Tag Archives: Rhode Island Rock Wedding DJ

A DJ Mash-Up: The Clash

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Today I was avoiding getting some work done and had a moment of inspiration to make a fun mash-up of some songs by The Clash. I recently was DJ at a wedding that The Groom requested a Clash song, “Jimmy Jazz”.  At this wedding my assitant who is a big Clash fan, smiled and spoke dreamily about seeing them back in 1981 at The Roseland Ballroom in NYC. This was the source of the inpsiration. I wanted to make some of my favorite songs by The Clash into a fun dance mix for a gig coming up soon at a venue where it will be perfect.

I am a bit of a purist as a professional DJ. When I make a mix I do the whole thing live in my room with no editing afterwards to make it sound better or clean up any mixes that don’t meet my standards. I decided which songs I would play and in what order, leaving some space for me to follow the energy along the way if I felt moved to add another track or change the mix. This is what I came up with.

 

The Clampdown

Train In Vain

Police On My Back

Rush (Big Audio Dynamite)

The Magnificent Seven

London Calling

Englsih Civil War

I Fought The Law

Here is the  mix:

      Clash Mashed BADly 7.15.11

I like the way it came out. The mixes are not my best DJ work but it works and it has great energy. I sent a copy to my friend who was the DJ assistant at the wedding. Maybe I will send one to The Groom too!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

The Celtic, Reggae, Rockin’ Wedding DJ

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It is not every day that a Wedding DJ gets to play Celtic, Reggae and Classic Rock at a wedding. In fact, I do not think I have ever had the opportunity before this weekend, to blend these genres in one fun wedding. The wedding was a young couple form Florida at The Bethwood in Totowa, NJ. The Bethwood has an excellent staff and the food is delicious. As with all weddings, it was the people and the Wedding DJ music that made the event special.

 

The couple and I worked together to form an excellent playlist to meet the needs of their eclectic tastes and to make sure their parents and family would have fun too. I think we did a decent job based on the comments and smiles. The Bridal Party Introduction Song they chose was from the Dropkick Murphys “I’m Shippin’ To Boston”. You may know this song from the film The Departed. They picked Bob Marley’s “Is This Love” as their First Dance Song. That set the tone for the afternoon and we never turned back.

 

It was fun mixing between Reggae, Rock and Celtic Music with some popular dance tunes along the way. What we didn’t expect as a pleasant surprise was the requests to dance to some Oldies like Ritchie Valens, Frankie Valli and a young woman even wanted to hear Jay Black & The Americans! I can’t remember the last time I had a request for “This Magic Moment” from someone under fifty before, no less a twenty-something-year-old. That was the kind of celebration this day was- anything and everything was welcome and worked with the Wedding DJ.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

A Night of Celebrities at Hoboken Film Festival with DJ Mystical Michael

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Last Friday night I again was asked to provide music for The Hoboken International Film Festival. It was a good time with lots of good food, beverages, music, a premier movie and more celebrities than I can count.  There is something really fun about seeing Robert Loggia rockin’ out to your DJ jams while waiting for the film to begin, which he was in the cast – The Great Fight.  I did not notice till I was almost done with my set that Gilby Clarke formerly of Guns N Roses was present as well. So, I quickly cued-up Sweet Child O Mine as the introduction song for Festival Producer Kenneth Del Vecchio. It is good to be a professional DJ and MC in The New Jersey & New York Metro area. I get to be a part of so many great events!

 

I had produced the same event last year and saw many of the same folks that I had met the year before.  This year since there was a greater turn-out and more people drifted to the space that I was playing music, it was even more fun and another opportunity for me to share my skills as a professional DJ with others. I hope my schedule continues to allow me to offer my services to non-profit events and to support the arts as I try to do at least once or twice a month when possible.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

DJ Mystical Michael Returns to Hoboken International Film Festival 2011

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As I am for most gigs, I am looking forward to another opportunity to provide professional DJ music for The Hoboken International Film Festival for the second time in Teaneck, NJ tomorrow night 6/3/2011. I did it last year and it was fun. The event is the opening night ceremony and movie premiere. DJ Mystical Michael Returns to Hoboken International Film Festival 2011.

  • Mingle with the Stars and the world’s most cutting edge Officially Selected Filmmakers at a Closed, Elegant, Extravaganza Cocktail Hour, with an array of complimentary fine hors d ’oeuvres/meals and deserts from Little Italy’s Sambucca’s and other fine Little Italy restaurants…and complimentary cocktails provided by Zyr Vodka and Alma Tequlia, as well as Boylan Soda and Illy Coffee beverages.
  • Worldwide premiere screening of The Great Fight (non-competition), a thrilling drama, starring: Robert Loggia (Academy Award and Emmy nominee; Scarface, Big, Independence Day), Charles Durning (2-time Academy Award/4-time Golden Globe/9-time Emmy winner and nominee), Joyce DeWitt (“Three’s Company”),  Eric Etebari (“Witchblade”; Lincoln Lawyer), Martin Kove (Karate Kid; Rambo), Angela Little (American Pie Presents Band Camp; My Boss’s Daughter), Michael Rivera (Fighting; Falling Awake), Thomas G. Waites (And Justice For All; The Thing), Jackie Martling (The Howard Stern Show), Rachael Robbins (An Affirmative Act; O.B.A.M. Nude), Nina Transfeld (The Life Zone; The Grand Theft), Felipe Dieppa (Dora the Explorer), and also starring up-and-comers Frank Giglio, Miguel Jarquin-Moreland and Suzy Kaye…The Great Fight is written/produced by bestselling author/critically acclaimed filmmaker Kenneth Del Vecchio, and directed by Sherri Kauk.

It is nice to hang out with the stars and those on their way up like Nina Transfeld and Donna Bostani, both talented hard-working actresses who are very enjoyable to be around. Last year Robert Loggia was there as well as many other known celebrities.  I do not get to play Rock music too often these days and is a treat when I can. I am ready to crank it up! Hope to see you there.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

The Professional Rock & Roll DJ That Plays A Slow Song

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It baffles me how many professional DJs will not play slow songs at private events when the genre of choice is Rock. This is even true for some professional Wedding DJs!  I understand how as a professional DJ you work with the constant tension of not wanting to lose the people on the dance floor. Playing slow songs may facilitate an empty dance floor, a professional DJ’s worst nightmare.  Time and experience teaches a professional DJ that if the music is right, people will dance. Knowing what the crowd needs to motivate them onto the dance floor in my opinion is the skill that separates a good professional DJ from the rest of the DJs. I know it is sexier to scratch and make beats but they are not what inspire people to dance till they need to drink a pitcher of water or beer, it is intuitively responding to the crowd and having the right grooves for them to move and have fun.

 

Learning the correct slow songs for each occasion is a knowledge base by itself. Here are some examples when working an event with a room full of rockers:

Eric Clapton- Wonderful Tonight

Led Zeppelin- Thank You

Aerosmith- I Don’t Want To miss A Thing

The Allman Brothers- Melissa

Billy Joel- She’s Got A Way

Bad Company- Seagull

The Beatles- Something

The Black Crowes- She Talks To Angels

Bon Jovi- I’ll Be There For You

Bruce Springsteen- Secret Garden

Crosby, Stills & Nash- Our House

Dave Mathews Band- Crash Into Me

The Eagles- Desperado

Foreigner- I’ve Been Waiting For A Girl Like You

Guns & Roses- Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Motley Crue- Home Sweet Home

The Rolling Stones- Angie

U2-The Sweetest Thing

 

Many professional DJs are afraid of playing slow songs for a rock crowd but there are many songs to choose from and let’s face it, rockers love too! This was a just a quick list, I am sure I have left out many of the classics. So break out those classic rock slow songs let the lovers rock on!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Hoboken International Film Festival 2010 Professional DJ

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It was an interesting experience getting the opportunity to work with all the producers, directors and talent at the festival. I met some great folks and played some rockin’ tunes. It was such a treat to see Robert Loggia win the Lifetime Achievement Award. He is such a great actor! One of my favorite pieces of his work was in the movie Wide Awake where he played Grandpa Beal, an M. Night Shyamalan film. Of course, how can we forget his performance in Big with Tom Hanks!

My favorite part of the Festival was definitely the Awards Gala. Getting to do the sound and music for each award was tricky and kept me on my toes throughout the whole night. I have a new respect for awards shows now. Deidre Lorenz received the audience appreciation Award for Santorini Blue. Check it out when it goes international! She is an amazing talent.

I can’t wait till next year for this great event!

Here are some links to some media coverage of the Festival:

http://www.my9tv.com/dpp/e_biz/Hoboken-Film-Fesitval-Begins-June-4th

hoboken-international-film-festival-logo-june-2007-2.jpg

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ