First of all I was really surprised by the lack of advertising - both
before and during the show! I was totally psyched to see these
world-famous DJs come to Seattle; the folks at the Crocodile Cafe
didn't even know how to pronounce their names on the concert line.
Flyers were hard to find - got one at the Critters Buggin' show a full
week in advance and then no more, not even after Spice, THE Seattle AJ
night! The flyer I did get had wrong info 'bout how to get into the
show. And unless I missed it sometime during Takemura's spinning, they
didn't even mention On the One mag (or for that matter speak at all!)
during the sets.
Now hey I'm not usually one to complain about lack of advertising,
'cept that this show was held at the Croc which is (so far) just
breaking into the AJ scene - thanks to Brian Lyons spinning alternate
Weds and Tasty Productions throwing an occasional show there. It just
doesn't have the rep as an AJ outlet yet. Given that and the fact that
it was on a Monday, I think everyone missed out on somethin big, both
the crowd and the DJs themselves. The place wasn't even near capacity,
even counting all the grunge regulars that came and hung out way back
in the bar room, so tha energy level was pretty low. I think the DJs
could feel this and didn't give really it their all. Which is just as
well considering that it probably wouldn't have moved the floor much
anyway. Much respect to the few Seattle scenesters who were out on the
floor non-stop... 'specially since (call me a hypocrite but...) I
wasn't out there myself. That low energy thing, y'know.
I missed a lot of Takemura, but I did catch Kruder _or_ Dorfmeister
spin his set. I say "or" because there was only one guy up there and I
don't know 'em by sight yet! Unfortunately, his set wasn't so much a
DJ mixing as much as someone with a kick ass record collection up on
stage playin' his wares. What's the difference? I dunno, mixing was
minimal, continuity wasn't all that great either. No real overlaid
tracks or tricky spinning, just back and forth on the decks. But the
music was an excellent sampling of the very best! From their own stuff
("Chocolate Elvis" is my current favorite, and they played it!) to
stuff that has a similar sound (like "Horny Mutant Jazz" etc) they
picked out the finest in head-noddin' jazzhop and mixed in some
experimental as well. Sadly, the track that got the most attention was
nothing like their own tunes, a tr*p-h*p track with a DustBros sound to
it - gotta admit it was kickin tho! Things picked up again a bit as
soon as Raphael Sebbag stepped to the tables. He was lookin' tres cool
with his goatee and three-piece suit, I might add. He started right in
with the funky brazilian rhythms over a heavy beat, just the way folks
seemed to want it. The only UFO stuff he played was from "Jazzin'",
but I think he did some of the Brownswood as well (I'm not as familiar
with his side stuff but it sounded familiar). He kept changing the
tunes - getting more and more brazilian and less and less hip-hop.
Eventually this cleared the floor, but luckily he quickly recovered the
beat. People are so close minded :( I woulda loved to have to have
heard more of the same. And I mighta, but I had to drive the crew home
sometime 'round 1 so I didn't see him finish it out.
Overall? Some of the best music I have heard spun in a long time, spun
to a bunch of ingrates :( I can't help but think that Moe's Spice
night on Sunday woulda been a better time/place for the show. At least
there you get the ready&willing dancers, the high-energy vibes and an
open-minded crowd. Don't get me wrong, the Croc crowd wasn't totally
lame, and maybe it's just my own high expectations, but it just seemed
like it coulda been so much more. I still had a great time and loud
shouts out to Tasty Productions / On the One for bringing such talent
to Seattle (we don't deserve it yet!)
Steve