Dusty Crates

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.

Some of you may have been around the Houston electronic music scene in the mid-’90s and perhaps had the pleasure of meeting Abiel Mejia who was part of the original Matrix Crew. Along with DJs Chris Anderson and Andrei Morant, the Crew hosted some of the first raves in Houston, which featured DJs mixing hard house, techno and jungle all night long.  They began a movement that became not only an integral part of the local rave scene, but also one that permeated through subsequent electronic music communities in Texas.

Abiel was also a graphic designer who designed some of the most recognizable rave fliers in town. He later became art director and worked alongside with me at newsweekly Public News before his tragic and untimely passing in 1997.

Fast forward 12 years:  we still haven’t forgotten his impact. Thanks to his loving family and friends, Abiel’s legacy lives on through his recordings and mix tapes.

So today, tune in to www.di.fm as Andy “Champa” Moore pays tribute to Abiel by webcasting his classic Chronolog mix on what would have been his 41st birthday.

To listen as the 2 hour-long PING program streams, go to: http://www.di.fm/calendar/event.php?event=16088. And for more show info, check the FB event page: 02.24.10_Got to Keep the Fire Burnin.

For those of you in Texas, showtime is at 1 pm (CST). If you live elsewhere, click on the most appropriate “Listen Now” button on www.di.fm just before or during show time:

* 2pm US EST
* 1pm US CST
* 7pm GMT
* 20:00 CET

Finally, to hear more of Abiel’s live recordings and mixes, visit www.subcrates.com. The forum chronicles his recordings as far back as 1994.

As you rest in peace, brother, we’ll celebrate your life.

Welp, this is the last day of the year, and the last December for the decade. What have you done that’s so important in the last ten years?

If you’re still thinking, maybe you should get back on track and join us for NYE at YAO’s Restaurant & Bar Downtown (1201 Main St., 77002). Dayta, Chris Miguel and yours truly will be Doin It Even Bigger as we recap the last decade, or two, of some of the best music you didn’t get to download on Napster when you should’ve.

We’ll be ringing in the new year with a traditional champagne toast (perhaps even the “Auld Lang Sine” mainstay ditty) and jammin’ the decade away from 9pm to 2am. There’s no cover and you gotta be 21+. Check the sideline flier —> for more info.

To reserve a table, email livingroomhouston@gmail.com and let them know you wanna DIRB! thru 2011!

That’s a good re-start, right?!

While I feverishly work out my top ten list as I go thru my music for tomorrow, here are a couple you should check out:

Top Ten Songs of the Decade according to…

ACCORDING TO…
PITCHFORK
ROLLING STONE

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

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.

I came across this mix earlier this week and reminded me of how much I enjoy a good minimal, tech-house mix with just enough steel drumming to give Houston’s hottest summer a soundtrack and make it a little bit bearable.

Round Table Knights continues with their tradition of churning out mixes based on the seasons, the time has come for their Summer mix and of course it’s brilliant as always.

Round Table Knights – Summer Mix 2009 (zShare)

Tracklist:

Sandra Nikaké – La Mauvaise Réputation (Blackjoy Instr Mix)
Jarvis Cocker – You’re My Eyes (Disco Song) (Pilooski Remix)
Ghostape – Your Eyes (Round Table Knights Remix)
Who Made Who – Keep Me In My Plane (Dj Koze Hudson River Dub Mix)
Wareika – Facing The Sun
Stimming – After Eight
Neuroxyde – Yebo Yebo (Neuroxyde From Berlin Rework)
Worthy – Surdo
Daniel Steinberg – Cocolips (Heinrich & Hirtenfellner Remix)
Bauchamp – Calypso (Round Table Knights Remix)
Joris Voorn – Sweep The Floor
M.in, Sebastian Schuster – New Orleans
Thomas Schumacher – Sunset
James Braun, Dan M – Lessons 1
Lars Bartkuhn – Goodbye Dancing Hello God (Arto Mwambe Remix)
Basti Grub – El Latino

Jeffe, I think you’ll particularly enjoy it the most!

Neon Nites kicks off their 2nd monthly installment at Zeppelin (3101 San Jacinto) with the usual suspects–Fixture, G.Wizz, Bristle, Jeff Mac–and featuring El Nino.

If you can stand the hot glow of the bangers played tonight, then you’ve definitely found your destination for the night. Just don’t leave home without your sunglasses! Shit’s gonna be hot! See Sideline Events for more info –>

Appropriately, the Soular Grooves camp will bring some warmth to the patio, thanks to Eric Salzman, Jibril and Seth Jones.

Although this is out of order, I feel it necessary to post the DIRB! Live on KTRU Part 4 mix from G.Wizz & Jep.

LISTEN/DOWNLOAD DIRB! Live On KTRU – G.Wizz & Jep PT. 4

http://www.zshare.net/audio/61629917d5d990ef/

Holler if you need at track listing: dirb2008@gmail.com

Enjoy it! I’ve got the final part of this live mix with me and Antonio cued up for next week.

Santigold

With her recent legal troubles behind and reprise of her namesake, Santi White can keep it moving on to the next as Santigold. The artist formerly known as “Santogold” (a nickname she got from a classmate back in the ’80s for her sister-girl style) is back on track this summer touring in support of her f/k/a self-titled debut.

She also makes her debut here in the H tonight at the House of Blues-Houston with support from female rapper Amanda Blank and New York-based Trouble Andrew. Doors open at 7 p.m. and show starts at 8 p.m.

The “official” afterparty kicks off next door in the HOB’s Foundation Room right after the show with DJ Fixture. Psst! Password is “cupcake”.

But if you wanna bling-bling BIG, call your boss now and tell ‘em you won’t be in tomorrow. The “unofficial” afterparty goes down at Shake & Pop (Boondocks, 1417 Westheimer) with Amanda Blank, Spankrock DJs Devlin & Darko, Austin’s Prince Klassen, Dayta & Squincy Jones.

Here are a few cuts to get you ready for tonight:

Hold the Line (Remix) – Major Lazer feat. Henok Achido & Santigold

You’ll Go Crazy – Santigold feat. Young Jeezy (ysi)

Unstoppable – Santigold feat. Lil Wayne & Drake (zshare)

I’m a Lady – Amanda Blank & Santigold (mp3)

Shove It  (Toy Selectah Refix) – Santigold (mp3) <–blazin hott cumbia refix in my rotation!

G.Wizz & Criminal Vox

DIRB!'s Gracie Chavez & Karma's Kung Fu Pimp

Amish & The Twins

This is how it pretty much went dawn on Saturday! Powerhouse trifecta with DIRB!, Karma and Gritsy teaming up for a special event at Block 21. Thanks to all involved for setting it off!

Wish you coulda been there!

More DIRB! Block Party photos on Facebook:

• DIRB! + Karma + Gritsy (pt 1)
• DIRB! + Karma + Gritsy (pt 2)
• DIRB! + Karma + Gritsy (pt 3)

Photos by Suraj Kurian for Karma Houston. Thanks for the roving lens!

Join our FB groups for more event updates:

• Block 21 on Facebook
• DIRB! in TX on Facebook