Huge thanks to Chang Chang, Ruinit, Insamatic, Apt One, Shawn Ryan, No Arms, Paulie D, Matpat, the OX residents, and the hundreds of crazy kids that made the Wild Stunt Show such an epic rager.
This Saturday, I'm teaming up with Shawn Ryan, DJ Apt One, Chang Chang, and Instamatic at the OX Warehouse in North Philly for what is shaping up to be the best party of the year so far. I've included a download of DJ Apt One's Instamatic Remix that was recently featured on the blog juggernaut Discobelle.net. More info on the warehouse party here, including event descriptions written by a clearly insane author.
Our good friend DJ Image has put in work programming the 3rd Rail station on Slacker Radio. This station is a great alternative for people that listen to Pandora or other Internet radio shows. Dude definitely came correct with the classic hip-hop, funk, and soul selections. You can catch DJ Image opening up for Slick Rick on the 3rd Rail tour all across the U.S. this winter.
Some higher power opened the flood gates this year and unleashed a tidal wave of incredible music. This mix is not a definitive document of this year's best. It's more of a biographical overview of some of the songs that made 2009 so great.
02. YACHT - Psychic City (Classixx Remix) EB - Classixx found their way into a lot of my sets this year. This particular remix was a definite crowd favorite 03. Beautiful Swimmers - Swimmers Groove EB - The Swimmers and the label they run, Future Times, were a big inspiration for starting my own label this year. Classic and original at the same time. Great DJs too. SR - When I heard the Swimmers play at KFN in December 08, they peaked out the dancefloor with a groove I just had to ask about. It was their test press of Swimmers Groove. These dudes know how to throw a party too - just loan them a secluded cabin for a weekend and see what happens.
04. Walter Jones - Living Without Your Love EB - Man, I played the shit out of this record! 5 AM in a warehouse, completely out of my mind. Don't even remember if anyone was there. Didn't matter. SR - Oh-nine lounge gig staple.
05. Crazy P - The Hit EB - Crazy P grooves so hard. This one goes out to DJ Dirty. He may be a bigger Crazy Penis fan than me, but not by much. SR - Gotta love that Tom Tom Club sample!
06. Motor City Drum Ensemble - Raw Cuts #5 EB - Got to admit that I bit my friend Billy Werner's mix-in of this record more than a few times. If you've ever been to Robotique and heard him play it, you'd understand why. Disgusting.
07. Trus-Me - Bail Me Out (ft. Dam Funk) EB - Hands down, Dam-Funk has been my number one musical inspiration this year. I saw him play twice. Once with about 15 people in the audience and again with about 200 and a keytar. His popularity is a testament to the realness. Funk gets stronger. Trus'me ain't half stepping either. His DJ set at Kung Fu Necktie this year was murderous. SR - Dear Trus'me, I still wanna know what those acid trax you played at Sundae were.
08. Sister Sledge - Lost In Music (The Revenge Rework) SR - I rinsed this track out since last March. Just listen to how the groove builds - you gotta feel that!
09. Azari & III - Reckless (With Your Love) SR - The most perfect throwback house cut of the year - is this really from 2009 or did someone just remaster a lost reel to reel?
10. Yam Who? - Wax The Van SR - Another track that's been instrumental to warming up dancers and building the groove. This track helped me set the tone for many successful sets this year. 11. RCMP - Mustache Love EB - At their record release party, I passed out in an alley, woke up and rode my bike across town to meet them for cheese steaks and got hit by a car. Just saying. SR - This whole 12" is pretty epic. Big shout out to Paul & Fich for coming correct!
12. Missy Elliot vs. Shit Robot - Gossip Folks (Work It Out) Snitchfork Blend EB - This blend was a collaborative effort between the two of us. A spontaneous live trick that had to be put to tape ... er, computer. SR - Definitely ran up to the booth when Ed tried this and told him it was our next project. 13. Eli Escobar - Glass House SR - I liked this track from the door, but I wasn't sure how it would go off in the club. Turns out dancers get super pumped and the room lights up every time. Eli also killed it at Woodys this fall with the ill all vinyl synth-pop & new wave set. 14. Cubic Zirconia - Fuck Work (Nacho Lovers Remix) EB - Got to see Cubic Zircona play live at Philly's Double Dutch party this year. Lucky me. Tiomble Lockhart let me play her tambourine. Lucky me. SR - The Nacho Lovers took this track to the next level, especially with that breakdown. Plus Cubic Zirconia can rock a party - definitely one of 09's best live shows. 15. Martijn Ten Velden & Afroboogie - Cowbell SR - This track is a clear signal to everyone in the room that it's time to dance. I believe the term is "floor-filler."
16. Major Lazer - Pon De Floor (ft. Vybz Kartel) EB - Philly's biggest record this year. Pon De Floor consistently made young people scream and freak out in uncontrolled excitement and made old people scratch their heads and take advil. SR - An anthem I played/heard at almost every party I went to this summer - so good! 17. Duck Sauce - aNYway EB - I'd say this track was neck and neck with Major Lazer for making the kids flip, but old folks have been known to dance to it as well. SR - Also a summer anthem.
18. Starks & Nacey - Summer Madness EB - Total summer jam. Reminds me of crosstown bike rides through empty streets in the middle of the night. The dudes from DC really came correct, and no, I'm not talking about Obama. SR - I consistently found it difficult to select a track to follow this one - the room is just so full of posi-vibes after the breakdown. 19. La Roux - In For The Kill (Skream Remix) EB - 8 a.m. Skylab anthem SR - This always fills the club with a nice level of tension. Definitely worth squeezing into my house sets. 20. House of House - Rushing to Paradise (Walkin' These Streets) SR - So beautiful, so epic, so good. 21. Mayer Hawthorne - Just Ain't Gonna Work Out EB - "Play the heart shaped record!" I love this song for too many reasons to list.
Thank you to everyone who made 2009 such an incredible year.
I'm playing with the Philadelphyinz and Gavin Holland from DC at Medusa Lounge on New Years Eve. $7 cover + free champagne at midnight! The price is right, and I'm positive that this will be one of the best New Years parties in Philly.
Up from the archives, Solid Good Times is by far my most popular DJ mix. Over a year old and people still ask me if they can get a CD copy. Nope! The mix serves as a document to one of our longest running parties in Philadelphia and definitely brings back some great memories. If you haven't heard it, take a listen, or if you sold your CD copy on ebay for mad money, this is your next best option. Enjoy, and thanks for listening!
