Twenty-some years ago, when I was living in the Philippines, my
favorite cassette was a compilation of all the hit songs of 1986. It
paid no attention to genre and skipped from hook to hook, chorus to
chorus, playing “just the good parts,” medley style. It was brilliant
to my young ears and a good primer for what was going on musically
stateside. While that tape has long since been lost, the spirit behind
its creation lives on with the Battle of the Megamixes.
Last year’s Battle was a glimpse into DJs’ other crates, as
competitors left their usual genres behind to drop anything and
everything. The Baltic Room was packed beyond capacity with people
crammed into every open space. Taking the win (and a new mixer) was
Kris Moon, who blended Top 40, obscure IDM, and everything in between
to win over the crowd and judges.
“The whole idea of the Megamix is to bring a lot of genres together
and bust them up,” says Travis Baron, one of the event’s
organizers.
Megamixing is actually pretty self-explanatory, with a DJ simply
mixing tracks, only faster. It’s about cramming in as many songs as
possible, while still making it sound good and having it make sense.
There’s still room for a sense of humor, but megamixing is about a DJ’s
skill, not irony.
The early trash talk between competitors points to this second year
being another friendly DJ exhibition. Yeah, it’s serious business, but
it’s fun. Says Baron: “I really want this to be silly, but
relevant.”
Battle of the Megamixes will be held on Sat Aug 4, at the Baltic
Room (1207 Pine St), doors 8 pm, $7 adv, 21+. The competition will also
feature sets by Introcut, M’Chateau, Travis Baron, and host DJ
Collage.
Decibel Festival organizers finally released the full lineup and
this year’s outing, held September 20—23, is looking mighty
impressive. Seems there was an aggressive push to diversify the sound,
so while there’s more than enough minimal techno and experimental fare
to go around, there are also more bombastic, rocking names on the bill.
They’ve largely avoided the artists who are just working the entire
festival circuit, so there’s plenty of reason for out of towners to
make the trek to Seattle. Check out the lineup and ticket information
at www.dbfestival.com.
Closing things out on a sad note, it looks like
techno/electro/IDM/misc. weekly Oscillate is hanging up its gloves at
the end of the month. After years of showcasing the variety of talent
in the Northwest, the promoters think the night has run its course and
are ready to put their energy toward other efforts. There’s promise of
a big closing party on August 30, with details to come. In the
meantime, spend the next few Thursdays down at the Baltic Room to pay
respects.
FRIDAY AUGUST 3
PAOLO MOJO
Paolo Mojo’s restlessness seems to be his biggest strength, as he finds
time to search out records across multiple genres, keep a hectic tour
schedule, head two labels (Music Is Freedom and Orcmusic), and put out
his own material and remixes. He arrives in Seattle with a healthy
degree of buzz, but he’s been keeping this schedule for years and
maintained a high standard, so in this case the buzz seems deserved.
Last Supper Club, 124 S Washington St, 748-9975, $10, 10 pm—2
am, 21+.
SATURDAY AUGUST 4
SUMMERTIME GROOVES
Music outdoors? Yes, please. On a hotel roof? Uh, okay. This should be
a unique party experience as Uniting Souls takes over the rooftop
terrace of the Red Lion for an early evening of house music. Music
aside, the interplay between clubbers and hotel guests trying to have a
quiet meal makes this an occasion for prime people watching. Red
Lion Hotel, 1415 Fifth Ave, 971-8000, 6—10 pm, $5, 21+.
MIKE MONDAY
Mike Monday has released tracks on progressive labels, is known for
quirky house, and lists Prince and P-Funk as influences. He’s a musical
blender, dropping in farty electro bass lines here, acid-y effects
there, with sprinkles of late-’90s electronica, possibly within the
span of one track. Don’t worry—it’s not some uninspired rehash,
just a producer unafraid to wear his influences on his sleeve. The
Loft, 10 pm—2 am, $10 (must RSVP for entry and address: jason@innerflight.com),
21+.
SUNDAY AUGUST 5
RAFAEL ANTON IRISARRI, TYLER POTTS, DENSHION
The Rendezvous is a perfect space for this performance, a send-off of
sorts for Irisarri, who is headed off for a series of international
dates. The confines should provide the right amount of intimacy for the
audience to absorb the night’s music, various compositions of layered
tones, delicate textures, and inspired loops. In short, beautiful brain
music. Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave, 441-5823, 7—9:30 pm,
free, 21+.