Methodology CD Release Party, Jan 27th

Posted By: Shagz
Date:

Everybody like funky beats? Yea, I thought so. :)

Next Friday, Jan 27th, come get an earful at the CD release party for Toronto funk/soul/r'nb outfit, Methodology. I'll be opening and closing for the band, starting 'round 9 and going 'til whenever at Revival, 783 College St. West, Toronto.

Methodology's independently released (and superdopedef) album, What We Have is in stores now, but if you come to the show, a measly $20 gets you the CD + admission. ($10 for just the cover w/o CD)

To get an idea of what to expect, check out their MySpace website for samples or their official site for more info. Methodology will also be performing with several special guest musicians like Nick 'Brownman' Ali, Janelle Monique, Marcus Ali and Adam King.

As for me, I'll be laying down a mix of classic funk, warm house and dope breaks to heat the floor and carry you into the late night.

This promises to be a wicked night, would love to see you all there!

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Heart of the City funds put to good use

Posted By: Shagz
Date:

I just got back from making a big purchase with the money we raised with the Heart of the City party in December. The St. Mike's Out of the Cold program was in need of a new clothes dryer for the people it serves in the downtown core, and thanks to you guys, we were able to buy one for them. In the end, thanks to some after-the-fact donations, we actually raised over $500!

It's been a tough year in a lot of ways for a lot of different people, all over the world. Charitable organizations and volunteers have been working over time to help those in need, raise money and deliever supplies. This Christmas there was a lot of talk about "donor fatigue" in the media, what with so many different things to raise money for. People were just tired of giving.

But if this has been a year of tragedies, it's also been a year of great generosity. Thanks for digging a little deeper guys, and bringing a little more light into the world. Carry that with you where ever you go.

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Merry Christmas!

Posted By: Shagz
Date:

So it's Christmas Eve's Eve, I'm at work, and I'm failing all my saving throws (geek!) against procrastination right now. It doesn't help that my motivation score is 0. A couple more minutes to make a post on my website to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and the best for the New Year won't hurt me much. So there you go...take care everybody, have a safe Christmas and well see you all back in the New Year!

Now break out the egg nog and Dean Martin records!

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New Top Ten

Posted By: Shagz
Date:

A little late in getting this one posted, but here you go:

We kick off with a new track from Smoove, a producer who's quickly become one of my favourites of 2005. If you've seen me spin in the last year or so, you'll have heard Smoove's The Revolution Will Be Televised somewhere in the set. All This Love... is a full on, female vocal, jump up soul jam that rips from the word go. I almost cry everytime I hear vocalist Mary Awere belting this mutha out. Track of the Year status as far as I'm concerned.

From new to old: Cyril Neville (of the Neville Brothers) comes in with the classic Gossip, a chunk o' blues funk that hits you where it counts. Follow that with some new AND some old: This Kid Named Miles' (aka The Breakestra) version of Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire. Country meets bumping ska. They say it couldn't be done, but here it is. Long a favourite of the Breakestra's live show, I managed to get this on 45 when they were last in town. Dynamite.

Next, a double whammy from a UK producer who I stumbled across, Braces Tower. The first is El Fuego, a smooth riding yet urgent drum 'n bass track spiked with some latin punch. Mambo 'n bass? The second is Eleven Twelve a cheeky but totally classic and timeless rinsing of the Pinball Song from Sesame Street. Download both tracks and more from Braces' Pasteism EP here.

A slightly older track but one I still haven't played out yet: I Don't Know by Capstone, remixed by Aaron Jerome. Think a happier, loungier, faster Red Snapper or Sabres of Paradise and might be close.

Finally got Maktub's latest release and the title track, Say What You Mean, has a hook that just won't let go. I haven't formed an opinion about the rest of the album yet, but that one....hmmmmm, shivers.

Gavin Froome's Sunsets is kind of out of place here in that it's more a track for summer than winter. (Indeed, I think it came out this past summer) Deep, deep house of the finest kind, this would fit perfect at the beginning or end of a long, well done dj set. Solid urban city house.

I had Cha Cha No. 29 on my list last month but I forgot to actually say anything about it in my post. More latin mambo madness, with a bass line maxmized for butt moving. Download it here.

Pendulum remains on my list with Streamline. Drum 'n bass on an epic scale, even the trance heads have got to dig it.

And of course, in honour of the 15+ cm of snow that's fallen on the city today, I finished with Dean Martin's grin inducing lounger, Let it Snow.

Merry Christmas all!

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Thanks!

Posted By: Shagz
Date:

Just wanted to send out a big thanks to everybody who came out to Heart in the City this weekend and to those who helped me out with transportation, set up and take down. Also a big thanks to Dynamite Chris, Circe and Travino for providing fine, quality beats, and the Victory Cafe for hosting us.

Thanks to all of you, we raised almost $500 for the Out of the Cold Program and donated several dozen pounds of food to the Daily Food bank!

So again, thanks!

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