SoCal Swing

[Boules99]

Hi, I'm a new poster, so hope this goes well.

I dance with a group of lindy hoppers who like mostly traditional swing from the 20s-40s. However, I'd like to break out of this mold. While it has it's virtues, I think it's gotten stale and even out of touch. I get to DJ in a few weeks, and I'd like to introduce some different music. I like contemporary music (that does not imitate traditional swing) but that is still danceable. IOW, things not called swing that you could lindy hop to.

However, I have introduce this gradually, so I don't alienate everybody. One good example is Mercy by Duffy. This has been played a couple times at dances, and people enjoy it. Do you guys have any other suggestions?

I'm not only new to the forums but also consider myself new to dancing and DJing as well, so your help is appreciated.

[Mr Awesomer]

Dances are born of music, and when you change the music you change the dance. You want to DJ a West Coast Swing night, not a Lindy Hop night... because when folks want to dance in a similar structure to Lindy Hop, but to contemporary music, they go to nights billed as West Coast Swing. What you label "traditional swing" will never get "stale" and "out of touch" with Lindy Hop. However, perhaps what you mean by "out of touch" is that it's not "keeping up with the times," in which case you must realize that Lindy Hop is a historical dance, which while we continue to see new and innovative movements clearly in it's original spirit, it will never "keep up with the times."

To put it one another way, you wouldn't be gradually introducing anything to anyone. Most Lindy Hoppers know contemporary music good and well. Hell, I'll fuck some Duffy up out clubbing. But if people coming out to a "Lindy Hop" night start hearing that kind of music all night you can expect a pissed off crowd, because if they wanted to dance to that they would have gone to a West Coast Swing venue instead.
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Reuben Brown
Altadena, CA

[Eli]

I agree with Reuben on this one.

I do like dancing to different music, but if I'm going to a lindy dance I want to hear swing music.

I personally don't mind if the DJ mixes it up a bit (some people really do), but if you avoid swing music all night you need to bill the night differently.

This happened at the Vegas Exchange -- they had been playing a mix of music, and not a lot of vintage swing, then one night they played all westie sounding music and I heard a lot of complaints. A friend of mine who dances and use to teach west coast swing was telling me that if that's what he wanted to dance to he would have going to a west coast event.

Anyhow, sorry not to help with your request, but there's some food for thought.
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[Boules99]

Haha, I enjoy discussing this, even when I'm getting schooled.

Sadly, I had to acknowledge these things even before I asked. I think I just want too much--my dance moves, my music, and my friends, and I can't have all three.

So, I guess I'll go with friends. But I dread how many more times I'm going to have to "accentuate the positive." I do realize that to actually do lindy, you're going to have to do it to trad. swing music. It makes sense. And I like it, but I've gotten restless. I should probably clarify that our group's kind of isolated, so the swing we do together is the members' main outlet. Some people would like to see us diversify, but a lot of folks are happy with the way things are. And I'm a bit conflicted myself--I like that someone is keeping things intact and preserving the dance. (For example, I hate the homogeneity I see in dance routines where everything picks up a contemporary feel, no matter what it's origin.) Yet applying these dance moves to other music that moves me is appealing. I'm ok with some modification, but to some that makes it unacceptable bastard dance. Hmmm, is this question more about group dynamics and the value of change vs. tradition than any DJ playlist? That may be.

[Mr Awesomer]

[Boules99]

Thanks for the input, people. Good things to think about, and I'm glad I asked.

[Capt Morgan]

I think the point Reuben is trying to make is important.

Where do you actually dance? and what do you consider typical 20's - 40's music?

There is a huge difference between dancing to Anita O'Day and the Andrews Sisters, compared to dancing to Sidney Bechet or Bob Howard.

The important thing to remember is that you haven't heard everything from the the 20's, 30's, and 40's. I've been DJing for going on 5 years now, and I'm always finding something new that I don't have of haven't heard before every month, but ofcourse I make a huge effort to continue to expand my music collection (pending each paycheck).

(Although I'm almost always postive it's something Reuben has already got!)


My advice is to embrace good danceable swing music regardless of time/era whatever. I'm a big fan of finding current jazz/swing bands that do an awesome job at recreating authentic music that we can dance to. Not that I have a problem with low fidelity recordings, but because I want to support anyone in my generation that can play some decent swing music.

For example, here are modern bands that have some great music:
Jonathan Stout and His Campus Five (I hope you know them)
Pete Jacob's Wartime Radio Review (They have great versions of Easy Does It and Shiny Stockings)
Rhythm Club All-Stars
The Midiri Brothers
Casey MacGill's Blues 4 Trio
Davina and the Vagabonds
4 Beat 6 (from Europe)
Royal Society Jazz Orchestra
The Midnight Serenaders
JP and the Rhythm Chasers
Joe Bourne and the Gary Moran Trio
Top Shelf Jazz
Titan Hot Seven (if you like fast and hot jazz)
Paul Tilotson's Love Trio

Just to name some of my favorites, to keep an eye on.


That being said, I will say that you can't please everyone, and if you want to have a unique voice as a DJ you have to take risks, but personally I prefer to play "westie" songs either toward the end of the night, or as light night "pick me ups" when I feel like the room needs could use some help to get the energy up. Always remember to look at the room and play to them. If they did classic swing, then keep giving it to them. If they like jump blues, then keep it going.

Just my $0.02.

-Morgan

P.S.

Here's a list of my "westie" songs I have in my library:
Britney Spears - Toxic
Earth Wind and Fire - September
Justin Timberlake - Sexy Back
Madcon - Beggin'
Micheal Jackson - P.Y.T.
Outkast - Idlewild Blue
Outcast - The Way You Move
The Gorillaz - Windmill
Toploader - Dancing in the Moon Light
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[Mr Awesomer]

Looks like that last two posters are spammers.
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Reuben Brown
Altadena, CA

[socalswing]

Thanks. I removed the posts.