In spite of numerous complications that could have spelled disaster, Fixed and Trouble & Bass came out on top with yet another great party at Santos Party House. We’ll admit that the combination of acts – Dominique Young, Class Actress, Calvertron and Rico Tubbs – was a little odd, but each delivered with fantastic results.
The Trouble & Bass Crew (sans AC Slater, who is currently on tour), kicked things off and manned the decks between sets. Dominique Young was the first guest to take the stage with a sassy electro-tinged hip hop set, followed by Class Actress’ low-key breed of new-wave pop.
Then came the bass. Calvertron’s set was off to a deliciously melodic start with Doorly’s remix of “Counterpoint” by Delphic. As he progressed into heavy wobbles, the crowd lost control, moving and thrashing across the dance floor. Rico Tubbs laid the bass on thick, confirming my assessment of his “midas touch” on tracks like “Cold As Ice” by Foreigner, “Good Vibrations” by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, “No Security” by Crookers, “Innocence” by Nero and “Party Up” by DMX. He was a master on the CDJs, expertly scratching and manipulating the music, and by extension, the audience.
I could go on and on about how great the party was, but the photos pretty much speak for themselves. Don’t miss Trouble & Bass on July 29, when they once again team up with Fixed and Santos Party House to bring special guests Breakage and Zombie Disco Squad, and be sure to check out our recent interview with the Trouble & Bass Crew HERE.
From the moment we set foot at our first Trouble & Bass party, we were hooked. It was their three-year anniversary blowout at Le Poisson Rouge last September, a party that was packed to capacity with a line of people outside, hoping to get in on the madness. With the help of featured guests Skream and Benga (who crowd-surfed, much to the audience’s delight), the Trouble & Bass Crew had the crowd going from start to finish. It was a truly fantastic introduction to Trouble & Bass, a night that AC Slater remembers as “the definition of a good T&B vibe”.
Luca Venezia (Drop the Lime), started throwing parties under the Trouble & Bass moniker during his college years at Bard, but it wasn’t until 2006 that he started the incarnation of Trouble & Bass that we know today. After a six month stint in Berlin, Luca returned to New York and teamed up with Vivian Host (Star Eyes), Math Head and Zack Shadetek to fill a void in the New York City music scene. “At that time, genres like bassline, dubstep, and grime weren’t really being played in New York, especially not at the same party,” Vivian says of the musical climate of the time. Luca adds, “we started as a party in basement warehouse spots in Brooklyn and eventually progressed into a band of DJs and a label.” In 2007, Patrick Rood (The Captain) was brought on board after the departure of Math Head and Zack Shadetek, and about a year later, Aaron Clevenger (AC Slater) clicked with the crew at a gig in Brooklyn, rounding out the foursome.
Luca’s vision was “to bring the energy, the fun, and dancing back into New York nightlife.” Mission accomplished. Nearly four years later, Trouble & Bass has thrown dozens of parties that have featured massive DJs and producers from around the globe, but events are just the tip of the iceberg. Trouble & Bass also consists of a record label, has a publishing deal in the works, and an upcoming clothing line that will be produced exclusively through Mishka. Put more formally by Patrick, who counts ‘label manager’ among his many roles in the crew, “Trouble & Bass is a multi faceted company that specializes in the advancement of music through the artillery of heavy bass.”
And there you have it. Trouble & Bass has several exciting projects lined up for the summer – Supra 1 recently released their first single, “Still Believe”, and next week, 77 Klash will release his long-awaited EP, Shadow of Death, produced by Drop the Lime and AC Slater. Drop the Lime’s new single, Sex Sax, is set for a June 22 release, along with a music video produced and directed by The Captain. AC Slater’s Calm Down Trilogy EP is coming out in August, and features a double pack Serato vinyl designed by Dust La Rock (Fool’s Gold).
After the jump, read our interview with the Trouble & Bass crew, CLICK HERE for a collection of our Trouble & Bass photo galleries from the past year, and for your listening pleasure, we’ve included the Trouble & Bass crew’s collective Smashcast below (subscribe/download HERE).
Smashcast 006: Trouble & Bass Crew
Don’t miss the Trouble & Bass crew tomorrow night as they take over Canal Rubber at Santos Party House with Calvertron, Rico Tubbs, Class Actress, Dominique Unique Young and JDH (Fixed). Advance tickets HERE.
Before you plan your summer escape, Trouble & Bass is bringing us one final installment of No Escape from New York before taking a little vacation of their own. Not only is this month’s party the “Heavy Bass Champions” edition with Calvertron and Rico Tubbs, Trouble & Bass is also teaming up with Santos Party House and Canal Rubber to bring a fresh summer breeze to their monthly staple.
Alex Calver – one of the UK’s most established electronic music DJs – is bringing his most recent alter ego, Calvertron, to our side of the pond. Over the past 8 years, Alex Calver has released over one hundred 12” vinyls under various aliases; Calvertron mixes electronic beats with vocals from a wide range of styles including hip hop and rock, expertly accented with bass in all the right places. Check out his Trouble & Bass Smashcast below out below or download/subscribe HERE.
Trouble & Bass Smashcast 007: Calvertron
Hailing from Finland, Rico Tubbs has been steadily cranking out party beats since he exploded on the scene in 2002. Citing James Brown, The Prodigy and Biz Markie as his biggest influences, his first single, “Flashlighter”, was inspired by the 1977 Parliament classic imbued with massive amounts of bass. Rico Tubbs often selects funk-based tracks to remix and possesses a sort of musical Midas touch – every track he touches turns into bass-heavy gold. Check out his take on Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s “Next Episode” below.
Dr. Dre – The Next Episode (Will Power & Rico Tubbs Remix)
The evening will also feature performances by Class Actress and Dominique Young Unique, along with DJ sets by Fixed’s JDH and the Trouble & Bass Crew. We’re giving away a pair of tickets to the show – CLICK HERE to enter.
Come back on Wednesday for the Trouble & Bass edition of our “Behind the Decks” series, featuring interviews with Drop the Lime, The Captain, Star Eyes and AC Slater, and don’t miss the Trouble & Bass crew on July 29 when they team up with Fixed to bring us Breakage and Zombie Disco Squad. CLICK HERE for tickets & info and check in with us next month for your chance to win tickets. No Escape from New York will be back in full effect this September.
Last week, Fixed got the holidays started early with a DJ set by Hot Chip. The parties continue this week when our favorite NYC music families bring us plenty of reasons to celebrate the season…
Every year, Matisyahu celebrates the Festival of Lights with a whopping eight shows, each with a different opening act. This year’s festival kicked off last Thursday with Glitch Mob at Webster Hall, but you still have four opportunities to see the reggae musician in action at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Personally, we’re planning to catch this Thursday’s show, when HiFi favorite Kid Koala will also be playing. Get your tickets here.
On Friday at Webster Hall, GBH is celebrating with Mark Ronson and Aaron LaCrate. We caught Mark Ronson with Q-Tip at Santos Party House last week, and look forward to seeing him at our favorite weekly party. A limited number of $10 tickets are still available, so act fast.
Meanwhile, at Public Assembly, the Trouble & Bass Crew will be spinning alongside Finnish producer Rico Tubbs. Click here to win tickets to what is sure to be another great party.
On Saturday, The Brothers Macklovitch, Nick Catchdubs, Max Glazer and Just Blaze will headline the Fool’s Gold and LTD Holiday Party at the Etnies Showroom. The party is free with RSVP.
Also on Saturday, Basic NYC residents Sleepy and Boo are getting in on the holiday action at the Sullivan Room with special guests Mark Farina, Nickmatic, and a tag team set by Pete Schwinge and Tonylee. Get advance tickets here.
Looks like it’s going to be a busy weekend… click through to view the fliers for this weekend’s events, and check in next week for the lowdown on New Year’s Eve in NYC.
This Friday, Fixed, Mishka and the whole Trouble & Bass crew will ring in the holidays with funky Finnish breakbeat producer Rico Tubbs. We have you covered with a pair of tickets to what’s for sure going to be the best party of the season. Simply fill out the information below or send THIS MESSAGE to Twitter. You must be following both HiFi Cartel and Trouble & Bass to be eligible to win. We will then select a random winner by 12pm Thursday. If you don’t win, don’t fret, as tickets are only $7 in advance. Good luck and happy holidays!
After the Fixed Holiday Party, we headed Ella for a nightcap with the Trouble & Bass crew’s No Escape From New York. When we arrived, special guest Egyptrixx was behind the decks, trading songs with AC Slater, The Captain, and Star Eyes. The mood was silly and light; Gavin Royce showed us his frisky side while AC Slater gave us a gassy rendition of Emalkay’s “When I Look at You”. Check out a few photos from the night, and come back on Monday to win tickets to the Trouble & Bass and Mishka Holiday Party featuring Rico Tubbs.
