countdown to Movement – DEMF 2008 sets

As a warm up for my return to Movement in less than a few weeks, I have been re-listening to my favorite sets from 2008 – my first and most recent trip to Detroit. If you want to read more, check the DEMF blog tag for my electronic music fame-whoring (this is pre-techno, pre- as in the cause for my techno obsession).

Terrence Parker – Real Detroit Stage DEMF 5.24.08 (right click to download)

Stacey Pullen – Real Detroit Stage DEMF 5.24.08 (right click to download)

Moby – Main Stage DEMF 5.24.08 (right click to download):

Mark Farina – Main Stage DEMF 5.25.08 (right click to download)

More: DEMF 2008 Sets

Read Full Post »

Mark Farina – 01 Animal House Wrap Party

The house master has a podcast. I’m loving the first episode, and not just because Animal House is one of my favorite movies.

Mark Farina – 01 Animal House Wrap Party (right click to download)

via Mark Farina’s Podcast

Mark Farina @ Temple, San Francisco 2/26/10

PS – thanks to my friend Darrell for the tip!

Read Full Post »

sleepless in detroit

DEMF 2008 was without a doubt, one of the music highlights of my life. Only a city such as Detroit can host an inexpensive, diverse festival where it really is about the music. There’s a certain sound to the motor city you don’t find anywhere else. You may have heard Kevin Saunderson spin in Berlin or NYC, but you ain’t heard nothing until you witness the man lay it down in Detroit.

Thank the lord for the internet. The Paxahua website hosts an audio archive of DEMF 2006-2008. In 2008, DJs at the Beatport tent – my favorite! – jacked the mixer up too high, so Paxahua did not release those distorted recordings. However, I uploaded my most memorable sets.

Terrence Parker and Stacey Pullen spun back to back on Day 1 at the Real Detroit Stage, a dark, smokey cave which was literally underground. Terrence Parker set the scene, using a telephone as a headphone, and was generous with the powerful house vocals. Stacey Pullen was pure hometown techno. No one has ever looked happier throwing down records.

Mp3: Terrence Parker @ Real Detroit Stage DEMF 5.24.08

Mp3: Stacey Pullen @ Real Detroit Stage DEMF 5.24.08

On Day 2, Mark Farina performed at the Main Stage, a concrete amphitheater basking in sunlight. I have seen Mark Farina spin more than any other DJ, and a second listen confirms this is my favorite set of his. Turn it up and pretend you are dancing outside with hundreds of your closest friends.

Mp3: Mark Farina @ Main Stage DEMF 5.25.08

You just have to be there. Whether you’re a virgin or veteran, make the pilgrimage in 2010 – the Ten Year Anniversary – for which Carl Craig has been announced as Creative Director.

Read Full Post »

summer tunes

When the warm weather hits, I open the windows, throw on my sundress and turn up some juicy house music. My summer soundtrack features Mark Farina, Troydon, and all those kids pumping the West Coast sound at OM Records. The exotic percussion and lush vocals set the mood for summer activities – lazy days at the beach, driving with the windows rolled down and music blaring, and of course, dancing. The best summer dancing is done outside, and it ain’t a proper beach party without house music.

Hopefully, you have road trips awaiting you and if so, your first mission is to refresh the iPod. Start with Miguel Migs’ Those Things. If his music were a drink, it would be a tequila lime rickey — sweet and soulful, overflowing with flavor, the spice and salt an aphrodisiac for moving that body. And the smooth mix will have your soul singing for hours. Sample a few tastes of Miguel Migs at his MySpace page. Tequila not included.

Link: MySpace: Miguel Migs

Link: OM Records

Read Full Post »

DEMF Day 2 – Sunday

Arriving around opening time is great for the first day of any festival, but by now we knew the best route downtown and the stages by heart. Sunday we slept in and decided to eat a real meal – something we hadn’t done since dinner Friday night. We needed the energy. Sunday had the most promising DJs, most either back to back or at conflicting times.

Our mission was to juggle three house sets in a row at the VitaminWater stage and three techno sets in a row at the Beatport stage. A few shots of yager and we were ready. At the VitaminWater stage, the Lawnchair Generals greeted us with the haus musique we had been craving while being surrounded by techno. We wandered the grounds, soaking in the sun and bright beats. We took a break at the Beatport stage, as Paco Osuna serenaded us with his exotic bass – can’t say no to his techno. Then we ran back to the VitaminWater stage for magical dancing to Miles Maeda, clearly sprinkling west coast house, fine and funky, for the next act. I walked back to the Beatport stage for Magda. I’m not usually a fan of minimal, but her dirty bass can rock my ears anyday.

Next at the VitaminWater stage was the man himself – Mark Farina. The past few times I saw him in Boston, he clearly played to the crowd, dumbed down house and clean hip-hop. But he destroyed the plaza with his JACK. He brought the crowd on a house journey, from classic to funk to hip-hop. His set was my favorite of the entire weekend — as I watched thousands of people dance with their mind/body/soul, basking in the summer warmth, I made a note to remember that moment, the beats alone causing euphoria.

Our legs began to tremble and we sat on the grass by the Beatport stage, listening to Richie Hawtin’s musical genius and watching the water reaching to Canada. Not a bad way to end our stay at DEMF. We marched back to the hotel, intent on getting a full night sleep. We had a long drive back home, but our hearts were light.

NEXT: Leaving the D.

Link: Day 2 – Saturday

Link: Day 1 – Arrival

Read Full Post »

72 hour party people

In two weeks I will begin the ultimate road trip, the pilgrimage to techno mecca – DETROIT. Rather than attempt to express my excitement for DEMF in coherent sentences, I’ll namedrop.

ALEX SMOKE
CARL CRAIG
DERRICK MAY
DEREK PLASLAIKO
JORIS VOORN
JOSH WINK
MAGDA
MARCO CAROLA
MARK FARINA
MIKE GRANT
PEANUT BUTTER WOLF
RICHIE HAWTIN
STACEY PULLEN

— isn’t that enough?

Read Full Post »