was a ragbag of music and misfits. And although it didn’t amass the notable acts and acclaim that Walter’s on Washington did, it goes to show that throngs of d-bags don’t always ruin it for everyone.

So now that we’re moving on, I should note that DIRB! Block Party is on an indefinite hiatus from Washington Ave. Last Saturday’s performance with Jessica Lozano at the Boo Williams show at Block was certainly memorable enough that I recorded our Les Femmes reunion. G.Wizz capped it off on the decks after 3 a.m. Click below for a listen.

On short notice, however, I’m closing out the HMNS Mixer & Elixirs summer series tonight before the lively Latin act Grupo Ka-Che takes over the Dino Exhibit Hall. It’s been a fun gig all summer long, thanks to the open-minded museum curators!

And tomorrow, Saturday, 8/29, Antonio & I are DIRH! (Doin It Real House) again at the swanky Zimm’s wine bar while LBO Takes 5. And heed this: no socks for shoes people! RSVP pronto on Facebook >>

Meanwhile, I’ve updated DustyCrates’ sideline events widget with upcoming event flyers. Peep it. iCal it. Twitter it.

And as promised, more music mixes:

DIRB! Live on KTRU (May 2009) (mp3)
Listen to the 3-hour long live mix with Squincy Jones, Gracie Chavez, Tonio, G.Wizz & Jep in it’s entirety.

Les Femmes Gracie Chavez & Jessica Lozano Live at Boo (August 2009) (Zshare)
Thanks to HMH‘s Jep, I’m learning to record on the iKey-Audio. Here’s the raw, 3-hour live set from last Saturday.

Thanks for reading this extended DustyCrates Blog-a-thon of the Month. You’re now exempt from the pop quiz.

It’s kicking off tonight with guest disc jockeys JEP (HMH) & CRIMINAL V of Lamborghini Crew driving the 2step, UK Garage and Funky vibe!

See you there!

(Thanks for the flyer Gwenniee!)