Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Artists that I admire and love...Wax on/Wax Off Party

One of the highlights of DJing before the onset of the mp3...was the weekly trip to the record store. There was nothing more exciting. I spent hours picking out the new imports and releases and trying to beat the dudes to the turntables so I could listen. Some tracks were pure shite others well completely blew me away. Next step cash register where you prayed you had enough in your bank account to get all your selections. Record shopping is expensive damn! Next stop home to listen to those tracks over and over and build your mix...absolute bliss...miss those days...miss the record shops...my bank account is a little happier but I digress.


So I am happy and honored to report that this Thursday I will share a guest spot with Marlon B and Achour Mezi at the 5th installment of the Wax On/ Wax Off Party thrown by DJ Cosi and DJ RedLox.

Wax On/ Wax Off is monthly vinyl party with residents DJ Redlox & DJ Cosi (Freedom Party & Red Rooster saturdays.) Each installment has guest DJs

DJ Redlox
DJ Cosi
Redlox and Cosi state "Our goal is to have another outlet in the NYC DJ scene which goes back to the real roots of DJ culture, where you actually had to buy a physical record, pick out a selection of records for a set, and worst of all, carry those mothers to a gig. Our sets will always display the true personality and dedication to the craft of the DJ."

So what is so exciting about this party besides the fact that these DJs are amazing...I am not including myself of course...well maybe just a little ; ) We will be spinning all vinyl!!!! Yes packing up the records and slinging them on my back just like the old days and it feels oh so good. Festivities start at 8pm on Thursday June 21st  and is located La Linea, ( http://lalinealounge.com/) 151 1st avenue btw 1st and 2nd st) and there is no cover. So come drink, be merry and party like it's 1999...you know the era before models, reality show stars and heiresses decided they were DJs...yeah I said it ; )                            

Friday, June 8, 2012

Artists that I admire and love...Ethikos Productions

So I get a email a few weeks ago...asking if I would be interested in creating the sound for a series of One Acts by Israel Horovitz...what? Hell yes!!! I think I answered that email back in 3.5 seconds. I first had the honor of originating the sound for Beirut Rocks back in 2007 with another amazing troupe Barefoot Theater Company www.barefoottheatrecompany.org, and meeting Mr. Israel Horovitz, who is probably the coolest cat ever and yes I have a crush on him u would too after reading his work and just meeting him. Move forward to present day, landed the gig and have totally fallen in love with the company behind the upcoming show Ethikos Productions.

Ethikos Productions is a non-profit production company, that sprung from a connection that actors/producers Brian Rice and Jenna Ciralli, founded in the classroom at William Esper Studio. These two are simply amazing...I have seen them in rehearsal and get ready folks. Their inaugural production will be “Israel Horovitz One-Acts, the production is comprised of exciting, young NYC-based artists from backgrounds as varied as Harvard, Rutgers, the William Esper Studio, and Life 101.

 https://www.facebook.com/IHOneActs

 Israel Horovitz One-Acts, will feature It’s Called the Sugar Plum, Beirut Rocks, and the U.S. Premiere of his latest farce, The Bump.  Directed by former Flea Resident Director Mia Walker, the production previews July 5, with opening night slated for Friday, July 6.  All tickets are only $20.


Together, “Sugar Plum” and “Beirut Rocks,” mark a unique pairing of Horovitz’s work, recommended by the playwright himself. Set in the later 1950s Cambridge, It's Called Sugar Plum has two college students fighting grief, guilt and greed in the wake of a tragic accident.This combination is also being produced in Paris, France this year. Beirut Rocks is a shocking study in the shattering events of the Hezbollah air raids on Beirut in 2006. Complementing these two pieces is The Bump, a tragically sweet brief encounter between two conflicted hearts in a U.S. passport office. Ethikos Productions will put these three short plays side by side, for an evening of bold theatrical work across generations. 


cast includes Jenna Ciralli, Julie Asriyan-Piotrowski, Hunter Thore, Brian Rice, Lyle Friedman and director Mia Walker. Dan Catomeris is also part of the great cast.


Ethikos Productions states "This production marks the moment to take our art to new professional heights. We will be performing at the well-known and respected venue, The Flea Theater. (www.theflea.org) The Flea represents the quintessential off-Broadway experience of taking risks and exploring gutsy new works. As a maverick production company, we value having our performances at a venue that truly fosters artistic integrity. Israel Horovitz, the celebrated playwright will be collaborating with us on our project"


 Mr. Horovitz looks on as Jenna and Brian read The Bump
Additionally, the director Mia Walker is a power house, that i completely adore. Mia directs beautifully, is kind to her actors and is an absolute gem to work with. Mia is currently Assistant Director of Broadway’s "Porgy and Bess," and  will be directing all three one-acts.

Mr. Horovitz's writing is dynamic, the actors stellar, the production team beyond spectacular if i do say so myself...so inside of heading to the local bar and wasting 20 bucks on watered down drinks and cheap beer spend it on some worthwhile, thought provoking theater trust me u will not be disappointed.



Save the date!
Performances: July 5 - 8, Thursday - Sunday - 7 pm
July 12 - 15, Thurs - Sunday - 9 pm
info on tickets and cast can be found here at  http://www.theflea.org/Israel Horovitz One-Acts

To find out more and donate to the production.. check out their video at Indiegogo Campaign: http://www.indiegogo.com/IHOneActs
 


The cast includes Julie Asriyan-Piotrowski, Dan Catomeris, Jenna Ciralli, Lyle Friedman, Brian Rice, and Hunter Thore.  The design team includes Jason Sherwood (set), Jonathan Cottle (lighting), Ashley Farra (costumes), Kate Sinclair Foster (props), Tasha Guevara (sound) me!!!, Daphne Schmon (video), Megan O’Keefe (dramaturg), Rachael Harris (technical director), Jenna Lloyd (asst. lighting), and Nicole Greene (stage manager).  Jenna Ciralli, Jeffrey Galli, and Brian Rice serve as producers, with John H. Kaufman III serving as associate producer.


Monday, June 4, 2012

So u want to kick the DJ off the decks huh?

dear promoters, managers, club and bar venue owners who think u know music...news flash...u don't. So u think it's cool to kick talented DJs such as Dennis Ferrer or Mark Farina and others off the decks because your clientele doesn't like the music another newsflash that just shows your lack of professionalism and home training to put it bluntly. Mr. Farina I hope u went back to your hotel ordered the most expensive scotch had a day at the spa and charged them for it. Venue. your clientele may have a lot of money but more than likely they have no sense of class, couth or culture and are dumb enough to pay 300 -400 for a bottle one can get at the liquor store for 40 bucks and enjoy in the comforts of one's home.



Let me enlighten u bottle buyers a bit most bottles are married with well liquor didn't know that did ya when the pretty little girl brings the bottle over ever check to see if the seal is cracked bet ya don't and here u go drinking Popov vodka instead of Belvedere ha!

To the venues engaging in this low class behavior...do u read? are u deaf? why not take the time to check out the artist before u book them oh wait probably to busy getting coked up in your office to pay attention to anything. Know what genre of music u are asking for...stupidity is a sad thing. But alas u still have to pay the DJ don't u? esp if they are  a name and u contracted them.

Please stop with the madness of wanting to pay DJs in drinks as well...not all of us are alcoholics like u and we have bills just like everyone else and we like to pay them. 

As for the Djs listen times are hard so if venues want to hear crap music make them pay and pay highly i would spin for close to nothing if i can play good music. However if by chance i am in a situation where I am forced to play some pop dribble...guess what someone is dipping in their pocket and paying me.  I am not giving up hope that music will make a come back that someone will come to me and make a slamming request. I know the younger generation has good taste and will rise to the top.

Personally, I believe that most of these venue runners were picked on as kids and now they are seeking revenge but it's cool once a cornball always a cornball.  These recent party goers don't want to support good music then we should return payment in kind don't play it spread the word about good underground artists/events support their functions  blog, tweet and facebook about them. To the artists and party goers. vice versa if a venue has treated an artist/DJ badly don't support them I will never support a venue that has disrespected an artist what's next the staff and performers will have to enter thru the kitchen? New York used to be the hub of nightlife now it looks like college night in Wisconsin.

If u really want to educate yourselves and I suggest that u do...please check out this documentary by my friend Jean-Paul Noel (JP) (co-director) Angelo Boyke (director) and Domingo Canate (producer). This film take the viewers on a journey into sound and vision that is as exciting for house music aficionados as it is for newcomers to the scene.


Hands To The Sky is a documentary that focuses on House Music. It removes the dance experience from the confines of the box and plants it in the park, lays it on the beach and sets it in countless unexpected, exciting places.

This documentary zooms in on outdoor House Music events in various locations; locally and globally. The adroit camera crew captures the passion and dedication of the DJ's and promoters and the indisputable theme of love and unity that emanates from the speakers as well as the perspiration of the devoted tribe of dancers.

Part One kicks off with east coast contemporaries, while Part Two will showcase the heat that House Music creates throughout the world, including but not limited to Brazil, Spain, Africa and the UK.





In my opinion...


It's time to pass the torch older house heads some of u have some crazy elitist attitudes that have caused house music to suffer people don't want to go to parties because they don't want to deal with it...so u partied at the garage and heard Larry Levan live share that information don't have an attitude about it and give the younger ones dramatics when they try to support your parties. Yeah I said it and if u are offended u are probably one of those people ruining the scene...nice work.

 The tools are there to breathe life back into the music scene and support our artists...there it is...let the revolution begin

Friday, June 1, 2012