JACKFROST Teaser!

Thanks to Mike Magana for making this frosty teaser!

Please spread the good word to those who will appreciate =)

In the spirit of giving, please bring an unwrapped toy for local children who can really use a smile on their face in this holiday season.


More info TBA

=)

DJ Gear Review: Epic Laptop Backpack by Ogio

by: Don Kainoa, HAWT San Francisco


Needless to say, as we all get older, the more important it is for us to take care of ourselves. This has always been true for an aging DJ like myself. I, like many others, have carried crates of records over crowds, through tiny hallways, and around drunken party-goers in order to get the music where it needs to be.. which is usually at the back of the club/rave/bar/warehouse.. This shit has taken a TOLL on my ol' back, which has already been abused from carrying my little ones around. Needless to say that when the digital age of DJing arrived, I jumped on that bandwagon pretty easily.


Nowadays, I mainly use either Serato and/or a case of CDs, which still ends up to be a good amount of gear. A few months back I was in the market to find a carrying solution that would fit my specific needs. I wanted to find a laptop backpack that would be durable enough to be used as an everyday DJ pack, but not ridiculously expensive (between 100-200$). I did some research on the innernets and decided to buy the Epic Laptop Backpack by Ogio.


[epic 01]




Cosmetically, it looks pretty rugged, and has a pretty decent urban design. I wanted something pretty simple, but not too "business-like." The straps are sturdy and feel comfortable when I wear it. It also has a front strap clip to help disperse the weight and makes it easier to carry heavier loads (use see this type of strap on camping packs a lot).


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The most important factor to me was finding a backpack with a lot of storage options, and this thing delivers. It has 9 different compartments, each varying in size and functionality. The side-loading laptop compartment has a nice, snug fit for my 15" Macbook Pro, and also has a couple more dividers for papers/flyers/etc. The other side has 2 small zip compartments that I use for power adapters for both my laptop and Serato. They both fit well and keep them from getting lost in the main pocket.


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On the top of the bag, I have access to the main large pocket, as well as 3 different sized pockets. As you can see, they are great for storing headphones, cell phones, wallets, mp3 players, etc. The "mp3" player pocket even has a headphone opening to slip your wire through if you so choose. Due to the large number of extra pockets and side laptop compartment, the main pocket is actually pretty small.. I mainly use it for extra DJ equipment, Serato box, or a sweater.. there honestly isn't much more room for anything else. One big disappointment is that the main pocket is too narrow to fit records (including Serato control vinyl) or a large CD case inside of it.. boo.


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The back of the pack has even more storage options! The larger of the 2 pockets can zip all the way down so you can get at all the crap you might have in there. It has a great little mesh zip pocket I use for any small wires I need and keeps them nicely organized. Right now, I use this pocket to carry my external HD.. but as you can see, it can be used to carry pencils, keys, change, cell phone, and your crack pipe!


I would say my overall experience with the backpack has been really positive. It feels very sturdy and can take a lot of weight. The straps are comfortable and the front strap clip thing really helps displace the weight to make carrying a breeze. The amount of pockets is sick and I have been able to keep all my gear easily organized; I never have a problem finding what I need. The only complaint I have is not being able to carry a large CD case or some vinyl in the main pocket.


There are definitely more expensive laptop/DJ backpacks out there, but for about 100 bucks, I think this is a great investment. Be kind to your back and if yer on the lookout for an affordable, mobile laptop DJ solution, I would recommend this product fer sheez!


peas and carrots..


Don Kainoa

Beautiful Losers

By Roque Santos, HAWT San Francisco

BEAUTIFUL LOSERS celebrates the spirit behind one of the most influential cultural moments of a generation

In the early 1990's a loose-knit group of likeminded outsiders found common ground at a little NYC storefront gallery. Rooted in the DIY (do-it-yourself) subcultures of skateboarding, surf, punk, hip hop & graffiti, they made art that reflected the lifestyles they led. Developing their craft with almost no influence from the "establishment" art world, this group, and the subcultures they sprang from, have now become a movement that has been transforming pop culture.

Starring a selection of artists who are considered leaders within this culture, Beautiful Losers focuses on the telling of personal stories. It speaks to themes of what happens when the outside becomes "in" as it explores the creative ethos connecting these artists and today's youth.

New music era or error?

by Roque Santos, HAWT San Francisco

Surfing blogs and Youtube you can find a variety of new digital, touch screen, wireless, Ipod, turntable infused instruments, and programs. I even wrote about ones these in last months blog the "Pace Maker". I think a lot of these contraptions are novelties but they will eventually lead into important technologies one day. Watching these videos reminds me of seeing old footage of inventors testing out their flying machines. The inventions look cool and seem to be good ideas but just can't get off the ground. Here are three new popular instruments that are pushing boundaries and making a lot of noise. Let me know what you think!

Reactable

"The reactable, is a state-of-the-art multi-user electro-acoustic music instrument with a tabletop tangible user interface. Several simultaneous performers share complete control over the instrument by moving physical artefacts on the table surface and constructing different audio topologie...

Lemur

JazzMutant’s Lemur is a glimpse into the future of not only controllers, but the way we may interact with computers. Although it is not without faults (12” display and a hefty price tag) it opens up a door that improves on the current selection of controllers available, where a user must adapt to a controller, instead of a controller adapting to the user.

Intua Beat Maker for Iphone

Intua is the first to get a full-fledged music creation app on the iTunes App Store, with an MPC-style sampler and step sequencer, plus effects, for the iPhone and iPod Touch. This isn’t just a toy for triggering sounds or a useful utility like a guitar tuner; it’s an actual music app on which you can produce whole songs. As with any mobile app, there are tradeoffs versus a desktop tool – but its simplicity is likely to be part of its appeal. US$19.99.
Most importantly, it’s available now.

Positive Energy

by Mikey Velazquez, HAWT Los Angeles

Roque's blog yesterday got me thinking: it's crazy how your feelings and emotions are directly correlated to what thoughts you put into your brain, and the way you think. You may not always have complete control over what happens in your life, but I've learned that you do control what you think.

Every now and then, we all get down on ourselves, putting extra pressure on ourselves for no reason, only making things more difficult than they should be. It is very easy to put a positive twist on anything, and that comes with understanding the moment for what it is. Since you can't control the outside world, your chances of being happy are better when you are positive from the moment you wake up until you sleep. When you form this habit of positivity, your world will transform onto a way of happiness.

You should always be able to laugh at yourself, and at the world. When we take things too seriously, we tend to over analyze and burn ourselves out. LAUGH at yourself! We're only human right? There are some really simple things that can help you feel good and put positive energy into the world:

- SMILE, say THANK YOU, give a compliment to someone

- Don't take things for granted: your family and friends are the backbone of who we are, let them know they are special!

- Stop negative thoughts in their tracks! Once they enter, change that thought process!

- Enthusiasm! Crank up your positive energy! At work, on the phone, get excited! This is your life you're living here!

- NOW. Every moment is another chance to start new! Take a deep breath, and let the past go because you can't change it! But you can change NOW!

STRESS STRESS STRESS!!!!

by Roque Santos, HAWT San Francisco

I have been recently going through some pretty hard times in my personal and business life and it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Yes, I know this is very cliche and everyone is going through their shit so what am I getting too? Well it seems to me that my life is ran by hard times which equals to stress in one way or another and learning how to manage it is an art. My coworker sent this "key ways to manage your stress list" to me and at first I thought this was cheesy but in all honesty this new age shit can help. Hopefully this can help you or maybe spark some amusement! I like 1,2, and 6.

Everybody experiences stress. A certain amount is even good for you. Too much stress can damage your physical, emotional, and mental health. Since it is not always possible to prevent stress, we all need to learn how to reduce it. Choose among the following techniques what you think will work best for you. Make them part of your everyday life.

1. PREVENT IT. How much stress do you cause just by putting unnecessary pressure on yourself? Do you over react to little things that annoy you? Every time you let anger or frustration take control, it drains away good energy and sidetracks you from more important things. Obviously, you can't always control what goes on around you, but you can control how you respond. Try a little more patience next time you get caught in traffic and you'll avoid unnecessary stress.

2. SET GOALS. Some people drift through life going from crisis to crisis letting stress build up. If you set goals, you can take better control of your life. Think where you'd like to be in 1 year or 5 years. Be realistic by starting with small, daily goals, then build up from there. Re-evaluate your goals from time to time and be prepared to adjust them as changes occur in your life.

3. ESTABLISH PRIORITIES. Do you often feel rushed because "there's no time"? Why not regulate the pace of your life? Plan ahead. Make a list of tasks in order of priority. Concentrate on what's really important to you and drop those things that only waste your energy.

4. TAKE TIME OUT. Spend a few minutes alone each day to break the routine. This helps ease stress and gives you a better perspective of what's around you. Set aside time during the week for recreation, hobbies, or exercise. Regular exercise is an excellent way to reduce stress. Physical fitness gives you a feeling of well-being by relieving tension and increasing productivity.

5. HAVE FAITH. Peace of mind comes to those who trust in themselves.

6. THINK POSITIVELY. Having a positive attitude will help you assert yourself and feel more in control. You waste energy if you constantly criticize yourself or set unrealistic goals. Negative thoughts generally produce negative results. Instead of saying, "I can't," practice saying, "I can." You'll be surprised how much more you can accomplish.

7. HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR. Laughter can be one of the best medicines for stress. Being able to laugh at yourself and the world can break tension and give you some relief from stress.

8. COMMUNICATE. Suffering in silence only increases the stress you build up inside. Talk over your feelings and concerns with your family, a friend, counselor, preacher, or health professional. "Thinking out loud" like this not only relieves stress, but may also shed new light on your problems. Learn to listen and consider suggestions with an open mind.

9. MAKE DECISIONS. Most people have no idea how much stress they create for themselves by resisting change. They wait, hoping a situation will go back to the way it was. Why wait when you have choices and could make a decision? When it's time to change old habits and move forward, make your own change for the better.

10. GET SUPPORT. Do you sometimes find problems too personal to discuss? Or feel they may be too much of a burden on others? Find a support group in your community. Remember, you're not alone. Other people with similar problems understand what you're going through without the need for lengthy explanations. They share your concerns and they want to learn how to cope with stress, too.

Dirtybird Party: A Review

by Mikey Velazquez, HAWT Los Angeles

Last night was the first official DIRTYBIRD Label Party here in Los Angeles, and man oh man it was off the heezy!
From the second I walked into The Vanguard, the thumping basslines on that Function 1 Soundsystem had us gyrating all the way to the front of the huge superclub.

It was only a Thursday night, something tough to pull off at a superclub here in LA, but you would have thought it was the weekend from the turnout, tons of smiling faces grooving to the DIRTY.....and boy was it DIRTY! There happened to be a huge film/music licensing convention in LA, and that only added to the beautiful energy in that room. Not to mention it was Violet and Suzy's birthday, Happy Birthday ladies!

Justin Martin warmed things up nicely and played some reedonkulous funky and very housey choons. Claude von Stroke followed and delivered, my first time seeing him, and did his thing and got the crowd jumping and clapping. By this point it was popping hard, and Christian Martin closed it out with some quirkier beats (i think? i left at 2:45 and it went til 4am!)

All in all, a terrific night of music, friends, dancing and FUN! What else do you ever really need???? A nod to both Felisa and Geoff for working hard to make this happen and treat LA to the DIRTYBIRD vibe.