Okay, going to an event over my birthday weekend is probably the best idea I've ever had. My wonderful husband allowed me to leave him and baby behind and take my girlfriend, Amolly, leaving me free of responsibility all weekend.
We arrived in St. Louis on Thursday night and started thinking about what we wanted to do during the day on Friday. Not realizing that Graceland was a drivable distance, we almost planned to rent a car and drive to Graceland during the day Friday. Then we realized that it wasn't THAT close. Next year, if we don't make it to Bluesalicious, we'll fly into Memphis first just for the Elvis touring.
So what we did instead was tour the arch and downtown on Friday before the evening dance.
The entire weekend of dancing ROCKED. Being in a completely separate scene from my own, I met a ton of new people, had some amazing new dances, and admired the different culture of the central US, including the square-brick architecture.
The City Museum is, by itself, worth the trip out to St. Louis. A giant adult (and kid-friendly) playground where grown people can climb through tunnels and go down huge slides. Incredible!
Saturday night there was a DJ battle from midnight-3AM. It was crazy fun! I love DJ battles, even though they suck what little energy I have left out of me! The first round I ROCKED it, and moved on to the second round. During the second round, I was a bit drained, and could have done better. I learned something about DJ battles: Yes, it's important to transition from whatever the other DJ is playing, but it's more important to play something that's going to blow everyone's skirts up. And so I know for next time to not let the other DJ throw me off so much!
Here is what I played for the DJ battle: some of my personal favorites
A Woman Knows by Janiva Magness
I Don't Know by Ruth Brown
Just Won't Burn by Susan Tedeschi
I Got the Blues by Brother Yusef
My Daddy Rocks Me by Blue Harlem (thanks, Karissa :)
Baby what you Want me to do by Etta James
Got My Mojo Workin' by Asylum Street Spankers
Brown Eyed Blues by Ben Harper (a poor choice, but it worked)
Will the Circle Be Unbroken by Mavis Staples (a great song poorly placed)
I learned a lot, I won my place in next year's Show Me Blues, and I made some great memories.
Fortunately for me, I got even more time to play my blues for the crowd. The DJ schedule had a few holes in the DJ schedule that I got to fill in for! My 2 sets:
Love Me Like a Man by Bonnie Raitt
You're Sweet by Jimmy Rogers
Wrong Kind of Love by The Insomniacs
Little Red Rooster by Big Mama Thornton
Honest I Do by Jimmy Reed
Walkin' After Midnight by Madeleine Peyroux
You're Imagination by Sonny Boy Williamson
I Lost Everything by Charles Brown
Red Hot Kisses by Fiona Boyes
Down by Chris Thomas King
Can You Hear Me Now by Robin Rogers
Crying and Trying by Erica Brown Band
Rock Me Baby by B.B. King and Eric Clapton
StatesBoro Blues by Taj Mahal
Rollin' Stone by Muddy Waters
Two Trains Running by Zora Young
Going' Down Country by Doug MacLeod
I'll Take You There by The Staple Singers
Cool Disposition by Sonny Boy Williamson
Death Cam a Knockin' (Travelin' Shoes) by Ruthie Foster
I Just Want To Make Love To You by Muddy Waters
Since I Fell For You by Seth Walker
Evil Ways by Otis Spann
Killing Yourself On Purpose by Scrapomatic
Roll With Me by Deborah Coleman
I'm a King Bee by Corky Siegel
If You Wear That Velvet Dress by Bono (requested song :)
Relax by Elvis Presley
Basin Street Blues by Dr. John
Homesick Blues by Charles Brown
Possum Hand by Watermelon Slim
Blues For Mama by Nina Simone
Ironically enough, the song that caught my attention the most was played by Tyler Robbins, the DJ I battled against during my second round. The song is called "Knockin'" By Luminescent Orchestrii.
To the DJs at the event, you're music is inspiring. To one of the best hosts I've ever had, THANK YOU, Jenni, you were great! To old friends I hadn't seen in a while, I'm SO happy you were there! To all my new friends, I'll be seeing you next year. You all made the weekend what it was, phenomenally awesome.
To all my friends who missed it, I hope you don't make that same mistake twice ;)
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What the F! Since when did you become a DJ?! Do you do progressive mixing? PLEEEASE tell me you are spinning vinyl!
ReplyDeleteDid you know I used to be a DJ in college? I used to do progressive mixing for the school dances down at Snow College. I still have my mixer and records. LOL!
HAhahaha :) Sorry, John, it's not THAT cool. I DJ off of my laptop, and haven't figured out how to mix songs on my laptop yet, but I know a few dance DJs that have the right technology for that. I've been a blues DJ for the blues dances in Seattle, and at dance events around the country since I moved to Seattle. It's just taken me a little while to DJ at national events because I work too much to travel.
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