DUSTY CRATES

Roots

About 60 years ago, Jamaican soundsystems gave birth to dub, a variety of reggae music that features sub-bass (bass less than 100Hz), skittering and jittery drums, distortive echo and reverberation effects. The prominent features of dub music, along with reggae’s pioneering use of dubplates, went on to not only shape a growing DJ culture but also continues to influence a variety of electronic dance musics today.

Dubbed

And true to that motif, there’s been a rumble underground since dubstep began spreading in late 2005. Although the now mainstream sound tips its hat to it’s irie origins, sort of, dubstep borrows more from drum & bass and grime. Many would even say that the “dubbed” bleepy, ominous dubstep sound had moved away from, and was out of step with, its genesis.

In ’08, a limited pressing 12-inch “Iron Devil” was released featuring Lee Scratch Perry and Prince Far-I in a dubstep style. It included a tune based on the Perry riddim used on reggae hits like “Disco Devil”, “Chase The Devil” and “Croaking Lizard”. This was the first recorded example of a founder of Jamaican dub style acknowledging dubstep and creating new music in the genre, reinforcing the connection of dubstep to its roots in Jamaican dub reggae.

Soul Iration

So when fellow DJ Meshak dropped this Release the Lions Vol. 1 mix on me this week, I found myself scouring the ‘net to find more on “soul iration,” a French Algerian variation of reggae. Music keeps evolving and people will always put their spin on things creating the next sound.

But as I dig in to hear soul iration while revisiting some roots, I’ve kept this all-vinyl mix on repeat and I suggest you should, too.

Listen. Download.

Release the Lions Vol. 1 – DJ Meshak (Mixcloud)

Release the Lions Vol. 1 - DJ Meshak (Sendspace)

This weekend marks the end of the summertime with most school semesters gearing up within the week or so. And the only way we could cure the summertime blues and send this hot-ass summer off properly was with a gang of even hotter ladies.

The Tipping Point sneaker boutique, in collaboration with Charly East, put together a line-up of local female artists, performers and yours truly to DJ The ArtBreak: Ladies First Edition this Friday night at Betz Gallery (1208 West Gray, 77019). The show starts at 7pm and includes performances by IB3, No Name Jane and Charly East on violin. Free dranks courtesy of Dripping Springs and Grey Goose.

Wear your best skeakys, ladies, ’cause this is the spot to show ‘em out. But if you’re not up on your latest kicks, you can always enter the raffle for a new pair!

Here’s some lady-killer jams to get you ready:

Summertime Blues – Joan Jett (mp3)

Talk to Me – Peaches (mp3)

DIRB! Recess pt. 1

As superstition holds, tomorrow stands to be a day of bad luck. So it’s no surprise that Go Go Garcia and Johnny Moon had the same idea to kill it on a Friday night and, not to mention, get you there with damn-near the same wicked flyer!

So in true Friday the 13th movie fashion, it’s up to you to choose your poison. Which maligned feature will you show for–Part 1 or 2?

Friday the 13th: PART 1

We’ll be across town slaying it real big for DIRB! Recess: Friday the 13th Edition at Club FWD (510 Gray, 77002) with DIRB! crew SDF-one, Squincy Jones, Antonio, Criminal V and yours truly, Gracie Chavez!

Wizard Status pt. 2

Friday the 13th: PART 2

Meanwhile, back in the ‘Trose, “Wizard Status” Friday the 13th Murder Party Addition goes six-feet down at Boondocks (1417 Westheimer, 77006) with Go Go and Johnny.

But which ever one you choose, take heed: you wanna make it out alive!

Check each FB event for more details and to RSVP.

Dame Lo – Mexicans With Guns from System D-128 on Vimeo.

The Man. The Myth. The Mexican.

Mexicans with Guns releases his next track, “Dame Lo,” off his latest Me Gusto EP (Stones Throw/Innovative Leisure, Exponential). This sexy banger is accompanied by an experimental short film/music video that summons the raucous revelry of any Robert Rodriguez dusty cantina shoot-em-up flick over a Dia de los Muertos celebration.

MWG is making the short trip from SA to HOU this Saturday, August 14th, to put it down at The Backroom (Mink, 3718 Main St, 77006) for us. Pero no se to olvide…ponte los zapatos porque vamos a bailar!

For more on “Dame Lo,” check here.  Read the LA Times article on Mexicans with Guns here. He’s the masked crusader of big beats–big time!

“Dame Lo” – MWG (mp3)

From SummerFest Day 1: 2010-06-05

To say that things move slow down South in the summer is an understatement. Doing things “as slow as molasses,” as we say, is just how we do ’round these parts.

So, there. That’s my excuse as to why I’m just now following up two-months later on Free Press SummerFest 2010. Day One’s highlights included the air-conditioned Fancy Pants stage, Brett Koshkin’s soul 45 session and Kid Sis dub steppin. And although Day Two was over-cast with showers, the dirty mud people, Mic Skill’s rhymes, big pimpin with Bun B and the A/C stage still ruled!

Thanks to all the folks over at Free Press and Pegstar that made this year’s festival such a success. And thanks to all the performers at that DIRB! with us on the Fancy Pants stage!

Here are some flicks from that SummerFest weekend:

SummerFest: Day 1
SummerFest: Day 2

And just ’cause I made you wait this long, here are my favorite irie summertime slow jams:

• Chase the Cumbia Devil (Tupolev Soundcrash remix) – Max Romeo (mp3)
• Uptight remix- Stevie Wonder & Jay “Dusty” Smith (mp3 taken from the compilation Motown Flies Jamaica)
• Get Lite (Reggae remix) – The Beatards (mp3)