Thursday: Just for Heads at Red Maple
Our own Tyler Schmith joins The Elders at their new twice-monthly Just for Heads (J4H) party at Red Maple in Baltimore. It's Tyler's first appearance since returning from the BPM festival last month, so expect some fresh sounds heard down south. As always, the Elders can be expected to bring music as quality as themselves, and if January's J4H party was any indication it will be a stylish crowd with a taste for dancing.
BONUS: This show will be broadcast LIVE on Gourmetbeats Radio starting at 10PM EST!
Recommended: Joe Claussell @ Deep Sugar TONIGHT – 11.10.12
I'll admit, my excitement was tempered when I first heard about Joe Claussell playing tonight at Deep Sugar in Baltimore... and some people might scream "sacrilege" that I could ever doubt the legendary DJ. But we tell it like it is here at Gourmetbeats, and you know, music is an exciting and evolving thing. There are new sounds and artists creating amazing things that are released nearly every day, and as we consume this constant stream of innovation, it's easy to get carried away in the rapids. So, when I heard that Joaquin "Joe" Claussell (a godfather of "world dance" music and soulful house, artist and accomplished musician) was coming to town, part of me was resistant to the idea of getting excited. I think this is a problem that others have experienced, especially those of us that devote so much of our lives listening to the latest tracks, the best "new" sounds, and pushing innovation in dance music. We get caught up in what's new and what's trending, and forget to let go and enjoy what's actually important, namely the music. And besides, it would be remiss to assume that an accomplished and traveled artist like Mr. Claussell isn't evolving in his own right.
What won me over (or more accurately snapped me out of it) was taking a listen to a mix of Joe's from a performance in Rome in 2011. On first listen I would say it's not the greatest mix. But just around the 14:30 mark is when he grabbed me and when I realized my mistake. With a driving beat, syncopated percussion and rising synth, I started to feel it... and then that vocal dropped... and all my dancefloor memories rushed back. I remembered why I loved this music in the first place. I remembered that the music is both the center of attention and a conduit to something greater, many times lost when the night is recorded, digitized, and replayed on a computer. It's been ten years since I last saw Joe Claussell, and I'm excited to see him again tonight. This is an artist that should really be experienced in person, among friends and like-minded individuals, and Deep Sugar @ The Paradox is the ideal venue. His attitude and presence and "vibe" just doesn't come across in a recorded mix, not to mention that he often has live musicians playing along side him. It's something that everyone should experience, either for the first time, or again as a reminder of what house music is really all about.
As an added bonus, our good friends The Elders will be holding it down in the courtyard!
-Tyler
Recommended: Danny Howells in DC
This Friday at DCs U-Street Music Hall the veteran DJ and deepsexyfuturistictechfunkouse don Danny Howells will be throwing down with opening support from our good friends The Elders! Regularly cited as one of the top djs in the world, Danny has built a reputation for innovative sets with plenty of audience interaction, and this appearance is sure to draw a huge crowd of DC's music lovers looking to throw down on the dance floor. Arrive early for The Elders, and see why this up-and-coming DJ couple has been making so many waves here in the Mid-Atlantic music scene!
Tonight in DC: Joe Nice + Hatcha at Forward Fest!
If you are a music lover in the DC area you undoubtedly know that ForwardFest is going on this week, one of the city's largest electronic music festivals. They have done a great job this year of bringing out some names that are really pushing boundaries in current music. Tonight our own Joe Nice will be behind the decks along with Legendary dubstep trailblazer Hatcha for what is sure to be a bass-heavy night of chest-thumping music.
Also, our good friends from the ForQuarters collective as well as The Elders will be in another part of the city for the Forward Fest House showcase. All in all it's a great night to be in DC. We'll see you out tonight!
The Gumball with Tommy Largo – This Saturday!
Baltimore's ForQuarters Collective is once again bringing some top-tier talent to Charm City, this time all the way from the Netherlands! If you are a lover of deep or jacking house music, chances are you have heard one of Tommy Largo's productions. With releases on many of the country's top House Music labels, Tommy's songs have been played by the likes of DJ Sneak, Derrick Carter, Mark Farina and Johnny Fiasco just to name a few. His productions are proven floor fillers, and now he brings his signature sound to Baltimore for another installment of The Gumball! As an added bonus, opening support is being provided by our good friends The Elders, further securing this as a can't-miss evening.
WMC 2012 – Featured: Dance for the Cause
Wednesday March 21st at Deluca
530 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
8PM-Midnight
What's better than dancing to great music? Doing it for a great cause! Organized by our good friend Donny Sizemore (Sizemo) and featuring some great Gourmetbeats talent including The Elders and our own Tyler Schmith, the event hopes to raise awareness for the Campaign for Cancer Prevention which supports several of the world's largest and longest running studies into understanding cancer causes and preventions. It's free, but we suggest contributing to Donny's goal of $3,000 towards the cause!
