Mike Davis aka Mike the 2600 King feature

A long-time friend of Mike Davis', Mark Saint Patrica, did a "visual essay" on local graphic designer, entrepreneur, party-rocker and pinball wizard.  It's a light-hearted, well-done piece worth checking out.

Dam-Funk, "Hood Pass Intact"

I can't believe I haven't posted this before. A perfect video that captures much of what Dam-Funk is all about. Also happens to be one of my favorite beats. He's performing tonight at 7th Street. This is a can't-miss show as the openers include my favorite local DJ, Mike 2600, as well as beatsmith and turntable technician Andrew BrodR.

Mike 2600 new EP and interview

THE Mike 2600 dropped a digital-only EP this week entitled "Ready To Rock" through Emynd & Bo Bliz's Crossfaded Bacon label. Cop it here. Peep the interview-worth-reading here. There's stuff in the interview for fans, upstart designers, graphic-design nerds, record fiends, food aficionados, and DJ's. It's also fun to check out this tastemaker's Top 16 on turntablelab.com.

This week's shows

@ First Ave. Been sold out.
Hit me up on twitter (http://twitter.com/deejaybrock) for the secret location and be sure to sign up for Burlesque's newsletter.

More Than Lights: Zach and Unicus from Kanser accompanied by an awesome assembly of Minneapolis musicians as well as my girlfriend, Natalie Fine.

Fly Gypsy introduction

I heard this track on Mike 2600 King's mix at RSE Radio this past Saturday and had to learn more. This hip-hop duo out of Washington D.C. is the collaboration of Jamaican emcee, Komplex, and Russian producer/songwriter Alexei. Their debut album, Change For A Dollar, drops December 1st. To tide you over you can catch up on other videos and even download their free mixtape Vodka & Rum from their official website here.

Belated Disco

There were two sweet disco parties this weekend. Neither of which I was able to attend. You gotta love summer weddings, right? The jump-off Friday night was at the First Ave VIP room where I'm sure hella classy and rare joints were spun by Mike 2600 and Attitude City. Be sure to catch this every 2nd Friday of the month! Saturday night's disco party was at... awww, hell, I don't know where it was. The point is that I was meaning to share some tasty disco records that I had picked up in NY in lieu of this weekends' festivities. Without further ado...

I love how Carole King extends the "disco school" theme throughout this track. It even has a little tasty disco break down near the end.

Carole King, "Disco Tech"

So this one's a bit cheesy. I only picked it up because it was a West End disco single which almost never miss. If you can get through the initial vocals, you will be rewarded with some bossa guitar riffs. It totally redeems the track.

DAWN Robertson, "With All My Heart (Disco Version)"

When I saw this record at Academy Records in NY it was a complete no-brainer. I love Rufus and ever since I came across the Billy Cobham and George Duke Live in Europe record, I've become convinced that George Duke can do no wrong. This boogie track needs no further description other than what's in the title:

Rufus, "Take It To The Top (prod. by George Duke)"

Men of Leisure

It's been a minute. Last week was crazy-busy and this past weekend was just plain CRAZY. I'm just getting my bearings back from a crazy bachelor-party weekend at my boy's cabin. How fitting then to find out that Mike "the 2600 King" Davis, Espada, and Adam Garcia have recently formed a band called "Men of Leisure." They're triple-handedly bringing back old-skool party-rockin'! Special props to Mike for cutting up classic and rare breaks with a machete tip! Download for instant party-starting. Enjoy at your own pace...

Men of Leisure EP

Party Time, Excellent!

I went on another spurt away from the blog.  That's okay, because it coincided with a spurt of records.  I have probably 3 dozen new records, many of which I'd like to share over the nex few days/weeks.  Of all the records waiting for their grooves to be popped, these two are appropriate.  Because it's Friday.  It's time to Get Cryphy!

I finally got my anxious hands on Mike the 2600 King's gem of a new-new dance EP.  He only has one track on it, but I call it his because he brought all of his homies together for it, designed the packaging, and screen-printed it at his hotness factory, Burlesque of North America.  I gave y'all a heads-up about this a while ago.  So if you don't already have it, that's your fault.  I got mine (after bugging Otto and the Fifth Element guys to check it into their inventory for the last week).  I'm not going to write a review.  That would be like writing a review of a new King & I Thai cocktail.  It's what they do.  You're guaranteed to lose your inhibitions and bust out dancing.  The packaging is worth the price of admission by itself.  It's an extra bonus that it houses bangers.

As before, I'm not going to post any tracks for many good reasons.  Instead you can get a handful of other dope tracks via their BRLSQOTECH website.

While we're on the new-new dance topic, and since this came in the mail the same day that I had picked up Do It To It 2, I'll drop some knowledge.  The name's Ninjasonik, "With The K, Not The C."

And they wear "Tight Pants" much to the chagrin of Termanology.

Be sure to shake off all of your worries and Get Cryphy tonight at the First Ave VIP room!

 

Do It To It volume 2

Mike Davis (aka Mike the 2600 King) has a lot of friends.  Burlesque Design has a lot of friends.  The high school quarterback has a lot friends.  The difference between this group of people is that Mike and Burlesque have an abundance of talented and equally cool friends.

Last year, Mike got together a bunch of talented DJ's, made some killer dance tracks, and pressed them all on yummy wax.  To top it off, each EP cover was designed and screen-printed in-house at Mike's Burlesque Design studio.  It got rave reviews at taste-making music retailer, turntablelab.com.  To celebrate a job well done, the gang through a bonkers party in First Ave's main room where Mike and Dave Nada rocked their nads of.  I won't forget that party.

vvvvvvvvvv COP THIS vvvvvvvvvvv

I'd normally include a download from a featured record, but since this is an EP and it's from a Minnehappinite I'm not.  If you follow the "cop this" link, you can stream the tracks.  Or for an example of what Mike's track, "Give It To Me", sounds like in a mix you can download my all-vinyl live mix from a year ago .  His track is featured around 5:50.

DJ B-Rock, "Dance at the Speed of Wax" mix

recorded live using all vinyl

And coming later in March (with a co-sign by the Top Billin boys)...