Austin360 blogs > Almost Urban > Archives > 2007 > July > 26 > Entry
Weekend Picks: DJs and VJs, Latin experimental crunk, a World Carnaval and more
This Friday night is off the chain! I’m still trying to figure out how a girl might hit up three downtown spots in one night and rock a pair of heels. Since I’m a little low on pedicab funds, it might not be possible. So if you see me wandering around downtown in a pair of flip flops, don’t hate! A girl’s gotta travel.
Friday: The Livid Cell NAMM Afterparty at Copa. As you may or may not know there’s a big music trade show going down at the Convention Center this weekend. The National Association of Music Merchants is an industry-only event that’s more about gear and gadgets than bands and albums. In any case, when the doors close at the Convention Center the party kicks up around town. Livid Instruments - a local company that develops digital mixing instruments, VJ and DJ technology, and interactive video systems - is hosting a shindig at Copa Bar & Grill. Among others, my favorite ATX trip hop, electronica outfit Ohn will be in the house, and DJ Dojo’s Mixmaster Manny will hold down the wheels. There will be video mixing on multiple screens, interactive video tables (whatever that means) and product giveaways. Party starts at 8 p.m. and it’s free!
Friday: Black Mike CD release at the Light Bar. Austin up-and-comer Black Mike aka Black Meezy hosts a release party for his new CD “Mixed Emotions” Friday night. I caught the man on a set with Gerald G. during SXSW, and he put it down hard. I spent a few minutes on his MySpace page today, and his style runs the gamut from gritty streetwise Dirty South rap to soulful crooning. He’s bringing a full band to this show, and DJ Grip will be in the mix too. And once again, it’s free!
Friday: Kanko at Flamingo Cantina Brian Ramos, the original frontman for local cumbia powerhouse Grupo Fantasma, unveils his new project, described on MySpace as Latin/experimental/crunk. The group features Alex Marrero from Brazilian funk unit Ghandaia on drums and Nic Trevino from the now-defunct dub outfit Echobase SoundSystem on bass. Nic, incidentally, also hosts the excellent Afro-beat show “Tradewinds” Sunday afternoons on KOOP radio. (Full disclosure, your girl also hosts a show on KOOP on the first Thursday of each month.) Slipping easily from Spanish to English and citing influences from Iggy Pop and the Stooges to Andre 3000 and Big Boi, this group has a sound that’s truly unique. I’m pretty amped about this show. $5-$7.
Friday-Saturday: Midsummer World Carnaval at Kenny Dorham’s Backyard. As we reported earlier this week in the Music Source blog, longtime Austin cultural institution DiverseArts is trying to save Kenny Dorham’s Backyard, the outdoor performance venue adjacent to the historic Victory Grill in a section of East Austin deeply afflicted by condo mania. To raise funds DiverseArts Director Harold McMillan and company are hosting a two-night extravaganza featuring everything from belly dancers, fire dancers and capoeira artists to hip-hop, jazz and rock-soul fusion. In addition there will be food, crafts and a children’s area. 6 to 11 p.m. each night. $5-$10 donation, kids younger than 12 free.
Saturday: Grupo Fantasma with Bavu Blakes and NickNack at Antone’s. The best of Austin Latin dance and hip-hop on the same bill. Show up ready to shake something. ‘Nuff said. $15.
Saturday-Sunday: Second annual Funkfest at La Zona Rosa. While there is an element of hippie jam band to this lineup, there’s also some serious funk to be reckoned with throughout this festival. I expect Topaz and the The Midnite Disturbers will bring the heat on Saturday, but the big guns come out on Sunday with Karl Denson’s excellent San Diego-based jazz funk group KD3 and Leo Nocentelli, founder of the legendary Meters. $40 each day, VIP passes and wristbands are available.
(Pictured: DJ Manny, image courtesy of myspace.com/mannydroid)
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