Armand Van Hell Yes!

12/18/2009 Control @ the Avalon in Hollywood: the one year anniversary crazy super party extravaganza with none other than THE Armand Van Helden. We tried to get in for free, but we didn't make it. We still got in for cheaper than the regular price of $25, but it definitely still would have been worth that. Shit, this is Armand Van Helden we're talking about here... bringing us another party like it's 1999.

James Monroe helped kick it off, and all we can say she is one badass DJ who knows how to get the crowd started. We'd definitely like to catch her again!

Now a sign of a good DJ is when their 2-hour set seemed more like 20 minutes, and they completely wear you out from dancing, only to drop a track that revives your energy for another half hour. A good DJ never lets up for a second, not even near the end when everyone's getting tired. Armand Van Helden accomplished all these with flying colors. He came out with a steady start, then continued to work his nonstop magic.



I was really, really happy when he dropped this track. Armand Van Helden rocked the party hard! Unfortunately, Shimosh couldn't bring in the camera, so there's no ridiculous pictures of our friends, but as always, Suzanarchist was being dumb, and Don was dancing with people who were fucked up on E. It's always fun to watch that.

There was a couple who were dancing together, if you can call it that. They were close to passed out over each other's shoulders, swaying back and forth, eyes closed, hair swinging everywhere. It would have been THAT funny if the couple still hadn't been doing the EXACT same thing literally over half an hour later. We are not exaggerating. If that couple is reading this now, thank you for contributing to an insanely funny night.

I was seriously starting to fade over halfway into the set, but when he played his 1999 classic "You Don't Know Me" I suddenly came back to life. That burst of energy burned me out though, and by the time we were approaching the end, I was feeling totally beat (no pun intended). Suddenly, he hits us with the BEST MIX OF "LET THE BASS KICK" I HAVE EVER HEARD, and I was once again resurrected from the dead. Armand Van Helden is a legend. Without a doubt one of the best DJ sets of the year.

So I guess we can go to Control if we can't have any...

ATN de Crecy?

Justice and just Don

Since Discotheque went on hiatus, we've been getting our Friday night fixes at the Avalon lately. As we await its return, we continue to check out the consistently good guest DJs at Control and get up to our usual adventures in our electro playground. Something stupid always happens, and tonight was no exception. DGAF's very own Don managed to befriend a group of men who were convinced that he had E. He was nicnkamed "Don Patrol", while Shimosh was dubbed "Amy Patrol" when she was mistaken for Don's sister. It's times like these were you actually HOPE certain people ARE on drugs.


Don won't slow your roll

I don't know what was funnier, Mr. Oizo being called Mr. Oye-zo or Etienne De Crecy being called "ATN" the whole night by both Mr. White and people from the crowd. Come on, peeps, that's just one letter off from an Automated Teller Machine.


No control at Control

Etienne was a pretty solid DJ, and he kept the crowd going for over 2 hours (he still wasn't done when we left!). So mad props to him! Don't get me wrong, he's a great DJ, but his dynamics were pretty similar throughout and his drops got sort of predictable. But hey, if the formula works and keeps everyone dancing, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. I just like to hear more twists and turns and standout tracks in the mix, but that's just me.


A,T, and N... three capital letters

It would be DGAF if ATN was from the ATL.

FREAKBOT!!!

Breakbot is an artist on the Ed Banger record label based in Paris, France. He is a crazy man.

flier for Control

No, just kidding. But he did DJ in Hollywood at the Avalon, at Control on Friday, November 27th, 2009 (yeah, yeah, this post is really late. We DGAF).


Dancing in the infinity net

CMYK and Ed Banger—we just can't resist their French charm. The night started off with the opening acts C-Town, Sleazemore, and resident Mr. White.


OHHH BREAKBOT

For some reason, DGAF and friends went really overboard with freaking the entire night. We apologize to Breakbot if we freaked him out in any way, because he's pretty low key. But it was a sign of good times, and let's face it, Breakbot dropped every tune like it was hot. We just wanna thank him for tolerating us and putting on a freak-worthy set. That's quite a feat.


Breakbot surrounded by a bunch of crazy LA kids

Next superstar DJ of Ed Banger? I don't see why not!

OIZO CONTROL

A couple months ago, I posted a DGAF profile on mr. oizo and CMYK finally got a chance to see him spin live in Hollywood. It was further proof that he deserved that profile. In fact, he's so DGAF i'm posting about him again.

So on Friday, 10/16/2009, Suz, Don & I went out to see Mr. Oizo spin at Control (at Avalon).


taken from Control Friday's myspace

When we got into the club, the doors to the main floor was closed, so everyone was hanging around the bar. I got myself a water, and Suz got herself an Incredible Hulk (Hennessy + Hypnotiq). The doors opened and Deth Hertz played a pretty solid set. Then Mr. White went on at 12 and played bon jovi's "you give love a bad name" into lmfao's "shots." it was probably the funniest mashup i've heard in a while (Shot through the heart and you're the blame! shot through the heart! shot shot shot shot shot shot EVERYBOOODY SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS EVERYBOOOOODY! = WTF?). I was literally on the floor laughing.


Don does not approve of LMFAO

Then, finally, the beardy Frenchman himself, Quentin Dupieux, aka Mr. Oizo took over the decks with an amazing DJ set that made my mind melt with goodness.


Mr. Oizo is cooler than you.

Fans gathered around him as he was walking towards the backstage area, including myself. But my intention was not to tell him he was the best DJ/director ever (although that was part of it), but to do the Chivers handshake with him. I stopped him and said "CHIVERS!" (not sure if he heard this) and did the motion to the first part of the handshake. He smiled and did the handshake with me. Needless to say, that made my night.


in case you didn't read the other post and don't know what a Chivers handshake is

So anyway, when Mr. Oizo goes up, the audience goes apeshit. He starts djing with CDJs WHILE smoking AND drinking champagne (straight from the fucking bottle!). And of course, he played Flat Beat! <3 It was amazing to hear him play that. The best part is, when he plays a CD, he takes it out, breaks it, and throws it into the audience. DGAF enough for me? you better believe it.


Don, Suz & the Nabil Linus ready to melt their faces off to Mr. Oizo

Also, at some point in the night, he sprayed the audience with his white foam champagne. There were a few people who brought their Steak DVDs to get him to sign it. People passed it up to photographers on stage who put it up on the table for him, and he signed it for them. DGAF, yet still nice enough to sign autographs during his DJ set. What a guy. What a beard! And one of the guys from Club Soda had a CHIVERS jacket!


It's bootleg, but it's still rad

The point is, if you ever get a chance to see Mr. Oizo, do it. Because it'll blow your brains.