BEATS&BELLS

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses01.19.10

Hello, People of Earth, it's been too long since I've written in this space, though my absence is (hopefully) forgivable, as Fall and Winter have kept this boy hustlin' harder than ever in recent memory. Since my last post, I've been tremendously blessed to play a part in the lives of several ridiculously tasteful couples and companies through DJ'ing, and have started the exciting transition back to Nashville with my wife, Marta, to purchase our first home together.

Fortunately, Nashville is a mere 4 hours from Atlanta, so I will still be performing in this charmed city from time-to-time, if for no other reason than to match my soon-to-be-renewed country influence with my adopted Dirty South roots. Perhaps more telling than I could've realized at the time was my desire to throw T. Swift's "You Belong With Me" on top of K. West's "Gold Digger" at Kate and Andy's standout reception in late-October of 2009, a party that ended gloriously in sweat, tears and photography so amazing it received editorial love from the popular Green Wedding Shoes blog! Kate, who looked amazing in her gown, had this to say when asked about the party:

Favorite Memory of the Day: The dance party at our reception. At one point Andy and I looked over and saw our moms dancing together to a song by one of our favorite bands, The Arcade Fire. And when our DJ played "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift, everyone on the dance floor knew all the words. Truth comes out after a few margaritas--everybody loves Taylor Swift!

This was my second wedding working with the industry-renowned (and super cool) W. Scott Chester team, whose gorgeous work needs no introduction:

Spinning at the weddings of friends was something I was fortunate enough to do several times in 2009, the early November reception for Ben and Brooke bringing together so many things that I love: Octane, Andrew Thomas Lee, a roomful of great friends/family, Mexican food and a highly-respectable taste in music via the bride and groom. Ben, in particular, has a special place in my heart for his obsession with South African electronic/pop duo JJ, though their guests were treated to a much more up-beat set than what the hazily low-key Cape Towners could offer. Time and place, folks. Andy Lee and his picture-taking machine:

It's a new year with plenty to be excited about in the Beats&Bells camp. Through word-of-mouth, friends and family, I've already been introduced to some of the South's most gracious, charming couples and greatly anticipate more than a few wedding throwdowns in 2010. Brides are getting more creative every year and I'm so glad I get to stay in the mix to see love, art and family collide in brilliant fashion at these events.

Parting note: Due to a voracious appetite for music, politics and the culture at-large, I've started Slowblog to add my editorial voice to what is surely too many.

Regardless, it's a good outlet for me to cover artists that might not make sense for Beats&Bells, so stop by if you're curious what's on my radar outside of my DJ-specific taste. On that note, a few songs I've been dancing by myself to when Marta's not home:



The Pipettes' "Pull Shapes" (MP3)



Ratatat's "Seventeen Years" (MP3)



JJ's "Ecstacy" (MP3)



Toro Y Moi's "Blessa" (MP3)



Spoon's "Who Makes Your Money" (MP3)



Nosaj Thing's "Coat of Arms" (MP3)



Bonus: I came across my tropical remix of Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You" (MP3).

Rachel and Michael's Westside Affair10.27.09

In late June of this year, I had the great fortune of collaborating with the highly-creative and tasteful Rachel Cardina and Michael Adkins (now R + M Lasserre). Michael immediately endeared me to the opportunity when he shared their musical vision early in our planning process; artists like M.I.A., Radiohead and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah were to be mandatory. Somehow, I didn't mind taking the direction (note the sarcasm). Mashed-up with a solid hip-hop and Motown feel, their mandated indie flavor made an already incredible event that much more satisfying.

One of the most challenging aspects of spinning weddings is finding that fragile balance between your client's taste and the tracks that will keep every generation on the floor (in this case, JCT Kitchen's well-groomed grass). I can always brainstorm safety songs that will please all ages, but the real beauty of a dance party lies in the unintended. Rachel and Michael's party highlighted this dynamic wonderfully; Moms and Dads shook to Jay-Z and Biggie, while Gen Y gave a spirited performance to the Temptations.

After a hype-filled 90-minute set, sparklers adorned Rachel and Michael's exit to the West for a seemingly gorgeous honeymoon (a select few Holga pictures graciously loaned from M + R below) and I walked-away blessed by the experience and new friends. Thank you, Rachel and Michael, for letting me play a part of this day.

All wedding photography below by Jose Villa; honeymoon shots by Rachel and Michael.

Post-Script: This is probably the most amazing wedding program I've ever seen.

Post-Post-Script: A special thanks also to Ryan Parrish, a long-time friend and ridiculously talented musician/engineer, for assisting me with sound and sheer muscle. For a drink and a burrito, you showed real spirit, old friend.

Last Night's Excursion into Dream Pop10.06.09

Last night my wife and I hustled down to Variety Playhouse after work to see Beach House open for Grizzly Bear. We'd seen Beach House play the Earl -- a much smaller venue, though arguably my favorite in Atlanta -- when we first started dating in 2007, and were on performance number trois of seeing the Grizz. This is one of those shows where we both love each band so much that it would've very difficult to be let down in any way. And, we weren't.

By now, most music savvy folks at least know of Grizzly Bear, so I will quit any coverage of their set with the simple sentiment that Edward Droste and Co. only get better with each door that opens for them. The lights, the music ... those harmonies. It was perfect.

As much as I love everything about Grizzly Bear, I walked away moved by Beach House's blend of sparse, reverb-soaked keyboard pop than any other element of the evening. Like Grizzly Bear, their songs are slow burners that reward the listener's patience every time. Matching vintage keyboard tones against slinky, smooth surf guitar jangles and including just enough percussion to instigate a nod from everyone in the room, Beach House works magic with very little in the way of instrumental differentiation. It's inspiring to experience so much from so little.

Beach House closed with one of my favorite tracks off of Devotion, "Heart of Chambers," which I've included below as a download and video. Do yourself a favor, though, and purchase their two full-lengths, put them on, and savor the changing of the seasons.



Beach House's "Heart of Chambers" (MP3)

FREE shows by Atlas Sound and St. Vincent are Reason Enough ...09.30.09

Next Saturday, October 10 (3 - 5:30p.m.), I'll be dropping the nuptials long-enough to spin Kia Collective's party/art weekend in Castleberry Hill (my hood!), Atlanta. This news is exciting (to me) enough on its own, but add to this that Atlas Sound are playing right after me on Saturday for FREE.

I've heard some of their still-unreleased new record Logos and, if the rest of the songs are like what I've heard, it will be an amazing album to deliver the on-set of fall. I've included the track "Criminals" below to give you a sense of what I mean.



Atlas Sound's "Criminals" (MP3)

And for fun, a really nice fan video of another summery Logos track, "Walkabout," which features Animal Collective's Noah Lennox on vocals.

Home Listening | Week of September 2109.22.09

The Caretaker's Persistent Repetition of Phrases -- Sourced from ballroom tracks from the 20's and 30's and filtered into a beautiful, warm ambient soundtrack that's perfect for the on-set of fall.

Radiohead's Kid A -- Needs no introduction, of course.

Damien Jurado's And Now that I'm in Your Shadow -- I've been reading No Country for Old Men and can't think of a better record to accompany thoughts of wide-open Texas spaces.

Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest -- I fell in love with Grizzly Bear in the fall of 2006 and the devotion never let up. Marta and I just bought tickets to see them at Variety in Atlanta (with Beach House!) in early October. So, so excited.

Hot off the press - my new business card08.06.09

Thanks to Farbod Kokabi, designer at Armchair, guitar player in Lyonnais, and co-owner of Geographic North.

New and old play together just fine07.13.09

Over the last few years, my music taste has been increasingly OK (often preferably so) with traveling back in time to uncover those tracks that I might've once considered campy, due to the simple fact that they were old. Fortunately, this veil of ignorance has been lifted by friends and family members who are much, much smarter than I, leading me to the bountiful fruits of Motown, Soul, Disco (well, if we're honest, some of it isn't so "fruitful"), Classic Rock, etc. At times, the challenge now almost becomes not to sneer at new music! Truly, in many senses -- especially in pop -- "they don't make 'em like they used to."


However, all is hardly lost. Mainstream artists like Justin Timberlake, M.I.A. (some may squibble with me as to whether she's "mainstream," but nearly everyone knows "Paper Planes") and, dare I say it, the Killers, offer a beacon of hope for those who are weary of the radio-compressed redundancy that's marketed to us by a small handful of companies. It's in celebration of that spirit that I try to mash-up songs from multiple generations on my sample reception mixes.


Today, I've posted a brand new Funk/Disco/R&B blend, which takes on the modern, the vintage and a modern take on a vintage classic. Enjoy the new mix!

Lori, Bob and the early 90's pop that just wouldn't stop06.19.09

I had too much fun spinning the Butler wedding at the Granite Room in Atlanta's Castleberry Hill neighborhood. Bob, co-founder of the amazing Public Image Photography, and Lori, the best 5th grade teacher in all the land (no really, she's won awards), had guests fly in from around the world and everyone came together really nicely. "Enjoy the Silence" brought the crowd to the floor and a healthy amount of 90's party hip-hop kept them there. I would not have noticed if this party last all night long.

Fashion, architecture and music at Modern Atlanta 200905.15.09

Every once in a while, I give the nuptials a rest long enough to DJ other events and parties. This year's Modern Atlanta fashion show fundraiser and launch party, held at the top of the White Provisions space in West Midtown, Atlanta gave me a really nice opportunity to curate a different musical vibe than what I typically provide at weddings. I worked closely with MA founder Bernard McCoy, an excellent human being and friend, to create a catwalk experience that saw Sonic Youth, Deerhunter, Bauhaus and other like-minded artists make it on the soundtrack.

Photos courtesy of Kevin Byrd

The Arnold dance-a-thon05.09.09

I knew that Jay and Sara would make their way straight to my heart when they picked "Sleepwalk" by Santo & Johnny as their first-dance song. Before I married my wife, I'd made her a mixtape with that very song as its introduction. Jay and Sara's reception didn't disappoint either; hilarious toasts from friends and family, excellent Tennessee Bar-B-Que and a crowd that was extremely impressive with regards to how long they could dance. Together, we covered 50 years of music and most folks were still hungry for more. Love it.