Thankfully, the Internet offers a wide expanse of possibilities, and tucked away inside that expanse is a little utopia for live music fans who don't like to get sweat rubdowns from strangers in clubs. Introducing: lowercase sounds.
Founded by Oklahoma Omaha-based DJ Tres, lowercase sounds is equal parts streaming audio, live video, label and chat site. For Denver, we have DJ Brett Starr hosting "Monday Night Dope." Using UStream as a video platform, the purpose is pretty simple: provide both an archive of live house music and a outlet for people to see it happening.
While "community" certainly seems to be a rapidly spreading buzzword around the social media water cooler, there really isn't a better word to describe lowercase sounds. It's a community and with live chats going on during DJ events, it's difficult not to see the positivity at play here.
"If we have guys here in town producing house music and selling it on the other side of the country, lowercase sounds gives those guys buying the records a chance to actually see them play live," says Starr, whose show last night featured Denver based DJ Sean Michaels from Hub City Music. "It's just a place where house DJs can get in touch with each other and swap sounds."
The site operates like a radio station, with weekly and bi-weekly shows with a variety of hosts from around the country. More importantly, perhaps, is the relatively recent implementation of broadcasting live events. The next logical step is to get cameras rolling live at nightclubs around town and to start hosting events, for his part, Starr is on board, "I've done a few, but local events are coming some time in the future."
After all, time and history is the DJ's worst enemy. Although its easy enough to record a set, rarely is that set captured on plastic the same way its captured in your ears when you're there. Perhaps live broadcasting and archiving is the next big wave. Starr also noted that any house DJs who are interested in hosting should hit him up.