With electronic music, as with life, there are good weeks and there are bad weeks, but we never seem to see them coming, do we?
We just go about our business, doing our own thing, trying to get through, and then bam, something amazing happens. But whether it be good or bad, we again, have no way of knowing.
We’re just a part of it sometimes, aren’t we? And since we are just one small part all we can do is hang on and enjoy the ride.
That’s how I feel going into the next week for electronic music here in New Mexico, but in the best possible way.
We have a good week coming up, with multiple shows happening in multiple venues, playing multiple styles. A chance to show just how much our little city has grown with its music.
The good week starts tomorrow, Saturday, September 17th, up North with a gathering known only as Mesa 2022, thrown by the mysterious but always proper, Team Everything.
This year is set to be a night to remember under the beautiful stars as the lineup includes a DJ that I enjoy greatly in Axel Boman.
The first time I heard Axel Boman was the first night of the Desert Hearts festival, and I can remember lying in a tent full of pillows surrounded by colorful lights and nature’s beauty, wondering what this outrageously amazing music was that was floating towards my ears.
He gave me my ‘Welcome to Desert Hearts’ moment in such a monumental way that I still get the chills thinking how good and natural that actually felt.
I’m so happy to see he is playing here this weekend, as he is accompanied by some great DJ’s in Swaylo, Varsity Acid, Girl Wunder, Melanie Moore, and the group Adobe Disco.
A truly eclectic and talented group of music makers that will help the night feel even better, I am happy to see every single one of them as a part of it.
On top of that don’t miss the four hour b2b of Spoolius and Numbtron that will bring in the Sunrise.
Such a great night ahead, and yet, beware, the show is sold out, and there will be no tickets at the door.
You either have one, or you’re not getting in, and this will be up in the Santa Fe Mountains, so just remember, some shows ask you to earn your experience.
But if you’re up for it, nature will show you what the nightclub and the warehouse never will.
The good week continues into next weekend on Friday, September 23rd, with two shows happening at the same time but in two different places.
First, is perhaps my favorite collective in New Mexico, with Cenit hosting another great and unique night of joy and music at Insideout.
I have no hesitation in admitting to you right now that I admire greatly what Cenit is doing not just with the music they are playing, and the shows they are having, but also with what they stand for.
In all my time in this city I don’t feel I’ve ever interacted with a group of people that have been more accepting and more inclusive than the people I met while helping set up for a show back in June for a wonderful Gay Pride event they hosted to great success.
I know I will write more about Cenit, as that day spent seeing first hand, the commitment and passion each person in that group has, was incredibly inspiring to me, and something I desperately needed at the time.
To them it was just letting some weird little blue haired dude come hang around for a bit, but to me it was a way to reconnect with the world at a time where I felt so shattered. I needed Cenit, and they found me.
I have already started another writing named ‘One day with Cenit’, that I will release eventually, but until then I cannot recommend more what this group is doing, and I’m so excited to see that for only $5 you can hear not just LNSC Rob plays his own authentic style, and Thumper play a type of techno I love knowing is here in the southwest, but you can also get a chance to witness the mysterious MEGAB4T.
On top of that they have lighting and install by ON-SYT, and I have seen first-hand the unique and creative environments they form around the DJ.
One time I can remember they had a friend who moved away, so inside the club they set up a spot that looked just like his room, so that they could feel he was there with them. Which I found amazingly sweet on top of incredibly fun.
I can’t say enough how much I wish for you to check this group out. They are what I feel represents the true nature and idea of this culture, and I can’t wait to see more.
But, that’s not the only show on Friday to attend as over at Effex, Mr. Afterhours presents is continuing his great run of shows on the rooftop with the up and coming House DJ Kendoll, bringing her bounce house sound to play alongside BLISSXKOTA and Absynthe.
What I like about what’s going on over at Effex is that, like a house track, they are creating a rhythm of shows that keep the standard at a higher level than perhaps it’s ever been here in our small desert city. We are growing, and with that, so is our music scene.
A scene filled with passion just like you can feel when you go to a NM United game, or even the upcoming and mesmerizing Balloon Fiesta.
We are creating something unique and specific to this city, and this night along with, We House Fridays, are a great sign of that.
What I like most is not where these shows have been, but rather where they are going.
Whichever show you pick on Friday, I feel you will get a good taste of what New Mexico is all about.
It’s the red and green Chile of House Music.
Don’t waste all your energy on the first night, though, as Saturday also proves to provide a show that represents this land so fucking well.
Perhaps my favorite show of the weekend is taking place at Insideout on Saturday, September 24th, with this month’s edition of House Proud providing a wonderful multigenerational lineup of true New Mexico House Music.
If there was ever a show that would show not just the then and now of New Mexico House Music, but also the future as well, maybe it would be this one.
All aspects of what makes house music so great in this city will be on display with the dynamic lineup of Vettaluv, DJ Eldon, The Rev, XKOTA, and Mcfly.
DJ Eldon and The Rev are two house music legends in New Mexico, and Vettaluv is a natural record player who knows how to read the dancefloor as well as anybody in this city.
Along with them is somebody I’m so happy to see on this lineup in XKOTA, who continues to show her evolution as a DJ who represents both House and Techno so well.
XKOTA is as versatile as any DJ I’ve come across, and I’m so excited to hear what sound she chooses to unload on this dancefloor.
I’ll admit I don’t go out much anymore in New Mexico, as I can feel the years on the dancefloor catching up to me, but this weekend is the first in a long time where I feel the itch to go out and enjoy the night again.
What’s so wonderful is that wherever you end up dancing, I know it will be a good representative of this beautiful city and where we wish to go with our music next.
I can’t say which one I’ll make it to, or any at all, but if you manage to see us dancing to our delight,
Don’t just come say hi, let’s talk a bit and make some plans for the culture. Buy me a drink and I’ll tell you how crazy New York and Chicago were, and we can move forward positively together.
These shows are more than just great music with great people. They are a chance to build for our culture, and to start over. For ourselves and also for those who are going to dance after us. We owe them a good dancefloor. We owe them more than just a Good Week.
Come find me on the dancefloor this weekend.
Maybe I’ll actually be there this time.
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Ourdancefloor.net 