Jersey House Scene? How about DC's

[tim]

DC has fallen off as well. Since the demise of Zanzibar, DC had been my substitute and now it has really fallen off as well.

To tell you the truth the house scene is SLAMMIN in Baltimore. Why? Because the DJ's there are not having it and the club owners dont ride their asses about what they play. And if they did, those guys like Teddy Douglas, Spen, Oji and Pope have such a following that they would actually hurt the clubs business if they decided that they would not play there anymore. So if you go to the PARADOX and think that you are going to get one of those guys to flush the format for a second, you are wrong.

In DC, let the club owners get a few complaints from patrons who are not into house. They will switch it up in a minute. (Not the Sanctuary though, that is exclusively for us house heads. No doubt.)

Atlanta's house scene has leaned more to R&B and the new Baltimore Booty House stuff. I guess like every other genre, there has to be transition. We need to take notes from the Baltimore House scene. The DJ's are not having it, therefore the scene there thrives and they owe it all to the DJ's who stick to there craft. Spinning soulful house music for your ass..

[ December 07, 2003, 05:46 PM: Message edited by: tim ]

[JoeB]

Originally posted by tim:
In DC, let the club owners get a few complaints from patrons who are not into house. They will switch it up in a minute. (Not the Sanctuary though, that is exclusively for us house heads. No doubt.)

just curious but have you EVER been to club five or red? five had dimitri from paris last night playing all night for at least 6 hours and i am not sure who was at red but i can almost gaurantee that it was slammin' as well. where are you getting your info from, just curious.

[tim]

Oh yeah you have your guest DJs. No one really tries to get them to change their format because the owners know that the guests are coming hear what that DJ is known for. I did not mean to make one think that DC's house scene is totally dead, it's just not thriving as it used to. I live in NC and frequently visit DC due to my gramps living in the Baltimore area and every visit I hit a few spots in DC.
I just feel that DC's house scene pales to Baltimore's.
I have a few long time friends that live in DC and they feel the same way...Oh yeah..RED is a nice spot as well.
Dimitri from Paris is tight but when one is a guest you cant really have that great of an impact on change in an area your not local to..

[ December 07, 2003, 06:40 PM: Message edited by: tim ]

[JoeB]

Originally posted by tim:
Oh yeah you have your guest DJs. No one really tries to get them to change their format because the owners know that the guests are coming hear what that DJ is known for. I did not mean to make one think that DC's house scene is totally dead, it's just not thriving as it used to. I live in NC and frequently visit DC due to my gramps living in the Baltimore area and every visit I hit a few spots in DC.
I just feel that DC's house scene pales to Baltimore's.
I have a few long time friends that live in DC and they feel the same way... that's funny, i was gathering the same sentiments about baltimore's as you do about d.c.'s. correct me if i'm wrong as i have not been to the paradox in ages since i moved inside d.c.'s beltway, but is it true that house is now played in the "chamber" at the paradox as opposed to the main room on the weekends? i just think that you are wrong in your assesment of the d.c. scene and i challenge you and your friends to possibly turn out five for LLV next week or go around the corner to red to see how d.c. can still hold it down. if not on saturday, then go to one of the best parties in d.c. at red for sam the man burns' weekly and if you or your friends are still NOT convinced after that then PM me and i can point you out to a few other nice little parties where one can go out and hear great music and dance their asses off.

in your opinion, what would it take for d.c.'s house scene to "thrive"? because to me, i still don't see it as it having "fallen off".

since i saw that you added a line to your last post, i'll add that you are obviously not aware of how M3 does business. they are househeads through and through but they are also businessmen and they have always brought guests to this city. that's just their M.O. but they also do give local jocks the opportunity to open up and even have their own nights on occasion. again, may i suggest that you give either club a try on any given saturday night and i think you would be pleasantly surprised that things are not as bad as you or your friends are making them out to be. you espeically since you don't even live in the area and just happen to pop in on from time to time.

[ December 07, 2003, 07:03 PM: Message edited by: JoeB ]

[MarkK]

The only real recent negative to DC's scene is that we lost Doug Smith to law school. Red is not the same without him. However, Desko is doing his best to build a following. He is slamming it.

Sam has his Sunday parties and once a month at Sanctuary. Oji is at Red and Oji and Pope at Sactuary. Mandrill Wednesday nights at Analdu. Taha (awesome DJ) holds it down at Five.

DC has a pretty good house scene actually. What are these clubs that have switched up from house? Not any of the ones I have mentioned.

[Sam The Man Burns]

Originally posted by tim:
DC has fallen off as well. Since the demise of Zanzibar, DC had been my substitute and now it has really fallen off as well.

To tell you the truth the house scene is SLAMMIN in Baltimore. Why? Because the DJ's there are not having it and the club owners dont ride their asses about what they play. And if they did, those guys like Teddy Douglas, Spen, Oji and Pope have such a following that they would actually hurt the clubs business if they decided that they would not play there anymore. So if you go to the PARADOX and think that you are going to get one of those guys to flush the format for a second, you are wrong.

In DC, let the club owners get a few complaints from patrons who are not into house. They will switch it up in a minute. (Not the Sanctuary though, that is exclusively for us house heads. No doubt.)

Atlanta's house scene has leaned more to R&B and the new Baltimore Booty House stuff. I guess like every other genre, there has to be transition. We need to take notes from the Baltimore House scene. The DJ's are not having it, therefore the scene there thrives and they owe it all to the DJ's who stick to there craft. Spinning soulful house music for your ass.. Tim, how often do you come to DC?

[DeesKo]

Honestly, the scene isn't the same as 5 years ago no matter where you go, it just isn't. It's not for better or for worse, it is just different. Beyond that, I think as we've all gotten older, we've become more judgemental and/or quick to go off of our own assumptions or notions.

Overall, it ain't the same anywhere anymore. If you feel more comfortable in Baltimore's house scene, then by all means that's where you should go (I agree the two cities have different "environments" and can appeal or not appeal to people in different ways) but like JoeB and others have mentioned, both cities have had their share of ups and downs, both have lost gems, and both have gems in the making...

Peace

[DJ OJI]

Tim, I have to say representing both communities (Baltimore & DC) you have your information wrong. All of the DJs that you mentioned from Baltimore (including myslef) no longer have a place to play in Baltimore. The transition happened dramatically and it was not so much the issue of DJs staying true to their music, but perhaps a change in generations and a few daggers from house haters in power! Our radio show was cancelled after 11 years on the air and everything else fell like dominoes shortly there after. Now here we are two years later and I play in DC only. I have played perhaps only 1 or 2 parties in Baltimore worth mentioning in the last two years.
I have to testify that my experience playing in DC has been very rewarding. Red and Sanctuary stay open until 5am. Your average Baltimore club closes at 2am.
In Baltimore,Paradox has the best sound system on the east coast. However, you will not hear house music in the main arena. That was "yesterday". The clientelle has changed and those who love house in Baltimore are not willing to mingle with folks they don't feel comfortable in doing so.That is counterproductive. Also, it has been my experience (and anyone from Baltimore can back me up on this) that Baltimore club scene is divided both racially, and sexually. How can you have a party like that?
DC on the other hand, is the nation's capital. It is a melting pot of people. My music has not changed. If anything it has matured. Maybe I am deeper now than I used to be. The people are more receptive and I am able to go places musically that I have never gone in Baltimore. I love the vibe in DC. I do miss playing for my Baltimore family. Many of them do travel the 30-45 mins to DC.
Finally, I will say this on behalf of my Baltimorian House Lovers. There is a movement happening. A change is coming and a resurgence will occur. Their is a combined collective effort amongst many DJs, artist, promoters, and house music lovers. Its already in motion. Baltimore is determined to be a recognizable force in this industry. If not for the industry, for themselves. And really that is always how it has been. That's all that matters. Check out www.blackbookscafe.com (http://www.blackbookscafe.com) for all the details.
Meanwhile, see you in DC at the Sanctuary and Red.
We are always accepting new recruits!
www.dcsanctuary.com (http://www.dcsanctuary.com)
www.pojirecords.com (http://www.pojirecords.com)

Peace,
Oji