this is fyf

What to do: this weekend

This.

First? It's cold. Bundle up...and I'm not even saying that 'cuz I'll be doing coat-check at Snaxx (Westside Tavern. All the way to the back. See you at 10pm? 10:30? 11? Come when you're ready.).

Not this.

Earlier, there's a Toys for Tots thing that's not Toys for Tots -- however that works (The organizers were scolded by the Marines for calling it that, apparently?), and this Toys for Tots thing that's not allowed to be called Toys for Tots is THE place to see and be seen from what I hear...sort of like Cherry's in Cherry Grove?

Like Cherry's, it's a wonderful place to get a drink - the event is one long open bar...though every open bar I've ever been to has actually been a pretty fucking miserable place to get a drink because of all the queens crowding, elbowing and generally giving all kinds of entitled realness effeckssscksckss trying to get their measly shot glass of juice w/ splash of vodka.

Wait...did I mention there's an open (beer) bar at Snaxx from 10-11pm? No? Well there is and...ignore what I just said about open bars, 'k? Seriously, if there's an open bar I WILL go to, it's Snaxx'. 

Also, I've never been to the Not-Toys-for-Tots-"Toys for Tots" event myself, so you really shouldn't base any of your expectations about the event or the attendees on anything I've said. Clear?

Ok. So there's NTFTTFT, Snaxx...and Clubber Down Disco under the Chelsea Hotel with Ryan Smith at the door and my partner-in-crime(s committed long ago) Tai Chi inside. I'm not sure who's spinning tonight, but it doesn't really matter cuz they'll play disco and it'll be cute and that's that.

What else? Let's see...there's Paul Alexander (The Ones) MC-ing again (you know he was one of the MC's for the famed Jackie 60 parties back in the day at Mother?) at a party at Sugarland with DJ Emjay (He of Wonderbar and Starlight fame). 

Also in Williamsburg, Mondo returns just in time for FYF Friend and Fashion contributor Kiger Hansen's birthday. He'll be celebrating Mondo-style (does he do anything any other way?).

If you walk for body, head over to Splash and enter to win $250 at the F*Word in their stripper contest. James Anderson has a new(-ish...I think it's the second one?) party at The Monster, and Gumbo hosts the first of two parties this weekend - this one in DUMBO, Sunday's down in Miami!

There's stuff tomorrow, including Cheryl at Brooklyn Museum's Free Saturdays, a coat/clothing drive at Excelsior in Park Slope, a Hanukkah Pink Mafia for media networking at Julius', Xanadude on Ice at Public Assembly Loft and FYF Contributor Dave Huge's A Very Collider Christmas at Stonewall, and Sunday...but I really don't have to tell you about them, do I? You know to look at the FYF Calendar for more/details by now, surely!

Regardless, stay warm and have a great weekend!

Spin the Deejay - Dave Huge

Dave Huge taught himself to navigate a set of turntables in 2006, though he's technically been DJing since he was the program director at his high school radio station. He's held regular gigs at Lucky Jacks (the not-noted LES straight bar) and the Eagle NYC, and is the regular deejay of the New York Boys of Leather parties. He's spinning at both official Folsom Street East parties this weekend: BULLY at View Bar tonight, and Bad Apple (with DJs Paul Ferrer, The Skipper, Steve Sidewalk, and promoter Mark Nelson) at Rush on Saturday. In honor of the weekend's insanity, he decided to speak in the first person.

How do you organize your music collection? I tend to curate individual playlists for each event, at this stage. Back when I played with CDs, I had a big Caselogic that was organized roughly by decade and then alphabetically by artist. It was kind of anal. 

What are the top five tracks in your iTunes, all time?  I have an itsy bitsy hard drive so I have to curate the size of my iTunes library fiercely, which means that certain favorites get erased. But right now:

1. Lemonade - "Big Weekend (Delorean Remix)"
2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Heads Will Roll"
3. Delorean - "Apocalypse Ghetto Blast"
4. Magic Wands - "Black Magic"
5. Argy & the Martinez Brothers - "Debbie Downer" 

"Debbie Downer" is something I'm still playing out. 

What's your current typical tech set up for playing out?   I play Traktor Pro off my laptop, and use the Hercules DJ Console RMX to work with the software.  I am also familiar with the ways of the Numark.  My vinyl is sad and lonely.

What requests won't you take? I don't respond well to the people who walk up to me and scream "GAGAAAA" though I do have a few versions of her tracks I like to play sometimes. If you do that, though, I might try to administer the Heimlich Maneuver. Generally it's nice if the person making the request is paying attention to what I'm trying to do;  if we've been in Berlin for the last hour I'm probably not going to want to put on the latest pop sensation.

You're bombing.  What's the next track? Stardust's "Music Sounds Better With You."

Who should play your funeral?   Daft Punk. And it doesn't count if they don't bring the light show.  They should probably not play "Prime Time of Your Life," though.  Or Radiohead.

What are you when you're not a DJ?  I work in marketing for a communications consulting company. So I have well developed sitting-at-a-desk muscles and conference-call-dialing fingers. Also, I write and read and converse.  And eat dumplings.

You're trapped on a desert island. Which diva have you brought along to eat?  Celine Dion seems like she takes pretty good care of herself, so she'd probably be pretty savory.  I imagine her protestations would be bombastic, tuneful and - if recorded - strangely popular.

Dave's current top ten - in no particular order.

• Kiki - "Good Voodoo (Visionquest Remix)"
• John Talabot - "Matilda's Dream (Jacques Renault Remix)"
• Tom Middleton - "One More Tune (91 Remix)"
• Burnt Island Casuals - "Truth and Temptation"
• In Flagranti - "Through The Rabbit Hole (Moscow Remix)"
• Hauswerks - "Afrobeat"
• Jayson Brothers - "The Game"
• Heaven & Earth - "Prescription Every Night" 
• Precious System - "The Voice From Planet Love (Dixon's Chic-a-go Remix)"
• Tensnake - "Congolal"

Honorable mention:  DJ Sprinkes' "Grand Central Part 1 (Deep Into the Bowel of House) (MCDE Bassline Dub)" was definitely the track of last summer, but it still works.

You can follow Dave's Tumblr, check out his mixes on his Soundcloud, and find him on Facebook. If you're not hitting the leather things this weekend, you can also find him at Large Hardon Collider, with Damian Cote,  in the upstairs cabaret at Stonewall, on July 3rd.

Mister Dave Hughes has lived in Chinatown, the East Village, Tribeca, Long Island City, and Harlem, and he currently hangs his hat in Williamsburg. He likes politics, disco and whiskey. His writing has also appeared in Slant, New York Magazine, and other fine publications.

Spin the Deejays - Ryan Smith & Ron Like Hell

Ron Like Hell (l) and Ryan Smith (r) met the way all deejay duos should - bonding over records at an honest-to-god record store. Their chemistry led to their collaboration with Ashton Anders at the Rocket party at the late, lamented Hose (sob).  At their newest offering, Soffitta70 (tonight, in the anything-goes loft above Public Assembly in Williamsburg), they bring their love of timeless music as well as an aesthetic borne of their passion for all things Italian from the 1960s and 1970s. Last time was totally dope.  We chatted with Ryan and he hit us with some classics. 

How do you organize your music collections?  Ron has over 20,000 records which are organized by genre.  Ryan is just a big ol' mess when it comes to organization but tends to buy music and throw it in his CD book.

What are the top five tracks in your iTunes, all time? Ron seldom uses iTunes and my hard drive recently crashed so it's not completely accurate.  By our own account we'd say:

1. Thompson Twins - "If You Were Here"
2. Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band - "Hard Times"
3. John Martyn - "Big Muff"
4. Mato - "Drifting (Yuzo's Congas Mix)"
5. Marvellettes - "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" [click through for amazing record nerd intro]

What's your current typical tech set up for playing out?   Ron has Technic 1210s at home with a Pioneer DJM500 while I have CDJ100's and Numark Pro DXM Battle Mixer.  When playing out - unfortunately in this city, you have to take what you get.   

What requests won't you take? Anything we don't have with us.  

You're bombing.  What's the next track? Ron: anything by Chic, while I'd bust out an irresistible classic.  

Who should play your funeral?   We both live in the moment with a lot to look forward to.  There's too much great music to hear while we're alive!

What are you when you're not a DJ?  Ron is a buyer and sales lady at Permanent Records in Brooklyn.  Ryan does freelance marketing and promotion and is working on a gay tee-shirt line with the homochic boys from SF which will be launching in the coming weeks!

You're trapped on a desert island. Which diva have you brought along to eat?  Princess Toadstool with pineapples on her bitties.  

Ryan and Ron's current top ten:

1. Stereo Total - "Tour De France"
2. Rapination & Kim Mazelle - "Love Me The Right Way (New York Blizzard Mix)"
3. Sheena Easton - "101 (Steve Travolta edits)" 
4. Serge Gainsbourg - Marabout (Bob Sinclar mix)
5. Caribou - "Bowls"
6. Norma Jean Bell - "Mystery (Original Mix)"
7. Donkeyboy - "Sometimes (Of Norway Version)"
8. Street Hero - "End of the World (Honey Soundsystem Remix)"
9. Zander VT - "Changes"
10. Deee-Lite -  "Build The Bridge"

If you can't make it tonight, fear not - Soffitta70 is set for a second-Fridays residency, and the duo will also be playing the Pride edition of Sugar Daddy next Saturday night. You can also check out their stylings on Mister Smith's Soundcloud. ("I Brought My Problems to the Dance Floor" is Mister Smith solo, and "Fire Island Tops" is the matched set). 

Mister Dave Hughes has lived in Chinatown, the East Village, Tribeca, Long Island City, and Harlem, and he currently hangs his hat in Williamsburg. He likes politics, disco and whiskey. His writing has also appeared in Slant, New York Magazine, and other fine publications.

This weekend...

Queens Pride is this weekend!

So...if you haven't been keeping up on Facebook/wherever...there's a (VIRULENT!) rumor that Ms. Minogue will make an appearance at the F Word's reactivation at Splash tonight. Personally? It all sounds too much like a PR wet dream, but I look forward to receiving first hand reports/twits/stat updates! Question though...why do these pop princesses ONLY show up at Splash?! Used to be the Roxy was the spot, now it's Splash?! What's the common element here, gayleuths? Give us the tea!

Pyromaniacs, hose lovers and hotties at Pyrophilia in deepest Greenpoint tonight. The venue is t.b.d Bar and sounds super cute! Part of an ongoing series from The Blood Dumpster. Sounds very Dexter!

Also in the wilds of Brooklyn (Deepest Bushwick to be exact), Mark Louque and Miss Pappas bring you XOO at Tandem Bar with special guest Michael Magnan. Crunchy, crusty fun!

On the opposite side of town and with (perhaps?) a little less edge/crunch, but as much soul/steeping (makes a good tea!), Snaxx at Westside Tavern (Back of the bar, down the stairs...DANCE!) is earthside on its bi-weekly transit.

Just up 8th Avenue, who knew Upright Citizens' Brigade was up so late!? Funny folkster Ben Lerman performs with t h i n s k i n j o n n y. Funny songs is what you'll hear. Funny ha ha. 11:30pm is showtime!

The weekend continues below...

Spin the Deejay - Michael T

  

This is a special weekend for Michael T: 10 years ago this week, he banded together with Justine D, Johnny T and Georgie Seville to throw the very first Motherfucker, the roving holiday-themed rock'n'roll extravaganza that left destruction in its wake for the first seven years of the Aughties. "I was going to the club Mother, which was owned by Chichi Valenti and Johnny Dynell." he recalls. "Chichi gave us our name - she said, 'there's never been a party called Motherfucker at Mother'."

Motherfucker is sadly no more, but Michael T is still up to no good. Every weekend, you can find him on the decks on Saturday night (really, Sunday morning) at Crisis! on 8th Avenue at Elevate; a party thrown in collaboration with Paul Short, Rich King, Daniel Nardicio, Chris Ryan, and Cynthia Powell. And this Sunday he'll spin and perform with his band the Vanities at the second installmant of Oh! You Pretty Things an homage to glam rock that he throws with Ben Ickies, Shien Lee and Twig the Wonderkid at Highline Ballroom. (Phew! That's a lot of co-conspirators. But in nightlife, teamwork is important). 

"I always like the idea of bringing together people who are kind of related, but who might not necessarily run in the same crowds," he says of his creative process - but also aptly describing the scene-fucked appeal of his events. 

Michael T is not your typical New York DJ in one crucial respect - he doesn't play dance music. But, as anyone who was ever on the floor at Motherfucker will tell you, that doesn't mean people don't lose their minds when he spins. "Rock DJs tend to get the short end of the stick," he says. "Either because we don't beat match or because we're playing shorter songs... but a good dance floor is a good dance floor, and you can achieve that with rock." 

Indeed.

How do you organize your music collection?  It's been in my CD case for years and years...

What are the top five tracks in your iTunes, all time?  Don't have iTunes...I still have an 8-track player, though.

What's your current typical tech set up for playing out?   An 80's boom box.

What requests won't you take? I don't take requests...if you don't like what I'm spinning, go somewhere else.

You're bombing.  What's the next track?  "You Dropped A Bomb On Me" by The Gap Band.

Who should play your funeral?   Well, I'd like someone to play "The Great Gig In The Sky" by Pink Floyd. 

What are you when you're not a DJ?  A recluse. 

You're trapped on a desert island. Which diva have you brought along to eat? I 'd prefer THEY be trapped on a deserted island ....wasting away and then finally eaten alive by vultures and buzzards.  I'd be watching from a yacht, sipping champagne w/dark sunglasses, naturally.

Michael T's current top ten, in no particular order:

• Hanoi Rocks - "Tragedy"
• Motley Crue - "Too Fast for Love"
• The Rolling Stones - "Undercover of the Night"
• Roxy Music - "Love is the Drug" 
• Prince - "Controversy"
• Grace Jones - "Warm Leatherette"
• Donna Summer - "Spring Affair"
• Iggy Pop - "Nightclubbing" 
• Elastica - "Car Song" 
• Bauhaus - "Kick in the Eye"

Mister Dave Hughes has lived in Chinatown, the East Village, Tribeca, Long Island City, and Harlem, and he currently hangs his hat in Williamsburg. He likes politics, disco and whiskey. His writing has also appeared in Slant, New York Magazine, and other fine publications.

Spin the Deejay - Chauncey D

DJ Chauncey D has had a busy week. Fresh off his debut at the Park for the final installment of Truck Stop last Sunday, he's knee-deep in the action at the Dance Parade  - for which he is the editor of the official newsletter and the Social Networking Master.  In fact, since we're posting this kinda late, he's probably shimmying down St. Mark's with 6000 other revelers as we type. 

How do you organize your music collection?  I tend to dj a lot of different parties around the city that have different themes whether it be late 80s/early 90s classic house, New Jack Swing and freestyle for my "Beetlejuice" party at Nowhere...dark, seedy, 'predatory' tracks for stints at the Eagle and beyond...indie electronic, authentic disco and disco-tainted new releases for 'behr' friendly soirees, so I basically keep folders and playlists on my computer divided by party playlist.

What are the top five tracks in your iTunes, all time?  This is always a tough, tough one...

• Sneaker Pimps - "Spin Spin Sugar (Armand's Dark Garage Mix)"
• Melnyk - "Revolutions (Thugfucker Mix)"
• Neurotic Drum Band - "We're Gonna Rock NY"
• Sparks - "Tryouts for the Human Race"
• Desireless - "Voyage Voyage (Italo Disco Rare 12'')"

What's your current typical tech set up for playing out?   I used to lug around my big cd binder filled with tons of discs arranged and labelled in a system that only I could decipher and figure out... But a few months ago I moved completely into the digital world and use the magic weapon of Traktor along with the occasional back up hard drive for maximum library potential. 

What requests won't you take? I refrained from playing Lady Gaga for the longest time...but I have honestly given in reluctantly only twice. I also rarely played michael jackson and the first time I did in years...he...umm...died the next day. 

You're bombing.  What's the next track?  I usually stick to my guns. I always have naive faith that someone out there will dig the next track I play.

Who should play your funeral?   I wasn't planning on dying, but if I were I'd probably have the music preplanned myself... But I'd take Armand Van Helden for sure if my original plan backfired.

What are you when you're not a DJ?  I don't think once you're a DJ you are ever not working in some wave form, but I just recently became a lighting engineer/designer to bring home the bacon. I'm also an avid blogger, event producer and promoter, activist, poet and budding graphic designer.  I am returning to college next year to possibly embark on a social work/psychology related career.  Oh, and I recently became a minister so that I can  marry my best friend from high school Dawn and her girlfriend in October.

You're trapped on a desert island. Which diva have you brought along to eat? Since she has the most powerful rejuvenating power on the planet known to man... I would make myself some Madonna kielbasa and pack it in a big ole cooler to keep smooth and creamy and pop icon goddess-like. 

Chauncey's current top ten, in no particular order:

• The Golden Filter - "Hide Me (Rory Phillips Mix)"
• LCD Soundsystem - "Dance Yrself Clean"
• Metric - "Sick Muse (Adam Freeland Mix)"
• Faithless - "Feelin Good"
• Kelis - "Scream"
• Roisin Murphy - "Momma's Place"
• Miike Snow - "Silvia (Savage Skulls & Tony Senghore Mix)"
• Kid Cudi & Dan Black - "Symphonies (Dada Life Mix)"
• Pablo Decoder - "Echoes in My Head (Zodiac Cartel Remix)"
• Nona Hendryx - "To the Bone" 

You can find Chauncey's mixes on his website and his Soundcloud. His next big thang is a journey to Paisley Park at his Sunday monthly at Nowhere, Beetlejuice. 

Mister Dave Hughes has lived in Chinatown, the East Village, Tribeca, Long Island City, and Harlem, and he currently hangs his hat in Williamsburg. He likes politics, disco and whiskey. His writing has also appeared in Slant, New York, and other fine publications.

Spin the Deejay - Damian Cote

Providence native, Williamsburg resident Damian Cote (pronounced like “Nestle,” in case you were wondering) has been having quite the 2010 – and if you’ve been hanging out in any of the city’s more recession-friendly establishments, chances are you’ve heard his delicious blend of leftfield, scuzzy rock, pop and electro. Just a few months ago, he played for the approximately 9000 hirsute revelers who shoved into Julius’s for the latest Pinups issue launch, and his party Buddies (Tuesdays at Nowhere) remains a friendly destination for the facial hair set.

How do you organize your music collection? Depends on the medium. CDs are mostly alphabetical by artist, with maybe the 50 most recently played on top of the others until I get to realphabetizing. Vinyl and cassettes are completely randomized, while the iTunes is sorted according to my needs at the time.

What are the top five tracks in your iTunes, all time?

1. Pylon – “Cool” (24 plays)
2. Richard Hell and the Voidoids – “Love Comes In Spurts” (20 plays)
   
3. Modern English – “Someone’s Calling” (17 plays)
4. Severed Heads – “Lonestar” (17 plays)
   
5. [TIE] Clan of Xymox – “Muscoviet Mosquito”, Peaches - "I Feel Cream” (16 plays each) 

Sounds about right.

What's your current typical tech set up for playing out? At home? Out, it's almost always a Numark CD mixer of some sort. The NYC standard. I spin a combination of iPhone and CD mixes created at home. They are randomized mixes of all the genres I play, sourced from other CDs, vinyl, cassettes, and digital downloads. I always have at least 50 with me out of the 250+ I have amassed to date. At home, I have the laptop with headphones or some small desktop speakers, or my mostly Technics stereo. I have had this receiver, turntable and speakers since 1988. The cassette and CD players were purchased within the past 6 to 10 years.

What requests won't you take? If I don't have it with me, of course I don't play it. If I have it, and can find it amid the tracklists on the CDs, I will play it, almost unconditionally. Unless I just played or am currently playing (you would be surprised how insanely often this actually happens) said artist, at which point I might ask for a backup. If a person starts asking for something that is completely different from the general sound I'm giving, I tell them that there's nothing that I can do to help them, aside from expand their horizons. These people usually ask for the same 3 artists. If they ask for Gaga while I'm playing, say, The Damned, I tell them to go to a bodega, because if one of her songs isn't on in there right now it will be within a few minutes.

You're bombing. What's the next track? If you mean 'bombing' as in the dancefloor is empty, then it's an N/A. I'm not concerned with people dancing. When I'm not personally happy with what's happening, it is B-52's or maybe Tom Tom Club. Palate cleansers. BTW, if I have a song stuck in my head that I need banished, I conjure TTC's 'Genius of Love'. It bulldozes every other song into the ground, then fades away itself shortly after. So I can hear the birds.

Who should play your funeral? Get that pipa player on the 4-5-6 platform at Union Square, mike him up, and everybody get completely obliterated at Nowhere Bar. Or have Blixa Bargeld do one of those cool digital-delay-based talks he gives in Europe. No, no, I know. A silent procession around the big fountain in the Carre St-Louis in Montréal. For 23 days. 

What are you when you're not a DJ? Usually I'm enjoying taking part in one or more of 3 of the Seven Deadly Sins: Lust, Gluttony, and Sloth.

You're trapped on a desert island. Which diva have you brought along to eat? Leigh Bowery and Divine, when they were alive.

Damian's current top ten, in no particular order:

• The Damned – “Melody Lee”
  
• Japan – “Adolescent Sex”
  
• Bo’Tox – “Blue Steel”
  
• Buzzcocks – “Boredom”
  
• Cabaret Voltaire – “Sensoria (12’’ Mix)”
  
• Shout Out Out Out Out – “Dude You Feel Electrical”
  
• Annie – “Heartbeat (Phones Maximo Remix)”
  
• Newcleus – “Computer Age”
  
• Marina and the Diamonds – “I Am Not a Robot (Penguin Prison remix)”
  
• Coil – “Anal Staircase”

This weekend, you can catch Mister Cote playing dance music at Large Hardon Collider on Saturday night at Stonewall [full disclosure – the same goes for your intrepid correspondent]. Buddies keeps packin’ them in on Tuesdays at Nowhere, and he’s also an occasional fill-in at Lovedolls Superstar (Mondays at Beauty Bar) and Rockbar.

Mister Dave Hughes has lived in Chinatown, the East Village, Tribeca, Long Island City, and Harlem, and he currently hangs his hat in Williamsburg. He likes politics, disco and whiskey. His writing has also appeared in Slant, New York, and other fine publications.

This weekend...

  
If your week looked like this...

So we're blowin' up here at FYF, kids. But who cares!? Does yesterday matter when it's the weekend and you want to know what to do? Not even.  So, without further ado, here's the (admittedly non-exhaustive, but expansive nonetheless) rundown:

Friday - Xavier gives you tall, lanky go-go during The Penny Arcade Experience (7pm, Le Poisson Rouge).  Snaxx puts a "Spring" in your step (10pm, Westside Tavern, Basement). Mr. Black teams with The Cock for...wait for it...Black Cock! (whodathunk?)...with Eddie and co. hosting the shit out of the space (11pm, The Cock).  Ricardo guest DJs with a at Hard On @ The Eagle (10pm, The Eagle), my boy Oscar Rada celebrates his birthday at a raucous edition of F*Word (Alexis Arquette will be in the house, leaving no doubt as to it being a wild night.) (10pm, Rebel) and Brian Rafferty and Ryan Sorkin launch a new night at The Norwood (like Soho House, but for artistic types) with the promise of MOREWOOD (11pm, The Norwood).

Saturday - Crisis on Eighth Avenue presents Dress'd To Kill! with guest DJs Gant Johnson and Austin Downey joining Rich King upstairs (10pm, Elevate); FYF Contributor, Dave Hughes teams with Damian Cote under his DJ pseudonym, Dave Huge, for Large Hardon Collider (10pm, Stonewall); DJ Jeff Jackson and Disco Connie are mighty real at Double Headed Disco (1opm, Nowhere Bar); DJ Billy Beyond is playing all the divas gays love at Dance: 208 (last hour is a Madonna-thon, but I don't think anyone from Glee will be there.) (9pm, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center), and Mister Saturday Night moves to a new, secret location in a loft in Brooklyn where residents Eamon Harkin and Justin Carter hold it down (well) all night by themselves due to their guest DJ Danny Wang being held up from attending by the volcano predicament in Europe. ("WHAT?! No Wang!?" I know...I know. Hopefully you got your fill Friday at Morewood.) (10pm, RSVP for location).

...and that's what's happening in New York!

Photo via Moss' brand new blog.

Spin the Deejay - Mark Louque

Your trusty correspondent took a week off last week, partially to recover from his trip to Berlin, where he attended the noted dance emporium Berghain, a club in the direction of which some ‘heads probably bow and pray five times per day'.   As you've read before, Berghain, located in an abandoned power station in East Berlin could easily stand in for any number of sets from the Tim Burton Batman films.  Seriously the venue is no fucking joke. This week’s featured jockey Mark Louque will be playing at Berghain in a few weeks!  So don’t step.

How do you organize your music collection? UGH...this is the hard part, but in a nutshell I organize my digital files in playlists and my vinyl by genre then alphabetized. I do not own any CDs.

What are the top five tracks in your iTunes, all time?

• Wax Poetic – “Sea Grass” (60 plays)
• LCD Soundsystem – “Yeah (Pretentious Version)” (54 plays)
• Matthew Herbert – “Foreign Bodies” (52 plays)
• Voices of East Harlem – “Right On Be Free” (49 plays)
• Britney Spears – “Boys” (48 plays)

What's your current typical tech set up for playing out? At home?   When I play out I use Technics 1200mK2 turntables with Ortofon Nightclub E styluses and my Black MacBook (which I've nicknamed 'Oprah'), Traktor PRO, and an Audio 2 DJ sound card. The only difference at home is that I use a Presonus Firebox for my sound card.

What requests won't you take?  I will not consider playing any artist whose name sounds like a baby's first word and other vomit of that nature.

You’re bombing. What's the next track?  Gwen McCrae – “All This Love”.  More importantly, what was the record that caused me to bomb? Get rid of her!

Who should play your funeral?  I would like a giant orchestra playing Chopin's 'Funeral March' at half speed for 24 hours straight.

What are you when you're not a DJ?  Full-time friend & lover, part-time know it all.  Oh, and I make music, buy/sell records, bartend, and argue with my dad about the effects of a patriarchal society on a man's ability to love - he doesn't understand.

You're trapped on a desert island. Which diva have you brought along to eat?  Aretha - DUH!!!

Top ten:

1. Falty DL – All in the Place (Rush Hour)
2. Pilooski – Rvng of the Nerds Vol. 10 (I Get Rvng)
3. Discodromo – Ionio (Hnysndsysm)
4. Erdbeerschnitzel – Tonight is Today (3rd Strike Records)
5. FCL Let's Go (Wax Recordings)
6. Unknown – Get to My Baby (TBD Extension) (Golf Channel Recordings)
7. Nick Chacona – Be Like Olive (Levon Vincent Remix) (Mood Music)
8. Rodion & Hugo Sanchez – Tape Oxyde (Hnysndsysm)
9. Brend Harris - “Making Love” (Dream Records)
10. Red Lion – “Living Together” (Claremont 56)

In addition to his impending dance with the bears in the pale Berlin moonlight, Mark has a busy April planned. New York dates include Rebel with Alon Geva on 4/16 (hey, that’s tonight!) XOO at Tandem in Bushwick on 4/17 (hey, that’s tomorrow night! (236 Troutman, Jefferson Stop on L Train), and the Cock on 4/30. He’ll also hit the Roxy in Boston on 4/29 and he’ll be playing Fag Bash in P’Town at the Fo’c’sle from 5/26 through the end of the summer. For more info, check Mark's website and his biweekly radio show and podcast “The Crave Club”.

Mister Dave Hughes has lived in Chinatown, the East Village, Tribeca, Long Island City, and Harlem, and he currently hangs his hat in Williamsburg. He likes politics, disco and whiskey. His writing has also appeared in Slant, New York, and other fine publications.  

Image via Mister Isauro Cairo

Spin the Deejay - Corey Craig

Given his frenetic schedule, we weren’t sure if Corey Craig would have a spare minute to respond to our battery of questions – when we first reached him, he was busy DJing at Mardi Gras in Australia. Then again, you don’t become New York’s reigning king of pop house by declining an opportunity to talk up your style.

How do you organize your music collection?  By genre, key and mood.  I mix harmonically, so it is important for me to know all the tracks that are in certain keys.  They are friends in my playlist.

What are the top five tracks in your iTunes, all time?

• Donny Hathaway – “Someday, We'll All Be Free”:  Always encourages me.
• CeCe Penniston – “Finally”:  This was my coming out song.
• Eva Cassidy – “Fields of Gold”:   My song of mourning, thank god not frequently played...
• Kelis – “Acapella”:  Me and the boyfriend's anthem... Ahh… new love.
• Radiohead – “No Surprises”:  Lulls me... soothes me.

What's your current typical tech set up for playing out? At home?

• OUT = Laptop, Audio 8 DJ, Headphones, Vodka, Ice, Soda... and a smile.
• Home = Same, minus Audio 8 DJ, just headphones for cueing.

What requests won't you take?  Requests for ANOTHER song from the same artist playing while you ask.  If you want to hear an entire album, play it at home.

You’re bombing. What's the next track?  I have never had this happen, but I suppose a gay anthem that provokes singing along would wake up the masses.

Who should play your funeral?  My funeral should be a party, hopefully spun by the Freemasons with eulogies recited over fierce beats! (My hot promoters would make this happen, I just know it).

What are you when you're not a DJ?  A lover, a friend, an excellent roommate and oh yeah, a Chemotherapy/Nuclear Pharmacist.

You're trapped on a desert island. Which diva have you brought along to eat?  Hopefully, I am trapped on a "DESSERT ISLAND" ... I won't eat a diva, I will just bribe her to bake for me!

International travel aside, Corey is keeping plenty busy stateside – you can catch him on April 15 at FOX at The Park, April 17 in the Triumph Room at Club 57, and occasional Friday nights at RockBar. You can keep up with his selections on his podcast, or sample from his current top ten (as he notes: “Look Ma...No Bey or GaGa…”):

1. Amanda Wilson – “Caught Up"
2. Kelis - "Acapella" (Dave Aude) 
3. Sophie Ellis-Bextor featuring Freemasons - “Bittersweet” 
4. Rihanna - "Rude Boy"
5. Booty Luv - "Some Kind Of Rush (Spencer & Hill Remix)"
   
6. Freemasons – “Watchin’ 2010” 
7. Estelle - "Freak" 
8. La Roux – “Bulletproof" (Dave Aude Cherry Mix)
9. Sabrina Washington - "OMG" (Soundboy)
10. Janelle Monae – “Tightrope”

Mister Dave Hughes has lived in Chinatown, the East Village, Tribeca, Long Island City, and Harlem, and he currently hangs his hat in Williamsburg. He likes politics, disco and whiskey. His writing has also appeared in Slant, New York, and other fine publications.

Spin the Deejay - Rich King

 

The details are a bit hazy now (there may have been reefer involved), but at some point DJ Rich King disclosed to me that in a past life he was a teacher. Given that he’s got his hands in so many NYC nightlife pies (he’s closed the Black Party last weekend, and his new party CRISIS, with Michael T, Paul Short, Cynthia Powell, Chris Ryan, Daniel Nardicio and other assorted luminaries begins tomorrow night) it can be hard to picture Mr. King in front of a blackboard. Then again, listening to him lace together tracks can be like hearing someone learned profess.

How do you organize your record collection? Horizontally, arranged alphabetically in boxes sorted by decade.  Plus the heavy rotation which inches into the center of the room.  Plus overflow boxes under the kitchen table.  Vertical is coming very soon. 

What are the top five tracks in your iTunes, all time? My iTunes library is very different from my stacks: 

1. Angela, "I Got a Little Love"
2. Portishead, "All Mine"
3. Cal Tjader, "Soul Burst"
4. Money Mark, "Push the Button"
5. Feist, "Honey, Honey"

What's your current typical tech set up for playing out? At home?  Hi-Fi, Lo-Tech:  Technics and a mixer.  If I must, I can get with the new compact disc technology.

What requests won't you take?  Those I cannot fulfill. 

You're bombing. What's the next track?  Gino Soccio, "Try It Out" is hot, even if you're not bombing.

Who should play your funeral?  The Big 8 Brass Band will perform Marvin Gaye’s "Sexual Healing."

What are you when you're not a DJ? A renaissance man.

You're trapped on a desert island. Which diva have you brought along to eat?  Duane Roggendorff

Rich’s top ten right now, in no particular order…

1. Simian Mobile Disco – “Cruel Intentions (Greg Wilson re-edit)”
2. DJ Hell f. Brian Ferry – “U Can Dance (Carl Craig remix)
3. Dirty Channels – “African Democrazy (Rame Eight Deer Mix)”
4. Runaway – “Canyons (Jungle Mix)”
5. Komposite – “Show B”
6. Abe Duque – “Let’s Take It Back (King Roc Mix)”
7. Best Mate – “Situation Go Bang (Austin Downey Mix)”
8. Lime – “On the Grid”
9. Dirt Crew – “Deep Cover (Vincenzo Remix)”
10. Space – “Carry On, Turn Me ON (AN2 Remix)”

If you didn't catch him at last weekend's Black Party, you can catch Rich regularly at Snaxx (with Gustavo Motta) every other Friday at the Westside Tavern.  Or you can head out to his new party at Elevate Saturday:  CRISIS on Eighth Avenue.

Mister Dave Hughes has lived in Chinatown, the East Village, Tribeca, Long Island City, and Harlem, and he currently hangs his hat in Williamsburg. He likes politics, disco and whiskey. His writing has also appeared in Slant, New York, and other fine publications.

Image via Mister Isauro Cairo

Spin the Deejay - Gustavo Motta

 
 

As half of the brain trust behind nightlife institution Snaxx, DJ Gustavo Motta is no stranger to New York crowds. But his plans this weekend are still probably more exciting than yours. He’ll be playing the closing set of the Saint at Large’s Black Party with his Snaxx partner in crime Rich King, starting at 12:45 PM. It’s a high point in a career that began in 1979, at the Lagoa Roller Skate Center in his native Rio de Janeiro. We caught up to him to get some insight into his craft:

What are the top five tracks in your iTunes, all time?
I don't have the play count on, but on my top 25 most played list I have this :

• Mary J. Blige – “I Can See in Color”
• Gusgus – “Bremen Cowboys”
• Sade – “The Moon and the Sky”
• Peter Kruder – “After the Dawn”
• Alice Russell – “All Alone (Captain Planet Remix)”
• Acid Girl featuring Frankmusik – “Wake Up”
• Al Usher – “Silverhum (John Talabot’s Wilderness Remix)”
• Amanda Blank – “DJ”
• Billie Holiday – “But Beautiful”
• Chaka Khan – “Clouds”

Spin the Deejay - Paul Ferrer

 

To New York homosexuals who’ve indulged in a beverage or three on the roofdeck of the Eagle, Paul Ferrer probably looks familiar (though you may never have seen him in a bowtie).  He’s been setting the agenda at Sunday's Beer Blast for seven years.

How do you organize your music collection? 

I organize my music by week purchased. It's the only way I can keep track of it...there is soo much new music that comes out every week. I really miss associating music with the cover of a 12" vinyl.

What are the top five tracks in your iTunes, all time?