Bar Local, 16th November

It would appear that my last gig here was to the approval of the proprietor, because he invited me back for this Friday night gig. Either he had no one else or he genuinely wanted me to play here. Whatever the real reason, I was a bit loath to play again as I wasn’t 100% happy with the equipment or and general positioning and location of the DJ booth. However, it’s a fantastic bit of luck that I’m a consummate professional, and I willing took on the gig to soak up whatever experience and improvement I could (lets also not forget that I’m not exactly overwhelmed with offers at the moment, but you didn’t hear that, right blog fans ;) )

Ok so I took on the gig but the one major problem I had last time was that a load of my CD’s weren’t working last time so I burnt some of my new ones off and popped round to the venue the night before to try them out. Lo and behold, these new CDs didn’t work either, but as I was advised from the bar manager that it’s not the quality of the CDR you use, but the speed you burn it at. Yes folks, apparently, although we strive to have a fast writing speeds for all our CD and DVD drives, it is, in actual fact, detrimental to the quality and reliability of the disc you burn. This is a great piece of technical knowledge to know. Especially when you have a DJ gig in 24 hours, a full time 9-5 job and your entire DJ CD box consists of over 50, potentially unreadable CD-Rs.

In a way it was a relief to find out the reason behind the unreliability of some of my CDs always playing. (I’d had similar problems whilst playing out in Thailand). However it did pose the monolithic task of re-burning my entire collection. Knowing that it had previously been a long and arduous task to categorise and burn my collection, I didn’t exactly have the time to do it again. So it was a case of finding software that actually allows you to select the burn speed of a CD (I eventually opted for ITunes after a tortuous late night previewing burning software), and then sitting down and re-burning it all. This actually entailed me bringing the lappy into the office and burning my top 20 CDs (I didn’t have time for them all), whilst also squeezing in doing what it is I’m generally paid for (writing emails, making tea, looking handsome….that kind of thing).

So after a hectic 24 hours, I turned up to my favourite local venue (with my new vinyl wheely trolley, which I might add isn’t balanced correctly so you end up dragging it along with an Egore emulating hunch), ready for action. This time though, it’s the actual vinyl decks that aren’t working.

When I’m planning for a gig, no matter where or what it is, I’m always wanting to make it my best. It’s always got the most of my most focus on the days leading up to it. And I always like to plan what track I start off with. This can change right up to the moment I start, but I always like to think of the venue and plan some sort of launch pad. When you have a pretty major technical failure from the off, these plans go out the window.

For a while, nothing was working until Lucas, the bar manager, actually swapped the vinyl decks for backups, and rejigged the wires, that we got any sound. He asked me for a CD to test it all and I picked out at random off the cuff. As it seemed to work, I had to start off my set with some rather deep,dark minimal number and not the planned Hitch Hikers Guide to The Galaxy story intro progressing into Nu-Yorican Soul’s, It’s Alright – I Feel It (Spanish Underground Mix). But such is life.

Being a Friday, the crowd was a lot more up for it, and generally bigger, even for the tiny venue that it is. And even though you have one of the worst positions ever to DJ from, you could still feel the vibe of the place and enjoy the atmosphere.

I’m not sure if I speak only for fellow DJ’s here, but when you’re starting out you want as many people as you can to come and join you to fill out the crowds. So you invite anyone you’ve ever known ever. This, of course, can also be a major double edged sword.

Naturally your invited guests will quite rightly come up to you (having made various treks across town, county or country to come and see you) and want to chat to you. And while it’s hard enough listening to 2,3 or even 4 pieces of music at once, trying to get them to beat match in time, whilst maintaining a charming and charismatic conversation with friends, some of which you may not have seen for years, is nigh on impossible and so something has to give.

The other danger with DJing, which I’m almost definitely not alone with here, is that you get to watch all your mates get more and more wrecked, as you remain pretty much sober (please refer to earlier section about being a consummate professional). If it’s not that, and if you’re unlucky enough to have an easily accessible DJ booth (in this case, the side of he bar), then you can guarantee someone you know will come up and ask to “push a button”, or “have a go”.

I’d love to hear of ways for dealing with this as what I want to say is “Cmon now....” with a hint of “Why don’t you run along and enjoy the music…” lavishly garnished with an abundance of “Fuck off you annoying tool”.

That aside, this gig went well. I had a good response from the crowd, with a few fans asking for CDs (one for my phone number ;) ) and my trade mark (well, if I do it three times in a row I’ll call it a trade mark) Skee-lo vs Brett Johnson Jiffy Pop mix thing also went down a storm. In actual fact, fast-paced, well lyriced, good rhythmed raps put to house music is the future. Right now, it’s the top of my list and I’m loving any house beats with raps on them. I’ve always been a fan of rap as an art form but I have an intolerable craving for tempo so the two combined is like ecstasy for me. I’m making a contrived effort to push this forward so listen out for more of this type of splicing shit from me.

When finishing a gig I always tend to have this weird multi-emotion experience. It’s a mixture of joy (if you get a good response, people shaking your hand), relief (I can talk to friends now), and relaxation (after standing on your feet rocking for 5 hours, its nice to have a seat). This is also combined with horror (my gaping hole! Is that what I’m like when I’m drunk), inconvenience (I want to go on the lash now but it’s a bit late and I have loads of bags with me) to finally, tedium (listening to your drunken mates say repeatedly things along the lines of “MATE! You were…..like…..the…the…the..! HIC! Like…thin….That track you played…..with the……LA! LA! LA!…….fucking…..no no honestly, honestly….it was like…..serious…..” etc)

But hey, that’s what this is all about ;)

See you soon.

Bar Local, Clapham London - Sunday 17th September

"Forgot my camera, so here's what it looks like from the outside in the day"

So, my first gig to kick this all off again. Not my first gig ever but my first gig since coming back to the UK. I'd prepared really well, sorting out all my records and painstakingly organising and burning my CDs into distinct categories such as "Bump House" and "Dirty Acid Tech". For all the advantages of using CDs for DJing, burning and organizing them is a real ball ache. I also equipped myself with a nice hangover from an excessive night previously, which, in hindsight, was an obvious stupid move.

However, off I trotted to my local bar, ironically called Bar Local. Although only a ten minute walk from my house, I quickly decided that I would use the proceeds from this gig to buy a record bag with wheels and a posh handle. Vinyl is so fucking heavy its not fair. When I arrived attempting to look all cool and DJ-esque, I was conversely portraying the image of a panting, sweaty horse.

A quick chat to the manager and a glass of water later I kicked things off. I was delighted to see that they had the same mixer as I have back home, the mighty DJM600, although mildly dismayed at the tray loaded CD decks. These only have the basic of functions such as cueing and pitch change so you cant do nifty things like looping and scratching which although isnt essential, I find it can really add an extra dimension to your mixing.

Kicked things off with the classic piano acalpella of MAW's (Masters at Work - keep up at the back!) "To Be in Love" featuring India. Realised fairly soon that I couldn't really think of anything to go after it so I followed up with a crap blend mix of Mark Farina's - Dream Machine, a track for me that will always remind me of Thailand and dancing with my girlfriend on my feet in Sydney. Aw.

I wont bore you with a 'and then I played this, and then I played that' tracklisting, but I 'll sum up some of the events.

I made two, count 'em two, classic school boy errors of taking the wrong record off the deck (i.e. the one thats fucking playing - bollocks). The first time I was genuinely perplexed why the music had suddenly stopped until I realised my catastrophic blunder. Luckily no one noticed(!) but it did make me wonder if anyone was actually listening at all.

After those errors I also soon discovered the unreliability of the equipment I was using. Aside from some of the knobs coming off the mixer, the CD decks deteriorated rapidly only playing the first 3 tracks on a lot of my CDs. On top of that, the cue didn’t work so it was pot luck when you started a mix and had to get it matched pretty quick, the display showed the wrong remaining time (a simple feature which is actually rather vital), and for some tracks they only allowed you to pitch up but not down. Very strange and highly annoying as it effectively cut out a random 70% of my record selection and made me loth to use them in case of shitting up my mixing. Luckily my choice of vinyl was high quality and plentiful so I wasn't without some top tunes. Although I was pretty miffed to not be able to play a lot of my new stuff. Shit bags.

It was also a very cramped affair with the bar staff squeezing past you every 2 minutes and I had to lay my CDs and vinyl on a table next to me which of course got drinks spilt on them. Was also interesting when you suddenly got scolded with the steam from the dishwasher opening up. That, and the fact that you were facing the wrong way so you can only see about 20% of the bars clientele, made it not quite the most desirable conditions to work in. Reminded me of DJing in Thailand where no matter what bar you DJ'd in, there would always be a dog at your feet. And yes, they did let out a yelp when I trod on them by mistake. Was kinda like having your own effects pedal though :)

But, being the professional that I am, I soldiered on despite the conditions and overall I had a wicked time and I felt it went very well. I was joined later by a percussionist on bongos which Ive never had before but really added some energy to the mix. I will also be needing to invest in some ear plugs as I was starting to tire my ears out towards the end and it became difficult to hear the whole range of the frequency in the tracks. Not good. For those of you who've seen "Its all Gone Pete Tong", that’s one way you don’t want to end up.

My highlight was my nifty blend of Skee Lo's "I wish I was a bit taller" rap over Brett Johnsons squelchy "Jiffy Pop". Went down a treat if I don’t say so myself. Although it was in high danger of going shit up due to those blasted CD decks. Also snuck in Whitney Houstens - "Love Will Save the Day" which has always been a favourite of mine even if it does have a dangerously fromage-like whiff. Got some whoops from the girlies though so I guess it did it's job. Even if it is a bugger to mix in and out!

To top it all off I had three requests for my business card (yes the one that I designed on Friday night and is still sitting on my laptop's hard drive having not printed them out yet - curses!), and an offer of a residency in a new bar being opened in January. Score! Not bad for my first night back in the saddle. Caviar and Page 3 models here I come! Well maybe not just yet. I need the cash to buy my fancy record bag to prevent a hernia next time I lug my records to the next gig!

So hoorah, got lots of people coming up saying how much they liked my tunes and requests of where Ill be playing next. Also a couple of zombies off their tree causing trouble with some of the French guys by the bar, but luckily they soon sodded off. All in, a good night. I'm back baby! Form an orderly line to touch me.

About Me

Fucking hell! That website's a bit posh innit! Yup, I thought the same when I first saw it too. Big shout out to Nick Kingham @ Northform.co.uk for knocking that up for me. A Great job. Also a big thank you to Big G @ Exonia Villa for the great profile snaps. And that's not some head honcho at a record label like it sounds. It's my Dad back in Wales.

Right then! I suppose I should start this new blog off by saying a bit about myself and why Im doing all this so here we go.

This blog is going to work as an accompaniment to the main website. I split them out so that Ive got one site dedicated to a blog, and another to keep you all up to date with where Im playing, where I've been and what Im doing. And a myspace page because, er, well everyone seems to have one these days but personally I think they're utter gash. But needs must....

My real name is indeed Spencer Loveridge. I thought I'd keep it the same for DJing as it's unique (Google me), and all attempts to come up with a cool DJ name have all portrayed the image of a whiffy cheese playing minstrel, which I certainly am not. Aside from that, an estate agent once suggested I should be a movie star with a name like that so it's good enough for DJing until I get to Hollywood.

If you read my biography on the main site then you will know that I've been mucking about with DJing since I got my first decks in 2000, here's a fresh faced pic:


"Got any Speed Garage mate?"

I've played around here and there with highlights being gigs for Ministry of Sound and Hed Kandi but after such high profile gigs I suppose your wondering what happened. Well, itchy feet for one. I felt I needed to get the hell away for a while and go travelling, which I did for 14 months, around the world and back (which, if you have a few days spare, you can read all about in my other blog here). But for all my changed views and maturing as a person, the one thing I couldn’t shake off is my darned stubborn love for House music. Early in my trip I met up with a British Techno DJ living and DJing in Tokyo (Dave Twomey), and as he was the same age as me but doing bloody well in the DJing and he inspired me to think "Why cant I do that?". As I continued my travels I played in different bars and clubs and each time people would come up to me saying how much they loved what I was playing so in the end I made the firm decision to make a real big go of it when I got back to the UK. Ok so I got back in January and it's September now but real life can slow you down sometimes. Anyways I'm all ready now so as you read this now, you are joining me at the start of what hopes to be a wonderful journey.

But why? All this time, money and effort for what? I want to make clear my intentions are here at the start. The first, foremost and primary reason, and this is the truth, even though I come across as cynical bastard sometimes, is that I purely love the music. If I'd have got bored of it I would have moved on. But just when you think its all starting to sound the same and boring you'll find that track that'll get your head nodding like a Churchill dog and goose bumps all over like when you need a really big poo. It's that buzz that I crave. The music, not the pooing. And what could be better than sharing that feeling with everyone else? Nothing that’s what! Well, except maybe eating a REALLY good pack of crisps.

Don't get me wrong though, the other perks are certainly not undesirable; adulation of fans, people chanting your name, free stuff, flipping great wadges of cash and women throwing themselves at you. Although I'm very well aware that getting to that level of 'Superstar' DJ is not exactly a reality in this day in age as that time I feel has passed. But it's certainly free to dream. However, that is not what is driving me. It's the simple desire to share my wonderful music with you good people. So if you ever see me on a yacht somewhere, eating caviar out of a Page 3 girl's bottom and I'm too busy to give you an autograph, please feel free to slap me in the face and refer me to this first entry of my blog.

One last thing; This blog is also going to act as a sort of evil opposing force to my main website. Where as that is all business, promotion, pictures of me looking all mean and moody - that sort of thing, this blog will be the truth as it really is. Straight from my rambling inner monologue. No bullshit. I feel Im taking a risk as it might undermine all the marketing and promoting yourself nonsense, but I'm fully aware it is a necessary evil. Only time will tell I guess. See you on the floor!

Peas, love and music,
SL

P.S. I'm feeling generous so here's some more distinctly dodgy pics of me in my early DJing days:

"He certainly has an 'ear' for it"

"Drat, I forgot me Bon Jovi..."

"You appear to be wearing home-made tshirts...."