Check out Gilles Peterson as he goes diggin’ in Havana, Cuba.

Now I’m missing these kinda days at the record store.

But it’s good inspiration for the relaunch of Movida at Dean’s!

By now Houston hip hop fans have noticed a void on the local air waves. The crazy Kracker Nuttz are no longer on KBXX 97.9 The Boxx for supposedly playing the Trae verse in a Chamillionaire song.

After 12 years on the radio, the say goodbye via their Kracker Nuttz blog:

…we want to thank everyone of you who tuned in. For all the times we felt like giving up on “corporate/commercial” radio & quitting… YOU were the only reason why we stayed. We felt like we owed it to YOU… the voice, the fan, or the listener who was never properly represented…

But these are not the last words on their abrupt departure. Taking a parting shot in an Open Letter addressed to The Boxx, writer/blogger and pusher of all things truly hip hop, my dude Matt Sonzala put it best on his AustinSurreal blog:

KBXX – you are in the wrong here. You initiated this problem, and now refuse to work to fix it. Your ban on Trae, and the subsequent actions you have taken on fairly innocent parties, is reprehensible and cowardly. It’s also lazy. I realize that in the age of 140 character tweets and Facebook updates, genuine conversations often take a back seat. This situation merits a genuine conversation, and a solution.

Your half assed, one sided solution is not the answer…

Word.

Best of luck to Clean Kutt, Baby Jay and the Nuttz; I’m sure I’ll see you out rockin more clubs where now we’ll all get that first-hand “all up in yo mouth” experience.

Read the entire Open Letter to 97.9 The Boxx at AustinSurreal.com >>

Our dude Squincy is growing. And so are his followers. Check out his recent interview on Desired Hearts.

And, oh yeah, happy birthday awwready! Do it real BIG! =)

– The DIRB! fam

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 >>

UPDATED: Fixture (aka Brandon Gresham) is one of Houston’s leading electro house DJ/producers who’s been tearing up the scene with amped up remixes and original tracks for quite a while.

With 12 years of experience DJing and a growing production arsenal, he’s quickly becoming more than just a permanent fixture in Texas. The DJ of Neon Nites fame was heavily influenced by a variety of major house players like Prodigy, Junior Jack, Fedde le Grande, Dave Spoon, Eric Prydz, Dirty South, Sebastein Leger, Patrick Alavi, Groove Armada, Vandalism, Spirit Catcher, Boris Dlugosh, CZR, Kid Creme, Sebastian Ingrosso, Boys Noize, Axwell and Roger Sanchez.

Fixture sent over a couple of tracks for our listening pleasure. The first is a hard winding remix of “Touch” by local femme fatale, Shina Rae. And the next is a driving Lissy Trullie remix, “Self Taught Learner,” to add to your playlist. POSR’s “Cocaine Nose Job” and “Hellz Bellz” are available on Beatport.

But my personal Fixture favorite remix has to be “Love on my Mind”–a fokin’ classic!

DOWNLOAD Your Fixture Tracks >>

Freemasons – Love On My Mind (Fixture Remix) by Fixture aka LuvLux

Shina Rae – Touch (Fixture Remix) by Fixture aka LuvLux

Lissy Trullie – Self Taught Learner (Fixture Remix) by Fixture aka LuvLux

Fixture – Hellz Bellz (Original Mix) by Fixture aka LuvLux

More Fixture on SoundCloud >>

Find Fixture online:
MYSPACE
FACEBOOK
SOUNDCLOUD
YOUTUBE
TWITTER

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)

Here’s a bit of the hair of the dog that bit ya last weekend.

With so many Valentine’s-themed mixes to choose from, it felt like standing in front of the condom aisle wondering which was gonna get the job done.

I rounded up five mixes, so choose a flavor to get you in the mood. Or try them all–just be sure to also pick up Alka-Seltzer for that love hangover in the monin‘!

1) The Motel Mix 2: For the Ladies – DJ Mel (aka Mel Caravicci) [mediafire]
A nice segue from our last post, this smooth transition is brought to you by none other than our dude in Austin, DJ Mel.

It’s been a minute and since it’s that Valentines time of year, I’m breaking you off another volume of THE MOTEL MIX. This time around, the focus is on the ladies and female R&B groups.

Get the track listing at www.smellyone.blogspot.com.

2) VDAY Mix – DJ A-One [mediafire]
Double-whammy! Also coming off an All-Star weekend high, Dallas’ DJ A-One found time to drop this joint. Find out how insane it got at www.djaone.blogspot.com.

3) #CHNS2DSD – Bobby Trill [zshare]
This one hails from our boy Bobby Trill in S.A. He’s been rampin’ up on them Twitter hash tags and this is the pantie-droppin’ outcum. Squincy Jones pimped it on his blog Awwready:

This mix hops around genres with dope cuts and blends while staying on that luvy dubby tip.

4) Cowboys & Girls, Vol. 1 – Ace Boon Coon & B*Luxe [mediafire]
B*Luxe dropped this hot one on me via email. Now that he’s back in the H, B*’s ready to ro-de-oh with pahtnah Ace BoonCoon! Check ‘em out at www.cushcushco.com.

5) LuvStep – Dirty South Joe & Flufftronix [direct]
With dude-step now synonymous with dubstep, it’s a huge relief to hear that Dirty South Joe & Flufftronix exposed a softer, more feminine side thru LuvStep. No half-steppin’, this podcast mix made me wonder why I didn’t think of it first (thanks, SDF-One ;P)! Mami likes!!

We live in a cynical world, and we work in a business of tough competitors, so what’s in a wobble? You don’t have to be a smart man to know what love is. LUVSTEP completes you and is programmed for pleasure. It’s music for starry nights and candle light…slow wine and grind time. Dirty South Joe and Flufftronix are your captains for this maiden voyage into the heart of the boom’s cosmic bosom. It’s amazing, the love inside. You take it with you.

Peep the track listing and more on Mad Decent.

The beats are kickin. The bass is thump, thump, thumpin.

Your toes are tappin. The tempo starts to travel from your toes, up your leg and through your body.

Your heart is pumpin just a bit faster than the cut that’s playin right now. But all you hear is the next one cued up in your headphones.

You look up for a sec…yep…they’re still dancin. Now you’re starting to feel their heat. A beam of light shines in your eyes. The disco ball showers the dance floor with color.

OK, focus…

Levels? Check!

Beats are on…

Timin’s right…

All right, here we go…

When it comes to DJing, Austin’s DJ Mel always maintains that next level. His eclectic musical taste blends well with his masterful mixing. This DJ innovator pulls out classic gems and current tracks for awe-inspiring mixes each and every time. He programs sets from a vast collection of history’s recorded dance music. Plus, it helps when you’ve been Waterloo Record’s perennial music buyer for years.

Mel’s broad criss-crossing knowledge of music genres coupled with an unbelievable dexterity behind the decks has earned him numerous credits–Lollapalooza’s stage manager (2008), Scion “Free Your Mix” Finalist (2004) and Austin’s “Best DJ” four-times over!

But, I personally consider DJ Mel a “DJ’s DJ.” He happens to be one of my top favorite DJs of all time and, I’ll even admit, a source of inspiration for my threading musical taste in my DJ journey. But I’m not gonna discount that he still makes me shake my ass pon de floor.

Mel made his debut at The Lot (4212 Washington, 77007) with us last month in the H. It was one of the coldest weekends in Houston, but he brought some heat with him and set shit on fire. The response was tremendous!

So, I’m happy to announce that he’s back this month to DIRB! with us again! This Saturday, February 6th, get there early because traffic on Washington Ave. gets pretty heavy after 10 p.m. Parking can be spotty, but there’s valet available right out front of the Lot. There’s no cover and drink specials include our favorite Texas beer: Lone Star tall boys. I’ll be on deck to warm it up before Mel, but save me a spot on that dance floor as soon as he’s on!

Now, if that ain’t enough to get you out to see this man live in 3-D this Saturday night, push play on the video link to see what you missed last month. Or just download DJ Mel’s mixes and remixes at www.smellyone.blogspot.com.

DJ Mel Mixes

• DJ Mel – The Motel Mix
• DJ Mel – The Funky Terrier.
• DJ Mel – Live @ Nasty’s – 06.11.07.
• DJ Mel – Live On East Village Radio – 11.17.06.

For more details, RSVP: DJ MEL at The Lot, Feb 2010 (Facebook)

We’ll miss you…

DIRB! wherever you go.

<3 Mami

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