Wed. May 13, 2009
By DJ Plez
To Tip, Or Not To Tip … The DJ?
I've been asked over the years whether it is appropriate or expected to tip a DJ who is working in a club or bar. Here's what I think:
Ravin' About Billy & Abel
Yes, it's in the rear view mirror a bit, but I have to send kudos and rave a bit about the performance delivered by NYC DJ Billy Steele at a recent Nitro party at Circuit Night Club. It's been a while since I was really impressed with what a big room DJ served up, but Steele demonstrated a combination of talent, imagination, creativity, and guts – yes, guts not to yield endlessly to the lowest musical common denominator of one pop remix after another – that grabbed my attention and earned my respect. Made all the more special with the inclusion of the killer "Mr. Man" track by Jonathan Peters, his set was on par with some of the best ones I've heard from the likes of Calderone, Tenaglia, Vasquez, and Rauhofer. Steele has been in regular rotation at the Nitro parties and one can only hope to see and hear more of him in Chicago.
And while I am praising DJs, let me also say that DJ Abel was absolutely on fire and tore it up at Hydrate for the Inferno: BOUND party on May 9. OMG, what a fun night with a hot & sweaty crowd, hot & sweaty go-go dancers, and a hot - but cool - Cyon Flare! The musical highlight for me was when Abel delivered "Whohaddrums" by Chocolate Puma, an explosive tribal track that took the party to the next level.
Escapism
Centaur is back with another Global Groove compilation CD called Dance, and this time around DJ Escape bangs it out with fierceness aplenty. Featuring two of his own original productions and several strong remixes with his various partners – Capello, Vicious, and Coluccio – this latest Centaur release is a "must have" principally because of two tracks. Smack in the middle of CD, Escape programs his 2009 mix of "Skin" by Charlotte and is it completely "on point." Then just before Dance closes out, the marriage of deep house with tribal, as done to absolute perfection and presented on the CD with the Soulstice Mix of "Glad I Found You" by DJ Gomi featuring Yasmeen, will leave listeners tingling in pleasure, some even creating creamy puddles on the spot. OMG, it's that good.
For the complete article (non-reader view with multimedia and original links),
Tap here.
Head to the local LGBTQ news, events, directory and people network at ChicagoPride.com