Shake.

Me and Giaxia went and saw Shake and Titonton last night at Sonotheque and ended up staying for the whole thing. The crowd was mixed, deep and soulful. I really liked the atmosphere. Wanted to check out Fixmer, but he went on at midnight and would have been 3/4 over by the time we got there, parked, went thru door hassles, etc. I'll see Fixmer in Europe at some point, I'm sure.

Shake was cool as hell. He loves him some Al. He was holding court before his set, telling everybody that "Alan Oldham was a real man in a city full of fake-ass bitches, that's why he left Detroit and I'm happy for him." I stood by smirking as he told people this. ;-)

Mills called this morning out of the blue. He's back in town. He wants to hang out at this comic-book show tomorrow. He's on the hunt for Silver Surfer comics. Shit, he can buy mine. They're in Detroit at my mom's house. I've got the "Fantasy Masterpieces" reprints from the '80s, the John Buscema issues, but I bet he wants to buy the originals. He can afford them ;-)

Just finished this new track and laid it to DAT. I think I'm hearing a viable EP coming together now.

Weekend.

Spent all day working on music.

Terence Fixmer and Douglas McCarthy are coming to Chicago. I'm seeing them tomorrow night. I met Terence a few years ago in Berlin through his then-girlfriend, Miss Yetti, another good friend of mine. He's really cool, and I love his tracks. Anybody who's heard me play out knows I play his records (they always rock the dancefloor where ever I play). I almost saw them live in Paris last October, but I only got the flyer the day of, and didn't have time to get on the guest list.

The only downside is they're playing at Green Dolphin Street, a jazz club. WTF???

Shake is also coming to Sonotheque tomorrow night, my boy from Detroit. Shake played my going-away-slash-U-Haul truck fund party when I left Detroit. There's no downside to that show. I love Shake, I love Titonton, who's playing also, and I love the promoters, so it's all good. I'm paying to get in that show to help Shake out. Gotta give some dap to the black talent, no question.

Aviva is coming into town, too. I met her on a plane a little over a year ago (NYC to Detroit) and we stayed in touch. She's one of those fabulous, out-there Jewish women, very grande, very show-bizzy. An ex-actress-turned-career counselor-turned whatever it is she's doing now. I like women like that. I guess she likes me 'cause I'm creative.

Anyway, I hope you have a good weekend where ever you are.

Slow Day.

Slow day today, not much happening, no action. Finished a track, did some e-mails to my agents, and that's about it. What can you do, every day can't be an adventure. I could be logging video footage, but that's so tedious, I'm not in the mood for that right now. I'd fall asleep for sure. Got an e-mail from Fixmer today, he's coming to town this weekend and put me on the guest-list, that's something. Him and Shake are coming on the same night, two different clubs. I'll be bouncing.

I saw "Elektra" a couple of nights ago, it was bunk. I can see why it crashed at the box office. I fell asleep on it. The plot was half-baked, and Elektra defeated her enemies too easily. These guys were supposed to be deadly. For half the movie, Elektra wasn't even in her red superhero garb, either, not that the movie version of it was even like the comic, anyway. It pretty much turned out to be an episode of "Alias" with more kung-fu than usual (I never bought Jennifer Garner as Elektra, anyway, Elektra's supposed to be Greek in the comics, with dark hair and eyes). And I didn't see any credits to Frank Miller for creating Elektra, either (I was awake for the opening and closing credits).

That having been said, it was still better than "Catwoman," though.

Leave me some comments, spice up my day.

Barbzilla.

Been in the studio making some hot shit these past few days; jacking, minimal, unapologetic techno. I've been really feeling it. I'm trying to absorb the Chicago vibe and bring it to my new music. I'm in the studio right now, just taking a break to write this.

I tagged along with Steve Tang last night for his live set on WNUR. He tore it up. Lot of Italo, old-school progressive (what we used to call European disco records way back in the day), and Chicago house. Trying to get back to those roots with my own tracks. Listening to what Steve was playing last night, you can tell what's missing in today's music: soul and funk.

That's why people still love old Chicago and Detroit tracks 20 years later and this new laptop shit from these no-name "producers" is as disposable as yesterday's newspaper.

From there, me and Giaxia went to see Barb play at Soundbar. It was good to see her, she had two glasses of champagne waiting for us. How sweet. She told me on the phone day before yesterday that's she's over hard techno. Her set was kind of electro, minimal, and Chicago house-style. Everybody's going Chicago now. She sounded like a harder Miss Kittin. I personally think Barb should stick to what she does best, rocking dancefloors. Not too many female DJs rock like she does. In show biz, it gets beyond what you personally want, it's about what your paying fans expect.

Okay, back to bangin' out these tracks.

The Incredibles.

Watched "The Incredibles" again last night. Man, that was a great movie, especially if you're a super-hero fan like I am. Beyond the obvious high points of story and animation, I liked the bright, late '50s, early '60s retro look of the piece. Comic fans know that the early '60s was the dawn of the Silver Age of Comics (Marvel in particular), and I think that was a subtext for the narrative.

Another subtext (a pretty big part of the story, actually) was how America kept trying to make the Supers be normal. You can see that in the American electronic music scene (what little there is of it). People in the USA keep trying to pump up these no-names, but diminish the true crowd-rockers and real talents (*cough*). It's like Mr. Incredible asks the villain Syndrome; "You killed real Supers--so you could be a fake one?!"

Heaviness.

I loved the music, too. Very jazzy, reminiscent of prime James Bond. You can hear bits of "Dr. No," "You Only Live Twice," and "Goldfinger" in there. How cool would it be if they got this guy to actually do the next James Bond flick? That would be genius.

In fact, all kinds of '60s Hanna-Barbera stuff is in there if you're a big kid like me and can recognize it (or if you've got Boomerang). Syndrome's manta-ray ship, for example, is the original Phantom Cruiser from "Space Ghost" painted black. The Omnidroid is basically the Spider Robot from "Jonny Quest." Even Syndrome's control bracelets are Space Ghost's Power Bands.

Loved the extras, too. There's a "Mr. Incredible and Friends" cartoon from '60s in there, or I should say, a cartoon made to look like it was made in the '60s. Really authentic. It had the human lips superimposed on a cartoon face, like "Roger Ramjet."

Yes, I'm a comic book/cartoon/movie nerd.

Didn't like how Frozone was the only black Super, though. But I guess I should be glad there was even one ;-) Maybe there's a message there, too; when you're an exceptional black person, a lot of times you're the only black person there. In a class, on a plane, in the workplace, in a room.

Pretty deep for a Pixar flick, huh?

Sin City.

Finally saw "Sin City" last night. Part of me thought that it was interesting and inventive, the film-noir flipside to the sci-fi of "Sky Captain." Another part of me, though, sees it as an example of why comics are never literally translated panel-by-panel for the big screen. As a veteran reader of the "Sin City" comics (I've got all the issues upon which the movie was based), I'm familiar with the material. Some of the dialogue, while it reads well on the comics page, doesn't exactly sound good when read out loud. There were a few clunkers here and there in the line readings.

Gotta love the respect paid to the source material, though.

Overall, well worth full price at the theater, and definitely a candidate for DVD purchase.

Well, it's Monday, so the work week begins. My recent trip to Europe has got me all re-energized. I'm working on tracks today. House-style stuff under a whole new pseudonym.

Adeline, I'm taking photos today/tomorrow, too, don't worry!

Two Degrees.

They printed a letter I wrote in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, the one with the men from "Lost" on the cover. It should be on newsstands now.

In that same issue they did an article on how Kelly Osbourne is trying to dump the pop-rock schtick and go electroclash now (yeah, she's late), and how she was in Miami at the WMC trying to promote her new CD. There's a big pic of her talking to Felix Da Housecat. She's wearing a sleeveless vest. Giaxia said her arm looks like a leg o' lamb.

The Further International Adventures of DJ T-1000.

Home now from Europe. Let me tell you about my last day there.

Spent Tuesday scouting out possible galleries to have shows in, both in Kreuzberg. There's also one in Mitte that specializes in Pop and outsider art as well. I found that one on the Internet.

I also had a long lunch with Stewart Walker. I really have a soft spot for that young man, don't ask me why.

Went to Tresor to get all the new records. Saw Max who I hadn't seen in three years.

After that, I had crashed out for a nap.

Woke up and went downstairs to the bar for a drink, only to find this crew holding court: Regis, James Ruskin, Oliver Ho, Oscar Mulero, Christian Wunsch, Alexander Kowalski, Alan Somerville (Kinetic AM), Carola and Vera from Tresor! All star line-up. It was like midnight and the guys were playing at 1 am. My flight was at 6:35 am, so I decided to go hardcore, take my luggage to the club and leave direct to the airport from there!

Regis and Ruskin did this double-team DJ set under the name O/V/R. Both had titanium laptops running Ableton Live with outboard effects, plus decks. Really slow and funky, a lot of old stuff like "Voodoo Ray," "Salsa Life," all kinds of shit. Party music. Crowd going crazy on a Tuesday night! Only at Tresor. I'd say about 250 upstairs where they were, including DJ Pete from Hardwax, Pacou, Henk from Sender Berlin, and on and on.

I met Regis' German girlfriend, Claudia. They look like a high-fashion, brother-sister couple.

Got to hang out with Oliver Ho. That's twice this year I've seen him. Really cool guy, very supportive of me. He congratulated me on my gallery opening. He's so tiny, his clothes really look good on him. He's got a style like Jeff's. DJing in button-down shirts and slacks. He's gone Ableton, too. That's it, I'm definitely going digital.

Drank a lot of vodka and orange juices. Trying to keep my cold in check and getting drunk at the same time.

There was this tall black girl there dancing and she looked just like Vectra (my new comic character)!!! Only her boobs weren't big enough.

I couldn't help but look at the crowd this last time and feel sadness. Tresor--the club and the label--was my home in Berlin for so long. I was a veteran of the Love Parade weekend madness for many years in a row. I knew a lot of the bartenders and security. Even the Berlin kids knew me when I wasn't playing, and they'd come up to say hi. This one girl last night actually came up to me and said, "God bless you. Thank you for your set Friday night. I believe in you. I believe in techno."

Only at Tresor would this happen.

After many goodbyes, straight to the airport I went in the middle of the night. Berlin to Amsterdam to Chicago, baby.

Now I'm back at home base getting ready to take a nice, long bath.

I play for DJ ESP himself, Woody McBride, day after tomorrow.

Jetset Lovelife.

Hello from Berlin. Man, what a weekend.

Got to Berlin on Friday afternoon. I'd been fighting a cold since I left the States so I didn't feel so good when I arrived. Soon as I got to Markthalle (where I'm staying), I saw Tresor boss Dimitri holding court. That's what I love about Berlin, familiar faces right off the bat. I had a coffee with him, then went to bed. Slept until showtime.

Tresor was packed tight and off the hook. Crowd going insane and the finest women in Berlin. There's no place like it in Europe. It's the last week of the club. It closes for good on the 16th. First face I saw in the office was Marco Repetto from Inzec. I usually stay at his villa in Switzerland once a year. Couldn't talk, though, was late for my set downstairs.

Man, they must have gotten new turbo sound for this last run at the club, because everything I played sounded SO GOOD. So bottom-heavy. Even the old Detroit and Chicago stuff I played sounded hot next to the new stuff. I really destroyed that place, man. The kids were going WILD. I dropped "She's Lost Control" by Joy Division and the crowd blew up. Jay Denham was there and chilled with me in the DJ booth. Dr. Motte was there, too. Needless to say, they don't let you play like that in the USA.

I finished up 2.5 hours later and I was drenched. It was like 100 degrees down there. My cold was a little better, I sweated it out. Stayed a little while longer to cool off, did a video interview, then left. Had to get a power nap, then off to the airport the next morning. Next stop: Oviedo, Spain and the club La Real.

Flew all day, changed planes in Madrid, then got to Oviedo around 7 pm. Checked into this posh, hypermodern hotel and proceeded to crash hard. Didn't wake up until 2 am, showtime at 3.

I hadn't been to La Real in three years. Played a decent set, but wasn't same vibe as in Germany. These Spanish kids like it hard all night, no ups and downs. Ben Sims and those British guys have those kids trained, 'cause that's the sound they like, the hard, compressed, tribal tracks. I got there and kept it like that for the rest of the night.

After I played, I hung out for some drinks. Those kids are so nice. I don't know how many pics I took with them. And the girls were hot. Fine girls at a techno club, what a concept. Signed autographs, too. Paco Osuna from Barcelona played after me. He kicked ass. Decks, EFX (Kaoss Pad), and Final Scratch. It was funny, though, he was carrying more shit than I was, plus this huge, old-school metal flight case. I thought the idea of FS was to carry less stuff.

Next day (Sunday), flew all day back to Berlin. Got here about 11 pm last night. Went straight to bed. Nobody knows I'm back. Had breakfast at my favorite spot, Hannibal (I took Giaxia there in 2002, remember, hun?). And here I am at this Internet cafe, talking to you. I leave Wednesday morning and don't want to come back to the States.

Time for another extended stay here in Europe, man. Either here or Paris. Later this year, for sure.

Talk to you when I get back.

Beautiful Day.

What a gorgeous day in the Chi. 75 degrees. For the Europeans reading this, that means it was warm.

I leave for Berlin day after tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to it. Something tells me this is the last time I play there, ever. Not just Tresor, which is closing, but the city itself. It'll be the end of an era.

I almost got a gig at the Rex Club in Paris while I was over there, but we couldn't come together on it this time. Later this year, though, I hope. It's a great club with an enclosed DJ booth, for optimum acoustics and perfect mixing. The crowd there is very fun-loving and the women are beautiful. I haven't played there since late 2003. It's cool, though, 'cause that means I don't have to cancel out on Woody McBride on April 15th. Woody's an old friend and I want to come through for him.

I just got an offer today for a gig somewhere in New York state. I put Trish on the case. She represents me for the USA. I kinda quit talking to people in the USA about gigs directly, unless they're friends like Woody, or promoters I know. They always think they're getting away with something if they get past your management, trying to penny-pinch and cry broke (not all, but most). Nothing gets past Trish, though. I love her.

How Alan Gets His Oldham On.

Rocked Vision last night. Great show. I had fun. I opened for Adam Beyer, whom I hadn't seen since DEMF 2002, where he was hanging out with Marco Carola. Either I'm getting shorter, or he's getting taller. The people were into me. Cheering, the whole bit. They were great. I shifted into a few Detroit classics at the end of my set. I hadn't played those records out in years. "The Worlds" by Suburban Knight. "The Sound (Power Remix)" by Kevin Saunderson. Red Planet 6, and a few others.

All these "underground" techno snobs here in Chicago always have something bad to say about Vision, but I like to play to an actual crowd, thank you. "Crowd" meaning more than 20 people I don't know already. And actual females of all different races (especially black!) who are attractive. That's always nice. And people who dance. You know, move their feet and shake their asses. And people who dress nice, not looking like they just robbed a liquor store.

You know it's bad in America when you have to define "crowd" in such a way.

Thanks to Lucas at Godskitchen for booking me. He's been looking out for me since I moved here and I appreciate it.