Monday, March 21, 2005

It started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this?

After my Friday ritual of sorting through new tunes at Satellite, I headed over to dinner at Todd and Brad's. The grilled tuna steaks were heavenly, accompanied by steamed broccoli and rice. I really wish I knew how to cook. Hoping for a quiet Friday night, the word "Heretic" was mentioned, and before you know it, I was on the dancefloor with 200 other queens. The place was packed, and a lot of fun. The hot boy from San Francisco that decided to hang out with us all night was a delight. And, of course, we stayed until the lights came on...pretty. And then it was off to chez moi for a little more fun. Note: Astroglide Gel should be called Astroglide paste. Frequent applications are needed...

After checking out the space at Shout on Saturday, we headed over to a housewarming party at Jeffrey's. It was great to see some old faces from the past and catch up over cocktails. His house looked really beautiful.

Next, we headed to Decatur for a birthday party for Rob and Brett. The place was filled with A-listers who all appeared well groomed in new shirts from Bloomingdales. Pretty boys indeed.

Then it was time for Sander Kleinenberg at Eleven50. We all "dropped" in at the say time, and soon were were shaking it to several 80's remixes on the dancefloor. Special guest appearances by my cute new DJ friend William and Brandon Sutton provided for much entertainment. As well as the big girl on the box in Gap Jeans...or the girl on the opposite box with hail damage on her legs. The visuals were okay, but I didn't pay much attention to them. I was happy to hear The Killers - Mr. Brightside as we walked out....very cool tune.

I spent the better part of Sunday morning running last minute errands before my debut at the new Sunday afternoon party "Out and About at Shout". After a few technical issues, I think I spun a descent set, and was even asked to spin past the 8pm hour. The place was crowded, and people seemed to be enjoying themselves. I know I did. The next party is April 18, and I am hoping this might become a regular gig...

Friday, March 18, 2005

Boys night out

Last night the "Thump" party at Eleven50 was fun, though poorly attended. And it couldn't have anything to do with the wet, rainy, 38 degree weather in the middle of March. But you can never predict the weather in Atlanta, just ask Karen Minton. Jason Jones spun a great set, though it was a little hard toward the end. Though I haven't heard any feedback today, I am sure that this party has a lot of potential, especially with spring only a few weeks away. And the outside area of Eleven50 is a great space to sip cocktails and socialize. But that just wasn't the case last night. I still managed to have a good time. After several Ciroc vodka cocktails, I mysteriously found myself shirtless on the Heretic dancefloor with some boy's hands down my pants. Go figure.

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

New York you always bring it out in us

After a rather quiet weekend, I come to find that this week is going to be very busy. Dinner last night at MFsushi was lovely. The food was great but the company was even better. We laughed, we reminisced, we caught up. Somehow I felt like it was a Friday morning after Halo when I woke up, guess it was the two pitchers of Sake...

Tomorrow is the opening of Thump and I must say I am very excited. We have received a lot of press coverage, and I am hoping that a really diverse crowd will show up at Eleven50. Check out the article here.

The weekend is ahead. And I can't be more excited to be a part of "Out and about at Shout". I have been asked to spin this Sunday afternoon party over at Colony Square. The money raised will go to the Toy Party. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate. More on this later.

Saturday, March 12, 2005

Red Red Wine...

Last night was much fun. But I am paying for it today. I woke up this morning with a raging headache and red wine mouth. You know, that sticky, parched feeling you get after gulping glass after glass the night before? Well, this is how it all happened...

I stopped by Satellite Records on in Little 5 yesterday for a little therapy, I mean record shopping. I was greeted by my oh so cute dj friend Brett, and proceeded to spend two hours up in there going through about 60 records. Brett kept bringing record after record, and I must admit, I felt like a "big time dj". In fact, one guy in the store commented, "Brett, how come you don't bring me records to listen to?" He just replied, "I don't know what style of music you like."

After a bite of dinner and a quick change, Robert stopped by and we headed over to Mid City lofts for Brandon's birthday fete. The clubhouse up on the roof has one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the Atlanta skyline. It would make a great pool party......does anyone need a dj? The party was nice, and the red wine was flowing and flowing....and flowing.

Next, we popped into Halo. Unfortunately, it wasn't the same scene from the night before, but the music was cool. Very latin influenced, with a guy playing drums to the beat of the music. I enjoyed this, and have only seen this once before at MJQ.

I convinced Robert to brave the cold and walk a few blocks down to Bazzaar. You see, my friend Brett was spinning and I wanted to show him a little support. The place was near empty, and Brett smiled when he saw Robert and I approaching. Turns out the crowd was pretty lame last night, and he was a bit disappointed. After finishing his set, he sat down for a quick chat. We talked about music, parties, djs, and as you can imagine, I was in my element. And, I scored a couple of new cds!

So, that brings us to now. I really didn't think I was overserved last night, but I sure feel like it today. And it is really beautiful outside.

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

Let the sunshine in

When my cell phone alarm sounded at 4:45 this morning, I wanted nothing more than to hit snooze and drift back to sleep. Instead, I got up and headed to the gym, with new tunes on my mp3 player (or m3p player as Baton Bob calls it). I didn't realize that we were right at the freezing point until I got outside, but the brisk air was refreshing. You see, I really enjoy cold weather, and I know that we only have a few weeks before it gets warm in Atlanta (though I heard someone at work today tell me the current prediction (and I mean prediction) was for snow!).

When I arrived back home, I was greeted by one of the most beautiful sunrises. You see, I am usually well on my way to work before the sun clears the horizon, but today I didn't have to go in until after 9am, so I was able to enjoy this moment. I quickly grabbed my new digital camera in an effort to capture this on film. As I stood on my balcony with a cup of joe in hand, I realized what a beautiful view I have. The sun was just coming up and the outline of Stone Mountain in contrast with the various hues of purple, pink, orange and red was simply stunning. And it was really amazing to see how quickly this palette of colors was changing. It really put a smile on my face. And so my day really began.

hmm..., it does go well with the chicken

After my rare but much needed cathartic event last night, I have made some casual observations and come to a few conclusions"

  • People in America are obese, morbidly obese.
  • The Piedmont cafeteria serves fried chicken every single day. And we wonder why heart disease is the number one killer in America?
  • Some people dress up to go to the gym, even going so far as to put product in their hair.
  • I really do need a haircut.

Ever heard of Mylo? This guy is creating quite a stir in the music community. His remix of Moby - "Lift me Up" is excellent. BTW, I heard Moby will be appearing at the Tabernacle in a couple of months!

Oh, and I really do need a haircut.

Monday, March 07, 2005

Pop a cap in yo ass

Well, another weekend has come to an end. and, of course, I was exhausted today, mainly due to my insomnia and very strange dreams last night.

I spent a couple of hours at EDs records on Friday afternoon sifting through stacks of vinyl. Yes, I finally got my turntable back from Scott and have decided to devote some time to mastering the wax. And it has shown to be a lot of fun, yet very frustrating at the same time. Makes you have a lot of respect for these big house djs that layer track upon track without a hint of a gallop or a competing bassline. I'll get there one day, one day...

  • New Ben Watt track "Pop a cap in yo ass" rocks, check out his record label.
  • The follow-up track to "How would you feel" by David Morales titled "Here I am" is also very nice and housey with remix by Kaskade. Rumor has it that Atlanta just might see the return of Kaskade to a popular Wednesday night party in the future :)
  • The track "Everything" from Kaskade's most recent album "In the Moment" should be released soon as a single on OM records. Sound clips can be heard at the website, or here.

Dinner at Robert's Friday night was very good. We talked, we drank red wine, we listened to music. We then headed to a party on Argonne Ave. in a beautiful home soon to be featured on the Midtown Tour of Homes. I caught up with some old friends and was in bed by 1am.

Anthony came over on Saturday for a little 'mixin on the turntables. I must tell you that he has become quite the mixmeister and I believe he may be ready to tackle the wax.

The gang congregated at Todd/Brad's on Saturday night for some 'roated' chicken and several bottles of red wine. A few of the boys headed out dancing at the Masquerade late in the night and I settled down for a long nap on Todd's couch. But, I did not wake up alone. I found Diane snuggling up next to me around 11am.

Dropped by Chris' house on Sunday for a cookout, but had to leave early to meet with my group from Thump. The party starts in just over a week, and I am getting very excited.

Now, back to my dream. I finally drifted off to sleep around 2 am. In the dream, I ended up at a Bath House in Taiwan with two guys from Atlanta. (from very different social circles) it's funny, I usually never remember my dreams. I wonder what it all means? Note: no nocturnal emission to speak of..

Thursday, March 03, 2005

Or So the Story Goes

Well, I finally have my Jeep back. Did I tell you how much the repairs cost? A mere $851, but I'm not complaining, as it beats taking MARTA. Now there is a joke. As I stood on the street corner Wednesday morning in the 30 degree weather, watching all the hot construction men (and I mean men) going to work on the new tower of glass aka 'Spire', I realized how much I appreciated having a car. Now MARTA is SUPPOSED to run up and down Peachtree Street, with a bus arriving every 8 minutes. That was not the case Wednesday morning. After waiting for 40 minutes, I jumped on the first available bus, only to find it stops at Art Center Station only to go back downtown. To make a long and boring story short, I arrived late for work, and I left my condo over 60 minutes in advance. I shoulda just walked I guess, woulda been faster.

I found myself in an interesting conversation today at work with one of the vendors. We were discussing whether or not heart disease spans all socioeconomic backgrounds, as I have found in my experience that it is predominately uneducated patients from more rural and underdeveloped areas. That is not to say that we don't find the occasional Buckhead Betty with a blockage in her heart, or the occasional Ansley queen (though most of the gay guys are related to spasm from guess what? ....too much meth aka 'Linda' on the weekends). The majority of the patients who come to us are from the N. Georgia mountains, or Douglasville, or even better, Dallas. I call them "Paulding County specials". They normally have a high "tooth to tattoo ratio", nicotine stains between the first two fingers from their 3-4 ppd smoking habit, and are in very poor dental health. Now I know it isn't my place to judge these people. What I did identify was the lack of health education these people receive. Many still have the mentality that if you don't go to the doctor, or are never in the hospital, then you are healthy. What happened to preventative medicine? I guess we just need better community health resources and education, but I start to wonder if this will ever help. Okay, now I shall move on.

Turns out my favorite tune, Harry Peat - Affrodizziac, set to be released this past Tuesday, has been put on hold once again. I almost think it may never happen, but Jody over at Alternative Route is setting me up the the white label. It's gonna rock and shall make my next CD.

The new impulse is coming, and promises to be a lot of fun. Check out our website, for Thump! More info to come.

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Is it Friday yet?

Ever have one of those days when you wish you could just go back to bed and start all over? Well, that would be today for me. I awoke completely congested. The first thing that came to mind was, "am I getting a sinus infection?" Probably attributed to all of the meetings with Wendell this past weekend. After realizing that I didn't have any food at home, I decided that I would leave for work early to stop by the cafeteria for breakfast. You can get eggs, bacon, and a biscuit at the Piedmont Hospital cafeteria for under $2.50. Now that is a deal.

As I went to crank my car, I found the battery to be dead. And I mean dead. Luckily, I spotted my friend Scott in the parking deck and he jumped me off, literally. I dropped my car off at the jeep dealer, only then realizing that is is 30 degrees outside, and I had to walk half a mile to the nearest MARTA bus stop. After waiting in 30 degree weather and flurries without a coat and major congestion, I finally caught a bus to work. What a fucking day. I was over it by 10am.

Now, I am back from my solo dinner at Stool Pigeons where an 18 year old (that works at the restaurant) sat with me and hit on me the entire meal. Lovely. Now, I am going to bed.

Monday, February 28, 2005

I need to feel loved...

Well, it's Monday, and I awoke very tired this morning. And knowing that I had to be at work early for a 7am meeting wasn't helping things. That and the fact that I was completely out of half & half. I settled for organic 2% milk but it just wasn't the same. Let's rewind a bit, shall we?

Friday night was filled with wine, laughter, and music. Anthony and Kelli came over for what I would call an "extended mix session". You see, Anthony has found a likin' to house music, and much like myself, he finds much joy in spinning tunes on my dj equipment. So, they arrived with music and drink in hand, and a good time was had by all. There was a special guest appearance by Chris Heard who managed to work out a few dance moves in my condo. We talked, we drank, we met folks, we mixed, we talked, we drank, we met folks....you get the picture. Well, 8 hours later Anthony and I engaged in a little MCC on my balcony (get your mind out of the gutter, out I say), as we discussed topics ranging from our judicial system to the progress of the new condo going up behind my building.

I was sans Diane Saturday morning as I came to around noon. It was such a beautiful day, and I was out to enjoy it. Robert and I walked down to Willy's for a burrito only to spot Baton Bob walking down 10th street in a spiffy black number. After lunch, and a sighting of Hotty McHot with that incredible body (we will call him JT, and not me, of course) we met up with Brent and went for a nice long walk through the park. That was followed by vanilla soft serve ice cream and bananas flambe chez Robert. That boy can cook. Next, it was home to freshen up and head over to Todd and Brad's for dinner. The crab cakes were divine, and the wine was well, real real good. Guest appearances by Brad and Wendell.

We stopped by Walt and Philip's house for more drinks only to head downtown to the Mark for Brett Long. I have a not so secret crush on Brett. Maybe it is because he is a DJ, maybe because he has a shaved head and a nice smile, maybe it is because when I go over to his house he offers tall boy Pabst blue ribbon beer to drink. I don't know why, but I do. The music was simply amazing saturday night. The highlight came around 6 am when he played the new track by Reflekt called "need to be loved". It is a beautiful song, and I looked at Todd and just nodded. It would be what I call "progressive melodic" music.

Sunday was recovery. I was thankful that it was cold and wet outside, as I never left my condo. I settled for spaghetti and jumped in bed early. It was a great weekend.

Tomorrow brings the much anticipated release of Harry Peat - Affrodizziac. I have been waiting for this release for quite some time.

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

I've got a feeling I can't explain for you

well it's Wednesday and hump day is officially over. and i am glad. last night's birthday celebration for Anthony and Candy Queen was a lot of fun. a nice group gathered over at Laurie's house for birthday cocktails. good music, strong drinks, good people, good times. and the weather was perfect.

can i tell you how much I am enjoying the releases by Steve Lawler? His sound has really transitioned from tribal house to what i call "80's electro house" with the heavily synthesized bassline that is quite infectious. One of his latest releases/remixes is being hammered by some of the top progressive house DJs around the world, including Dubfire of Deep Dish. check out Bombdogs - I can't explain here. great track that is best heard loud and on a good sound system.

things are coming together for the next wednesday night party at Eleven50. more details to follow.

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

What I learned this weekend....

  • Max's restaurant Sun in my Belly is very good. try the ricotta stuffed french toast with berries on top.
  • Bret can make a mean batch of brownies.
  • hangovers are for amateurs.
  • straight guys will flirt with or without a girlfriend present.
  • sketchy after-hour parties are just that, but can be fun too.
  • it is possible to masturbate 4 times in one day and avoid a chafe.
  • the house music scene in atlanta is on the up and up - go liquified!

That's enough for now, as I am on call.

Layta-

Friday, February 18, 2005

And the fumes are quite strong tonight

well, my spin around Halo last night turned into 8 laps. somehow i was having trouble finding the exit, and kept ending up at the bar. plus, people kept buying me drinks, so i'm not complaining.

i felt remarkably refreshed this am when my three alarms went off. a little coffee, cereal, and a hot shower, and i sent diane walking down peachtree. she kept mumbling something about getting a cab to 908 cardova. Remarkably refreshed this am when my three alarms went off. a little coffee, cereal, and a hot shower, and i sent diane walking down peachtree. she kept mumbling something about getting a cab to 908 cardova.

it has been interesting to watch the new condo going up behind my building. all those men in hard hats doing manual labor. looks like they are starting to pour the foundation today. now all i need is a telescope, because there must be a hot one in the bunch. i can only picture a telescope-assisted VFJO in the future. a new cd is in order, and i must tell you that i am digging the new track by echomen. I have enjoyed every single they put out, and "womb" is no exception.

Deep Dish is one day away, and it looks like I am flying solo.

TGIF - have a great weekend

Thursday, February 17, 2005

If you're looking for devotion, talk to me...

i love waking up in the morning with all of my clothes on, TV on, light on, and a great taste in my mouth. and this happens at least once a week. i think to myself: i will just watch a minute of tv......

spent 8 hours today in a recertification class. the room was filled with several females suffering from "single nurse syndrome". you know, complete with oversized landau scrubs, elasticized at the ankle, and a nice pair of high top reeboks with the double velcro strap...and all they want to talk about is the patient they took care of last night, and the family that was annoying them. well, guess what? - you are annoying and sad. okay, i will move on, as i am just solidifying my chaise lounger in hell.

did i mention that my 'glamour technician' Mimi, may in fact have a penis.? now I have suspected this for quite some time. the deep voice, heavy makeup, and heavy handed back massages. today she told me she recently returned from vacation in california with her boyfriend. then she stands up only to be showing a bulge in her pants. hmm.....as i stare in amazement, she notes this, and quickly covers her crotch w/her shirt. stranger things have happened y'all.

It looks like "Impulse" will be revived, but at a different venue. Who is interested?

Tune from the vault : Robin S - Show me love. I adored the original, but the Stonebridge remix really does it for me. Takes you way back to 1993, when I was only a junior in high school!

today's manicure turned out so nice, I just may take a tour of Halo tonight.....

Where have all the cowboys gone...

it's official. atlanta gay nightlife is dead, at least during the week. my little TOGA (tour of gay atlanta) with bret last night was less than spectacular. in fact, it was rather disappointing. after several pitchers of PBR at moe's and joe's (and reassurance that diane would join us later in the evening), we swung by woofs to play pool. well, there weren't any otters in attendance last night. there wasn't anyone in attendance to be specific, so we dropped by Blake's for a cocktail.

what a sad scene. how many abercombie & fitch T-shirts, woven leather belts, and acid washed jeans do you see? Tooo many.

so we headed to west midtown to do a little shoe shopping at the Northside Ballet. again, disappointment ensued, including the crowd and the dancers. we were, however, treated to a celebrity appearance by R.C. Surprise!

after picking out diane's outfit for the next day, i had to release with a lengthy VJO. as I sat in bed wondering why no one goes out during the week, i realized that atlanta needs something new. well, spring is around the corner. plans are being made. and it revolves around music. am i being vague?......i sure am. so stay tuned for more info.

next up:
  • the grand opening of The Loft high above West peachtree
  • deep dish featuring dubfire at Eleven50

Monday, February 14, 2005

Smells Like Clean Spirit

and a clean weekend it was. i found myself a little tired on friday after a brief "pop in" at Halo on Thursday night. the guest dj miles maeda was excellent, but way too short...almost miniature. the crowd was cute and the drinks were strong, as usual.

i thought that friday would be short and sweet, but what was i thinking? it turned out to be really really long, like 16 hours long....and i was on call. needless to say, i was tired by 1 am and ready to go home.

had my first experience at 'pot n pan' restaurant on saturday morning w/robert and i must say the food was good (and greasy) and very cheap. and, it was packed with queens i might add. went shopping all day but didn't buy anything. if you find yourself in west midtown, drop by direct wholesale furniture on Ellsworth industrial. the hot, hot, double hair pump swarthy latin man that greets you is, well, just that!

woke up to the pager going off on sunday morning. seems people have heart attacks on the weekend, go figure. i was slightly amused to hear my first patient tell me that the two men waiting for her in the waiting room were her ex husband and her boyfriend. and they all live together in one happy trailer.....hey sordid lives! found myself in a very productive cleaning mode sunday evening, and passed on the monthly T-Dance thrown by Rob & Fernando. I am sure it was much fun though, plus you can't go wrong at Eleven50.

TOTD: Jupiter Ace - 1000 years. With the Winter Music Conference less than a month away in Miami, there is much buzz in the music industry regarding this track. sure, it's cheesy, but damn catchy. some call it an anthem, with a 'tish of disco. i like it, nuff said. i'm just waiting for the Steve Lawler Remix, should be proper. it can be purchased at bangbangrecords. there are sound clips available as well.

Till next time.....

music is the answer, to your problems....

so i have had this idea about creating a blog for a while now. i have several friends who blog, and i must confess that i read them daily. it almost becomes a ritual, and can be quite addictive.....sort of like friendster. but i guess there are much worse addictions out there, so go figure.

if you don't already know, my life revolves around my passion and love for music. this began at an early age, as i remember listening to my favorite 45s on the mickey mouse record player i owned. in fact, one of my first records was the steve miller band - abracadabra. i think a box of records still exists, and is tucked away in my parents' basement.

soon, i found an interest in rap music at the young age of 8 years old. this was back when run dmc released their first cassette on the record label 4th & broadway. with rap came my love of dance as well, so i took up break dancing. i mean, why not, right? growing up in the small town of Valdosta, there wasn't much excitement. so i planned a 'break dancing' birthday party and invited all of my friends in the neighborhood. my dad went to the local Color Tile and bought a 15' x 15 piece of linoleum and paid two guys who went to high school with my sister to come and dance. and my birthday cake was in the shape of a jam box. the party was a huge success, except for the theft of my favorite cassette at time; the soundtrack to Breakin 2: electric boogaloo.

as i approached adolescence, my tastes in music changed once again. now my focus was rock and roll, more specifically 'glamour rock'. my favorite bands at that time were poison, warrant, tesla, skid row, and def leppard to name a few. every couple of months, i would travel to Tallahassee or Albany to hear my favorite rock group perform (chaperoned of course). you see, Valdosta was still very small, but growing every day. at each concert, i would secure a t-shirt that i would then wear to school the next day. i guess i wanted everyone to be envious of me, or maybe i was just promoting some good 'ole music. it's funny, the early days of poison found bret michaels and crew in full make up.....resembling many of the drag queens that can be found at any gay bar in atlanta. go figure.

the early 90's were filled with alternative rock, and I was there to experience this genre as well. i moved to atlanta in 1990 and i can remember attending 'lollapalooza' each year. bands such as 311 and smashing pumpkins would rock Lakewood amphitheatre to masses of drunk high school kids, and i was right there in the mosh pit.

I headed off to UGA in the fall of 1994 and joined a fraternity. I then found myself listening to the allman brothers, widespread panic, allgood, and dave matthews band. although considered rock band, many of these groups had bluegrass and country influences. there used to be a field party outside athens each years called 'super jam', and we would head out to the athens fairgrounds for this all day event. band parties at my fraternity house also found the likes of Edwin Mccain and kinchafoonee cowboys. this music was filled with soul.

it wasn't until i came out in 2001 that my love for house music really developed. i started frequenting the local gay bars and clubs in atlanta, and i soon realized what real club music was all about. i started making mixed cds on my computer, and i would take them to play at parties. i thought about what it must be like to be a dj, to stand in the booth before a crowd and actually have the ability to control them through music. though it was only a fantasy, one day i decided to make it a reality. i really didn't have a hobby, though i knew how much i enjoyed house music. so, i did some research (as i do about almost every decision i make in my life) and i spent a chunk of my savings on some dj equipment. i like to think that i picked it up rather quickly, being self taught and all, and maybe i did. i have always had an ear for music, dating back to my days in the valdosta junior high marching tomcat band, where i played first trombone.

so now i have been spinning for over two years, and i must say that it is almost therapy for me. i come home some days after work and put on my headphones just to escape into the music.

what is so incredible about music of any genre is its ability to transport you back to a specific time in your life. You may have lost a particular memory over the years. then that one song comes on and instantly it takes you back to a specific time in your life, and you can almost relive that moment. it is truly a powerful experience....

so that is my life through music, in a nutshell. i hope to share more experiences of my life, and talk a little about music as well. there is so much music out there that goes unheard, and i plan on bringing it to the surface.

JDT