Spaced Invaders

It’s the beginning of a new week and Kulture Klash 4 has come and passed. Kulture Klash this time around was a total blast. (Even if it did feel like a blur to me.) Our projections blew our minds away and more importantly blew the minds of all the people standing in line for beer and port-o-potties. I shouldn’t say it like that. In fact we had a huge number of people outside partying with us.

The numbers I really couldn’t say, but just taking a guess I’d say there was close to 800 at any given time. However, the best thing was everyone was getting down to the classics. Scruchyface Flatbroke took a commanding presence on the decks, and totally melted the crowds faces. It surprised me when he dropped William DeVaughn’s “Just Be Thankful For What You Got.” And the whole crowd was just grooving and grinding. Even though I was running video and fixing the technical stuff, (like plugging projectors back in after jerks unplugged them.) I got the crowd going with a side to side arm wave during Leon Haywood’s “I Wanna Do Something Freaky To You.” Which I think made both Scrunchyface Flatbroke and Birdflu get into the groove some more.

Speaking of that I forgot to mention Birdflu from the Bubbleguts Brothers was there with us cutting it up. If you ever get a chance you need to check him and his boy JectWon out. Strictly vinyl, crazy ass cutting, straight dope. It was great to have him up there to add his vinyl manipulation expertise. I’m sure you will see more of both crews preforming together in the near future.

I did not get a chance to check out much of the artwork. Okay, i didn’t get a chance to check out any of the artwork or see anything else that was going on besides what we were doing. But from what I have been reading and seeing, it looks like Kulture Klash 4 was a success.

Big thanks goes out to everyone who invited the Spaced Invaders out there, Gus, Scott, Ambergre, Suite Sole, (I heard we were getting paid in shoes this time around.) Big Hair and the rest of the Dub Island Crew, (Lord knows if it weren’t for you there would not have been any show at all.) To all the party goers that got down to the groove, especially to that kid who took a handful of stickers and said he’d put them up all over downtown.

All I can say is that it will take some work for the Spaced Invaders to out do themselves this time around. But hey we have already done that…just wait for the concert at the Customs House during Spoletto 09.

The Spaced Invaders were invited to perform at the Charleston City Paper’s Best of Charleston event. It was an awesome gig! For those of you who don’t know about the event. (Myself included) The event is held at the Joe Riley Stadium. The City Paper brings in all the “Best Of” winners to showcase their food, goods, etc., Bring in the alcohol vendors, and hand out 1500 free tickets to the City Paper’s closest friends, family, etc. And let me you, those tickets go fast. In fact they started handing the tickets out on the Friday before the event. And by Saturday morning they were gone. (Thanks to Blair the advertising director for allowing me to make a list to allow friends in.)

The event really kicked ass. Flatbroke and I dropped music in between each bands set, and they gave us like a 3-story video screen to project on. Check out the video to see some of the madness of the party.

Best of Charleston Party 2009 from Charleston City Paper on Vimeo.

In lighter note, the Spaced Invaders didn’t make the “Best DJs in Charleston.” But we did somehow make the “Best Graffiti Artists.” Which we’re pretty confused about thinking that I haven’t touched a spray paint can since my teenage years and Flatbroke has not touched a spray paint can since his early 20’s. We couldn’t help to make jokes the whole time we were up on stage about being the, “Best Graff’ers” in Charleston, when we know we’re DJs, we’ve always sent press releases out stating that, and there are so many good artists here that could definitely own that title. Anyway, I hope that after Wednesday the local press has a better grasp of what we do.

All in all, can’t thank them enough for having us out there and hope that we all continue having a blast together and we can elevate the scene and get something real going on in this city.

One last thing, I have to shout out to Bad Jon Photography. I still haven’t met the fellow, but he took that wicked photo of Flatbroke on the decks.

On Monday night I decided to explore a section of Charleston’s nightlife that I had no clue of its existence until the week before. So, I ventured to through the cold February night to make my way to the East Bay Meeting House for their Monday Night Poetry and Open Mic Night. This past Monday featured Marcus Amaker, who I just knew as the editor of the Preview section of the Post and Courier, and as I quickly found out from the other attendees, is one of the best spoken word-poets in Charleston, if not South Carolina.

I arrived roughly fifteen minutes prior to the 8:03pm start time that Marcus informed me of and it gave me enough time to explore my new surroundings and see if I could speak briefly to Marcus and thank him for putting the Stone Groove event on the very first inside page of a recent Preview magazine. It was no trouble finding him. After all, he was one of three people with dreadlocks but he was at the door greeting everyone who entered. He even was cool enough to chat with me briefly and even remembered my first name with no trouble. Which if any artist who deals with the press will tell you, it’s kind of a rarity. I left Marcus to meet and greet with others and for myself to search for any sort of seat. However, the place was packed and I ended up leaning against a wall that was closest to the front bar.

Marcus introduced his accompanying band, who after the show, I talked with a few members, and found out they were just a rag tag collective that the poet called out of the blue to perform with him. Marcus took the mic, and the place fell silent as he thanked everyone for coming out and explained how comfortable he was on the mic. Everyone’s attention turned towards the speaker. The poet began to flow over the boom bip rhythm of the drummer’s kick and snare hits. The poetry was a mixture of prose and rhythmic stanzas that worked harmoniously with the mild saxophone, droning keys, and every so often, the slight leads and chords strummed by his guitarist.

The musical aspect of the poetry performance just added to what were already great lines. Marcus’s poetry consisted of several topics that every person young and old could relate to. Basically, the topics were, Love, Sex, and Break Up. He did not use crazy, off the wall metaphors that some poets use and most listeners can’t follow. However, he did paint very colorful imagery using the words that he selected. It was refreshingly easy to follow and understand, while letting your head nod to the rhythm.

After Marcus was done with his set, the crowd was very supportive and tentative of the others during the open mic night and you will definitely find me hanging out on Monday’s at the East Bay Meeting House. Maybe I’ll open my rhyme book once again and get the courage to jump on the mic one time.

For more information on Marcus Amaker, or to check out his music go to http://www.marcusamaker.com/

I’m going to get kind of nostalgic with this post but it’s the New Year once again. Time for everyone to start their resolutions for the year only to forget them in about three weeks. Time for everyone to reflect on the last year and see how they can make themselves better in 2009. Well in retrospect, I’d say 2008 was a great year for the Spaced Invaders and me as a DJ.

First off 2008 had a lot of great shows for the Spaced Invaders. The College of Charleston Red Event (Which started it all), Kulture Klash 2, The Future Sound of Breaks World Tour Stop in Charleston, The Side Show Fashion Show, Dr. King’s Skinful Halloween and certainly last but not least, our Stone Groove events. All the shows that we did last year just totally blow my mind away. Already in the first year that the Spaced Invaders formed we have performed in front of thousands. I can’t be more thankful than that.

In addition to the shows we made a lot of good friends along the way and have met some really great people as well. People who are really helping us out and believe in what we do. Mad thanks to the folks at Camel and Redbull for hooking us up with shows and calling us back for more. Same thing to CofC Radio. Also, another thanks to Torch for letting me have a weekly gig at your place, and most of all letting me be free to play what I feel. There’s just so many people to thank that I’ll have to spend all day writing. So please don’t be upset that I don’t get to you in this. (After all this is just a blog post)

I also am going to market the Stone Groove podcast and live show very hard this year. Flatbroke and I moved the party to the Daily Dose on James Island and the party within two months have become a huge hit. Most of all, it became very Charlestonian in doing this. Somehow moving the party out of downtown into this very chill, vibey spot just seems right. Our friends are out there and each show we make new ones. It’s really just turned into this great time. I think this year the Stone Groove will be so huge in when the weather warms up and more people spread the word. Duffy, you have been great about helping us out in that way.

Lastly, this brings up the Stone Groove as a whole. I just can’t believe this. In November the podcast had over 8000 listens. Speaking of that, the Spaced Invaders are still the only DJs in Charleston with mixtapes on iTunes. (At least at the time of this posting. And that I know of.) The Stone Groove and the ideas behind it have really brought out a new aspect of DJing in me. I’m back to digging again. You know trying to find those tunes that are just great. I’m back to practicing on the decks. I’m back to producing music and beats once again. And I’m back to sticking to my guns and not selling out to the Top 40 BS. And I owe a great deal of this to Flatbroke, he just keeps upping his skills and just his keeps digging and digging and digging. Throughout day one he’s been a sort of mentor in all of this just sort of fine tuning the direction of the Stone Groove and making sure it never loses steam. I couldn’t ask for somebody better to work with on this Stone Groove funk mothership.

Anyway, I have to run and make it look like I do something for a living. I leave you with this parting shot from the last Stone Groove event. It is a picture of Duffy’s son Boogie Down (Yep that’s his real name) as our guest DJ at the Stone Groove.

Flatbroke drops all b-boy classics in this one. It’s worth at least ten repeats before you go to sleep tonight. It’s really that good. I’m actually on my fourth time listening to it. Make sure you leave some comments for this guy letting him know how much you like his dusty crate digging.

 

 January 1st Payday Podcast mixed by DJ Scrunchyface Flatbroke: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Our friend Skitch, who was at the Future Sound of Breaks posted this up.

Future Sound of Breaks breakdancing contest from Charleston City Paper on Vimeo.

The art of break dancing and dance battles may be attributed to the early hip hop movement in the South Bronx, but from what I’ve seen, it has expanded exponentially over the past 30 years. At the Future Sound of Breaks tour that recently came to Charleston, young locals came and conquered the dance floor at the Music Farm. Nowadays, those who showcase the immense strength and stamina of the b-boy give props to their hip hop ancestors, but also get down to rave-like break beats, and new-school club music.

When I arrived at the steps of the Music Farm, there was a strong scent of spray paint in the air, and lined up across the railings outside were rows of wooden boards where live artists showed off their talents with graffiti. There was not much to see just yet, as the artists had just begun. The music was booming out of the venue, so much it could be heard over a block away. I thought this might be a lamer version of Kulture Klash, but it turned out to be a very different thing altogether. (Cont.
after Joshua Curry’s pic)

I was surprised to see that the crowd was small when I first arrived. The majority of the audience for the first stage of the dance battle were the dancers themselves, plus me and a few other friends videotaping. I was pretty ignorant to the fact that we have so many amazing dancers in Charleston, but the things I saw on the dance floor blew my mind. The dancers had rhythm like James Brown or Michael Jackson, with the athleticism of an Olympic gymnast. Each DJ offered different variations of dance music, and didn’t just stick to hip hop. By the last round, the crowd had grown to maybe four times its original size, and the dancers were putting on their A-game.

I ended up leaving before the winners were announced, but I honestly didn’t want to know. I liked every crew. Every dancer had their own style that made them unique on the floor. As I walked out, the graffiti was finished. Within a few hours, the artists had created some of the coolest street art I have seen in a while. I would have bought some if it were on sale. This event was one-of-a-kind. To know that there are people in Charleston with that kind of passion and talent make me proud to live in this city.
— Kelly Stroup

Corey B was simpy ill on the decks! Just watch.