This Saturday- La Paz Late Night Presents: Tacky Holidisco
December 2, 2010
Remember last fall/winter when you could go to La Paz (now in Ombi Bar’s old digs on Elliston) and dance the night away with DJ Potamus and friends every Friday? Yeah, it was called La Paz Late Night, and though the former owner put the brakes on it after a few months, the new owner is all about some dance parties, so Potamus and I have brought LPLN back from the grave! We’re gonna be doing it on the monthly instead of the weekly, and the first party of the new era is THIS SATURDAY: Tacky Holidisco. We’ve enlisted the help of DJ collective/blog/party promoters Vitalic Noise as well, and between the three of us it should be a party to remember, every month. We’ll be spinning a smooth mix of classic disco, nu disco, french house, and electro. We also have some irresistible drink deals- $2.50 PBRs, $4 Margaritas, and a round of $2 jello shots at midnight. We will also have a special prize for the tackiest holiday get-up. As always, dark corner makeout sessions are encouraged. What more could you ask for on a Saturday night? Here’s the skinny, in case you didn’t feel like actually reading all that:
La Paz Late Night Presents: Tacky Holidisco
THIS SATURDAY DEC 4th at La Paz Mexican Restaurant: 2214 Elliston Pl.
FREE 10-11pm, $3 after 11, ages 21+ only
$2.50 PBRs/$4 margaritas/$2 jello shots at midnight
Disco/house/electro by DJs Potamus, Burgers, and Vitalic Noise
For a sample of what you’ll hear, check out my latest mixtape BURGERS Fall 2010 MIXXXX below, or tune into 91.1 WRVU tonight from 6-8pm, as I’ll be performing a mini-mix on Sam & Kelly Patton’s awesome show Penguin Parade.
Powerbrrrd show tonight/William Tyler album/MAVS remix contest
November 16, 2010
Wow, there’s a lot of good stuff to report today.
First of all, let me say that this morning sucked. Quite frankly this started out as a bad day. But I found out that local guitar wizard William Tyler (who’s played with Silver Jews, Lambchop, and most recently KORT) has a new solo album out, and it’s streaming on NPR. I had no idea what to expect, but I started playing some tracks and my day immediately improved. The album is mostly instrumental acoustic guitar compositions with roomy, spacey samples and horn parts washed in here and there. A few tracks feature ambient sound effects with distant druid-like chants. It was one of those times where just the right thing happens to come along to set you back in sync. Good job Willy T!
Now for a brief moment of self-promotion. My band Powerbrrrd is playing a free show at the Exit/In tonight, along with Nite Nite, The Grayces, Little Viking, and Frank the Fuck Out. A good time is guranteed. We had a 4th Brrrd in line to make his debut tonight, but unfortunately he inured his wing and won’t be able to rock with for a few more weeks.
One more brief moment of self-promotion. Saturday I turn 29. To kick off my last year of being a coveted twenty-something, I’m hosting an 8 off 8th at Mercy Lounge next Monday, and it’s a grunge cover night. Yes, break out your flannel, ripped jeans, and chucks- it’s time to get filthy. The lineup is Eliza the Arrow (former members of Forget Cassettes), Foxcore (members of Take the Power Back), Anchor Thieves, Powerbrrrd, Sweet Tempers, Kelly Kerr, and Bad Press (Nashville Cream staff). There will also be FREE CAKE.
If you’re a music maker of the electronic type, or just a DJ who dabbles in production, you should head over to Makeup & Vanity Set’s website where can download stems for an official remix contest he’s hosting. The track being remixed is “Charles Park” off of Charles Park II. I really look forward to hearing some of these remixes, and tackling the remix myself. Whether I can come up with anything noteworthy remains to be seen, as my time is stretched thin…
Finally, I must warn that my posting may be limited to non-existent past today. Something blog-worthy may pop up tomorrow, but Thursday I’ll be having PRK eye surgery, and unfortunately there is a bit of recovery time involved, during which I may have be doped up on pain meds while my corneas heal. Most of you haven’t a clue how severely near-sighted I am, but suffice it to say that even though this surgery will only reduce my corrective prescription, that alone will be well worth it.
Halloween weekend rundown
October 29, 2010
Image via tenthousandknives
By now you’ve probably already pinned down your Halloween plans, but I’ll list off a few things going down this weekend just in case there’s a day that you haven’t quite figure out yet.
FRIDAY:
Freaky Friday Halloween Party at Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom. Featuring a total nostalgia-gasm of Guilty Pleasures + My So-Called Band in the Cannery and Yacht Rock Revue + Glam Hammer in Mercy Lounge. If I were going, I’d stay upstairs not because of the bands, but because we all know Guilty Pleasures + Halloween = lots of cougars dressing up as a “sexy _____” and exposing things that no cougar should ever expose. It’s 21+ and $15 gets you a wristband with access to both venues.
Clem Snide & Mountain Man are at the Basement. 21+ $8 9pm
SATURDAY:
Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom host their annual “Nightmare In Music City” party. Cannery Ballroom will be transformed into a giant dance party, Mercy will be an exclusive VIP area, and there will be a huge heated tent outside in the parking lot with more DJs and dancing. $15 GA, $50 VIP.
Mai and 12th & Porter present the 2nd annual “Haunted Valley” block party featuring DJ sets and performances by Ying Yang Twins, Chancellor Warhol, Majestico, Coach, Potamus, Brandon Wahl, Space Capone, Luna Halo, Rod Youree, Cal Ecker, Hands off Sam, and Slow Motion Centerfold. Not sure who’s playing in which venue, but GA tix are $25.
Ra Ra Riot, Villagers, and Givers are at Exit/In. 9pm $15.
There also may or may not be a secret show happening at a secret location that’s about a 40 minute drive down I-24. This secret location may or may not have a very strict capacity limit due to past events. The headlining band may or may not have been recording their debut album in this same secret location over the past few months.
SUNDAY:
Girl Talk at Mai. Outdoor party, rain or shine. Starts at 7pm!
That’s all I got. Have a good Halloween and keep it classy.
BURGERS Fall 2010 MIXXXX
October 18, 2010
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the BURGERS Fall 2010 MIXXXX. Download for free:
Tracklisting:
Two Door Cinema Club- Something Good Can Work (Twelves RMX)
Lexicon Don- Student Body (Bit Funk RMX)
Miami Horror- I Look To You (ft. Kimbra)
Burns & Fred Falke- You Stopped Lovin’ Me (Treasure Fingers RMX)
Duck Sauce- Barbara Streisand
Punches- Feelin’ Right (Justin Faust RMX)
Cee Lo Green- Fuck You (Le Castle Vania RMX)
The Armed Forces- Loose All Control
Jensen Sportag- Jareaux
It’s short and to-the-point, and I think I’ll be keeping most all my published mixtapes that way from now on. I feel like some of the past few have tried to do too much for one mix, so this one is just 35 minutes of smooth, sexy disco/house fun.
A weak weekend
October 15, 2010
There’s always plenty of things going on in this City of Music every weekend, but this particular one really doesn’t have much of anything that I personally get excited about. But, here’s my best attempt:
FRIDAY:
DJs Wick-it and Kidsmeal, along with several other DJs, have been throwing a pretty badass party called Mashville roughly once a month for three years now, and they’re throwing the biggest party yet tonight at Mercy Lounge to celebrate. It’s also the release party for Wick-it’s new mashup album. Expect some of the best scratching performances you’ll find in the southeast, along with plenty of hip hop, pop, and maybe some head-bending WOMP WOMP in the form of dubstep. The very mention of dubstep makes me cringe, but I certainly respect those guys because their skills are easily light years ahead of any other DJs in this town. Sean Maloney says I need to smoke more weed to enjoy dubstep… but even then I don’t think I could enjoy it. It just ain’t my bag. There’s a 5% chance I might go just to see Kidsmeal and Wick-it have a scratch-off, and head for the patio when the WOMPs start pulsing, but who knows. Read a much better preview by Mr. Maloney at the Nashville Cream.
SATURDAY:
There is honestly not one thing happening Sat. that piques my interest enough to mention.
SUNDAY:
Matt & Kim w/ Donnis and Girls in the Eighties @ Exit/In. I saw Matt & Kim play a sold out show at this same venue along with the Cool Kids about 2 years ago, and while I don’t call myself a serious fan, they put on a pretty enjoyable show. Not that familiar with Donnis, but he drops some pretty sweet verses on “All The Girls” by Bag Raiders. And I enjoyed Girls in the Eighties’ quick and simple pop punk at their NBN show a couple weeks ago.
Have a great weekend!
NBN EventBrite day party Friday
September 28, 2010
There have been hints and rumors galore about this Friday’s NBN day party, but the word is officially out now. This party is being touted as one of the best, if not THE best event at Next BIG Nashville this year. It’s a SXSW day party-style event going down at the awesome Neuhoff Factory in Germantown, and there will be TONS of free swag, free booze, a photobooth, t-shirts printed onsite, and of course an awesome lineup of music. The Features headline, with support from Morning Teleportation, Take The Power Back (female RATM tribute), and Kurtis Stanley. I will also be DJing some hot new jams between and after the bands.
Priority entrance will be given to NBN VIP badgeholders and wristbands, but EVERYONE MUST RSVP at the EventBrite website. If you’re not a badgeholder or wristband-wearer but still want to go, get your ass on over there and RSVP now because only the first 100 general public will get in! Full details:
EventBrite NBN Factory party
3:30-7pm
Neuhoff Factory- 1315 Adams St., Nashville
21+ ONLY, must RSVP here
THE FEATURES
Morning Teleportation
Take The Power Back
Kurtis Stanley
DJ sets by BURGERS between/after bands
Free drinks, free swag, photobooth, onsite t-shirt printing
See you Friday!
First, I must point you to the official Next BIG Nashville schedule. It’s up, and it will probably change, but it’s there so start planning which sacrifices to make. Planning your schedule at these types of music festivals is always a delicate balance between seeing people you know and like, and branching out to see some new acts you might not get to see otherwise.
Secondly, I have some exciting news that some people know about, but others don’t. I will be doing a photo documentary project with Those Darlins next week; joining them on a week-long leg of their tour with Strange Boys and Gentleman Jesse & His Men. I got the idea after the death of famous rock photographer Jim Marshall last year. News of his death got me thinking about his photographs, and how a lot of the truly iconic shots are very casual, candid, off-beat images taken off the stage. I thought about how I could do more of that type of behind-the-scenes work (not that my images will ever be as iconic as Marshall’s shots of Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and the like), and I thought of Those Darlins. I’ve known them for years, they’re some of the best people I know, they have room in their van, and after some discussions with their awesome manager John “JT” Turner, this idea is now becoming a reality. They’re what most would consider a mid-level act, but they’re headed for higher places and I think it’s the right time to do this type of project with a band like them. Those Darlins know how to party, and I think the results of this little experiment will be interesting. So, if you’re in Chapel Hill, D.C., New York, Cambridge, or Brooklyn, I hope to see you at one of the shows! Obviously, I may not be posting much next week…
My other news is simply that Miami Horror is awesome and you should go buy their album now. Seriously, I’ve been seeing mp3’s from these guys popping up in the blogosphere for a few months and I kept thinking “oh, this is an awesome track… nice…” But just yesterday I saw my friend Joseph’s review of their debut album on his blog Nashville Nights and it finally clicked in my head that these guys were different than your average “3 or 4 singles a year” DJs/producers. I urge you to checkout the quality interview Joseph did with them as well… I totally agree with his sentiment that it’s hard to find a good, quality dance floor album these days. There really are no sleepers or filler on this album- pure quality all the way through. Honestly this material is exactly what I personally want out of electronic/dance music: it’s got a great disco-ey, funky groove to it, smooth bass lines, and most of all the songs are songs, not just a bunch of loops layered together that build and fade (via trancewave). If you like Cut Copy, AIR, or Neon Indian, you will love this record. This is the best thing to come out of Australia since Silverchair. J/K J/K J/K
Miami Horror-I Look To You (Ft. Kimbra)
Oh, and the link to buy the album goes to Amazon. Fuck iTunes and their non-mp3/non-DJable formats. And while I’m at it, fuck their new ugly skin/layout for iTunes 10, too.
Brandon Jazz and his Armed Forces release “Radical Luv” 7-inch
August 30, 2010
At some point recently, and I can’t for the life of me remember where/when, I recall hearing Brandon Jazz referred to as Nashville’s own local male version of Ke$ha. That’s surprisingly accurate, I say. Hell, his latest song “X-Ray Eyes” is actually about her. (Download it at the Cream, it’s a damn good song.) Mr. Jazz has proven himself to be quite the self-promoter, and while his “look at me!!!” style of attention-grabbing annoys the hell out of some, I find it quite amusing. Furthermore, if you have a good ‘ol sit-down with him, you’ll find that he’s actually a really nice dude. Sure, his band used to suck. Really bad. But one Ryan Truso (of the now-defunct Mean Tambourines) saw some honest raw talent in him, took him under his wing, taught him how to sing, and now we have a string of infectious pop gems such as “Radical Luv,” “Vultures (You Never Shut Up),” and most recently “X-Ray Eyes.”
The 7″ pressing of “Radical Luv” was funded by a Kickstarter campaign, and part of the funds from said campaign went to MusiCares. Tonight’s 8 off 8th at Mercy Lounge is doubling as the official release show for the 7″, and features a cast of great local bands including Heartbeater, Loose Cougar, DJ sets by Coach, and many more. Admission is free, but $5 gets you a copy of the 7″, and $20 gets you an amazing Radical Luv T-shirt. Just go. What have you got to loose?
Tonight also marks the official release of the “Vultures” remix EP. Mr. Jazz enlisted DPAUL, Justin Kase, myself (BURGERS), and a few others to remix the track. The remix EP will be available digitally on the Armed Forces bandcamp page tomorrow. I’ve also been told it’ll be on iTunes. For a limited time, though, you can grab my BURGERS remix right here:
The Armed Forces-Vultures (BURGERS REMIX)
Enjoy it in all of its Moog-tastic glory.
Two Powerbrrrd shows this weekend + a BURGERS DJ set
August 27, 2010
First of all, I must espouse how amazing last night’s Chromeo show + afterparty was. Oh. My. God. Of course it could never top seeing them with Daryl Hall (and his silvery flowing mane blown by TWO leaf blowers) at Bonnaroo this year, but still, last night was fucking heaven. I must congratulate How I Became the Bomb for BOTH of their amazing sets of Hall & Oates covers. I saw both and was blown away. Russell Hanberry (their moustachioed guitarist) had clearly been analyzing every John Oates dance move from the H&O music videos, because had that shit down. Chromeo’s set was of course amazing, and after going through my pics, which can be seen at the Cream (review will be up sometime later today), I have developed a bit of a man-crush on Dave Macklovitch. Especially after briefly meeting him backstage after the afterparty with HIBTB. Watching Jon Burr throw down some good convo with one of his favorite bands of all time was pretty… endearing? Awesome, definitely.
Now for the good stuff:
I apologize to other bands with shows this weekend, but I must do a bit of shameless self-promotion here. My band Powerbrrrd has two shows this weekend, and you should definitely come to at least one of them.
TONIGHT: We are playing at the End with Diarrhea Planet, Lewd Minx, and the Dirty Streets (from Memphis). It’s only $5 and we promise you a good time. The bands we are playing with are rad, especially Diarrhea Planet… seriously they’re one of the funnest live shows in town. You don’t wanna miss this!
SATURDAY NIGHT: We are playing a house show at 1805 Rosebank Ave., east Nashville. Spanish Candles and Frank the Fuck Out round out the bill, and they’re both perfect house show bands. Rowdy party punk in the best way possible. I will be doing a DJ set as BURGERS following the bands, and after last night, there will doubt be a few Chromeo tracks/remixes in there. There’s a $5 cover that gets you in, and all the beer you can drink because we have 2 kegs to float! Be sure to park along the road, in the proper direction, and don’t get wasted and act like a dumbass in the front yard because that shit pisses off neighbors and gets the cops called. Don’t be a douche.
Please do come out to one of these shows! You won’t regret it.
steve cross loves music and science 