Chris Daly’s favorite friendly monster is Brobee.
For those of you looking to improve your DJ skills, ask any knowledgeable New Yorker where to start your quest, and you’re likely to be directed towards Turntable Lab, a record/audiophile joint in the East Village where all the finest turntablists hang out. While TL recently moved its physical location, they’ve had an on-going, in-store DJ series for more than a minute now, most recently starring everyone’s favorite spinner named after an Australian marsupial, Kid Koala.
The first of the three-part series shows the Kid ripping up everything from the White Stripes’ “Blue Orchid” to OutKast’s “The Whole World,” all to the bemused interest of a roomful of hipsters. For my money, though, part two, which highlights Koala’s “Yo Gabba Gabba” set, is where you’ll get the most out of your entertainment dollar, but maybe that’s just because I have at least two kids that I know of. We’ll have to wait and listen for what surprises part three has in store for us.
If you’re keeping score, KK aka Eric San, has been on a tear of late, co-producing and touring “Nufonia Must Fall,” a live, interactive puppet/video/DJ set with an honest-to-Lord-Quas orchestra based on his graphic novel of the same name, all projected on an overhead screen while the action unfolds in front of the audience. Having recently seen a performance in D.C., I can assure you it’s well worth your time to drop everything you’re doing to go yourself should you be so fortunate as to have it pass through your town.
And as if that isn’t enough, the cuddliest crate digger just dropped Music To Draw To: Satellite, featuring Icelandic chanteuse, Emilíana Torrini. Never one to stay in just one lane, this one is less turntable pyrotechnics and more contemplative mood music—bordering on ambient—perfect for everything from debating the meaning of life to taking a well deserved nap. So whether you’re looking to get better behind the wheels of steel or simply want a new DJ to elevate your mood to the next level, you really should “start hear.”
