Brenden Wesley |
Another week, another new dance night. This time it’s back to Downtown Crossing for A:Kult. “It’s pronounced Occult,” says BRENDEN WESLEY over the phone from Allston. “No affiliation with the occult, heh, our own definition of it.” Wesley and his partner SCOTTY BLISS are behind the event, which makes its debut this Saturday at the Good Life. “We’re trying to bring more diversity to our music selection and trying to bring different people together.” The party’s tag line — “Supernatural nightlife, dirtier dancing” — hints at the duo’s divine tastes. “Scott and I both play really eclectic sets, more left-field and diverse. New and old electro, disco, rare groove, boogie, funk, a little psych rock, obscure acid jazz. Very diverse but danceable. Keep it fun, keep it interesting.”
Wesley’s debut mix CD, New Kicks, shows off this selection with a 21-track excursion into obscure disco and funk. “I’ve been wanting to record a mix for some time. I’ve been accumulating all kinds of new records in the meantime, and one day I had all these records that I threw together. It’s a bit all over the place, but I think the tracks kind of work together in a strange way.” His mix CD — more than 75 minutes of Moog funk, conga techno, and wah-wah grooves — is available by request from his Web site. “I started off at 113 beats per minute and ended up at 125,” he laughs.
A native of New Hampshire, Wesley also plays drums, and he’s studied audio engineering. His own “New Wave Hookers” is a passionate mix of his influences, with funky bass, hi-hats, and synth stabs all over. Circuits’ favorite is the “French Version,” which has some pretty sexy vocals. (All these tunes, as well as the mix, are available via this column on-line.) Lately, though, he’s been a DJ. “I’ve always had records and thought I was too old to DJ, but thought one day, what the hell? And started DJing.” This week Bliss and Wesley welcome guest DJ Alan Manzi to the Good Life, but they hope to bring in bigger acts like My Cousin Roy, Eric Duncan, and Maurice Fulton through Basstown. After this Saturday’s kickoff, the A:Kult monthly party will spin every third Thursday.
Dorchester’s DBar is launching a rather unorthodox night of its own: “Show Tunes Tuesday.” “Our show-tunes night is a direct spinoff of the legendary night at the old Luxor,” says DBar proprietor BRIAN PICCINI via e-mail. “It was in Bay Village and was very successful.” This Tuesday, May 15, DBar will feature the music of West Side Story: “The movie will be showing on our projected big screen and on the flat-panels throughout the bar.” The night will also feature trivia, lyrics, and sing-alongs. The main idea? “Drink heavily and then sing along. Choreographed dancing is also encouraged, and impress — or scare! — your friends at just how many show-tune lyrics you actually have memorized.” DBar is located at 1236 Dorchester Ave.
