Influences: Mike Simonetti

This is the greatest video on Youtube- and i am 100% serious in that proclamation. I cant remember exactly how i found this, but i think it has something to do with me looking for Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac drum machine demos in like 2010 or something?? It has since become a sort of viral thing… When i first saw this video, i probably played it 10 times in a row. The story goes this is Rolling Stone cover shoot with Annie Liebovitz, and Stevie was chatting up the makeup person, and the instrumental demo start playing, and she starts singing the chorus over and over with a backup singer off camera. Its just the chorus, yet it feels like an entire song.. Its that good.. The version that came out years later on her solo album was pretty awful. This version though, is perfect.

Soul Sacrifice. This is the second greatest video on youtube, and one of the greatest live musical moments of the 1970s, if not all time. Pure drug fueled, transcendent power. At the time, Santana was an unknown and unsigned group, and Woodstock was going to be their big break… Backstage, they all took LSD thinking that they would perfom several hours later. But he was then informed that he was playing next. So they went out there and played. Six people, all masters at their instruments, jamming in front of hundreds of thousands of people, high as fuck on LSD. Its a beautiful sight to see. Pure unfiltered freedom. Michael Shrieve, the drummer, was only 20 years old at the time, and obliterating the drums with pure passion and power. You dont really see shit like this anymore.. People totally lost in the music.. At around 5:16, Michael Carabello, the percussionist looks at the camera with utter confidence. He knows this is a moment. At 5:45 Santana smiles in agreement, probably relieved he got through the set in one piece. They closed out their set with this song, tearing Woodstock apart. Towards the end of the set, members of other bands could be seen standing to the side of the stage watching in awe. Its such a beautiful moment in music history. An unknown unsigned band destroying everything and everyone. Every musician should strive to be this good (and take drugs).
Also, as a side note- Martin Scorsese was one of the cameramen.

This is such a good song. i play it all the time. It was produced by Thom Bell, who wrote for The Spinners, Delfonics, etc. It is basically a TSOP disco track , with Elton John singing… Elton John did a bunch of songs with Thom Bell, but this is my favorite. This is the 12″ extended version in which John Edwards of The Spinners sings along as well, and it also has a funky disco break in the middle.… It starts off slow, but the music and arrangement build slowly , and before you know it, the entire club is cheering. It just evokes happiness. The production is flawless, perfect, impeccible… Even in the weird promo video you can see the smiles on their faces. It was definitely ahead of its time and i urge every dj to play this song out …

Agnostic Front at CBGB 1988. Freddie Madball was 12 years old, and Roger Mirets half brother. He came out to sing a few Agnostic Front songs. If you look closely you will see me stage dive over a bunch of skinheads. One of the greatest shows of my life… I think i was 16??? I had to sneak into NYC to go to the CBGB hardcore matinees because my mom thought it was too dangerous. It was pretty dangerous actually.

This is one of my favorite kate bush songs, and a huge inspiration on Pale Blue for me at least. Im pretty sure this was a b-side on the Running Up That Hill 12”. The fact that it was never released on any album is a testament to how many solid tracks she had . This song hits all the heartstrings at once. Though it is only 2 minutes long, it packs a lifetime of emotions…
“I sit here in the thunder, The green on the grey, I feel it all around me, And it’s not easy for me to give away a secret. It’s not safe. But go into the garden, Go under the ivy, Under the leaves, Away from the party. Go right to the rose. Go right to the white rose. For me. I’ll be waiting for you”

Yes im from New Jersey, and yes Bruce is a god to me. This is my favorite version of Thunder Road, one of the greatest songs of all time (yes it is). Recorded at Hammersmith London in 1975. He was 26 years old. What were YOU doing when you were 26? HE was writing fucking Thunder Road. I cant wrap my head around that. TWENTY SIX.

In 1989 i was working at Mars, a club in NYC. and Dj Duke Of Denmark was one of the residents. He would play on the second and third floor. His style was a huge influence on me as a dj. He wasn’t afraid to mix genres , and he read the dance floor, and he played to the crowd. Thats your job as a dj. People are paying money to see you play, so you should do them a service and do your best to read the room, and make the crowd happy. If that means playing a disco song into the doobie brothers into an acid track- then do it. if it feels right, and the crowd is with you, the possibilities are endless. It doesn’t have to be a rigid set. Duke taught me that.

A young, confident, and passionate Al Green blessing us with a rare live Soul Train performance. His facial expressions and overall stage presence is absolutely incredible to watch. Such charisma… As if this wasn’t enough, he also has his arm in a cast, and he is holding a rose in his other hand. And the band is so tight. The drummer is a beast, and was focused on Al Green the entire time- they basically improved for almost 7 minutes on live TV. Towards the end Al starts handing flowers out to the crowd, and they go wild.. Its like a rock concert. Its all perfect … Don Cornelius said this was the greatest Soul Train performance of all time, and i cant argue that. I can watch this shit all day.

Cutty Ranks tearing through Sleng Teng circa 1986. This is as raw as it gets. No explanation needed.

Coltrane live at Newport 1966. The God himself takes it over the top around the 35 minute mark. But this is almost an hour of some of the greatest most intense music you will ever hear. The power of this music goes beyond anything I have ever heard. This is the greatest music by the greatest musician of all time.This is the sound of a man possessed and focused at the same time. Changing it all, pure freedom, once again. He would die almost a year later to the day. Bass – Jimmy Garrison Drums – Rashied Ali Piano – Alice Coltrane Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Percussion – John Coltrane