Mixmaster Mike "Live at Joe's in Chicago" 11/4/2005
As I entered Joe's on Weed St. in Chicago at around 9:15pm expecting a 9pm show, I was quickly disappointed until I finally saw Mike come on at midnight. I knew he would be worth the wait and he was, but barely. This event was very poorly thrown together. The bar is like a frat house environment, not bad for mikes' rock side but alot of his set went over their heads. As a DJ I knew he really needed to be in a hot club with a real dance floor going on. But I guess they can't handle the crowd who showed up. He rocked though, as I'm sure he does wherever he is. He played for about and hour and a half and he went through rock, hip hop, and electro-funk as the genius he is. I was surprised he was using Final Scratch (a program I also have) that uses a laptop, 2 turntables, and 2 specially designed time coded vinyl records (more like dubplates) to manipulate any mp3s on your computer as though you were actually using and scratching that band's actual album. It is probably the most revolutionary DJ device ever created (or for musicians too). Only my other favorite DJ is using it.....Amon Tobin. Mike did his trademark alien scratching sounds that could seeminly destroy a record in an amateur's hands. He also displayed his trademark beatjuggling and mixing abilities that I have yet to see anyone top. He mixes between 2 parts of the same record so fast that he creates his own new breaks from old music. Truly phenomenal show. Very upbeat. He played a very fast tempo for everything he went thru. I just wish he would have played at a club where everyone was dancing instead of head banging. Most of the show seemed like it was his own music made in a studio. But, from what I remember here are some of the other band's songs he mixed: 7 nation army (white stripes), crosstown traffic (jimi hendrix), BYOB (system of a down), some song off of dangermouse's grey album, this or that (black sheep), feel good inc. (gorillaz), organ donor (dj shadow), knuckle duster (white zombie), golddigger (kanye west), and smells like teen spirit (nirvana). Also in the mix were a few classic old school NYC hip hop songs/beats/breaks. I highly recommend everyone to see him IF they like watching DJ's scratch up records. Some DJ's don't move much. Mike breaks a sweat and never chills after that. Only Kid Koala has a better setup (he uses 3 turntables to beat juggle off live). It is obvious that some Beastie Boy saw a show just like the one here, and realized he needs to sign this guy up for his band ASAP. A true virtusoso in this modern hip hop flooded world.
5 out of 5 thumbs