It’s that time again, mi gente! Our monthly pachanga, Bombón, is in full swing again!

So bring your güiros, maracas, cowbell or anything else you wanna shake tonight at Avant Garden (411 Westheimer, 77006). DJs Navo, OG Bobby Trill and yours truly (Gracie Chavez) will keep you moving, so step your cumbia game up! DJ/MC Bobby will lead the “grito” contest–aye, aye, ayeeee!

While we get our hustle-on, peep out Houston’s own Panchitron, who’s raverton tracks were recently featured online.

Panchitron-Everyday by Panchitron

RSVP for Bombón – Houston (www.facebook.com/BombonHouston) now and check back for updates and upcoming events every First Friday!

A couple of weeks ago, we are embarked on a showcase of new sounds in H-town with BOMBON. The takeaway: people have been waiting too long for this kind of night in Houston!

As cumbia is gaining momentum worldwide, it’s exciting to see how this folkloric tradition has been given so many new mezclas and treatments. The future of South American-inspired electronic riddim has no shortage of color or creativity.

MICHEL CLEIS – LA MEZCLA (ROBB G REMIX) by ROBB G

In the coming months, you’ll hear a collection of fresh uptempo melodies and bass-heavy beats that make up a variety of “Cumbiatron.” From Cumbia, Bajo Tropical, Salsa, Latin Beats, Baile Funk, Reggaeton, Moombahton, y Mezclas AfroLatinos, we have banded together to bring you this full-on Latino experience, without a need for a passport.

To see where the next sound of the Americas is headed next, mark your calendars para saborear BOMBON each month with yours truly, Gracie Chávez, plus DJs Navó, OG Bobby Trill and Tonio.

Starting January 7, 2011 and every first Friday of the month, centrally located Avant Garden (411 Westheimer, 77006) is hosting our first in a series of Latin parties full of irrepressible music, live instrumentation, cinematic loops, spirited libations and excessive dancing!  Now, why would you want to miss the next one?

¡Entonces, ponte los zapatos pa la pachanga!

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.

Some of the more Latin-inspired dance rhythms with spicier bass lines swarming around lately have reawakened a new-found interest in my conquistadora roots. As a first-gen Chicana growing up in Houston’s Northside, I explored Papi’s concept albums and his 45 record collection of cumbia, boleros and traditional Mexican folk music along with his more modern disco, pop music, movie soundtracks and the newer “hip hop” sounds on KYOK radio in the early ’80s.

Fast forward. Today, I get to hear that familiar cultural blend in acts like Mexicans with Guns, a San Antonio producer that’s muy libre with his musical genres and always lucha for more bass. MWG‘s recent well-received release, “Me Gusto,” featuring Chico Mann is an explosion of dubby, electro, 8-bit goodies all stuffed into one colorful piñata.

The lively track is part of the similarly titled five-track EP,  Me Gusto (Innovative Leisure/FoF Music), below:

Track List

1. Me Gusto ft. Chico Mann
2. Dame Lo
3. Los Perritos
4. Me Gusto ft. Chico Mann (Ghosts on Tape Remix)
5. Me Gusto (Instrumental)

Get the Mexicans with Guns Me Gusto EP on 12-inch vinyl at Stones Throw. 

Mexicans With Guns – “Me Gustó” ft. Chico MannbyFunny Ha Ha

Download: Mexicans With Guns – “Me Gustó” ft. Chico Mann (mp3)

With music like this, there was a good reason to revive Movida, a close-knit monthly party that featured soul, funk, 80s, 90s, plus other remixes and rarities to make you move. Instigated in 2007 by DJs Witnes (who’s holding down The Lot this Saturday night) & Antonio, the reoccurring night found a loyal niche audience for a good run at The Flat.

This Saturday, May 15, we’re bringing back Movida Remixed with special guest DJ Criminal V and hostesses Las Chiquitas at Dean’s Montrose (315 Fairview @ Morgan, 77006).

Join us for la Movida! RSVP now.

Our dude is back!

This Saturday, DJ Mel is gonna DIRB! with us again at The Lot on Washington. We’ve had a lot of fun each time he’s been down and something tells me we’re cued up for a ginormous summer in the H!

Here’s Mel’s latest edits to get you warmed up for summertime! The Goodmen’s is an edit of the original samba club jam, “Give It Up“.

>> Give It Up (DJ Mel edit) – The Goodmen (mediafire)

>> When I Think of You (Summertime remix) – Janet Jackson (mediafire)

DIRB! in TX and FB RSVP for more event details and updates.

Can you spell FEBRUARY?

It’s playtime again!

After playing musical chairs with the lineup, DIRB! welcomes special guest DJ/remixer Panchitron. Along the same veins as Toy Selectah and Uproot Andy, Houston’s Panchitron mixes up tropical bass, cumbia, house and ghetto to get you to the floor. !Puro fuego! [Spanish lesson: straight fire!]

He’s starting things off for the Recess crew including that bad boy Squincy Jones who’s finally out of Time Out and ready to play nice!

Finally, thanks to Oahn (www.soundslike1.com) for the dope-ass flyer. If we would have have animated it, we could have played on it like this: SPEAK & SPELL.

GOODBYE,
D-I-R-B!

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!

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.

Family Photo

Squincy Jones joins the DIRB! fam live on KTRU tonight…

DIRB! DJs Gracie Chavez & Antonio team up with G.Wizz (Neon Nites) & Jep for 3 hours of non-stop live mixing on KTRU 91.7 FM (ktru.org).

From 9 pm-12 am on KTRU’s MK Ultra DJ show, we’ll journey through an eclectic soundscape of music genres–downtempo, cumbia, dub, breaks, hip hop, world beats, classics, house, disco, electro, dance rock, etc…

Tune in locally >> 91.7 FM in Houston area
Listen here globally >> http://www.mkultra.us/
Download here futuristically >> http://mkultra.us/audio
Call in >> 713.348.KTRU

About MK Ultra
For years, the MK Ultra show has been one of the main driving forces behind Houston’s electronic dance music scene. Indeed, it is where many of Houston’s finest DJs got their start, and has even led some to world fame, including the likes of Jake Childs, Andrei Morant, Chris Anderson, and Henry Chow to name a few…So sit back, and take a look around – there’s lots of goodies here from sentimental photos to slamming DJ Mixes! http://mkultra.us/audio

Updates and info at www.dustycrates.com at www.fahrenheit-media.com.

DIRB! with Witnes

Does this man really need an introduction?

If you don’t catch Witnes at CAM’s Steel Lounge Underground on Friday, Do It Real BIG with us at Block Party (2420 Washington) this Saturday for his birthday and homecoming!

You won’t be sorry…

RSVP here and see event e-flyer in sideline –>

Rocks Off: Rock Box’s Final Night, 2008

SLFEMP mixtape – Witnes & Squincy Jones (mp3)