DUSTY CRATES

Tech-house DJ/producer Henry Chow is rollin off his final Rekliner at Dean’s Downtown, which featured Austin’s JAMON. He wrapped up the monthly, an amalgam of house and techno featuring international and regional DJs, he has maintained with cohort Sasha Braverman for a couple of years now. They are moving the night over to Club FWD>> (510 Gray, 77002).

Formerly Deco in Midtown, FWD>> will usher a new era in Houston’s electronic music, says Henry. Currently, the local underground dance music community does not have a comfy home for regular, intimate house and techno events since La Strada closed. FWD>> looks to fill that gap with regular and special events starting in May. Sasha and Henry kick off their Saturday monthly Rekliner nights there on May 15th with San Antonio’s house playas, Sun City Hustlers (lovin’ the name).

Meanwhile, Sasha and Henry will maintain their more eclectic residency, Crossroads Fridays (Dean’s Montrose, 315 Fairview, 77006). This Friday, April 30th they host special guest DJ Jeff Shelton (Reverse, Houston).

And just to give you insight on what you may hear, Henry‘s dropped his new house, disco and other rarities mix on us here at Dusty Crates.

About his To The Moon (Late Night Mix) release, he says:

…[it's] something for the ride, to do laundry to, dishes, exercise, and make love to! This mix set features a few new, a few old tracks by artists such as Lee Curtiss, Dirty Jesus, I:Cube, Manuel Tur, & many more. Pretty much a summary of tunes we play at our residencies.

Henry Chow – To The Moon (Late Night Mix) by Henry Chow

Track Listing

Mike Shannon – Under the Radar feat. Fadila (Massi DL Rmx)
Dirty Jesus – Don’t Fuck with My Shit (Plane Paper Edit)
I:Cube – Falling
Jozif – Just You
Guillaume & The Coutu Dumont – Raw
Sascha Dive – Suburban Night
Alvaro Ernesto – Inside My Soul (Pezzner Rmx)
Lee Curtiss – Sister
Hector – Suavecito (Nick Curly Rmx)
Jozif – Chicago
Lewie Day – That’s the Thing
Hall & Oates – I Can’t Go for That (Edit)
Manuel Tur – Beasts & the Birds
Lee Curtiss – The Glow
Tensnake – Coma Cat

Push play and enjoy!

If I had this Saturday night off, I’d be off to see ATX’s Nick Nack at Top Notch HTX (Boondocks, 1417 Westheimer, 77006).

So who’s the DJ with the odd sing-songy name, you might ask?

Well, if you’ve browsed thru GigaCrate for music (see our widget –>), then chances are you know the man behind the Texas-based DJ-friendly digital download music site. And like most top-notch talent worthy enough to play out of town often, Nick Nack has been rockin it for quite some time, covering everything from golden-era hip hop and psych rock to more current dance/electro via performances (2000′s SXSW show with the late all-mighty Guru ain’t too bad) and a gang of mixes. Plus it helps when you also own your own record label, Crowd Control Records. Nick Nack is gearing up for an upcoming full-length CD/mp3 release, Dearly Departed, of original music and remixes any day now. The album’s first single, “Strangest Secret,” is available on limited 7-inch vinyl.

Here at Dusty Crates, we can admire that ability to turn the drop in vinyl use in the DJ game (more on that later) and parlay that into a new opportunity–it’s precisely why this blog was initially established as a shared ftp site for digital music in ’06.

But digital downloads and tool use aside, I’m just down for a DJ that makes me work up the dance floor. However, this Saturday, April 24, I won’t be able to make it; but perhaps you will, and I hope to get a full report from the floor as DJ Nick Nack joins them two, Sober and Dayta, and El Roy Boogie for the usual mayhem.

Meanwhile, Squincy & yours truly are cueing up requests and workin up The Lot on Washington. So post up your Tweets or send me a postcard from Top Notch with, “Wish you were here. <3 Nick Nack”

Download, Buy or Listen

>> Nick Nack’s Mixes

>> Nick Nack’s Soundcloud

Photo by Franny Pack

Go Go Garcia is sportin’ a big-ass smile.

His Big Moe dub remix of “I’ll Do It” is part of Brit boy Sinden‘s new Fact mix featured this week on Fader:

…Graeme Sinden is your man with this mix for Fact. Check the tracklist after the jump, put on some sweatpants and do your thing.

DOWNLOAD: FACT mix 136 – Sinden

Track List

DJ Sdunkero – Choosing Love [dub]
Sbtrkt – Asymmillation [dub]
T. Williams – Chop then Screw [Local Action]
Sunny Beach Happy Slap Mardi Gras – Mamacita (Bambounou Remix) [Demeto Mori]
Roska – Time Stamp [Rinse]
Ill Blu – Blu Magic [dub]
Dubbel Dutch – Deep Underground [Palms Out]
Samo Sound Boy – Wacka Flocka [dub]
DJ Posh E – Dada Supercat (Bub Dance Mix) [dub]
Deesq – Bubble like Club [dub]
Big Moe – I’ll Do It (Go Go Garcia Remix) [dub]
Sinden & Sbtrkt – Kind of Familiar [Grizzly]
Bassanovva – Terrortactyl [Grizzly]
Brodinski – Arnold Classics (Egyptrixx Remix) [Grizzly]
Martin Brothers – Duckface [Dirtybird]
Para One – Toadstool [Sound Pellegrino]
Miike Snow – Silvia (Sinden Remix) [Columbia]
Jamtech Foundation – Too Fast (Julio Bashmore Remix) [Discobelle]
Jay Weed – On the Nile [Grizzly]
DJ Canchola – Africa 09 [dub]
Ultravid – Clan of Wow (Kingdom Remix) [Silverback]
Guido – Cat in the Window [dub]

Fact highlights include Roska, Dubbel Dutch, Go Go, Sinden’s own “Silvia” remix and DJ Canchola. Now this mix is only available for download for three, I said three, weeks.

So what are you waiting for? Now GO, GO >>

I don’t think that my boy Tommy (aka Psyne in social media circles) needed much convincing, but he finally released a high-energy mini mix he unapologetically describes as “ravey”.

I wanted to do a 130 bpm mix to listen to on the way out and this is what I came up with.  It comes in at about 31 min long (and 16 tracks), but the mixes are fast, and I tried to keep the energy up.

Truth be told, Tommy, after putting away those d&b dub plates years ago, it really was time to come back out and play.

Welcome back.

NOW, let’s DIRB!

DOWNLOAD: In My Bedroom, Vol 3 – Just A Quickie (mp3)

Sebatien Tellier – L’amour et la Violence (Boys Noize Remix)
The XX – Shelter (DEATH TO THE THRONE REMIX!!!!!!)
Bag Raiders – Turbo Love (Shinichi Osawa Remix)
Amanda Blank – Might Like You Better (GRVRBBRS Remix)
Digiraatii – Blood on the Dancefloor
Drop The Lime – Hear Me (Drums Of Death remix)
Duck Sauce – aNYway (LAZRtag Remix)
Miike Snow – Animal (Fake Blood Remix)
Fake Blood – Mars (Jack Beats Remix)
Calvin Harris – I’m Not Alone (Taku Takahashi Remix)
Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes (Left/Right Remix)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps (Elite Force Re-Fix)
TC – Wheres My Money(Caspa Mix)(Elite Force Re-Fix)
Designer Drugs – Drop Down
Hyper Crush – Keep Up (Tommie Sunshine Brooklyn Fire Retouch)
Mariah Carey – H.A.T.E.U. (Remix)

Gracie, Dayta, Morsy and DJ Sun huddled up. Photo by Article

A major cold front overcast a lot of SXSW plans on for many Saturday. After layering up as much as possible, we headed out to see if we could weather the last SXSW day/night.

The first stop was Levi’s Fader Fort. Once you braved the cold, long line to get in, Levi’s had the right idea by setting up a retail area right as you step in. This is where most Fader Fort guests snapped up whatever was left of long-sleeve T’s, hoodies and jackets just to stay warm.

Linked with DJ Sun, Dayta and Morsy to catch the end of Salem’s lackadaisical performance, which was literally “booed”. I can’t say that out of all the shows I’ve attended, I’ve never seen an act get the proverbial rotten tomatoes cast at them. Ouch!

It was too cold to stay and watch Poirier‘s DJ set outside so we warmed up to a bluegrass band inside the Fort.

I had Morsy photo bomb the poor lads!

Next up, it was Carnaville with Major Lazer. G.Wizz and I caught the end of “Pon de Floor” along with the thinning crowd. Not even a hot cup of chocolate could keep us there. Sorry Diplo and Switch! There were reports that the carnival eventually shut down early.

After grubbing at Cuba Libre and more photo bombing courtesy of G.Wizz, we moved on to Malverde for the highlight of my night: some git down funk, Latin and soul by none other than Chicken George. The spot was so bumpin, I didn’t wanna leave. But we also thought there was more left to see.

Later, we walked by the Vice party but the line was wrapped around the building. That nonsense got the big deuce! And so did the line at Beauty Bar down the street. Cover was $10 just to see Treasure Fingers at 1 a.m.

Finally, we caught the end of Rye Rye‘s performance at the Billboard stage, had a Lone Star at some random bar at the end of 6th Street and called it a night before 2 a.m. This is pretty much what the night cap looked like…

When you're in Texas, do it like Texans do--DIRB!

Although this year’s SXSW seemed a bit lack luster, here are a few of the Dusty Crates highlights:

Squincy ain't skurred of la Chupacabra.

Bobby def was.

HTX deep!

Finally, a nice shot!

See more Dusty Crates SXSW 2010 photos.

And last but not least, Dave Wrangler wrapped it up best with this recap mix. You went the distance with this one, bro!

SXDW: The Unofficial Guide to SXSW 2010 (Soundcloud)– Dave Wrangler

Track Listing:
1. Sleigh Bells – Beach Girls
2. Theophilus London – Enjoy the Sun
3. Gorillaz – Stylo
4. The Hood Internet – Just-A-Friendomania
5. Little Boots – New In Town (Golden Filter Remix)
6. The Golden Filter – Hide Me
7. Hot Chip – One Life Stand
8. LCD Soundsystem – Too Much Love
9. The Gossip – Heavy Cross (Yuksek Remix)
10. La Roux – Quicksand (AutoKratz Drags to Riches Remix)
11. David Guetta feat. Kid Cudi – Memories (Armand Van Helden Remix)
12. The Juan Maclean – No Time (Shit Robot Remix)
13. Phoenix – 1901 (The Dirty Tees Remix)
14. Yeasayer – O.N.E. (XXXChange Remix)
15. Asher Roth – She Don’t Wanna Man (Yes Giantess Remix)
16. Gorillaz – Stylo (Alex Metric Remix)

Hope to see ya’ll  in Austin again next year!

Raw Word Record‘s DJ Orion is a DJ/producer from Austin, TX of Colombian/Puerto Rican ancestry who just released a new album. Although we’ve yet to make a formal introduction, this guy has been on the radar for quite some time. He’s been making moves at his Peligrosa nights and various other spots along with Klassen in ATX, and seems to be building una tremenda onda tropical.

Carajo Colombia is mainly his edits of tracks he grew up with and focuses on cumbia, with bmore/funk/hip-hop vibrations that manage to sneak in. You can name your price and download the album here.

Check DJOrion.com for his SXSW 2010 schedule as I’m sure he’ll be rockin’ a party near you!

Once upon a time drum & bass was king.

By 2000, Houston had become one of North America’s headquarters for dominating beats and tougher basslines. Any new d&b soldier in the area had to earn respect (and status) from either pride of DJs at the forefront of the d&b movement — Purrin Lion or Protoculture – if they wanted to step up to the decks.

Shortly after Matrix Crew‘s Chris Anderson and Andrei Morant introduced “jungle” over the KTRU Rice Radio airwaves in 1996, I started covering its progression at home and abroad for Public News, Tha Pride and URB magazine. All truth told, I fell in love.

At its peak in 2000, Houston’s d&b crews (reluctantly) fraternized on successive UK-headlining events, monthly Micros at 2020 Commerce and weeklies across the street at Club Hyperia. Audio 3 (Lionel Gonzales), Classic (Brad Slack) and Ramsey (Mike Davila) spearheaded Static, a weekly d&b night and ad hoc DJ crew made up of oftentimes opposing units. That collaboration ushered in a new era of d&b here nearly a decade ago.

Today, Heavy DNB is the only d&b event in town that’s endured featuring local and out-of-town talent on a quasi-monthly basis at various venues. Our own DIRB! crewmate, SDF-One, and Pejman have become musical curators of sorts, carrying on the d&b sound via Heavy DNB installments. And this month’s round-up brings it full circle (see flyer below).

This Saturday, March 6, a founding member of each d&b crew, Matrix’s Andrei Morant, Purrin Lion’s BMC and Static/Protoculture’s Ramsey, steps up the bpms at The Blue Room (Wired Live, 1503 Chartres, 77003). Ramsey also dropped us his new February Mix 2010 to share just in time. After listening to the mix, it also reminded me of that long-lost love.

Ramsey February Mix 2010 (dnbshare)

Track List

I Need You – Subwave (Medschool)
Bone Structure – Rockwell (Critical)
Dark age – Total Science & SPY (CIA)
Lonliness feat Riya – SPY (CIA)
Tribes – Rockwell (Critical)
Jerhico – Total Science & SPY (CIA)
Spectrasoul – 4points (Metalheadz)
Slum Dub – SPY (Soul:r)
Stars Get Down – Subwave (Medschool)
Jubei – Outcast (31 Records)
Icicle feat Noisia – Driftwood (Shogun Audio)
Alix Perez feat Peven Everett & Spectrasoul – Forsaken (Shogun Audio)

(l-r) Madlib & J.Rocc

Hip hop. Visionary. Dilla.

Those are the three words that come to mind when you think of Madlib. A trifecta of hip hop, this much sought-after rapper/producer/DJ has mastered a variety of ambitious projects, like recording Yesterday’s New Quintet, creating his alter-ego Quasimoto, and collaborating with the late J Dilla .

Since his rise in the late ’90s to last year’s Beat Konducta Vol. 5-6: A Tribute to Dilla, Madlib continues to explore the soundscape of hip hop, jazz and soul through his honorable tributes and music collaborations: from tha Alkaholics, Peanut Butter Wolf, to MF Doom, and most notably with Dilla (and J.Rocc) as Jaylib.

Madlib joins his Stones Throw label mate and turntablist, J.Rocc, at Numbers (300 Westheimer, 77006) this Saturday, February 27th in Houston. The Beat Junkie’s founder DJs during Madlib‘s live performances and has also put out his own Dilla tributes, Jaylib vs. J.Rocc (mp3) and Thank You Jay Dee mixtape series.

The doors open at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night and I highly suggest you get there early. Hosted by the ever prolific B Boy Craig, you won’t wanna miss Houston’s hip hop powerhouse HISD live show and a radiant set by one our own DJ Sun.

Get your money’s worth is all I’m sayin, ’cause these men deserve mad props!

Tickets are on sale now.

Listen >>

J.Rocc

Jaylib vs J.Rocc (Stones Throw, mp3)

Hueston Independent Spit District (H.I.S.D.)

PeaceUvMine.com (videos, clips)

DJ Sun

Soular Grooves Podcasts (SoularGrooves.com)

Thanks to my homie Witnes who also contributed to this post.