HAVE A SNACK posted by O.W.

As has become far too common, I need to apologize for the delay between posts. You'll be happy to know (at least, I hope you will) that part of why I haven't been posting as frequently is that I've been working on liner notes projects instead. I've already put to bed notes on the Joe Cuba Sextet's We Must Be Doing Something Right, am about to start notes on Kako's Live It Up and perhaps of most interest to folks here, track-by-track liners for Rhino's upcoming What It Is Vol. 2, the sequel to their massively well-regarded What It Is boxset.

As penance for my absence, I pulled this out of the archives - the full ¡Boogaloo! set from March 19, 2009. I think I might have made this available to a few folks last spring since it's probably one of my favorite overall sets of the last year (our incredible MJ tribute night notwithstanding). At nearly 4 hours (and 200MB, so just be forewarned), hopefully this'll tide ya'll over until I can compose my next regular post.

Enjoy!

THE ¡BOOGALOO! FB PAGE posted by O.W.

My weekly party in Los Angeles, ¡Boogaloo! now has its own Facebook and Twitter pages. Join us at both and keep up to our going-ons.

BOOGALOO[LA] THIS AND NEXT WEEK posted by O.W.

Since Murphy's Law has been gone this month, I've been holding down our weekly Boogaloo[la] party with special guests artists every week.

This week, it's Mayer Hawthorne from Stonesthrow Records, who'll be putting together some tasty soul sets.

Next Thursday, it's my old friend my KALX in Berkeley: Michael Barnes, now one of the rising stars at KCRW.

For those in LA, come through - Boogaloo[la] has been poppin' and we're nearing our one year anniversary!

Thursday, 10pm - 2am
The Shortstop
1455 Sunset Blvd. (Echo Park)
Free!

THIS WEEK AT BOOGALOO[L.A.] (5/29) posted by O.W.

For this Thursday, it's DJ O-Dub, and Murphy's Law joined by special guest, DJ B-Cause, one of the finest DJs from the Bay Area, ever.Alas, B.Cause ran into travel problems and won't be able to join Murphy's Law and myself tonight. That said, the Boogaloo shall, er, boogie on!

Boogaloo[L.A.]
Thursdays, 10pm - 2am
The Short Stop (Echo Park)
1455 Sunset Blvd.
Always Free. 21+
boogaloola.com

HUA HSU DOES THE BOOGALOO posted by O.W.

This week at Boogaloo[L.A.]:

It's me (O-Dub) with special guest Hua Hsu, all the way from Poughkeepsie.

Last time he was out, we rocked the Redwood Bar; now it's time to turn Boogaloo[L.A.] out.

And, oh yeah, our new flier is finally out - look for it 'round town.

O-Dub and Hua Hsu
The Short Stop
Thursday, 10pm - 2am
Always free!
1455 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles (Echo Park)

BOOGALOO[LA] GETS ITS OWN MUXTAPE posted by O.W.

Want to know what kind of music we roll to at Boogaloo[LA]? Peep:

BETO DROPS IN AT BOOGALOO[LA] posted by O.W.

This week at Boogaloo[LA], it's me and special guest DJ Roberto Gyemant, aka Beto.

I've talked about Beto before - he's one of the most knowledgeable people I know concerned the jazz/soul/Latin music scene in Central/South American (the Afro-Antilles as he refers to it) and he wrote liner notes for both the Panama and Colombia comps. This should be a real treat - he'll be dropping in around midnight and hopefully will be blowing minds with some incredible Latin heat. I think I might just turn the whole evening into an all-Latin affair in tribute.

I owe Beto and my regular partner, Murphy's Law, a great deal for finally opening my ears to salsa. It's not like I wasn't aware of it but I think I've had bugalú tunnel vision for so many years, I wasn't all that interested in the era that followed and it wasn't until I started hearing some of the tracks Beto and ML enjoyed that I realized: "oh, this is why salsa is, you know, huge." Strangely, the road for me doesn't go to NY - it actually leads back to Colombia and specifically, Fruko (who's been a favorite here twice over). It probably could (should) have been Willie Colon or Hector Lavoe or the Fania All-Stars but no...it was a scruffy bassist who really sparked my interest.

In homage to him - and as a preview for tomorrow night - enjoy this:

Fruko Y Sus Tesos: El Preso
From El Grande (Fuentes, 1975)

This apparently is a stone-cold classic around the salsa world and I can see why. That "ay ay ay" kills it, on top of everything else.

L.A. FOLKS - TONIGHT AND SATURDAY + CHECKMATES LTD: GOT TO SEE US SOON! posted by O.W.

last week - our grand launch - was a rousing success. We had a great, packed house and really enjoy meeting folks.

This week, it's O-Dub and Murphy's Law, back together again.

Next week, it'll be me, joined by my man Beto, aka Roberto Gyemant, the brilliant Latin music expert behind the Panama and Colombia comps. You know the Latin heat will be mui en fuego that night.

Also, I'm doing a special one-off gig this Saturday at Footsie's, in Cypress Park.

2640 N. Figueroa St., in Los Angeles.
10-2am
Free!

This will be different from the Boogaloo[L.A.] vibe - I'm going to be playing less music to move to and move music to move you, if that makes any sense...basically, a lot of soul, maybe some jazz, a lil Latin, but it's about the listening experience (hopefully!). I may or may not have a guest that night - could just be me, holding it down the entire time.

If this works out, it might turn into a monthly "Soul Sides Saturday" event so please do come out and hang for a bit if you can.

---

Checkmates Ltd.: Got To See "U" Soon + I Must Be Dreaming
From F/S/O (Rustic, 1974)

Lead by Sonny Charles, the Checkmates were a Chicago-baesd soul group who recorded with a few labels, including Capitol and A&M before landing in the '70s on Rustic (at least for this release). It's a bit of a sleeper LP in my opinion - not expensive or that rare but folks pass on it simply because they're not knowing. I posted the two best songs above. "Got To See "U" Soon" has been a favorite of Murphy's Law and I'm glad he's been spinning it because I forgot how much I liked that song myself: has a slightly Latin sabor and the doo-wop touches are nice as well. It's not going to tear the roof off but it's a fun, catchy song, especially for the beginning of the evening.

"I Must Be Dreaming" is a beaut of a sweet soul track - downright dreeeaaaammy. Far as I can tell, this album's never been reissued on CD - pity.

BOOGALOO THIS WEEK: O-DUB SOLO posted by O.W.

Thursday, February 21st @ Boogaloo L.A.

I'll be holding it down solo for the entire night while Murphy's Law gets a much deserved break. This is my first time in a looooong time DJing for an entire evening so come out and lend me moral support. (That plus, the music will be niiiiiiice).

I'll also tote some CD giveaways - be one of the first five to sign up on our mailing list and I'll break you off.

THIS VALENTINE'S IN L.A.: HEARTBREAK SPECIAL posted by O.W.

Thursday, February 14th
Our Valentine's Day Slow Jam Special!

People may have noticed, on the right-hand sidebar, that myself and Murphy's Law from Captain's Crate have started a new weekly. It's called "Boogaloo" and it will be every Thursday night at the Short Stop in Echo Park.

We've already done two nights there but the actual "weekly" had its "soft launch" this month. ML and I don't have our marketing ducks in a row yet but we're trying to get things ready for an official launch party in early March.

The music at Boogaloo will resemble much at what you find here and at Captain's Crate: Latin will be in full effect, as well as soul, funk and disco and occasional excursions into the eclectic. It will not be a hip-hop night (though we may throw on old school jam every now and then). We're already up against any number of very good nights around town, especially Root Down and Afro Funke and we're trying to carve out our own space against some very respectable competition.

THIS WEEK:
The Boogaloo crew is turning on the red light all night for Valentine's Day. From 10 to 2am, it's all slow jams to get your groove (or grind) on.

Murphy's Law and O-Dub are creating a special one hour slow jam mix available for download to anyone to comes out to this.

Remember - it's free! Impress your date AND save money!

IT'S COMING posted by O.W.