David Axelrod

Jazz music has always been a part of my life ever since I was a kid. My father had many LP's from Lou Rawls, John Coltrane, Miles Davis and many more of the like, all of which I luckily inherited. Specifically, I've always liked the funk-fused style of jazz. Like the kind found sampled in most hip-hop songs.

Back in 2000 whilst digging in the vaults at NYC's Turntable Lab, hoping to find that one Mo'Wax or Warp record I didn't already have, I discovered a Mo'Wax LP by David Axelrod. I knew for sure I've heard the name since I remembered reading somewhere that Mo'Wax was indeed releasing his work. And I most certainly knew he produced jazz, but for one reason or another I still had not lent his sound an ear (what a shame). Well, being the Mo'Wax collector that I am I went ahead and purchased the LP and took it home for a listen. First thing I thought after hearing the first few tracks was 'WOW! Now I know where DJ Shadow got his inspirations from!' Then after a closer listen I noticed how pure and how real his songs are. It's basically the essence of hip-hop as we know it. The way the guitars moan and snares crack make his sounds so unique, unlike any other jazz producer out there. Most of the recordings on this album were made at least 30 years ago and it's still on the pulse! Here is one particular track titled "The Shadow Knows" that I think has to be the best way to describe his work. Check it out aqui.

Dash Snow

If there is any artist that one can call 'unique' it's definitely no-one other than NYC's Dash Snow. Also known (in earlier times) as Sacer from IRAK crew, Dash Snow is recognized as a very controversial figure in the art world as most of his pieces consist of urine, semen, spit and wax as well as his personal photographs. But believe it or not his work is highly sought after by many influential collectors such as Charles Saatchi, founder of the world famous Saatchi & Saatchi advertising firm amongst many others.

His father was an avid art collector and museum founder so he was born and raised into the art world that he grew to love. He started to get into photography around the age of 13 when he ran away from home and started documenting his life on the streets as a record of places he might not remember the next day. Those Polaroid photographs (see below) are now the aesthetic & foundation to his work. Instances of sex, drug taking, violence and art-world pretentiousness are documented with disarming frankness and honesty, offering insight into the decadent lifestyle associated with many young New York City artists and their social circles.

He has exhibited in galleries and museum's in London and NYC such as the historic Royal Academy of the Arts in Piccadilly as well as the better known Deitch Projects in New York's Soho district. To view more of his work, click here. To read an interesting article regarding Dash Snow from New York Magazine click here. Some of the photos below might not be safe for work.
















Definitely not for the faint of heart, eh? Now, move over Terry!

Hockey Post Season Wrap-Up

Here I go again with another hockey post. But this time, it's much shorter and I just want to show everyone how damn right I was about my playoff predictions on my previous blog-post. To begin with, I was right about the Detroit Red Wings. They were the very first team I spoke about and (of course) they won the cup without much of a struggle. I was also correct on the fact that the Washington Capitals were going to make the playoffs when at the time I wrote that they weren't even in the playoff spot. I also mentioned that Mr Alex Ovechkin would definitely win the MVP trophy and he sure as hell did (amongst many others). I was right about how Carolina, Ottawa, and Boston didn't stand a chance, and they sure as shit didn't. I kind of doubted Dallas as well but they played strong as hell. And I sorta hyped up the Anaheim Ducks a little too much when in fact they played a gash game! But boy was I on target when I spoke about the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Now that the season is over there is not much left for me in the sports world. I shall crawl back into my cave and hibernate till October when the new season starts. Till then, remember that I am a hockey god sent to the earth to school you cats!

Percussion Lab

Well, after a short (much needed) vacation, I'm back on the blog with my usual bag of tricks! Miss me? I doubt! But to commemorate 'my return' (who reads this anyway) I decided to put up a link to my infamous Percussion Lab Mix I made back in 2004. Percussion Lab is an on-line radio station in New York that has had a variety of special guests from the IDM/Electro scene including Funkstorung, Machinedrum, Caural, Lackluster, Sense and many others.

Anyway, the mix contains some hip-hop, IDM (of course), electro, and a bit of hardcore (as some call) drill & bass. You'll hear tracks from Modeselektor, Chris Clark, Two Lone Swordsmen, Smash TV, Vast Aire, Team Shadetek, Jimmy Edgar, Beans, Dabrye, Venetian Snares plus many others throughout the mix-set. Here is a direct link to the mix and bio page on the Percussion Lab site. Enjoy!

Friends...

...how many of us have them. Whodini hit the nail on the head with this oldie, but goodie! Peep em' doin' it all the way live!

In Motion

In Motion is a tiny, short film that was directed, filmed, edited and narrated by amateur director Richard Calvache in my old neighborhood in Queens, Woodside. It is a very inspiring piece that makes you re-consider our humanity and I recommend everyone to check it out.

People are strange...

...when you're a stranger.

Risky Tangerine

The movie Risky Business has to be one of my top 10 favorite films of all time. I grew up watching movies like this...The house parties in suburbia, the chicks, the fast cars, high school, the lame jokes and of course the soundtracks. Tangerine Dream wrote the score & soundtrack to Risky Business in 1982 which was actually my first introduction to ambient/electronica music. As soon as the movie opens you hear Tangerine Dream's beautiful soundscapes and melodies. The track "Love On A Real Train", is featured in the soundtrack and is still to this day one of my favorite ambient pieces ever. The gentle keys and angelic textures always bring me back to a much better time. It's such a brilliant song. The track is featured in the movie during the famous "train scene" with Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay, hence the name, and is one of Tangerine Dream's most popular songs.

I know I've been posting lots of music blogs (which I normally don't do) but I am really feeling this track at the moment so I wanted to bring it back to light. Perfect for long city nights or some quality time with yourself. Download it here.

CSNY

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young are a great band period. First time I ever heard them was while I was going through my father's extensive vinyl collection as a child. All of their songs are listen-able and for some reason can always relate to your current situations. Though there is one song I must present to you, if you haven't heard it already, called "Wooden Ships" off their self titled album which during the time Neil Young was not present. The song was written on Crosby's boat in Florida. Crosby wrote the music, and Stills and Kantner wrote most of the lyrics. I love the smooth undertones and vocals, especially the deep bass guitar providing that humm that only a good bassist can create. Download it here and listen closely to one of the greatest bands of our time.

New Beginnings

My memories of my first nightclub experience are still as vivid as if it were just yesterday. I remember I was 11 years old, it was 1987 and there was a club in South Beach, at that time known as the Art Deco District, called '1235' (currently Club Mansion) which my older sister used to frequent on teen nights. It was a Friday night and I was at home playing with my Transformers when my mother says to me "I gotta go pick-up your sister at this nightclub 1235, I'll be back". I asked if I can tag along, even if it was close to midnight, I really wanted to go since my sister used to brag about how cool this club was and the music and blah, blah, blah. I wanted to see this place she continuously spoke about. So mother says "let's go" and I throw on my Nike's, get in the Mercedes and we are on our way. When we get there to pick her up, of course she's not outside like she should be so we waited (and waited) and still, no sign of sis. Finally, my mothers impatient cuban side goes off like a rocket. "We gotta go inside and look for her! We've been waiting 10 mins and she's not here like she's supposed to" so she asks the valet guy to watch the car and asked the door man if she can search for her daughter. The door man said "quickly" and since it was an all ages night, he let us into the sea of music & lights to search for my sibling. What I saw when I went through those velvet ropes was unbelievable! I remember the song "Weekends" by Debbie Deb was blasting through the bass bins with green lazer's streaming throughout the club and thousands of Miami teens having the time of their lives. The venue was huge and the bass was letting off an unexplainable vibration inside of me as the beat went 'BOOOOOM'!

Quick, look, there's my mother freaking out, scoping out everyone, getting more & more frustrated, meanwhile there I am running off closer to the sounds of the speakers, claiming "I'll look for sis in this general area", mommy was like "you stay right here next to me" thinking I would probably get lost in the abyss which is what I truly wanted. Finally my sister appears through the masses all red faced and looking totally embarrassed saying "mami, why are you in here? And why did you bring HIM!?!" I guess having your mother and little brother pick you up at the club isn't the coolest thing but she looked as if she wanted to die right then and there. Meanwhile I'm trying to ignore my sister and her grief as I stare at the moving bodies on the dance floor and watch the DJ spin his records as the music flows perfectly in sync with the massive light system. It was all new to me and I remember thinking how badly I couldn't wait till I was old enough to go to these places or better yet, how much fun it would be to be that DJ in the booth making all these people move.

Two years later I'm 13 yrs old and finally old enough to hit the teen nights. 1235 was now defunct and now the same venue has changed owners, revamped the sound & lights and switched up the theme. I didn't know this at the time but the new promotional/marketing team would be the same people from the legendary Studio 54 as my good friend/promoter Michael Alig pointed out much later in life. Anyway, the venue was now called 'Decos' and they specialized in Freestyle and Bass music, my two favorite genres during that time. I started going to teen nights every Friday. I still remember though how depressed I got when I went to Decos for my first time and not being able to get in since it was at full capacity. I think I went home and cried. But sure enough, the next Friday, and every Friday after that it was on! I remember seeing acts like Stevie B, Paris by Air, TKA, Lizette Melendez, Coro, etc. What a time! I used to go to 163rd street mall to get the Decos flyers so I can get in $5 buxx cheaper, I was hooked! One night I found this VIP card and only used it once since right after I found it the club was closing as it was sold again, how sad. I was thinking I'm hooked up for life!
At first, my mother used to drop my sister and I off at the club along with our friends and of course my sister would tell me "just stay away from me" as to not be seen clubbin' with her little brother. I still remember bumping into her and her friends on the dance floor and her totally ignoring me...too funny indeed. My older sister was always the cooler one in the family, but once I got into the whole scene and started hanging out with my own little crew, I was like "I'm cool too! I go to clubs!". All in all it was so much fun!

Well, there you have it. My humble beginnings as a clubster. As most of you know I would continue my nightlife endeavors for many years following those glorious days that paved the way. Starting with the freestyle scene to the much darker gothic/nu-wave scene then to the happy happy, joy joy rave scene, most angles of debauchery have been attained throughout the years. And I forgot to mention my times of DJing clubs like Mass, The Church, Kitchen Club, Culture, Revolver, etc. Of course, the new breed of club kids came about and being 30 yrs old & married at the club wasn't ideal anymore. Now, we gotta hit lounges or pubs to be accepted. It's true! I remember seeing cats over 30 at raves and thinking what a total loser! Either way, I had my fun and luckily managed to make it out alive, to some degree!