In the nine months that The Mid has been open in Chicago’s West Loop, this club/venue has welcomed a truly random but top shelf array of DJs and live acts. The spot’s Friday night series, Mayhem at The Mid, has especially seen some influential talent step to the stage, including Mad Decent chief Diplo, pioneering DJ Afrika Bambaataa, and UK dub steppers Skream and Benga. There’s no reoccurring genre heard here; just acts that can draw a crowd (often capacity) with their signature styles.
On Saturday night, as Los Angeles was getting pummeled with a third straight day of record rainfall, one of the city’s most beloved groups was warming up Club Nokia with good vibes, good music and a thousand of their closest friends. Ozomatli celebrated their 15th musical year by throwing a quinceañera party that featured special appearances by the USC Trojan Marching Band and the Crenshaw High School Elite Gospel Choir, as well as past Ozo members like Cut Chemist, Chali 2na, Kid.W.I.K. and Jabu.
“For a lot of us, if you grew up in LA you’ve been to a quinceañera,” says saxophonist and vocalist Ulises Bella before the show, perhaps recalling some not-so-fond memories. “But we’re gonna make it a good one this year.”
After stops in New York and San Francisco, the Ninja Tune express finally rolled into Hollywood on Saturday the 30th, and the freaks were out in full force to wish the UK label a happy 20th birthday. ChinaShop contest winner and ultra Ninja fan Damien Higdon showed up to collect his wares, then stayed through to the end of a long night that featured 10 artists spread across two stages.
So last week was the CMJ Music Marathon (more commonly known as just “CMJ”) here in the NYSheezy. Established in 1980, CMJ (“College Music Journal”) is an annual, week long music festival held in various venues throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn for selected artists and bands to, essentially showcase their material for industry people, particular those with a focus in the college markets.
The Red Bull Space was the talk of the town on Thursday night with the invite only Cut Chemist album release party for Sound of the Police with special guests DJ Spinna, Telephoned and Jasmine Solano. Cut Chemist was solid and did not disappoint although I have to say, Jasmine Solano was the highlight for me personally. She’s remarkably talented; has such a great energy on stage; plus the fact that she hosts a monthly party called “Electric Punanny” is rather punchy (and awesome).
If Quentin Tarantino were a DJ, he might be named Cut Chemist. Cut Chemist goes way back to the soundtracks of Sergio Leone and Shaw Brothers’ films, much the way Tarantino did (particularly in the Kill Bill movies). Then there’s the nice little touches that help enliven the experience, like watching the celluloid melt on the screen of an old 16 mm reel. Here you get the crackle of vinyl on each piece of soundtrack, played at length. He mixes in beats of other genres for good measure–reggae, blues and funk in particular–but it all adds to the vintage kung-fu/blaxploitation/grindhouse film feeling, only something you can dance to. But more importantly, this is a cinematic experience, a soundtrack to what might be your otherwise bland club-going experience. Dim the lights and get a dose of old school cinema on Red Bull Music Academy Radio.