The Underrated Blog

Dancing Shoes: Ruby | Kaiser Chiefs

We're back at the Skinny tonight, determined to make you stay up late on a Thursday night and dance with us until the wee hours of the morning. Nora just informed me that she is going to need a lot of Red Bull to make it through the night. Me? Just keep the tunes cranking and I wont get cranky.

Or actually, to keep both of us up, we just need one song. This one song has been the basis of all language and vocabulary this week. Instead of actually speaking in sentences Nora and I have resorted to one word. And that word? ROOOOOBAAAAAAYYYY.

The new Kaiser Chiefs song is the greatest thing I've heard in a very long time. Thanks to Matt for finding it for us. Because now, our lives have drastically changed.

Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby

We'll see you tonight. And make sure you yell ROOOOOOBAAAAAAAY.

Dancing Shoes: All Sparks (Phones Remix) | Editors

Holy shite. Just when I was forgetting how much I actually do, in fact, love Editors, they come out with a remix album that is, well....bonkers. (In a good way of course)

Now I'm remembering how nutty I would get when I would see them play, especially at that first NYC appearance at Rothko (RIP). Feels like ages ago, doesn't it? Well, they are still going. And going strong.

All of The Back Room was just screaming remixes from the get-go, so I'm glad to see we now have a nifty little collection. You can buy the whole EP on iTunes. This remix of "All Sparks," while not on the EP has gotten me wide awake at 8 AM. I'm having fun dancing around my room. It has replaced coffee...for now.

You can bet I will be spinning this on Thursday at The Skinny when I finally return to the dj booth. It's been since Halloween since I've last djed. Can you believe it? I can't. Well, I'm back. So get ready.

Editors - All Sparks (Phones Remix)

Dancing Shoes: Enjoy The Silence | Depeche Mode

We're back at The Skinny tonight for our usual ridiculousness. Nora will take over until I run over from Joe's Pub and then the battle is on. We will keep you dancing all night, honestly. And if you don't dance I'll throw things at you from the DJ booth. I try not to resort to violence, but if I'm playing Depeche Mode, I better see you at least singing along with me.

Speaking of, I woke up yesterday, still drunk, with this song in my head for no reason. Since then I've been singing it to everyone who crosses my path. Okay, maybe just my roommate but it's become sort of a thing with me now. It's a classic. I told her I may play it 16 times in a row tonight, but maybe once will suffice. We'll see.

Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence

See you tonight.

Dancing Shoes: Deceptation | Le Tigre

Last night's Beg Yr Pardon was super fun. It's a great party that all must attend (hint: in two weeks Matt Earfarm is playing host with a great lineup). I played battle DJ with Jeff K who was a great sport. We decided in the end it was a draw. There wasn't any blood, unfortunately. Instead we danced, drank beers, and debated whether I could get away with Justin Timberlake.

And I did.

But the real winner of the night seemed to be "Deceptation" by Le Tigre. It's always been one of my favorite songs to djs because I like to dance to it myself. People kept asking what it was, so I assume they liked it, which means that you can too.

For a full recap of the night, including the great bands that played check out D's blog. I was quite impressed by o'Death who seem to be getting all the blog love lately, but let's be honest....Dracula Zombie USA stole the show. I wish I could find some sort of outlet to rock out like that. Looks like fun.

Le Tigre - Deceptation

Dancing Shoes: Cobrastyle | Teddybears

So I'll refrain from giving my review about the Birdmonster show last night until after I see them again tonight to avoid overkill. Just know that the same lineup plays again tonight at Union Hall, so if you missed last night, I better see you there.

It's apparently the week to screw over Rachael until she can’t take it anymore and is ready to leave New York.

After Tuesday's debacle, I was very fearful over my booking of the afterparty last night. No one was getting paid at this one, so I just wanted to make sure we had the place. Seems quite simple right? I habitually checked in with the owner. Everything was confirmed. And yet upon arrival last night, I was greeted with an interesting smelling party that definitely was not mine.

Okay. So after a bit of huffing and puffing outside, I found the "manager" who then told me that the "owner" had double booked. Just my luck.

To make a long story short, we battled a bit back and forth and I tried to keep my cool. But it's just getting ridiculous. Luckily we resolved by letting the strange ones stay upstairs and move the Birdmonster afterparty downstairs. Fine.

In the end, it all turned out quite super and I actually managed to have myself some fun. The Birdmonster boys helped me out djig for a while (I vaguely remember Justin picking Stevie Wonder and Peter ecstatic over The Proclaimers). Great crowd of very fun people who humored me by keeping their dancing shoes on til the wee hours this morning.

Now if I could just open a new venue and avoid all this unnecessary ridiculousness...who's with me?

Just so I can keep djing this Teddybears song.

Teddybears - Cobrastyle

Dancing Shoes: Take me To The River | Al Green

I don’t think I've ever felt this tired before. It's been a long week and I found myself walking, er, stumbling home at about 4:30 this morning. I like the Lower East Side in the wee hours of the morning. It's oddly quiet, and bright. It's almost like a rundown amusment park that just closed. You walk down the street, nod your head to the bums and hipsters alike, and feel the rats pass by your feet. This was all honky-dory until I got to my door and realized I didn't have my keys.

After 16 phone calls trying to wake my roommate up, I finally was in. Thank god it's Friday.

Djing was super duper fun last night. I was completely nervous starting out because it had been so long and I had no idea what to play, but I eventually got into the swing of things. I don't know how I lasted for six hours, but I did. I got to play all my classic hits, and a couple newbies. At some point, maybe around 3 AM I got into my soul mood and played some Al Green. It was the highlight of the night.

Al Green - Take Me To The River

Oh yes, and Birdmonster is Spin.com's Band Of The Day. I wont comment on my feelings about Spin, but congrats to the boys.

And I didn't watch the VMAs. I heard I didn't miss much. I'll catch one of the 12309813 repeats sometime after a much needed nap tonight.

Dancing Shoes: Hold Up | Girl Talk

Yikes. Things are starting to get super busy for me, which is definitely a good thing. Don't worry, I won't be saying byebye to this blog anytime soon, you'll just have to get used to some scatterbrained entries. Oh right. They've always been scatterbrained.

So it's Wednesday and that means you should have been dancing last night somewhere out there in the world of dancing shoes, and not falling asleep at 8:30 PM like I did. Seriously. I was so exhausted that I didn't even make it through one disc of Gilmore Girls (shh). Anyways when I woke up this morning at 3:30 AM, really confused that I was still fully dressed and on my couch, I decided I was in the right frame of mind for some dancing.

I lasted about 10 minutes before falling back asleep. I hope I don't have mono.

Anyways, by now if you are a compulsive blog reader like myself, you've seen the endless posts about the latest sensation Girl Talk. When I first heard of what this was, I was convinced I wouldn't like it. I'm not a mashup fan. Hell, I don't really like half the songs sampled. But when you combine so many guilty pleasures and just a snippet of each (for the ADD inclined, like myself), holy shit -- it's genius.

So yes, it's not unlike anything you've heard at a dance club before, but it's almost like a fun game to see how many samples you can find. It's ok if you aren't on the Girl Talk train, but I think I am. No, ok, I definitely am.

Girl Talk will "play" Mercury Lounge August 18. I'll be there, hopefully drunk, and dancing like a crazy person. That is, however, if I'm not sleeping.

Girl Talk - Hold Up

Girl Talk - Friday Night

Download some more on myspace.

Dancing Shoes: Get Myself Into it | The Rapture

I found out that my new apartment does not allow dogs, which is a total bummer because I was counting on getting myself a little fluffy friend to make me feel better. There's no way I could possibly have a bad day if I came home to a little puppy dog. It's just not possible.

Since that is not possible, I know have to look elsewhere for a little lift. Djing would, in fact, give me that much needed jump-start. Last night, after A Brief Smile played a fabulous acoustic set (more on that a little later), I found myself staring down a man in plaid who was probably the innocent victim in the loss of my Tuesday night gig. But at the time, that didn't matter to me. He took too long to start, which caused me to start heckling as a result of too many drinks. I think at one point I yelled "play that funky music white boy." He was the enemy.

Because he used vinyl, he was automatically cooler than me. And trust me, I'm well aware I am probably the least cool dj possible (Cardigans "Love Fool" anyone?). He time warped us into the 50's and automatically we were at a sock hop. I wanted him to pull out a comb from his back pocket to comb his greasy hair. However, hearing "Be My Baby" and "Then He Kissed Me" were super.

I'm just bitter.

Mostly, because if I were to have djed last night I would have played the new Rapture track, which is fantastic.

So once I get my life back in order, we'll have to get together for a little dancing. Deal? Deal.

The Rapture - Get Myself Into It

Dancing Shoes: Let's Dance | The Futureheads

I'm officially having DJing withdrawl. Switching the songs on my iTunes and dancing around with mock headphone on just isn't matching the fun I used to have. It's just not the same without someone mocking my choices, or a packed dance floor awaiting the next tune. That's what I always love about djing - it's always up in the air.

So with that said, I'm working on a new weekly gig that you all will come and dance with me at. And to prepare for that I've consistently kept up with my djing mixes, finding the best and the worst tracks to dance to.

Here's some that I haven't posted. Feel free to boogey.

The Futureheads - Let's Dance

AutoVaughn - One More Time

Robbie Williams - Rudebox

Car Stereo (Wars) - Ghostland Gets Bossy

Girl Talk - Friday Night

Dancing Shoes: Creeps Me Out | Ima Robot

Worthless.

That's how I would describe my life these days. Completely and utterly worthless. Running up and down the stairs of my apartment building has not only become the highlight of my day, but a way to relieve the stress I have forced myself to garner...just for kicks.

Something tells me that I'll look back on this time fondly in the future. Perhaps with a side of jealousy. But right now I'm not too keen on this lifestyle.

Regardless, it felt good to go out. And it felt even better to be at Pianos on a Tuesday night. That place has sort of become my home away from home, so it was nice to be back in the company of my adoring fans, er, friends who I make come listen to the music I play.

We had a good crowd last night but sadly no one felt like dancing. Maybe it was too hot outside. However my favorite part of the night is always the end. Everyone I know has left me, it's 2 in the morning, and that's when the fun really begins. The few that are left are the real die-hard drunks, hanging on to each song choice like I could make or break the rest of their lives. Last night there was a group of guys who loved the GnR, and a group of girls that loved feel good 80s. I tried to figure out a way to get them both dancing at the same time, but sadly no one fell in love. I think I need to try and do less matchmaking, and maybe explore beatmatching...what do you think?

One more week next week before I head overseas. Be there. And dance.

I played these two songs last night. The Xtina song is frickin fabulous, so don't pretend you don't like it.

Ima Robot - Creeps Me Out

Christina Aguilera - Aint No Other Man