A week on the scene
Aural alchemy
Turntable wizard Mix Master Mike cut his musical chops spinning at San Francisco weddings and house parties before joining Q-bert and the Triple Threat DJs in the mid-’90s to form the Invisible Skratch Picklz. The legendary quintet went on to become perhaps the most influential crew in the history of modern turntablism.
By 1997, Mike was the Beastie Boys’ hand-picked resident DJ, and he joined them on their nostalgia-tinged standout, Hello, Nasty. In 1999, he received a lifetime achievement award from the International Turntablist Federation for “the advancement of the turntable as a musical instrument,” and released his seminal album Anti-Theft Device. He followed it up in 2000 with the acclaimed Eye of the Cyclops EP.
Mix Master Mike is currently touring behind his latest album, Bangzilla, and will visit the Revolution Room, 8123 Broadway, for a free show on Friday, March 10. Attendees can expect a fluid set fueled by deft mixes, crazy scratches, and plenty of body-moving beats. A steady supply of Beastie’s material should also please the staunchest Adam Yauch fan.
Upcoming gigs
The fourth and latest installment in the Barrio Massive series hits Sam’s Burger Joint on Saturday, March 11 with a decided twist. Barrio Massive, a local Latino supergroup featuring ever-shifting combinations of Bombasta and Sexto Sol, will not include Sexto Sol this weekend due to a scheduling conflict. As a result, Bombasta will team with two out-of-town bands, the Dallas-based cumbia collective Amistad and Corpus Christi’s eclectic El Sancho.
That same night, Austin rockabilly institution Two Hoots and a Holler comes to town to celebrate the release of its latest CD, Songs Our Vinyl Taught Us Vol. 2, a second helping of tributes to the group’s punk and country mentors. The group will be at The Cove, 606 W. Cypress, and showtime is 9 p.m.
Finally, Jesse Garcia, owner of indie record shop 180 Grams and a certified jazz fanatic, will begin a DJ stint at the High Note every Friday night, after the live bands have finished their performances. The High Note is located above Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in St. Paul Square, and Garcia will DJ from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Compiled by M. Solis and Gilbert Garcia
