Pssht.

Clay D & New Get Funky Crew - Give Me A Bottle

Pitbull recently bit off a bit of this bit.

Drink Drank Drunk

Via.

No idea what this song is really called, or who did this remix; but I got it from my girl Mapei for a show we did a while ago. Get with it, 170 bpms is the future.

Alkaholiks - Only When I'm Drunk (Mapei's Ghettotech German Techno WTF Remix)

Swiiiing Batter Batter...

I haven't watched this documentary nearly enough this year. The above clip pretty much summed up my general attitude towards the notion of not participating in, but merely observing, competitive sports for a dominant portion of my life.

Ol' Long Arm.

Nowadays, wholly embracing the epitome of sports fanaticism as I do, here's an animated short that caught my attention span:

"In celebration of the greatest athletic achievement by a man on a psychedelic journey, No Mas and artist James Blagden proudly present the animated tale of Dock Ellis' legendary LSD no-hitter. In the past few years we've heard all too much about performance enhancing drugs from greenies to tetrahydrogestrinone, and not enough about performance inhibiting drugs. If our evaluation of the records of athletes like Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, Marion Jones, and Barry Bonds needs to be revised downwards with an asterisk, we submit that that Dock Ellis record deserves a giant exclamation point. Of the 263 no-hitters ever thrown in the Big Leagues, we can only guess how many were aided by steroids, but we can say without question that only one was ever thrown on acid.

Sadly, the great Dock Ellis died last December at 63. A year before, radio producers Donnell Alexander and Neille Ilel, had recorded an interview with Ellis in which the former Pirate right hander gave a moment by moment account of June 12, 1970, the day he no-hit the San Diego Padres. Alexander and Ilels original four minute piece appeared March 29, 2008 on NPRs Weekend America. When we stumbled across that piece this past June, Blagden and Isenberg were inspired to create a short animated film around the original audio."

www.nomas-nyc.com

Music please.



The Seeds - Tripmaker


The Seeds - Faded Picture

& via DD:
Morgen - Of Dreams (7")

This Guy.

PART 8: CHRIS GRAHAM

Part 8 of the series I've just started, focuses on local Ras Trent look-alike, Chris Graham.

He's got a write-up/Q&A over on the NBC Miami NiteSide blog(?). There really has been a bunch of rumblings about the new spot, most likely a direct result of Graham's involvement. Did anyone else get that mass e-mail, errr, press release(?), he sent out asking to have his write-up blogged/tweeted/paid attention to? I'm looking forward to that beer you now owe me, Chris. Your cander only reminds me that I too need to blatantly clamor for publicity and dissemination of said publicity -- have you read your New Times today? Tell a friend. K'thx.

The spot takes over the old Blue space, which always struck me as one of the more awkward spaces for clubland to fill -- feels more like a long hallway than any space I'd like to hang out in for much longer than a beer. Judging from the pictures it looks like they're going for the kitsch -- but who doesn't like conversation-starters?

That's about all I've got on this place as I haven't even been there. Chris is a great (read: swell) guy that makes amazing chicken wings. Plus, he will buy you your first beer if you mention that you saw this review(?!) on the blog.

Best of luck dude.

*EDIT: After reading a bit into the recent past of this NBC NiteTalk series, they really cover a bunch of the family in there. Credit to John Hood (who has more bylines than Jesus) for shining some light on these guys n gals --- even Javi(PS14/Bar) gets love! I think I've got to take the newly founded This Guy series to the next.

Now I just gotta think of questions that aren't so formulaic. Suggestions?

Where's Egg Foo when you need him?

Mr. Oizo - Analog Worms Attack

No idea where I copped this 10" EP, but I remember replaying the A1 over and over. Everything sounds like its peaking to shit with a nasty grunge synth slashing through. It's somewhere between some downtempo instrumental hip-hop and proto-dubstep w/ the wobbles. Break out your black hoodie for this 1999 jam. Interesting to note that the cuts on here are from the Frenchman Feadz.

Flip Ya For Real

What's up with social networking if I can only get the video post, and not the invite to attend? I didn't know this was going down!

Brief research [via] tells me:

"So, if you’re looking for a cool, innovative and attention grabbing way to advertise your business, sign spinners, who charge an average of $60 a hour, may be the way to go."

Keeping the options open.

Bernard Wright - Spinnin'

Perfect early 80's funky jazz. "Another mojito for Mr. Underhill at Cabana #3."

Also noteworthy for the sample at ~1:26.

Get It In Print

Originally slated to be published in their Winter Music Conference issue, the Miami New Times has gone ahead and printed their interview/Q&A with me that I posted (unedited) a while back. If you live in Miami, pick up a copy or read it online. They must've been slow on substance this week, cuz the article is a full-pager, and that's usually reserved for the talented.

While on the New Times site (it's gotten way better lately - congrats), I found out about Gen Art closing shop. Aside from all of the wonderful things I'm sure they focused on, of their events that I've been to, they were always attended by attractive AND intelligent girls --- a three-legged unicorn-like rarity in Miami.

Tip of the hat, adieu

I also learned that NKOTB is coming to concert. Tickets are $81. Ridiculous. How bout you give me $5 and I punch you in the nads? You also get a free t-shirt.

"Alright boys, now don't look too excited."

Listen to the song, and look at the photo again; tell me if it makes any sense.

Sparks - Beat The Clock (Extended Version)

This song is over 30 years old, and that drum still sounds fresh as hell. Might I suggest mixing in @4:02 and bringing it back to the lyrics when necessary/always.
You can find more Sparks-ish over here.

Hey Gianni, You Got Your Google Alerts?

Hello?

I only just recently am stepping into this 2010 year of ours. First with the Twitter, got a Google Alert set up for 'dj contra' (its kinda annoying actually, and i'm not sure if its considered narcissistic to admit you have one set up...eh.), and maybe soon a *gasp* Facebook account?!? I'm telling you, moms would be proud. Then again, we've still got a rotary phone at the Casa De Contra.

More on the future in the future.

Regardless, here's hoping Mr. Gianni Marino has his Google Alerts set up and bothers to check em, cuz i'm digging a lot of his remixes, and would enjoy playing em out at a higher than 128-ripped quality. Went so far as to hit up Diplo bout em so he could ask for em; so hit one of us up w/ better quality -- or tell me to take it down and be 'that' guy.

Laidback Luke & Diplo - Hey! (Gianni Marino Remix)

*shitty 128kbps rip.

Rainy Day

Tommy Guerrero - Abiento



From the album Soul Food Taqueria, off the Mo'Wax label.
Cover art by ESPO.

The whole album is great.
Used to get tons of play on the radio during Depress-O shows.

Who The Best?

Khaled on the drops.

Miami's weekly food/art/movie/music/etc paper is ready again for their annual contest of the mighty.
You can find the poll here if you feel like adding your two cents. There's a gazillion categories this year, so give yourself a minute.

Excerpt from my ballot:

7. Best band
ANR

8. Best DJ
Matt Cash

9. Best dance club
Liv - c'mon, if anything else wins, its a joke; this spot shits on most clubs in the country.

10. Best gay bar
White Room

11. Best Latin club
Mango's (does this count - everytime i walk by, it looks amazing)

12. Best neighborhood bar / central
PS14

13. Best neighborhood bar / Miami Beach
Deuce Bar or Purdy Lounge would be the staple answers, but maybe that new Burger King Whopper Bar; haven't ever been, but imagine the chicks you pick up there! "BK, if you need a dj . . . "

14. Best neighborhood bar / south
Izakaya's - pretend like you know

15. Best neighborhood bar / west
pass.

16. Best radio station
94.3 or 97.7 - pirates run this all day! --- 90.5 used to be my staple answer, but have you listened to it lately?

17. Best sports bar
What?


The Pioneers - Long Shot Kick De Bucket

Got this from a cool compilation of mostly skinhead reggae. Originally written by Lee Scratch Perry!

Just Put Something Up

Ok, I will.

Some Comedy-Lite for your day.


Frayser Boy - She Swallowed It

You may have missed this in 2003.

So This Happened

What do you get when you throw a concert with 'punkish' rockers trying to draw in the younger 'hipster' crowd on the outdoor patio("Cabana Green") of a multi-million-dollar resort/spa complex in one of the most affluent areas of Miami-Dade organized by well-meaning people that may not have the strongest grasp on the pulse of the targeted demographic?

Schmoove.

If your keen eye notices, you'll see that I was playing with musicians.

"Wait, what?! Contra, you trying to be on some DJ Spooky/Kid Koala shit?! The fuck?!?!"

Well, no concerned citizen. In fact, that idea was brained up by someone within the Bal Harbour Village Cultural Series development department and impressed upon me within, lets just say for arguments sake, a week of the event.

"Sure," I say, "of course I've worked with musicians before.... Have I worked with these musicians before? No. In fact, I haven't even met them."

Management hits up some connects at the UM School of Music, and presto-change-o, I'm now going to perform w/ 4 musicians (trombone, trumpet, cello, and electric violin[think Revenge of The Nerds closing concert scene, minus fireworks and impressed crowd]).

Let me just set the stage for you. So again, I'm at a gazillion-$ resort. The headliners for this event, which is expecting up to 600 people (including the Mayor, 75 yrs old, I was specifically told), is a group I'm completely unfamiliar with, but reservedly hoping has a crazy following that I'm oblivious to.

It's about 7pm, and the opening act, one Matthew Ian (all black clothes, fedora with the brim set low, a few pieces of jewelry, and probably some worn-in cowboy boots), is strumming and singing on his guitar about heartbreak and sorrow. Currently, there are about 20 people sitting in their lawn chairs; mostly grandmothers with their grandchildren playing in the grass. Then, before this story gets too long, the highlight of the night happens.....

*pause for suspense*

Mr. Ian, takes a second after finishing one of his songs to pick up a book laying beside him.

"First off," I think to myself, "if this guy is going to start reading a book right now, I'm going to lose my shit!"

You gotta understand, I'm already giddy(?!) from trying to take in the absolute awkwardness we are all feeling knowing that we are going to have to perform in front of the fine ladies from the Bal Harbour Bridge Society; and on top of that I haven't even met this group of musicians I'm supposed to 'jam' with while hitting all of the requests made to me hours earlier (including Elton John's Tiny Dancer) because of someone's masterful imagination of how wonderful it will be.

Where was I? Oh, ok, so Mr. Ian pulls out the book as I lean towards a friend and whisper, "I will love it if this guy starts reading some Bukowski or Frost."

Low and behold, he reads aloud the poem below:

Freedom

He drank wine all night of the 28th, and he kept thinking of her: the way she walked and talked and loved the way she told him things that seemed true but were not, and he knew the color of each of her dresses and her shoes he knew the stock and curve of each heel as well as the leg shaped by it. and she was out again and when he came home, and she'd come back with that special stink again, and she did she came in at 3 a.m in the morning filthy like a dung eating swine and he took out a butchers knife and she screamed backing into the rooming house wall still pretty somehow in spite of love's reek and he finished the glass of wine. that yellow dress his favorite and she screamed again. and he took up the knife and unhooked his belt and tore away the cloth before her and cut off his balls. and carried them in his hands like apricots and flushed them down the toilet bowl and she kept screaming as the room became red GOD O GOD! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? and he sat there holding 3 towels between his legs no caring now whether she left or stayed wore yellow or green or anything at all. and one hand holding and one hand lifting he poured another wine

- Charles Bukowski

A-Ma-Zing!!

Bukowski?! One-point for me on the guess. Poem about a guy de-nutting himself?!!? Ten-points to all of the children old enough to understand what he was saying. Balls on this guy for reading that poem in the early evening sunset?!? Hundred-points for all the over 70-yr-olds who had the picture in their head of a man walking around with bloody towels between his legs and his own testicles in his hand!!

Oh how I wish I had a camera for all of the gaping mouths and stunned children. Awesome! Kudos to you fine sir.

Everything after that point pretty much sucked. He got back on his guitar and played a few more songs, then ANR went on, then I went on for a 30 minute set that got extended to ~45-60 then blah, blah, decrescendo.

Things I Realized About Freeballing With Musicians:

1) Homework.

You should really prepare something, or not even bother. Get all your songs in order, and find some ultra-tight in-key progressive manner in tying them all in together while allowing(or making) space and extendo-bridges for the musicians to jump in. Some half-cocked idea brought up in a meeting should not have come to light within the span of a couple days.

2) Let it ride.

You've got to let songs ride almost to the end for the musicians to get into any sort of a groove. I had a rough idea of what I should/could play for what I had imagined the event to be, and basically threw the idea of sticking to any sort of setlist out the window two songs in. There's no quick-mixing allowed with 'jamming' musicians, unless you've really spent time getting all your key signatures/progressions in some sort of comprehensive fashion.

3) Instrumentals.

The less lyrics, the better. The less prominent instruments in the song, the better.

The trouble with both of these rules was that of the brief instruction/requests given to me prior to getting on stage was to play lots of stuff people know(aforementioned Elton John etc). But when you're playing a familiar song with lyrics and perhaps even a guitar solo in a rock song (*gasp*), where the hell do the musicians go? Solo on top of the solo? Solo on top of the lyrics? Hey trombone, go ahead and just freestyle over top of Fred Wesley's part.

ugh.

um, yeah, so that happened.

Segue-shmegway:

Sssssh is also an amazing album worth >two listens.

Fully Fitted posted about this track a little bit ago. Back in 2008 the movie Tropic Thunder used it briefly, and it reminded me of how awesome the song is and totally fits into the correctly identified genre of "Parent Radio" as Devlin noted in the post. So I had gone ahead and started an edit of it, not really finished, but not horrendous as is; its got some noisiness goin on.

Ten Years After - I'd Love To Change The World (Contra EchoNoiseEdit2)

Yeah?!? Yeah.

"This is a place where the very rich go to party within a few miles of some of the poorest people in America. It is a city where political corruption has become a way of life"

Not quite sure about the headline, but an interesting article from The Guardian on what promises to be an even more interesting book which looks at the city that I know as the "Sunny Place For Shady People™"

Somewhat along these lines, I just got home from djing at Klutch, where, contrary to a number of online reports, some of the Jersey Shore cast showed up. Pauly D, The Situation and the Other Guy Who Isn't The Buff One [sadly?! I am only a little familiar w/ the show], all rocked out till closing time. As its 6am, I won't go into a rambling diatribe about the state of affairs when chants of "Fist Pump!" are answered by the trio and launch the crowd into such a ridiculous frenzy that people didn't give a second thought to spraying their $1500 bottles of Veuve Clicquot all over the club, crowd and my computer...

Eh, I'm tired.

Speaking of being tired, I partly blame the cool event that Sweat Records put together earlier today that I had the pleasure to play [to shoppers and a 'captive' crowd of ~12 people sitting down on the couches staring -- I haven't done an in-store in a little over a year now, and I don't miss the relative awkwardness at all], after LeSpam and just before ANR took the stage. I played a bunch of randomness including the criminally still unreleased Amanda Blank cover of PJ Harvey's "Driving" (Devlin looking smart in the YouTube), new LCD track "Home", and some other things that happened to catch my eye on the *gasp* laptop screen. *oof*...

Yeah that's right, I'm the dude who shows up to play at a record store's 5-year anniversary party which also happened to fall on Record Store Day 2010, looking for a Serato setup. I suppose that's good enough a point on said subject (the subject being me ,'sharp-as-a-razor', not the death of record stores.

Anyways, there's a 3-part Q&A series w/ Lolo on the Miami Herald's site.

Also, props to Dan aka Doormouse, who had an opening celebration today for his new gym space, 305 Crossfit (59th & NE 4th Ave). Apparently he's too buff to write on this site anymore, but his MySpace comments to himself are none the less for it. Eh...

Sedat the Turkish Avenger - Fist Funk

The DMCA

In case you haven't seen/heard it, here's the single off the ex-Dust Brothers' new album. Most all other blogs seem to be posting a radio rip off of Pete Tong's BBC program, but i've gone one step...to the east, and found a different rip of better quality -- in fact its play-outtable(?!) minus the last 10 seconds. Also up is an older track of theirs that you should add to your library if you don't have it already. Upon first listen, their new single reminded me of Juan Maclean's extended live version of Happy House (search the blog for that version somewhere here already uploaded; clocks in at over 21 minutes) mixed with Implog's Holland Tunnel Dive (I wish I hadn't traded that record away), both because of the sounds/format of the song, but also because if you're going to play this out - you've really got to commit to the whole 11 minutes of this thing.

Side note about Mr. Tong: In the Philippines he gave me one of his T-shirts which was designed by Christian Audigier. I completely forgot it in the green room that night, and regret not having it now. Is that important? No. But neither is keeping up w/ KFC's menu, but damn would I try the Double Down, and could use a nice shirt to wipe my fingers off after eating that damn delicious devil!

You know you want it!

So because of the DMCA complaint a couple days ago, gon go ahead and rename these in hopes of missing whatever bot picked up on us. Strangely, it makes me feel as if this blog is somewhat official.

K.emikAl Bros. - E.scape V.ELO.city


K.emikAl Bros. - Battle Weapon 8

*Also, for your own ease of use, I've gone ahead and added the 'tunes' tag to most of my posts that have a track on it just in case you only come here for music rather than witty banter, occasional honesty and rare gentle chuckles.

Its Whats For Dinner

*Stomach growling* > "...eeek!*

INXS - Taste It (Acapella)

Round the Outside

Malcolm McLaren

January 22, 1946 – April 8, 2010

World's Famous Supreme Team - Hey DJ (Extended Instrumental)

Chunes

Grrrr.

1 of the 4 girls from out of town that I looked forward to linking up with during WMC that I failed do to so with is the homegirl Jess Jubilee. Last year's WMC was mostly memorable for the rampage that she, Darko and I (plus other unmentionables [<-for sake of careers and bright futures]) brought upon The Standard Hotel after-hours.

Anyways, thanks to Woody and his blog that he still consistently updates on the solo, I'm now hip to the fact that she posted up her current Top 10 tracks up on Beatport.

Of the tracks she listed, I'm 90% unfamiliar; I think I've heard 'maybe' one of them before, but that might've been a remix. But that's what friends/charts are for, no?!? Now Jess, use them internets and lets get some transfers going.

Dedicated to thee:

Dandy Warhols - We Used To Be Friends (Chris Holmes Edit)

Q: Haven't You Heard?

A: No, I haven't yet, but since I killed him in my dream last night, I only figure its right to post up his mix.

Get it here.

My Id Is On Some Shit

I just woke up from a really disturbing dream. As I'm into reading/hearing other peoples dreams, will share this one while it's still fresh.

Basically a friend of mine (Mike Deuce, for anyone who knows him) asked me to kill him, and gives me a single-barrel shotgun. Somehow he convinces me to do it. Thing is, we're at a BBQ at his parent's house with probably 50-70 other ppl there(friends/family).


Somehow it's all good among them that he wants to die, and no one cares that we're now walking over to the fence to go through with the plan. One guy sitting at a picnic table from the side even exclaims that he's "excited to be a part of it".


Once we're at the wooden fence, my friend aggressively reaffirms to me that he's ready, and I begrudgingly, yet calmly, shoot him in the back of his head. Over my shoulder I hear the same sideline guy yell "Church!" as he starts clapping while enjoying his cigar. Some people are looking, but not staring, and no one is too involved.


I then calmly walk to the other side of the BBQ party still holding the shotgun and have to tell his Mom what I just did. She starts to cry because she had no idea that he wanted to go -- not really mad at me, but more at him for not telling her. Then my dad is also there, and he scolds me for shooting my friend - not angry for why i did it, just that i did it.

Explanations? Anyone? Bueller?
This has got to have something to do w/ the shooting last night.


The Id is a crazy thing.


Black Meteoric Star - Dreamcatcher

Little Haiti Is Too Real

Can you see my car?

Late last night shit popped off two doors down from me as I was trying to get productive in my studio. *sigh*...

Jumped to switch lights off, heard a car screech, and another volley. At first I thought it was a drive-by, but now news reports differently - which changes what i "didn't" see... nuff said.

A patrol car showed up super quick, probably less than 1-2 minutes after the shooting. Must've been right around the way and heard the 15-20 shots. By the time Fire Rescue showed up, the mortally wounded cat had succumbed.

Read the news report at the Miami Herald. [If the comment remains up there, 'Tourist' must live in the area, cuz the car seat is always parked there.]

You think this may affect the amount of guests I get next WMC?
What about getting my rent knocked down?



Scarface - I Seen A Man Die

Deliverance

Classic.

Mr. Spellman sleuthed out the truth behind Miami's infamous Don Bailey and his amazing carpets.

The real question I'd like answered is: "How do I get my hands on one of those posters and/or billboards?"

Timeless Miami treasure right there, and I'd hate for em to be thrown out like a Pluto Nash movie poster, and I would find room for it.

Wait, no moustache preening shop?

Also, regarding the solution to the case [See blog link above], Burt Reynolds has his own museum/gallery in Jupiter, Florida, of which the business card I recently found when cleaning up my room. If it were worth posting a photo of, I would've done so; but woefully it is more American Psycho than moustache.

Shoulda, Coulda...

And the infamous BR Playgirl layout has also been recently implicated as the source material for Republican Senator Scott Brown spread came out during the recent Massachusetts race.

Being in Jupiter, Uncle Burt's museum isn't that far from Miami, and the city has other great sites, like a lighthouse and . . . well, that's about it. (C'mon, you know you're only really going to see the canoe from Deliverance and chance to catch Burt on his frequent pop-ins.)

That, ladies and gentlemen, is the way to force the only transition I could think of into the only track that might be as random as pulling a direct line between Don Bailey and Sen. Scott Brown. And you haven't been thinking about Bubba Sparxx nearly as much as he's been thinking about you.

Bubba Sparxxx - Deliverance (Rowshay Edit) - > really just a DJ tool; one run of the chorus with inst front/back.

I got this off a blog somewhere in the ethernet, but dunno where, apologies and thanks to whomever posted it first.

If you squint your ears enough, you can hear Cee-Lo on this track making a timeless classic (he actually sounds like he's on the chorus -- peep the background echo on the chorus, esp. "...bottle of Shine"... Maybe part hallucination vs not believing Bubba or Timbaland can harmonize that well even w/ tuning). The chorus is so on-point that I had to look into the writer/producer credits of the track. Of course you got the Timbaland credit-whore(harsh?), but if you look at some of the other cats involved in this song, you're looking at a writer for the band Slave and Odyssey and then you got Larry Gold, who has had his hand in all sorts of jams from Salsoul disco days to playing on Karen Young's "Hot Shot"(!?!) to Justin's "Cry Me A River" and even The Roots' Things Fall Apart, namely on my favorite track off that LP, "Act Too (Love of My Life)" [a) I knew all that shit bout LG, or, b) Discogs/Wiki/Google visits help erryone, or c) it doesn't matter cuz now I'mma try to store it].

Cuz I'll use any excuse to post it up, and I mentioned it above in ramblings:
Karen Young - Hot Shot (Rumor Edit) - riff to break to vocals to riff