Downstairs at Lit (2008)
(Well, as the title states, I’m transitioning these posts to my new web site (nicolustgarten.com), which should be open soon. Maybe by the time you read this, it’ll be live. Now that I’ll be without a day job, I’ll be focusing more on my DJing career and a specific location for information regarding my gigs, etc. is due.)
The crowd definitely keeps me on my toes. It’s not one of those gigs you can sleep through. There is such variety in the tastes in music people enjoy, which makes it more difficult due to my self-imposed restrictions on playing Hip Hop. Just can’t do it anymore. I used to feel like a pigeon dodging tires but I’ve figured the crowd out.
I used to practically live at Lit – that island of debauchery in the East Village where everything from the Cure to Curtis Mayfield was played. Even now, I hear Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!’s “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth,” and I think of dancing on the ground floor then I’d surrender to the cavern in the basement for cigarettes and more alcohol for a slightly different experience — these two rings of Manhattan hell commingling the experience of the night. But that was a couple years ago and now things are different. Can’t smoke downstairs. The speakers turn off and on randomly like a sick game of musical chairs but the influence of the music never severed itself from my style.
These days, if you walk into Angels & Kings on a Saturday night, you’ll hear a reminder of the old Lit days, before Murray Hill took over and the last of the renegade artists and hipsters hold on to the yesterdays. Not saying that AK is the new Lit by any means…just different; the music played inspired by that seedy and wonderful bastion.
It’s been a while since I’ve shared my playlist. You’ll notice that the music is a bit darker, grimier, and yes, I’m leaning toward post-punk/goth and house. This will give you an idea of what you’ll hear this Saturday night when I get to share the decks with another Whiskey Dregs writer, Jenn Sussman (aka DJ Belladonna).
Playlist for 5/22/10
1. Adam Ant “Puss n’ Boots”
2. The Horrors “Excellent Choice”
3. Skywave “Over and Over”
4. Public Image Limited “Annalisa”
5. Shocking Blue “Fire of Love”
6. Sia “Clap Your Hands (Diplo Remix)”
7. Britney Spears “3 (Wolfgang Gartner Remix)”
8. Amanda Blank “Big Heavy”
9. Gene Loves Jezebel “Desire (12″ White Label GW Childs Remix)”
10. Engineers “Sometimes I Realise (Sasha Invol2ver Remix)”
11. Alien Sex Fiend “Zombified”
12. Crystal Castles “Celestica”
(12′s a good number)
