in Baltimore

Wow!! What an incredible weekend in Baltimore and no, there was no mass exodus of Baltimoreans to D.C. this weekend. Baltimore House headz showed mad support for their House scene.  This actually started on Thursday at the Sky Lounge with DJ Karizma.  This small party has gotten our 2nd major endorsement of a party.  It's a weekly party that is consistent and will take you into Friday singing at work(if you make it in).  DJ Karizma brings something new every week and his own personal re-edits of tracks as well.  If you want to hear Blaze mixed with MLK speeches or "Cerca de mi"(our pick from WMC '03) this is where you wanted to go.(read full report)  On Friday the place to be in Baltimore for house was the Red Maple with DJ Karizma.  It was packed and alive!, as this is the night that most of the "Soulful" House crowd roll into the Red Maple to get loose.  One observation of the Red Maple is that I think they underestimated the importance of a good mixer and the amount of people that would eventually show up to dance.  The dance floor will have to be expanded soon or stop playing good House music☺. One or the other. 

Without question, Saturday night was the night that more House headz came out to show their love and support of the House music scene.  It all started at the Sonar Lounge with DJ Spen.  I arrived after midnight and the big room was packed with a deep, soulful, universal crowd like the parties in Miami's Winter Music Conference.  Spen had the crowd and could take them on whatever journey he wanted as he had them screaming and rejoicing.  He broke a new gospel track that is going to be an absolute hit.  It's called "He's alright" and the dance floor was feeling it.  This very nice club, has great potential if they could get a little more consistent with their dj line-up.  One week you'll hear DJ Spen in the big room and return another week and hear some noise.  It resembles a baby Paradox and has a great mixed vibe.(see pics).   After this party was over a lot of people rolled on down to the Paradox to POJI's Groove with DJ Pope, Oji, & Henry Da Man.  The Paradox also had their annual free cookout.  Long time House supporter "Dave" assured us that DJ Pope did his thing on this night.  Special shouts go out to DJ Tommy Davis, DJ Technics, DJ Soulgiver, Cleo Khary, and the many people who showed up at 2 or 3 parties this weekend to show their support for other dj's.  It's important to show up at the Paradox when they invite us because alot of older House headz really want to go to the Paradox and if we show them that we will support a night for us, maybe they will create something for us.  Man, would we love to have a weekly Sunday "Soul Fiesta" at the Paradox. 

The finale to this weekend's parties was the party that I usually go to let out my tensions on the dance floor.  This is the "Good Vibrations".  It took a while to put this part of the story together because I have mixed emotions about my favorite party.  But since DJ Biskit knows how much I support him I don't have to be fake.  DJ Biskit showed his appreciation for dj's who have, and are, holding it down on the radio.  Ryan Middleton and DJ Boobie got their opportunity to play for the very vocal "Good Vibrations" party people.  DJ Boobie did his thing without trying to be pretentious and he had people screaming and chanting.  This was my first time hearing Ryan Middleton play other than being on the radio.  I was pleasantly surprised as he played deep soulful house with lyrics and not just the same 3-5 year old songs.  After covering events Since Thursday, I had a headache and was in a mood for some vocals.  I have been to just about every one of the "Good Vibrations" parties at Street Folks and I love the good food, good people, and good atmosphere but I have heard some of the songs too many times.  One thing we have to learn from our House music past in Baltimore is that when House hit sort of a low in the mid to late nineties the "for-the-money" dj's trained people in the clubs to get in a box, musically.  They played, and some continue to play, the same 10-20 House songs.  Now that we know what we must do to keep our scene alive we must keep cycling the new music.  I sat down a lot on this night until KW Griff got his chance to be the closer.  I am proud of this brother as he took advantage of his opportunity and is the first "Good Vibrations dj to break "Real Love" from DJ Oji's upcoming full length cd.  It was rockin' to me and for those of you who were there, the song was played around the time the break-dance circle broke out.  But I tell you, whatever tracks are played it's hard to stay away from a party that takes only a few minutes to get to, with free parking, House music and good food.  Good people, good music, and good vibrations.  See ya' at the next one on Friday June 20th.     (see pics) 

All-in-all this was an very supportive weekend. I would like to publicly thank the Paradox, Red Maple, Sonar Lounge, and Street Folks for helping to support our House music scene.  Especially the Paradox, who has taken criticisms from just about everybody.  But they just keep on rolling.  One last bonus of this weekend was DJ Pope's return to Morgan State University's WEAA on Monday(9pm-12midnight).  

Click here to hear some of the show