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Discos Resaca release a dazzling tribute to East Side San Jose; Bastiengoat presents more breaks too good to ignore; Bay Area Disco drops talkboxing EP by SwitchVilla
Thank you to everyone who reached out about writing for White Crate. We received an overwhelming response, making me grateful once again for all the people passionate about engaging with local music in the Bay. We have our needs covered for the time being but may open up to more submissions in the future, so stay tuned.
By the way, will you do me a favor?
The community-focused online station had its rent nearly doubled—hello, Bay Area—and now must quickly gather financial support to keep the station afloat. There are tiers set at $3, $8, and $15 (with the option of sliding scale), and in return you’ll get discount codes for new merch, exclusive mixes, and more. More importantly, you’ll be supporting one of the best independent, real-good-people-powered community music organizations in Oakland. And you’ll get my undying love and support too.
As an added bonus, the first 15 people that sign up for the $15 tier will get a pair of passes to the DJ Dials Presents Jacques Greene show at Crybaby tomorrow.
Peace,
ronny
LOVE LETTER DESDE EAST SAN JOSE
“This one’s for the abuelos, the abuelas, toda la familia. Big shout out to the homeboys, homegirls, the working class gente, the estudiantes, and everybody locked down. Los músicos, los taqueros, los cocineros, the low riders, the east siders, the lovers and the haters, and everybody in between. Until we meet again, stay brown and proud. With love y respeto desde East Side San Jose, Califas!”
With bright and sunny intros and outros by legendary radio host and DJ Chuy Gomez, East Side San Jose “Back in the Day in ESSJ” by Discos Resaca is a dazzling new full-length tribute to California Latinidad, with special attention to East San Jose. Switching from freestyle to soul to funk to cumbia before it’s even halfway over, the album brilliantly illustrates the diverse styles of Latin music from the Bay, California, and beyond. Featuring contributions by Mariposas del Alma, Brian Rivera, Yosimar Reyes, Sunny Ozuna, and more, it’s a joyous work, a family affair, a must listen.
DON’T LOOK AT YOUR PHONE, DANCE
If you’re on the dancefloor at the hour where tracks like this get played, it’s more than likely you’re not looking at your phone. Ecstasy doesn’t pay any mind to notifications. And so we have MISSED TEXTS, a six-track EP of hustling club music by Bastiengoat ranging from soothing, rumbling juke (“fncybtch”) to quaking, maximalist jungle (“babygirl”)—nothing but a bounty of incredible breaks.
GOOD OLD FASHIONED SOUL BREAKS
Breaks abound. But where they all coming from anyway? You could program your own, or you could dig into the past, lifting the drilled-until-divine human touch of drummers on old soul singles. Here’s one from veteran Oakland event and music producer DJ Platurn, who just released a drum edit of “25 Miles” by Edwin Starr. Pay your own price for the track or subscribe to everything DJ Platurn releases on Bandcamp for $30 per year.
FUNKY COSMIC TALKBOXING
You’d be forgiven for thinking that Chromeo were the only ones around still using talkbox, an effect popularized by Zapp & Roger in the 70s whereby you modulate an instrument’s output with your voice, creating a cosmic alien robot singing effect. Turns out SF has its very own talbox artist: SwitchVilla released Day & Nite on Bay Area Disco, featuring three super funky boogie tracks plus two instrumentals.
BOTH SIDES OF THE BAY BRIDGE
“We made it so you can’t say we ain’t it, we taking over both sides of the Bay Bridge.” Political from the get-go, “Back Up” is a new indie hip hop single by Myles Davis, co-written and produced by the ever-prolific Brycon, with a feature by fellow Bay artist Jamie Zee. Scratchy soul vinyl, skittering beeps, slushy reverb, and flows lifted from the concrete.
LIVE SHOWS THIS WEEK
Live music is in full effect. Here are some recommendations for the coming week:
[metal] Hell Fire, Glitter Wizard, Nite, DJ Bleeding Priest (Will from Death Angel) — June 17 at the Great Northern
[club] Rental VHS, RITCHRD, Infinite Jess, Trevern — June 17 at Mothership
[hip hop] GNXL PRESENTS: Juneteenth Fake Ass Festival, featuring Drew Banga, Mani Draper, Brookfield Deuce, Kevin Allen, Passwurdz, Erk tha Jerk, Jane Handcock, and special guest headliners — June 18 at the New Parish
[hip hop] James Wavey — June 18 at Two Pitchers
[experimental] MV Carbon — June 18 at the Lab
[club] Jacques Greene, Tomu DJ, Fiera Ferari, SNAQ - June 18 at Crybaby
[native] Native Contemporary Arts Festival — June 19 at Yerba Buena Gardens
[rock] Toro y Moi, Hello Yello — June 19 at Stern Grove Festival
[r&b] Lalin St. Juste, KKINGBOO, Stephanie Hewett — June 23 at Bandcamp Oakland
[various] Juneteenth celebrations in the East Bay
Next weekend, the coolest thing around will surely be the Oakland Weekender, a local music showcase at Golden Bull featuring Artsick, Blues Lawyer, Chime School, and many more ABCs of Bay Area indie pop and fuzz rock. Read more about it on 48 hills.