Those who...

Those who know, don't say (or can't)
Those who say, don't know.
- Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

On vacation, trying to input final grades but my online grade book is giving me problems. Hopefully it will be resolved by the end of the day.

Been laying low online, at least in blogotitlan, because I don't have much to say. I guess my brain has shut down, probably like my student's once that last paper is submitted and it is in the hands of fate. Of course there is always a lot to talk about and share, but nothing seems to compel me to sit here and write.

Compel. I like that word in context ; )

The good kind of context. Like I'm compelled to write right now about how I don't have anything to write. Maybe it's to shake the brain cells and get them to write about something good?

Oh here is a good one, I was taken to what I think is the best Thai restaurant I've ever been to, and I've had a lot of Thai, Daisy Mint in Pasadena. From there I went on a nice walk through Cal Tech and found out that Jackson Katz was going to be there the following Tuesday. That meant another meal at Daisy Mint and another walk onto Cal Tech. Cal Tech is so beautiful. I love that place. I want to bring Katz to CSUN next semester as well as organize a panel on Latinos in the new era of media.

Ah Malcolm X's b-day is today. Who doesn't love Malcolm X?


Yes the parties are always there for me. Last Sunday Marques Wyatt rocked his DEEP like only he can. Tonight is Richard's B-day party at Ecco, which will like always be huge (Will I Am DJing?); Saturday Raul Campos and Tony Largo welcome Tony Powell to Flow; Doc Martin is doing the Doc Martin thing which is always tops w/ Luke Solomon; Sunday of a Memorial Day weekend in LA is always special and this time we got The Heist (the biggest 18+ party) teaming up with Solmatic Records (21+ party pros) for a big shingdig at the legendary Florentine Gardens AND right next door DEEP has the Shelter's Timmy Regisford in the main room and Paul T. and Harvey in the side room. Haven't heard Paul and Harvey in a minute and let me tell you those vatos got records that will make you go 'dannnnng that is good stuff.' And of course the random party or bar b que that pops up is always welcomed and appreciated. ooops I forgot about the pool side parties that are lining up too!

So I guess when I don't have anything to write about I can always write about what my friends are doing and invite you. See you on the dancefloor...

Frank Del Rio 50 th B-day

A couple of weeks ago I went to Circus for an invite only b-day dinner party for legendary LA DJ Frank Del Rio.

Del Rio's DJ sets in the mid 1980's to 1990's at Circus Disco where he was the resident, as well as many other locations, were what helped shape DJ mixing styles and programming for many DJs.

He was one of the big name DJs that was both illusive and ubiquitous as only the best DJs are.

In high school I would hear about how he blended this song or that. After school I would run home to try to do the mix myself, if I even had the records. All us high school DJs, at that time, were in awe of him. To run into him, at Exodus Records in Montebello or at his record Cut Above Records on Melrose, was like bumping into a celebrity. Any record he said was cool, we would buy two copies. He was also one of the first remixers to come out of L.A. and was one of the first Latino names we got to see on the records us DJs were buying up in stacks. He let us know how far this DJ thing could go.

Of course there were other DJs we looked up to like Poison and Nemesis, but Del Rio was a resident at Circus and only the best DJs played there. Martin Rodriguez, Victor Flores, Henry De La Pe~a and Del Rio were the big four in our parlay. They set the standard for what a good DJ sounded like from spinning at Circus. To be honest us youngsters only heard mixed tapes or heard stories from people who were old enough to go to Circus.

The first time I heard Del Rio was at a 'Rock of the 80's' at Pico Rivera Sports Arena. He plugged in a reel to reel and started off with the theme from "The Twilight Zone." The rest was a seamless mix of pieces of songs I knew mixed with a lot stuff I didn't. Mind blowing, but I didn't know what the reel to reel was for.

Years later I heard him at The Red Onion in West Covina on two turntables. The night was going ok, the earlier DJ couldn't gel the crowd. As soon as Del Rio got on the sound got better, louder and the floor erupted. He had two copies of "Knock On Wood" and was looping the opening drums going back and forth between the copies. Flawless.

Years later Richard and I invited him to judge our annual Power Tools DJ contest. We hadn't seen or heard about Del Rio in a while and were so stoked that he showed up. We were more nervous than the contestants. I don't even remember who won that year.

Then Frank Del Rio disappeared.

Rumors of him living in Tijuana, going Christian, dieing, hiding out, selling cars; spread and changed over the years.

He actually got a bad case of diabetes, lost a leg from it and at one point was in a coma.
With the growth of the retro disco parties thanks to Back to Disco and other websites, Del Rio has come back and hosted his own parties with his girlfriend Annie.

When I got invited to his 50th B-day party was like being invited to the big kid's table.

As I sat there and listened to people speak on mic for all to hear about their memories with Del Rio at Circus and as a friend, while he sat on the stage surrounded by his family it really was an LA history moment. This man with the help of so many other players, promoters, DJs, lightmen, and others had really touched a generation of disco dancers from mostly the Eastside of L.A.
He is our Larry Levan, our David Mancuso, our Nicky Siano. Those guys shaped NYC DJ culture, we got ours.
Thanks Frank.

undaground...

Thursday night I hit "The Heist" at Florentine Gardens. I hadn't been there in about 13 years, since the days of "The Dome." It was trip to be there and see Kenny McKenzie, the owner and some of the bouncers from back then still at the door. I got there with Swedish Egil and Outer around 11:25 pm. We were meeting up with Paul Oakenfold, whom Egil has been working with on remixing classics from Oakey's collection. This night we were all there to hear David Delano drop his remix of "Don't Want To Hold You" by Bad Apples during his set. Joseph Wham (aka JC Dakota/Joseph Christopher) was there also checking out this huge night put together by Hyphe Crunk (Mark Rodriguez), DJ Score, Eric Neutron and The Spys. Later in the evening Richard Vission rolled in with LMFAO and DJ Syphe.

This is the hot spot to be. There are usually 1,100 peeps in the place on a Thursday night. Its been a while that the 18 & over scene has been into house music or techno, with these numbers and consistency, outside of the rave scene. Talking to peeps, Steve Aoki had a lot to do with this new generation feeling the vibe, and you can see it in the fashions, mix styles and attitudes in the heads that fill The Heist. Pure energy is what is there. Its quite refreshing after all these years of 21&over clubbing where peeps are busy buying drinks or smoking instead of dancing their tight jean asses off.

Friday night I did the Midnight Ridazz DISCORDIAN RIDE, as usual spokes and beats on the streets of LA fun.

Saturday night I went to Robotech in a warehouse in So. Central and caught a back to back set by DJ Dan and Ron D. Core on vinyl spinning classic techno. WOW. The numbers were a little low.
I'm guessing peeps are saving their money for all the huge upcoming Halloween parties like Monster Massive, or they all lost money on the stock market LOL.

Either way things are looking very healthy in the underground. But that always happens in times of economic downturns, loss of jobs and insecurity of the future. Escapism rules. It makes many more be creative, other peeps make babies, and some do a lot more drugs. Be cool foo'

keepin you tuned in on our DJ panels...

(Big Pachuco thanks to Kaulyque for his work in recording and posting images about these panels. Next week's panel is going to be really great one!! It is curated by Steve Beltran and he has invited: Martin Rodriguez, DJ Pebo, Henry Valdez and Carlos Mongalo. Go to g727.org and get on the email list to get all notices about panels and our upcoming launch party for the KCET "Anatomy of a Backyard Party" web story.)

Featuring the Lightz and Soundz of...: A 30-Year Survey of DJ Culture
in East LA

Panel Discussion #3 at Gallery 727:
"Breaking the Language Barrier: Mixing Music En Nuestra Lengua"

"An intimate conversation with DJs Raul Campos, Santi, & Sloepoke, who
expanded the breadth of musical genres and styles by incorporating
Latin alternative, dance classics and international pop and rock into
their repertoires. Each DJ has helped fuel the massive Latin
Alternative scene from their radio shows and clubs, and made Los
Angeles the center of international music in Spanish."

Follow link for audio and images:

http://sicklyseason.com/dialogo/g727/g727dj.htm#Panel3

---------------------------------------------------

Panel Discussion #2 at Gallery 727:

"INNOVATORS OF STYLE AND PROGRAMMING"

Gerard Meraz (Moderator)
Frank del Rio
Richard Vission

An intimate conversation with Frank Del Rio, and Richard Vission who helped shape the art of mixing and programming. Via their DJ booths, radio shows and productions these DJs refined the art of DJing.

Follow link for audio and images:

http://sicklyseason.com/dialogo/g727/g727dj.htm#Panel2

[NOTE: The gallery is a pretty boomy, echo-y space that is difficult
to record in, so you need to listen on headphones or really loud
speakers.]

Book Finally Available

"An Oral History of DJ Culture From
East Los Angeles" by Gerard Meraz

Master's thesis that documents the history of East Los Angeles DJ culture by interviewing several prominent DJs that were active between 1980-2004. Published in conjunction w/ A 30 yr. survey of DJ Culture from East L.A. at G727 in dwntwn Los Angeles, through Sept. 2008
Order your copy TODAY at
www.lulu.com

*Enter search words:
"An Oral History of DJ Culture From
East Los Angeles"

30 years of DJ Culture from the Eastside of Los Angeles

I have written a couple of pieces here about my involvement and history with DJ culture in Southern California. My academic focus has been on Chicano DJ culture focused on the Eastside of Los Angeles. Chicano scholars have not included DJ culture as part of our experience and DJ Culture/Rave Culture scholars have not included Chicano DJs in their investigations. This makes Chicano DJ culture a truly Chicano experience: ignored by both (our own scholars and outsider scholars), stuck in the middle between two worlds, not factored in. 

This project I am working on with G727 is taking form everyday. We have been holding meetings and gathering friends and participants to make this happen. In researching our experience I have learned that we need to include as many voices as possible. We are not Chicago who has Frankie Knuckles, nor are we New York with a Larry Levan. Detroit's history looks at the Bellevue Three. Here in L.A. we need to look at the hundreds of thousands. There are many factors that lead to the LA experience being different to the East coast. 

We have better weather so we have outdoor parties 10 out of 12 months, in East Los a lot of us had large backyards to host massive parties, we are a car culture so we all could have mobile systems that we could easily transport and we could get to more parties in one night. The list goes on. 

Anyhow, please support our first fundraiser at Eastside Luv next Thurs.
 

This is what I've been sending out to all my 'social networks':

Based on my Master's thesis "An Oral History of DJ Culture from East Los Angeles,"  I am working with G727 on building a living collaborative archive. All DJs, promoters and dancers who were a part of or were inspired by Chicano DJ culture based on the Eastside are welcome to bring their flyers, memories and music to this project. We are having a few fundraisers for out supplies, please come out and support or send us a check. 

DJ Rant

I'm not teaching or preaching about some important issue or past
I'm not painting, reciting or calling the gods with ancient drums
I'm not filming and showing some reality I think you need to know about
I'm just the DJ

I'm not doing public therapy
I'm not claiming I know the truth
I'm not asking for the mic or spotlight
I'm just the DJ

You don't have to pay me
-I'm a selector who just loves showing off his collection
You don't have to bill me on the flyer
-I know no one is coming just to see and hear me
You don't even have to know my name
-I don't care
I'm just the DJ

I'm a God when I play your favorites
A devil when I don't take requests
I can make your body move in ways you do only when naked
I can hurt your ears and make you wish you were dead
I am the DJ

Just because I don't jump around claiming revolution everyday
Doesn't mean I just know a turntable's revolutions
I don't need a gun or mask
I can crack a record or CD and slice your ass
I can throw a speaker and crush your face
I can tie you up in wires do what I please and what you fear
I am a DJ

I play old stuff and new to make you remember and escape
To say what I got to say I use recorded sounds combined in new ways
I speak in a language you may not know today
I don't rely on images of calaveras, virgens, lowriders, gangsters, dead revolutionaries, and Aztec pasts.
What are you trying to say over and over and over, again and again and again?
What do I know, I'm just a DJ.

I don't splash paint and say it is deep
I can't hide my mistake of going off beat
I don't write on walls and expect it last forever
I know my mixes are temporary, you just had to be there
I don't write a play or book and think no one has said it before
I know some one some where is playing the same record I am
I am a DJ

I am a dime a dozen
One of me is born everyday
So little talent is required
...right (?)
Play the same records
Don't care to learn how to mix
All that scratchin is makin me itch!

Gays in the disco honor me
Hip hop disowned me
Rockers now wish they were me
Ravers of course hail me
Couples in weddings need me
Promoters under pay me
Users use me
Promoters over pay me
Dancers love me
Dealers like me
Club owners bare with me
Outsider, second thought, background noise, lord of the dance...
Postmodern nightmare
I am a DJ


(Happy B-day Bowie! 1/8)

Acid House

This week Doc Martin is bringing the creator of Acid House DJ Pierre to a warehouse somewhere in the city. They will be celebrating 20 years of Acid house.

In 1987 I heard my first Acid House at a party called "Sexpress" at a bar on 7th, just east of the LA River in Boyle Heights, the real Eastside. The DJ/promoter was DJ Adrian who had been a part of the Awesome Foursome DJ crew which included: Mark 'Danger,' Willie 'Guilty, & Danny 'Debonair.' From El Sereno house parties, to Hollywood established and floating parties like/at: Details, Red Zone, Florentine Gardens, Ukranian Hall and Rosie's these guys played out a lot in mid to late 80's. By 1987, Adrian was doing his own thing and focusing on the new House music coming from Chicago and New York.

At "Sexpress" you would walk into a dark room lit by black lights and televisions that were set upside down playing porn. The walls were covered in black plastic with day glo doodles and splattering all over. The beats were relentless, instrumental and mind blowing.

In the other room, the bar to be exact, Eddie Ayala, Johhny Vatos and John Avila of Oingo Boingo played East L.A. rock classics to give you a break from the new sonic experience that was Acid house.

Here is the link to a mix I made using some of the earliest Acid House I could find. It aired on my radio show. Here it is in it's entirety. Enjoy. PT Acid House mix

I don't usually think of promoting parties on here, but being that classic rocks stations and the print media are spending so much time on the 1967 Summer of Love, I think this is important to recognize our own cultural creations such as Rave culture which was bigger and still very much alive. In the UK their Summer of Love was in 1988, here in L.A. 1992 saw the crest of the large illegal raves. Today we have larger events at the Sports Arena, Orange show and other venues all based on those early models of raving.

I hope you come out and experience this music as it was meant to be experienced, in a warehouse, with great DJs, open minded music lovers and dancing like no one is watching.