Westword Music Showcase 2005

Basketball, of the Nuggets variety.

Parting shot?

Radio Bums 2005, you fucking ho!!!

DJ BIG AL
NOMINATED IN DJ: DANCE -- CLUB/NON-TRADITIONAL
6:15 P.M., OUTDOOR STAGE

Website: www.myspace.com/offthewalldenver

Personnel:

Just me and my Bronski Beat records.

Native or transplant?

Transplant, from Virginia.

What's in a name?

It reflects my party-oriented nature.

When did you form/start performing?

2003, à la LOST LAKE.

Who or what do you think you sound like?

I sound like the inside of Rob Lowe's brain during the filming of St. Elmo's Fire.

What are some of your noteworthy recent feats?

I got a room full of people to dance to "9 to 5," by Dolly Parton.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you?

Upstairs at Eric's (Yaz); Xanadu (Electric Light Orchestra); and anything by Neil Hamburger.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you?

Man Ray, Mark Rothko, Lee, Jan Vermeer, Nikki Holder, Paul Klee.

How do you pay the bills? What is your day job?

I design low- mid-rise metal structures for one of the top metal building manufacturing corporations in America.

Finish this sentence: If I didn't have to worry about money, I'd...

Pay hippies to take a shower.

Finish this sentence: I'd rather be...

Watching The Littlest Groom.

Who would play you in the screen adaptation of your life?

Tori Spelling.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

My own "Man About Town" column in Westword.

What's the biggest misconception about you or your band?

That I don't like to party.

Give us a random factoid about yourself or your band:

I don't know how to DJ.

Elliott Smith or Jack Johnson?

Elliott Smith.

Weezer or Winger?

They BOTH SUCK.

Jay-Z or Z-Trip?

Jay-Z.

Football or foosball?

I don't like sports.

Parting shot?

Drugs are for suckers.

DJ CHONZ
NOMINATED IN DJ: DANCE -- CLUB/HIP-HOP
9:15 P.M., SERENGETI UPSTAIRS

Website: www.djchonz.com

Native or transplant?

Native.

What’s in a name?

It’s a Spanish slang word for “underwear.”

When did you start performing?

1993.

Who or what do you sound like?

I sound like me.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you?

Illmatic (Nas); No One Can Do It Better (the D.O.C.).

What artists have had the biggest impact on you?

Mr. Choc, Kid Capri, DJ Babu and DJ Spinbad.

How do you pay the bills? What is your day job?

I work for KS 107.5. I’m on air and mix from 5 to 6 p.m. every weekday. I also have a marketing company called Radio Bums Marketing.

Finish this sentence: If I didn’t have to worry about money, I’d . . .

Travel.

Finish this sentence: I’d rather be . . .

Sleeping.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself as a music or program director for a radio station.

What’s the biggest misconception about you?

That I only can play one genre of music.

Give us a random factoid about yourself:

I’m the very first live commercial DJ to mix on Denver commercial radio.

Jay-Z or Z-Trip?

I’m gonna go with Jay-Z.

Football or foosball?

Football.

DJ CYSKO ROKWELL
NOMINATED IN DJ: TURNTABLIST -- HIP-HOP
8 P.M., VINYL PATIO

DJ IDIOM
NOMINATED IN DJ: TURNTABLIST -- HIP-HOP
5:30 P.M., VINYL PATIO

Website: www.djidiom.com

Personnel:

Me.

Native or transplant?

Liver transplant.

What's in a name?

A name can be nothing or everything. In my case, I chose Idiom because I needed a name to write on a CD a few years ago, and I felt it was descriptive of my style and mentality.

When did you form/start performing?

Two and a half years ago.

Releases/discography:

Portrait of the Artist mix CD (May 2002 -- this wasn't actually released; it was just a CD I originally made for my friends and then ended up selling burned copies of until late last year). Nursery Rhymes mix CD (January 2005, for Sherbert magazine).

Who or what do you think you sound like?

Honestly, I used to sound similar to DJP and Z-Trip. I was friends with DJP when I was getting into hip-hop as a youngster, and his thing was mixing whatever he wanted, regardless of what style of music it was. Hearing his blending genius really opened my eyes in terms of how I perceived hip-hop. He blended '80s, metal, kids' songs and almost everything else and made it sound like hip-hop somehow. Even though I wasn't deejaying back then, I was getting a subliminal lesson every time I heard him mix. Thanks to him, once I started spinning, I wanted to mix everything that was influential to me from music and film into one mix tape and make it hip-hop. Thus, I was mixing a lot of rock with hip-hop, which is now universally seen as the Z-Trip and DJP sound -- and rightfully so. Lately, I've only been buying old jazz records, and I'm heading in that direction with my mixing, which I hope will mature into a new style and a sound of its own.

What are some of your noteworthy recent feats?

One-shot parallel parking job, a month ago. Opening for the Digable Planets show, last night. Blue Ribbon, 2005 Denver Dog Grooming Championships. Runner-up, standing long jump, 2005 Colorado State Games. Honorable mention, 2005 Colorado State Chili Cookoff. Bronze medal, 2005 U.S. Amateur Figure Skating Championships. Finalist, Scion free up mix-tape competition (www.scion/mix).

What albums have had the biggest impact on you?

Reachin (Digable Planets); Midnight Marauders (A Tribe Called Quest); Endtroducing (DJ Shadow); Pre-Millennium Tension (Tricky); Uneasy Listening (DJP and Z-Trip); Protection (Massive Attack); Post (Björk); Apropat (Savath & Savalas); 70 Minutes of Madness (Coldcut); Automate Everything (Cacheflowe).

What artists have had the biggest impact on you?

Those mentioned above, as well as lots of local artists who have pushed me to develop as a musician. And, of course, others I can't think of right now.

How do you pay the bills? What is your day job?

Paying the bills is always questionable. I work at Twist & Shout Underground and Hapa in Cherry Creek.

Finish this sentence: If I didn't have to worry about money, I'd...

Be on a spaceship.

Finish this sentence: I'd rather be...

On a spaceship.

Who would play you in the screen adaptation of your life?

Sideshow Bob.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Minimum-security prison.

What's the biggest misconception about you?

That it's possible for me to make a living as a DJ in Denver. It just ain't happening.

Give us a random factoid about yourself:

I just found out that I have the same b-day as Sun Ra.

Elliott Smith or Jack Johnson?

Jackiot Swinson.

Weezer or Winger?

Wizger.

Jay-Z or Z-Trip?

J-Zap.

Football or foosball?

Foostball.

Parting shot?

Vote Quimby.

DJ IVY
NOMINATED IN DJ: DANCE -- CLUB/ELECTRONIC
8 P.M., VINYL DOWNSTAIRS

Website: www.milehighhouse.com

Personnel:

Me, myself and I.

Native or transplant?

Native.

What's in a name?

It's my last name.

When did you form/start performing?

Started ten years ago.

Who or what do you think you sound like?

Booty whap.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you?

Right now it's Beck, Mutations.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you?

The Beatles.

How do you pay the bills? What is your day job?

I work at an organic-soap factory.

Finish this sentence: I'd rather be...

Getting down all the time.

What's the biggest misconception about you?

That I'm a girl.

Give us a random factoid about yourself:

This year, I have grown into Maker's, on the rocks.

Elliott Smith or Jack Johnson?

Knife in the heart all the way.

Weezer or Winger?

Weezer, of course. Why would you ask?

Jay-Z or Z-Trip?

The Brothers Johnson. C'mon.

Football or foosball?

Billiards, of course.

Parting shot?

PBR saves lives.

DJ LOW KEY
NOMINATED IN DJ: DANCE -- CLUB/HIP-HOP
5:30 P.M., SERENGETI UPSTAIRS

Website: www.MixingInAction.com and www.DJLowKey.com (under construction)

Personnel:

Me, myself and I (c) De La Soul.

Native or transplant?

I'm originally from outside of Atlanta, but I've lived in Colorado for about twelve years.

What's in a name?

Low Key has been my attitude and demeanor as a DJ since day one. I'm not the DJ who will walk into a place and start hyping himself up. I'd much rather let my work speak for itself.

When did you form/start performing?

I've been playing at clubs and shows in Boulder and Denver for about five years now.

Releases/discography:

I've dropped quite a few random mix tapes over the years -- nothing too official, though. I'm working on my first all-out project, right now, a mix tape and website called "Mixing in Action" that focuses on "middle of the road" (i.e., not too commercial and not too backpack) type hip-hop.

Who or what do you think you sound like?

In a club, my style is maybe like a Mark Ronson or a DJ Hollywood-type DJ: all over the place in terms of music, with a lot of mixing. Gotta keep the crowd guessing, but also feeling the vibe.

What are some of your noteworthy recent feats?

Over the last few months, I've done shows with Slick Rick and the Pharcyde, promoted, produced and spun at a successful club night up in Boulder, pushed past eighteen months as a resident at Rise, had my Mixing in Action #0 mix tape downloaded over 5,000 times, and began working with talented MCs from around the country on my Mixing in Action #1 mix tape -- and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you?

Resurrection (Common); Doggystyle (Snoop Dogg); Da Dirty 30 (Cru); Stakes Is High (De La Soul); Sign of the Times (Prince); Paid in Full (Erik B. & Rakim); The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (Slick Rick); Reasonable Doubt (Jay-Z); Jewelz (OC); Thriller (Michael Jackson).

What artists have had the biggest impact on you?

The Radio Bums, DJ Spinbad, Jazzy Jeff, Jay-Z, Common, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Mark Ronson, De La Soul and, lately, Little Brother and Median.

How do you pay the bills? What is your day job?

Spinning records, strictly. E-mail me at DJLowKeyCO@Jack's.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you?

Jubilee and Fresh Pants.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you?

Personally, David Sanborn, Micheal Brecker, Mark Russo, as saxophone players. In general, I would say Bob James, Larry Carlton, the Yellow Jackets, Dixie Dregs, Chicago and Bruce Hornsby.

How do you pay the bills? What are your day jobs?

Music has been our full-time vocation for almost fifteen years. Gigs, Gigs, Gigs.

Finish this sentence: If I didn't have to worry about money, I'd...

Take my wife to Australia, learn how to surf, and open a Red Rocks-type amphitheater on the beach.

Finish this sentence: I'd rather be...

Watching the Avalanche in the Stanley Cup finals.

Who would play you in the screen adaptation of your life?

Snoop Dogg, faschizzle.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Colorado is always home, will always be home, but there is a whole world out there we need to explore.

What's the biggest misconception about you or your band?

That we are smooth jazz. We are contemporary jazz, with all the hard edges. There ain't nothing smooth about Dotsero.

Give us a random factoid about yourself or your band:

Everybody loves sports, except for Tom, the keyboard player, who went to Rennslear Poly Tech.

Elliott Smith or Jack Johnson?

MaryAnn.

Weezer or Winger?

Winger. Colorado rules.

Jay-Z or Z-Trip?

What?

Football or foosball?

Football!!! Football! Football!

Parting shot?

Tell Kenny Be: The likeness of Dotsero on his cartoon in reference to the Convention Center Grand opening was incredibly accurate. We have all gone to the gym to do something about our man tits.

DJ SHAKE
NOMINATED IN DJ: TURNTABLIST -- HIP/HOP
6:45 P.M., VINYL PATIO

Website:www.sceenmag.com (truly an original DJ website)

When did you form/start performing?

Started deejaying six years ago after watching an adult video with Snoop Dogg.

Releases/discography:

Diverse -- what can I say? You're gonna love it..."the way a real mix cd should be done."

Who or what do you think you sound like?

I sound like the kind of stuff that goes on behind the scenes at the Adult Film Awards. Sometimes I sound like nails on a chalkboard.

What are some of your noteworthy recent feats?

Guitar Center store winner, fourth year in a row.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you?

Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze, soundtrack to Boogie Nights.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you?

Ron Jeremy, Hilary Duff, Joe Francis (creator of Girls Gone Wild), DJ Swamp, Skratch Piklz, Alies, Peter North, Jena Jameson,

How do you pay the bills? What is your day job?

Where do I start?! Loan officer (because I think everyone should own a house), Custom Belt Buckle supplier (at Colorado Mills mall), artist (because I can't help but paint fat-ass canvases), and, of course, DJ.

Finish this sentence: If I didn't have to worry about money, I'd...

...take two chicks at the same time. Actually, I'll do that anyway.

Finish this sentence: I'd rather be...

...with three chicks at the same time.

Who would play you in the screen adaptation of your life?

It would be a mix of: Mr. Burns, Dirk Diggler, Tyler Durden, Godzilla and Alec Baldwin.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Five years older, 500 times more successful.

What's the biggest misconception about you or your band?

Some people think the Crunk Bros. are not the best crew in Colorado. All I can say is, "If you're going off of skills, then we definitely are."

Give us a random factoid about yourself:

Mayonnaise sucks, 151 & Coke is still viagra, and, sometimes, "shit happens when you party naked!"

Elliott Smith or Jack Johnson?

Jack Smith's Johnson.

Weezer or Winger?

Weezy, fo' sheezy.

Jay-Z or Z-Trip?

Z-Trip.

Football or foosball?

Depends if I have money riding on it -- but I do like the cheerleaders

Parting shot?

Make sure you check out the Custom Belt Buckles at Colorado Mills mall in front of the Ecko store. Check out any of our mix CDs, Diverse out now. S.C.E.E.N. productions' "Carlos aka Lunchbox." And, of course, the Crunk Bros. crew.

DROP THE FEAR
NOMINATED IN AVANT-GARDE/ECLECTIC

Website: www.dropthefear.com

Personnel:

Ryan Policky, Sarah Marcogliese, Gabriel Ratliff.

Native or transplant?

Sarah: Two countries, eight states, 35 homes -- and, no, my dad wasn't in the service.

Ryan: Born and raised in good ol' Littleton, CO. Watched as the bombs were being made right next door.

Gabriel: Colorado via Tennessee via Virginia via Texas via Washington, D.C.

What's in a name?

Ryan: Names are something which need no explanation. Take from them your own interpretation. Drop the Fear had many personal ties and motivations, and I feel many out there can relate to these three simple words. "Fear" has engulfed many out there in the world, and many have simply lost awareness of it. Sarah: Hey, we all have fears, and sometimes it's worth an attempt to "drop" them. Gabriel: I think names can take on a couple of forms when it comes to a band. It can simply be an inside joke among people that play music together; it can have some personal meaning to the individuals in the group, which brings strength and motivation; or it can have an external message to the universe, which the group, as well as its audience, can feed off of and continually come back to. Personally, I thought "Drop the Fear" filled all of those.

When did you form/start performing?

We formed back in 2003, began recording immediately, and starting playing out live in 2004.

Releases/discography:

Listen EP (2004); Drop the Fear CD/DVD (2004).

Who or what do you think you sound like?

Sarah: An eclectic soundscape of shadow and light.

Ryan: A melding of lush soundscapes, with instrumental/vocal layers forming the boundaries. The album in itself is an array of emotions which chain together much like how they do in life. Gabriel: Two tablespoons of Massive Attack, one cup of Slowdive, four tablespoons of Boards of Canada, one teaspoon of Björk, 1/4 cup of M83, and several pinches of too many other people to name.

What are some of your noteworthy recent feats?

Best Music DVD for Westword was a biggie. Also had some huge accomplishments abroad. Landed some songs on college radio, and at one point were being spun on over 120 radio stations, with a slew of them reporting us in the top ten for CMJ and RPM. At one point, we were getting more adds to stations than some of our heroes in the music industry. The Denver Post and Boulder Daily Camera also put us in their top-ten lists for the year, and our partnership with helmet r00m recordings definitely played a huge part in much of our success.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you?

Sarah: Björk, Homogenic, was truly groundbreaking shit. The way she combined electronic and symphonic warmth blew my mind! Ween, The Pod, because it made me laugh my ass off in my darkest days. "Do you like guacamole? I like guacamole."

Ryan: I've been compelled by a multitude of albums, such as the debut album by I AM X, Music for People from VAST, Souvlaki from Slowdive, The Process from Skinny Puppy, and nearly every release from "Godspeed You Black Emperor!" There have been so many amazing releases in the past five years, and these, in particular, helped shape the life which I live today. Music is the soundtrack for every emotion which spills out. Gabriel: The Cure's Disintegration had the biggest impact on my life. I probably wouldn't be where I am in if it weren't for that album. Honestly, there are way too many albums that have influenced me or had a big impact on my life.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you?

Ryan: Tori Amos and her passion for emotion; Godspeed You Black Emperor, with their landscapes of sound and emotion; the Sneaker Pimps in their post-Kelli Ali days, and the phenomenal live performers out there, such as Muse and Sigur Ros. Sarah: Ween and Björk. Every album takes you on a ride. You can listen to any one of them and feel like you've put your CD changer on shuffle and it's still cohesive. Gabriel: Again, too many to name.

How do you pay the bills? What are your day jobs?

Sarah: I own a landscape maintenance and design company, Native Earth. No more nine-to-five grind, two weeks off or office bullshit. I do still have to pay the bills, but music is my life. Ryan: I work at Factory Design Labs making games/building sites and upping my skills in media. I have been there for nearly eight years now and have learned a ton. One thing, more than anything, I'd like to say is that I believe each and every one of us can shape every part of our lives, from personal to business. I basically helped create many of the roles I've taken on at Factory, from working on music and sfx for websites, to handling many photo shoots for clients in and out of the office, to video production and post-production. It's been quite a journey, and all of it has helped shape where I am in my number-one job in life, that being "creating music." Gabriel: I work full-time at Twist & Shout, I have my own painting company on the side, and I recently started giving drum lessons.

Finish this sentence: If I didn't have to worry about money, I'd...