The Music, Art and Travels of Alan D. Oldham a.k.a. DJ T-1000.
Art, Music, Get-Togethers, and Basquiat.
Not much new to report. Just been locked in the studio doing new projects. I've promised demos to a few European labels, so I'm just trying to finish this stuff and get it out. I'm feeling the 4/4 again, so that's been my focus lately. My approach is a little different this time, musically. Hopefully, you'll be able to hear the results.
Also been doing artwork. I've got a commissioned painting I have to start on. This beautiful lady from London saw the big paintings from my Paris show, went insane, got a hold of me and hired me to do one of her in my style. She's paying real money, too. 2006 is definitely looking up.
No real plans for the weekend. A friend of mine, Jimmy, is having a get-together on the South Side that I'm going to, that's about it. I haven't seen this guy since I got back.
This girl I know in Houston is going to see the Basquiat exhibit down there. That's where it went after it left L.A., of all places.
I'm jealous. Which is a rare thing.
Speaking of Basquiat, Giaxia bought me a copy of the "Beat Bop" record that Basquiat did back in the '80s. They've reissued it with a 2' x 2' poster inside. I remember in the '90s when I used to go to NYC a lot to spin, I would look for Basquiat stuff and people didn't know who I was talking about. It was all Warhol and Haring. Now, his stuff is everywhere.
Giaxia said it best: "His dad must be broke."
-AO :: 1:20 PM ::
Rewind.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Just went back through the archives and added a bunch of new photos. Feel free to browse through and check them out. This is me in Paris, by the way.
-AO :: 12:15 AM ::
Tini.
I did an unbilled set last night at Tini Martini. It was FUN! The most fun I've had spinning in the US in a LONG time.
The crowd was small, as expected. Didn't care, though.
I guess it might have helped if I let Miles (the promoter of the night and my best friend in Chicago) put my name on the flyer, but I just wanted to play some records for those who were there, that's all. No name, no politics, just music. It's like the stories of the Rolling Stones trying out new songs so they just pop up at a bar one night and play, unannounced.
In honor of MLK's birthday, I started the set with Reese and Santonio's "Truth of Self-Evidence." I ended up playing a lot of old Detroit stuff throughout the set. I closed with Bauhaus' version of "Ziggy Stardust." I never played that out before, another reason I like small gigs. You can do crazy shit. I was supposed to have recorded the set, but Miles' fucking laptop crashed. DAMNIT. It's always something when I want to record a set (John, I tried)!
Saw a few old friends there like Ethan from back in Detroit, as well as some Chicago people I hang out with. They don't have anything to do with techno, i.e. normal. Glad they showed up to see me rock out even though they had to go to work the next morning!
Also met this kid Brandon Invergo, the opening DJ. Nice guy. His name sounds so sci-fi. Invergo.
So, yeah, had a great time, got to help out Mr. Miles Christian, drank tooooooo many martinis, and got to play some good music. A good night.
-AO :: 7:39 PM ::
ESP.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
I got an e-mail yesterday from my old friend, Woody McBride. He didn't want anything, just saying hi and staying in touch. I was kinda touched by that. I always had a soft spot for McBride. I miss the good old days with him, playing the Midwest and putting out records together.
Hard to believe it was so long ago.
-AO :: 2:50 PM ::
The Double Door.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Had Thai food with Giaxia then went to the Double Door to see Emilie Autumn play. You know her if you read this blog, she's doing the trip-hop project with me. She's also got a real band. I hadn't been to a rock show in ages (I think BRMC in 2003 was the last one, or maybe Interpol). EA had us on the guest list.
I'd never been to the Double Door before. A lot of bands from back home have played there, like the Dirtbombs (me and Mick Collins used to get our comic books from the old Dave's in Royal Oak), the Paybacks (Wendy Case used to write about techno for the Detroit News), and the Detroit Cobras (I went to high school with the guitar player and I used to live with the drummer's sister). I'd always been kind of on the fringe of the Detroit rock scene as you can see. Unfortunately though, everytime a Detroit band plays the Double Door, I'm out of town.
Anyway, EA was great. She's got this whole stage show and wardrobe thing happening. Corsets and lace and ripped-up shit. It's Goth, yet happier, somehow. Her new band is a back-up singer and an Asian cellist (kinda reminded me of Stefani with her Asian back-up dancers), the rest is off a laptop. Really good stuff. I got a few ideas watching her.
A few of the people in the audience dressed as handmaidens and French maids in keeping with EA's fan base. Yeah, she's got fans. I was surprised, too. The boys liked her a lot as well.
The good news is after this show, we'll be back working on my stuff pretty soon. I'm excited about it. The demos she cut over my tracks are hot (I'm doing the music, she's doing lyrics and vocals).
I think I'll be hitting up the Double Door for more rock shows in the future when I'm in town. It's a great change of pace from DJs all the time. The energy level of rock hasn't changed; it's still high.
-AO :: 2:59 AM ::
Creativity.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Man, I have had my nose to the grindstone being creative! It's good to be back home to my studio. I couldn't make music the whole time I was away, and at the same time I was surrounded by all these world-class DJs and amazing music (I saw Miss Djax, Troy Pierce, Magda, Cristian Vogel, Stewart Walker and many others in Berlin). Not to mention art and design everywhere you look. The ideas were all backed up. Now they're just coming out. It's great. It's like when you haven't had sex in a long time and when you do, you just destroy. It's that same feeling.
(I guess you can tell I just got finished doing a new track!)
Been doing some art, too. A nice series of B&W and color illustrations. I just like doing it all, man. Now if only somebody would buy some pieces ;-)
I'm also thinking about doing some erotic pieces for the Dirty Show in Detroit. It's an X-rated art show that they do every March. They've asked me every year for the past three years but I'm always busy. Maybe I'll make time this year.
Not much else going on at the moment. January doldrums. Things don't start heating up for me 'til spring. Hence this studio activity. Doing it while I have time.
-AO :: 1:45 AM ::
DBX.
Went and saw Dan Bell the other night at Tini Martini, the first time I went out since I've been back. It was a pretty good party for America. But then again, Dan's white and plays minimal and is friends with Richie, so woohoo, party time.
Dan was happy to see us. All smiles that we showed up. That was nice. I had just seen Dan a couple of months ago at Maria in Berlin for the Robert Owens show. Dan was sipping a Dunkin' Donuts coffee in the DJ booth. I thought that was amusing. Other DJs snort coke and speed to stay awake. I asked him if they took him to the Dunkin' Donuts there on Milwaukee (they did). I love it! The button-down mind.
The crowd was funny too. All these skinny Logan Square/Wicker Park minimal hipsters. Chicks with shag haircuts like Magda. Even some of the Chicago local DJs are trying to rock Sven/Richie haircuts now. It's hilarious. They want to be German soooo bad.
Dan's set was pretty good. It's what you'd expect from him. A mix of old-school house and minimal, his own classics, and a little German stuff. It was a lot more soulful than the clicky, straight-up minimal style that's hot now (boring). It reminded me of the Moodymann/Theo-type vibe, really. The tempo on the shit is just too low for me, though. I like energy when I go out. I don't even think I could play that slow all night.
The other room was cool, too. Old-school house and hip-hop. Needless to say, the minorities were on that side of the club. It was a Latin DJ. He dropped a Ludacris track and the hips and asses started moving.
"Move, bitch. Get out da way!"
Now, it's Monday so back to work.
-AO :: 1:06 PM ::
2006.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Happy New Year, everybody. This was the first New Year's in over a decade that I haven't been out to some party or DJing. I spent the New Year locked in the studio making music (new EP), and when I got bored with that, did artwork for the alanoldham.com site revamp (coming soon). Very inspired by Berlin, even now, and very, very anxious to get new product out there.
My little attention span is shot. Every time I try to watch one of these new fall TV shows (they're new to me since I was in Europe for a few months), I get bored within a few minutes, switch my machines back on and get back to work. Or draw.
I guess that's a good thing.
Oh, if you're not hip to The Warlocks, check them out. My girl at Mute, Jeanne, in her last favor before leaving the label sent me their CD "Surgery." If you like classic Jesus and Mary Chain or Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's first album you'll like this. They sound English, but they're American.
-AO :: 4:03 PM ::
