Crib Notes

HANG THE BLOODY DJ

Clapton isn’t God. At least, I think not. But one thing I know for sure, if Slowhand isn’t God then DJ’s certainly aren’t to be worshiped. The “DJ is God” complex is something I’ve never much understood and nor is it a religion I care to practice. For the most part, I think DJ’s are self-absorbed clowns and talent-less attention whores. I mean, who do they think they are — Creative Loafing bloggers?!

One could argue that they’re the vital ingredient to a successful soiree. I disagree. There are only two prerequisites for a lively ballyhoo — women and booze. The rest are just details. It doesn’t matter if a retard is spinning “The Electric Slide” on repeat at a wedding reception in a community center as long as there’s a wealth of honey dips and hooch. A six-year-old can DJ that party and it’s the same party. (more…)

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Clockwise from top: Tommy Chung, Mario Schambon, Jason and Herb Harris (Photo by Carl La Pan)

Atlas Sound fires up the tour machine once again, this time Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox has enlisted the Selmanaires to serve as his backing band for this show of ghostly pop. Stereolab-esque post-rock Brits Broadcast play in support of their latest release, Broadcast & The Focus Group Investigate. The Selmanaires pull double duty as they open the show Thursday night, Oct. 14. $15. 8:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950.

Chad Radford: So what’s up with the Atlas Sound tour; the Selmanaires are the Atlas Sound band for the tour with Broadcast and you’re opening the shows as well?
Tommy Chung: Yes. Bradford has been collaborating with Broadcast for a little while and we were always jealous because Broadcast has been one of our favorite bands pretty much since they became a band. Bradford asked Herb if we wanted to go too, and it was like, ‘let me think about it… Um yeah!’ A week later Bradford said he was sick of being a one-man sampler show and asked how we felt about being the backing band too. It sounded cool so we did one practice with him before a Dirty Projectors show and within the first ten minutes he asked us to play that show. We learned four songs, stretched them out and did like a 10-minute cover of “What Goes On” by the Velvet Underground.

We’ve always had a connection with Deerhunter. Our very first show out was in 2003 with Deerhunter at MJQ before the Drunken Unicorn even existed. It was Deerhunter, Tabitha and we were the openers — back when we were still stand up bass, Wurlitzer and acoustic guitar. After that we pretty much played with Deerhunter every month at Lenny’s. It feels like things have come full-circle now that we’re playing with Atlas Sound.

The Selmanaires “Resonance Alright” mp3

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For today’s Roll Call we call out Elijah Jones from The Constellations.

Describe yourself in 3 words?
Anti American Idol (but pro Velvet Teddy Bear).

Who — dead or alive — would you most like to meet?
George W. Bush so I could give him a purple nurple, or at least a wet willy.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
Pete Wentz, and any man, not living in Alaska, who wears furry boots.

What song do you wish you had written?
“I Don’t Want to Grow Up” by Tom Waits.

Elvis Costello, or Elvis Presley?
In a fight to the death, the King obviously, he knows Kung Fu.

LP, CD or MP3?
Cassettes don’t scratch or skip, and you can’t illegally download them.

If you could start one trend what would it be?
Bring back the bar room sing-a-long, but not “O Danny Boy” more like “Love in Your Mouth” by Kilo Ali.

If you could end one trend what would it be?
The recession.

With whom would you like to play spin the bottle with?
Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson, and that chick from Hanson. MmmBop.

“Felicia mp3″

The Constellations play Sloppy Seconds at MJQ/the Drunken Unicorn on Sat., April 11. Free. 9 p.m. 736 Ponce de leon Ave.

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Starting this Saturday night (Jan. 17th) Noot d’ Noot will kick off a monthly series of DJ nights in the MJQ cafe, dubbed Science Fiction.

Each of these nights promises to be, according to the Noot’s blog, “Dance music for people who dance selected by people who make dance music for people to dance to.” One thing the group’s drummer Mathis Hunter (a.k.a. Bimbi Smoofus) stresses is that this is not just another mashup night, but an evening of musicians spinning songs in their entirety. So in essence there will be a little something for the true school music heads who want to groove on some deep jams and some deep thoughts, that will also keep the dance floor moving.

Free. Late. MJQ, 736 Ponce de Leon Place. 404-870-0575.

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Backpage Review

My latest whipster crush comes in the form of a pixie shtick named Sophe Nix.

Wil May introduced her to me at Caleb Gauge’s Sloppy Seconds (MJQ) party last Saturday night. She couldn’t have stood an inch over 4-foot-11. I had to stand on my tip-toes just to glimpse her onstage through the crowd.

Her hair was all done up like Material Girl meets Apollonia in “Purple Rain,” but it seemed less ironic than innocent. She came on to me like a cheap one-liner, whispering sweet nothings in my ear — some song called “Get It.”

She and her two dancers moved like synchronized swimmers bathing in a hot tub of electro static and a billion beats per minute. Sorta reminded me of another ’round-the-way chick, Muffy “the Body” Cupcakeopia, minus the confusion and sexual angst. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not. At the end of the night when I stalked past her near the bar, she pretended to accidentally brush up against me.

I’ll have her dancing on my laptop in no time.

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Long-standing Atlanta punk, hip-hop, indie rock and experimental music booking agent Randy Castello (aka the face of the ubiquitous Tight Bros. Network) announced this weekend that he will no longer be working as “the official talent purchaser” for The Drunken Unicorn, where he has worked as an employee and focused the brunt of his booking activities for the last three years. In his place, Stickfigure Records owner Gavin Frederick has stepped in to fill the position.

When asked why he’s not doing the job anymore, Castello replied, “What, are you looking for some dirt? Who do you think I am, Dres tha Beatnik?”

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DOOMSDAY: MF Doom on the cover of his 2004 collaboration album, Madvillainy, with producer Madlib.

I told you so.

Hate to say it, but I heard through the digital grapevine (e-mail/MySpace) that Tight Bros. promoter Randy Castello was only one of many pissed people after MF Doom’s lip-synched performance at MJQ last Thursday, Dec. 13.

I wasn’t there to see it for myself, but sort of predicted as much in our Holiday Guide preview of MF Doom’s show that ran a couple of weeks ago. (Click here to read it.)

Anyway, thanks to Marc Crifasi (formerly of WRAS-FM [88.5] and Criminal Records), who reposted Randy’s original MySpace post. Funny stuff. Although my gut tells me that it’s all a part of Doom’s act.

To be continued, perhaps…

Subject: Repost: MF Doom in not a nice person
Body: On top of this when I called the number he kept trying to offer me a Macy’s gift card. What a dick!

Many apologies go to all of you who came out to the MF DOOM show last night at MJQ and paid $30 of your hard earned money only to watch him lip sinc (sic) for 20 minutes at 1:30 in the morning. This was by far one of the single worst experiences I’ve had as a club promoter and I sincerely apologize if you walked away feeling cheated. To make matters even worse MF DOOMS appointed doorman took off with all the money from the door after the show! As soon as we realized the money was stolen we decided to help ourselves to all of MF DOOMS merchandise which included a bunch of T shirts and posters. So, in an effort to make it up to everyone who walked away feeling cheated, we’re giving away all the merchandise for free so come and get it while supplies last!! And if that’s not enough, feel free to let MF DOOM aka Daniel Dumile know how you really feel by calling him at his home in Kennesaw Georgia.

DANIEL T DUMILE
xxxx xxxxxxx DR NW
KENNESAW GA xxxxx-xxxx
(xxx) xxx-xxxx

All the best,

Randy Castello / Tight Bros Network

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Tonight, Nov. 9, Rasta Root — DJ, XM Satellite Radio host, promoter and man-about-town — celebrates two years of Face-Off Fridays, his monthly party at MJQ Concourse. For those who have never attended one, it’s a galvanizing experience. You’ll usually find a packed crowd partying all night until 3 in the morning, sweating and dancing to the sounds of old-school (and select new) hip-hop.

Rasta Root, DJ Fudge, Solomon and Jah Prince will hold down the decks. If that sounds too commonplace for you, though, keep in mind that Rasta Root, a longtime friend of A Tribe Called Quest, also brings through special unannounced guests, from 9th Wonder to Cee-Lo. In a text message he sent to me, he wrote, “We got something special tonight. Bring ur camera and your notepad.”

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