Last Friday night was Pushin’ On‘s monthly gig at BluJaz Café, and I was lucky enough to play some tunes alongside Singapore’s very own (and very talented) XS Collective.
Despite their young age, these guys rocked the house with heavy beats and smooth flows. I had already caught one or two of the members at some hip-hop performances, but I’d never seen the whole line-up perform a live show before.
I believe they filmed their performance, but while that video is properly edited here’s a little sample of what they do:
Right after their show I played some of my favorite hip-hop beats followed by a mix of favorite roots, jazz and garage rock classics. Even though I recorded the entire 2h30 show I only kept the first part because it contains a lot of newer tracks I haven’t played before.
By the way, I just found these dope BluJaz Café video teasers that are hinting at a longer video on the bar, its musicians and the general good vibes it brings to Singapore’s nightlife:
Note that I’ll be playing tunes but I’ll also be selling some of my Mexican merchandise (wrestling masks, photo frames, blouses, necklaces, decorations, etc.):
On Saturday February 5 I’ll be celebrating Syndicate‘s first anniversary at HOME Club, where I’ll be playing more dub, electronic hip-hop, and broken beats.
Pushin’ On’s brand new blog/website is up and running at http://pushinon.wordpress.com. Do drop by for fresh sounds, videos, and information on upcoming gigs.
Here’s a little playlist I prepared a couple of days into 2011, mostly as an excuse to gather my favorite discoveries of the past weeks.
Lately I’ve been acquiring a lot of new music, maybe some 300 to 400 new songs per week (these are the ones I keep out of everything I’ve listened to), so it takes quite a bit of time to rename them, classify them, organize them, and then integrate them into meaningful playlists.
Hope you enjoy!
1. Sound Dimension – Full Up
2. Dennis Alcapone – Cassius Clay
3. Eek-A-Mouse – Sensee Party
4. Johnny Osbourne – No Lollipop No Sweet
5. Marcia Griffiths – The Fisrt Time I ever Saw your Face
6. Betty Harris – There’s A Break In The Road
7. Richard Marks – Funky Four Corners
8. Maceo & All the King’s Men – Better Half
9. Danny White – Natural Soul Brother
10. Robert Moore – Can’t Help Myself
11. Abraham & The Casanovas – The Raw Funk
12. The Gaturs – Gatur Bait
13. The Nilsmen – Sand Step
14. Badass Funkstarz – Sir Jarv Hits the Bang
15. Bronx River Parkway – El Resbalon
16. Eddie Palmieri – Ay Que Rico II
17. Al Escobar – Tighten Up
18. Noro Morales Quintet – Saona
19. Har-You Percussion Group – Welcome To The Party
20. Cal Tjader – Mambo Mindoro
21. Danser’s Inferno – Sombre Guitar
22. Matt Monro – No Puedo Quitar Mis Ojos De Ti
23. Ray Smith – Makes Me Feel Good
24. Val Doonican – Dream On Little Dreamer
I came back to Singapore from Malaysia to spend New Year’s eve in the company of friends (Vortex, Ko Flow, Garuda and many others) who were lined up to play at BluJaz for a very special edition of Good Times.
On my way back Hafez from Pushin’ On told me he needed me to play some tunes at BluJaz’s newest venture, the Mexican restaurant Piedra Negra.
I was very happy to oblige, but I was also a bit apprehensive. In my experience Mexican restaurants either serve Tex-Mex cuisine from the American side of the border (which can be very good food, that’s not the point) or pseudo-latino food such as Spanish tapas, Chilean wines, etc. Basically any type of spicy meat prepared in a tortilla and served with a Corona beer is supposed to be Mexican cuisine.
So I went and checked the place out, ready to once again be disappointed (In that respect I’m quite used to being disappointed. I know how difficult it is to get proper Mexican ingredients and then cooking them with the time and know-how some of the elaborate dishes require. In fact, I’ve stopped looking for proper Mexican food outside of Mexico and outside of my mother’s kitchen. I just push cravings to the back of my mind and let them come back as soon as I’m off the plane in Benito Juarez airport).
My initial plan was to play some music on New Year’s eve, maybe try some of the food, and if it was OK for pseudo-latino stuff, recommend the place if I was ever asked for a Mexican restaurant. To my great surprise the Mexican cook greeted me warmly and presented some of his dishes, most of which are real, proper Mexican classics (flautas de pollo, tamales dulces, enchiladas, torta de milanesa, etc.). Everything tasted delicious and the margaritas, along with some cold Negra Modelo beers, were an unexpected bonus.
I should also mention that some serious work was put into decorating the place. Everything, from the exterior to the interior, seems genuinely Mexican (bright colors, mirrors, statues, aztec handicrafts, etc.). I must admit I’m very impressed by the place, and I will really spread the word around (that probably won’t be necessary as it is situated right next to BluJaz and across from the Mexican Embassy in the Gateway building).
Anyway, here’s the recording of the set I played on New Year’s eve. For a change I played mostly cumbia, salsa, mambo, bolero, bossa, and other latin-flavored tunes.
