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SEAL OF APPROVAL (DC) – U Street – FLASHING LIGHTS & ROCKERS – 7/29/10

29 Jul

So I’m just going to make the logical assumption here that you already know that Deadmau5 is headlining at a sold out 9:30 Club with Pleasurekraft and yes, Will Eastman tonight and tomorrow. We’ll have that review up on Friday. I saw the show last night, and as always Deadmau5 alternates between being tremendously well marketed and sonically fun, yet cliched at the exact same time. However, five of the best DJs on the east coast are within a three block span of each other tonight. And, even better, it’s possible to see them ALL IN ONE NIGHT as Stereo Faith and Jerome Baker III bring a one off called “Rockers” to new spot Dodge City from 9-2, 21+, no cover, and Nick Catchdubs, Jess Jubilee and DJ Ayres bring back Flashing Lights from NYC to DC at U Street Music Hall from 10-2, 18+, $8 at the door.

Kings reign supreme. Stereo Faith is a premier DJ of the DC scene. He’s a major traveller, routinely in Philly, NYC, VA and Bmore as well, and even greater than that, he’s Tabi Bonney’s touring DJ. Jerome Baker 3rd doesn’t make noise, he cashes checks. An island cruise liner tour? Playing the legendary Do Over in LA for a second time? Spinning the jiggiest of the bottle service spots? Being a top notch selector, turntable technician and a noted teacher and crafter of local DJ talent? That’s how Jerome Baker III rolls. Put Stereo and Jerome in the same place at the same time? And let them play whatever they want? Guaranteed win.

DJ Ayres has been holding down legendary NYC party The Rub for seven years, and is co-owner of the most important imprint in East coast underground EDM of the moment, T & A Recordings with U Hall co-owner Jesse Tittsworth. Nick Catchdubs released one of the dopest hip hop remixes of all time of Kanye West’s “Champion”, designed the Mad Decent Records logo, and is one of the founders of the ever important and always forward trending Fool’s Gold imprint. Jess Jubilee? Well, if you like copious, large, skull shattering, mind bending and soul crushing levels of bass, the Miami native is well equipped to deliver in that department, be it dubstep, grime, UK funky or two step, she goes hard. I had the opportunity before the first Flashing Lights DC in April to sit down with Catchdubs and Ayres and discuss the nature of Flashing Lights and thoughts on dance music in general.

****BONUS****

Jerome Baker III just dropped a mix of the best of the collaborations between Snoop Dogg and The Neptunes. Cookout music.

THE DROP: Interview with DJ Ayres and Nick Catchdubs

9 Apr

NYC’s Flashing Lights party came to DC on Thursday night at the Temple of Boom we all know and love, the U Street Music Hall. A passionate throng withstood a torrential rain shower to come out and party with Jess Jubilee, DJ Ayres and Nick Catchdubs. The event was business as usual for the exemplary DJ and production trio, as they played a stellar mix of classics, new hot tracks, and the floor filling bangers that have come to define this generation.

I had the opportunity prior to the event to chat with T & A Records co-chief DJ Ayres and Fools Gold mastermind Nick Catchdubs literally just prior to them spinning the event. In this 20 minute conversation, we touch on a plethora of subjects from the party itself to DC’s rising dance scene to the necessity of stewardship and development in DJ culture. As well, the nature of humility was discussed alongside the duo reflecting on their career achievements.

For more information on Catchdubs, Ayres, Jess Jubilee and the Flashing Lights party itself, visit the Flashing Lights website!

This THURSDAY, NYC’s FLASHING LIGHTS party comes to DC at the Temple of Boom (U Street Music Hall), and why you should be excited…

7 Apr

This makes all the sense in the world.

New York City, the epicenter of the musical universe, is known for many things. One of the foremost, throwing a dope party. The collaboration between Jess Jubilee, Nick Catchdubs and DJ Ayres that brings the Flashing Lights monthly to NYC is major league excitement. Bringing that same excitement to DC? Well, the rave happy, bass loving, face melted, groove armada that are the TGRIOnline “Hustlers of Culture” are quite prepared for this, and want you to be too!
An introduction to the Flashing Lights crew…
The other half of T & A imprint with Jesse Tittsworth, DJ Ayres is a Mississippi born, NYC transplant. He’s a hip hop, house, electro and funk phenomenon, whose Rub party with DJ Eleven and Cosmo Baker spawned my favorite mix of 2009, It’s The Motherfucking Remix Volume 3, one of the hottest hip hop mixes you’ll hear anywhere on the planet. Ayres is a quality veteran who, if you check DJAyres.com you’ll see is constantly in demand and always dropping hits. He also has significant local chops as well, including having spun at 2009’s My Crew Be Unruly baltimore throwdown in honor of the Club Queen K-Swift.
Jess Jubilee is a bass monster. She’s a florida native and runs her own Nightshifters imprint. She spins usually once every six months locally at Cullen Stalin’s NO RULE at Bmore’s Metro Gallery or at Gavin Holland’s C U Next Tuesday, so if you’ve seen her there, you know it gets pretty heavy. Jubilee alongside Udachi last year had one of my favorite and most underrated jams, “Smoke Rings,” which is on some next level Major Lazer feel and has one of the most quotable lyrics in all of underground dance music in quite some time. Check http://www.jubileelovesyou.com/ for all the hot mixes and info you need.
http://www.youtube.com/v/H-a0YirtI-M&hl=en_US&fs=1&
Nick Catchdubs alongisde DJ A-Trak (think half of Duck Sauce, yes, THAT Duck Sauce) is the man behind the Fools Gold imprint, yes, the same Fools Gold that is home to acts like Trackademics and Kid Sister. He’s a top of the line remixer and mixmaker whose eclectic musical tastes meet together in some of the oddest yet eminently listenable ways including his remix of Kanye West’s “Champion” that sounds like Yeezy got jacked up by Buju Banton and a gang of rude bwoys in LL Cool J’s boxing ring. Add to this his work with Brooklyn clothing line Mishka on the Radio Friendly Unit Shifter rock mixes, and you see the top of the line eclectic that defines him. Check http://www.catchdubs.com/ for more information.
But this is Flashing Lights. A rave. A ravers rave. A hard hitting, bass heavy, wild and refreshingly fun rave. A rave we’ve been to three times before (through the eyes and ears of our own Chris Kelly) and loved each time. This time, in DC, with the soundsystem at the venue we lovingly call the “Temple of Boom.” This is going to be ridiculous. If we hadn’t dropped the seal of approval on literally every event that U Street Music Hall will throw, we’d demand you to go. This will be one of the best parties of the year.
You’re welcome.